There is no other publication that has more images and information about different United States test stamps, and how they were produced, than the 79+ DSSG quarterly Newsletters issued over the past 19 years. Printing out all the pages is time consuming (and will use a lot of ink), but you will be amazed at what you will see and learn in the more than 700 pages in those back issues. Buy a ream of paper and a set of color ink cartridges and start printing… you won’t be sorry

Thanks for your interest in United States Test Stamps and as always, we welcome comments and questions regarding United States Test Stamps.

Michael O. Perry
Terry R. Scott

Over the three-day show Roger Brody, Bob Rufe, William Schultz, Lynn Batdorf, Rod Juell, Denise Stotts and John Hotchner represented the Society at our table booth. Several of our books were purchased and three new members joined. The following 28
members attended the show:

Bob Rufe, Steve Unkrich, Ken Nilsestuen, Roger Brody, Lynn Batdorf, Dave Bowman, Jim Wallace, Matt Liebson, Dave Shrader, William Schultz,
Ken Srail, Michael Burke, Rod Juell, Richard Peterson, Jay Stotts, Denise Stotts, Dennis Dajczak, Jack Perry, Bill Fort, John Hotchner
Andrew Kelley, Charlie Wood, Karl Edelmann, Scott Couch, David Mayo, Dennis Callison, Wayne Farley, Greg Shoults.

Fourteen members and guests enjoyed a fellowship dinner on Friday evening at Buca di Beppo Italian restaurant serving family-style food.
Board of Governors Meeting
Executive Secretary Bob Rufe reported that membership fluctuation depends upon the number of non-renewals during the period from November to January every year. These non-renewals are reported in the March issue of The United States Specialist. For the latest 12-month period ending December 2024, 120 members, (8%), resigned or were dropped for nonpayment of dues. Fortunately, we gained 76 New Members, and 27 Reinstated their memberships. Sadly, we did lose 22 members in the “Closed Album” category. The Summary for the 12 months of 2024: Plus 103; Minus 142. The Society’s members continue to generously support with membership donations. For 2025, 118 renewed as Sustaining members, 69 as Contributing members and 63 as Patron members.
President Nick Lombardi reported that Mike Ludeman has become the chairman of the Registered Mail Study Group. Mike has already produced five excellent Registered Mail Study Group Newsletters which are all posted on our website under the Resources section. The First Bureau Issue Study Group is still in search of a chairman.
During 2024 we delivered 49 pins to our members. Six for 50 years, 16 for 25 years and 27 for 15 years. A special thanks goes out to Bob Rufe for handling the packaging and mailing of these. During this year we have 4 members receiving 50-year pins, 17 members receiving 25-year pins and 18 who will receive 15-year pins.
Specialist Editor Andrew Kelley noted that while we are having some success attracting manuscripts and have developed a small backlog, we shouldn’t be complacent. He implored Board members to submit articles. He also recommended buttonholing favorite dealers about advertising.
The 2024 annual Barbara R. Mueller Award on behalf of the USSS and presented by the APS for the best article in the American Philatelist during 2023 was presented to Dr. Robert O. Crossman at the Great American Stamp Show in Hartford for his article “I Lived on The Butterfield Mail Route for Decades and Didn’t’ Know It.”
The Hopkinson Literature Award for the best article or series in The United States Specialist for 2024 was awarded to Jay Stotts for his seven-part series about the Great Americans Issue 1988–1990. Lombardi thanked the selection committee made up of Harry Brittain, Greg Ajamian, Bob Rufe, James Robinson and Andrew Kelley.
Our 2024 annual meeting was held at NOJEX in September. Our 2026 meeting will be held at the Boston 2026 international show. The meeting at Boston will also celebrate the Society’s 100th Anniversary as established at the Philatelic Plate Number Association (PPNA) in 1926. We will have booth representation at the APS Great American Stamp Show (GASS) August 14–17, 2025, to be held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention
Center, Schaumburg, Illinios.
While the audited financial results of the year 2024 were not available at the meeting, it is apparent that the printing and mailing expenses to produce the monthly publication of The United States Specialist are far exceeding the annual membership dues of the Society. The Board of Governors has undertaken a study to evaluate the alternative possibilities of either increasing the 2026 annual membership dues or adjusting the print schedule of The Specialist from a monthly to a bi-monthly delivery with expanded text.
General Membership Meeting
In addition to reporting the information from the Board meeting at the General Membership Meeting, it was formally announced that a 2026 Edition of the Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog will be released at our annual meeting at Boston 2026 International Stamp Show. The 2026 Edition will be edited by Kim Johnson, with production assistance by Len Piszkiewicz.
The Durland 2026 edition would be the 12th produced by the USSS and its publication celebrates the 76th Anniversary of the introduction of the Standard Plate Number Catalog. The Sterling Stamp Co. published the first Plate Number Catalog, Vol. 1, in 1950 and in successive years through 1981. Clarence B. Durland himself initially edited the catalog, with William Patten editing the later editions. In 1984 under the leadership of
the late George Godin, the B.I.A. began editing, publishing and expanding the coverage of stamps. The Society produced subsequent editions in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1997. The 1997 and the 2000 editions were compiled and edited by Kim D. Johnson, assisted by W. Wallace Cleland, former B.I.A. Chairman, and John L. Larson. Kim Johnson, with production assistance by Len Piszkiewicz has edited the 2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020,
editions, and 2010 and 2014 Durland Supplements.
The USSS Website offers many resources for our members. Paul Holland’s series on the Overrun Countries Series Stamps has recently been added to the Downloadable USSS Publications section. We are planning to expand the membership exhibits available for viewing. Members interested in adding their exhibit(s) should contact Exhibits Chairman Chris Steenerson.
One of the highlights of our gathering at our annual meeting show, is the presentation of the Society’s literature and exhibiting Awards presented at the show banquet. The Walter W. Hopkinson Literature Award for the best article or series of articles, that appeared in The United States Specialist during the previous year (2024) was awarded to Jay for his seven-part article series of The Great Americans Issue of 1980–1999. The Society’s prestigious Hugh M. Southgate Award for the best multi-frame exhibit went to Anthony Dewey for his “The U.S. Alphabet-Denominated Rate-Change Series: 1978–1998”exhibit. Dewey also received the USSS Statue of Freedom medal. The equally prestigious W. Wallace Cleland Award for the best single-frame exhibit was awarded to Gregory Shoults for his Washington & Franklin Coils 1908 Perf-12 Issues exhibit.
Congratulations to all USSS members who exhibited at the Garfield Perry March Party.

Roger Brody – Chairman
Nick Lombardi – President

Nicholas Lombardi, Bob Rufe, and Roger Brody staff the USSS
Society Table at NOJEX.

The 2024 Annual Meeting of the United States Stamp Society was held at the NOJEX stamp show in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, from April 26th through the 28th. The official business of the Society was conducted at the Board of Governors Meeting
on Friday afternoon and the Annual General Membership Meeting on Saturday. The Board of Governors discussed a variety of issues at their meeting, including the possibility of having to raise our annual dues. Our dues have been set at $25 per year for as long as anyone could remember even though the cost of producing and mailing The United States Specialist each month has risen substantially. A number of different possibilities were put forth and will be studied by the Board during the upcoming year. The annual dues will remain at $25 for the 2025 year. Although Treasurer Dave Sugar was unable to attend the meeting, he provided a summary of the Society’s financial position and the Society is in good financial shape. This is due in large part to the generosity of the membership in terms of both annual and estate donations, so please consider a donation when it comes time to renew your membership or review your will.

Speaking of publications, it was noted that due to a great demand for the Durland 2020 catalog which was sold out some time ago, the Board had authorized the reprinting of 100 copies which should last us until the next edition. That edition would normally have been done in 2024, but it was decided to wait until 2026 for the next edition which we will release at the Boston 2026 International show and will also coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Society. The Annual General Membership Meeting was held on Saturday afternoon. The meeting began, as is customary, with each attendee introducing him or herself and letting everyone know where they were from. In addition to informing the members of what had transpired at the Board of Governors meeting earlier, it was noted that the First Bureau Issue Study Group is in need of a new Chairperson. If you would be willing to help out with this, please let me know.

One of the highlights of our Annual General Membership Meeting is the presentation of the Walter W. Hopkinson Literature Award for the best article or series of articles, which appeared in The United States Specialist during the previous year.
Our 2023 award winner, Andrew S. Kelley, was on hand to accept the award for his article “Authenticating Scott 530c–Triple Impression on the Three Cent Offset” which appeared in the May 2023 issue of The Specialist.

Unfortunately, no one who was to receive their membership anniversary pin was in attendance. It was noted that this year we had six members who will receive their 50 year pins, sixteen who will receive 25 year pins and twenty-seven who will receive 15 year pins. The list of these members appeared in the March issue of The Specialist. All of these pins will be mailed to the recipients. On behalf of the Board of Governors, thank you all for being such loyal members of the Society.
The exhibit frames at the show were filled with a wide array of material from our Society members.

The Society’s prestigious Hugh M. Southgate Award was won by Greg Shoults for his exhibit “Washington & Franklin Coils: The Development of the Third Bureau Flat Plate & Coil Waste Issues of 1908–1915” which also won the Grand Award for the entire show, as well as the Statue of Freedom Medal, and the NOJEX Best US Exhibit award. Louis Caprario took the Reserve Grand with his exhibit “Pre-Prohibition Beer Stamps 1866–1919”. Other Society members whose work appeared in the frames
included Louis Fiset, Larry Haber, Terence Hines, Marvin & Judith Platt, Andrew S. Kelley, Michael Clark, David Mayo and Stephen Suffet. In total, our members accounted for 46% of the exhibit frames.

Our Society table was staffed continuously throughout the three days of the show. Members stopped by to purchase books, exchange information, or just to rest up. We signed up several new members as well as others who renewed their memberships. Special thanks go out to Roger Brody, Bob Rufe and Jerry Davis for helping man the booth at different times.
Members visiting the USSS booth are listed in the November issue of The Specialist.

—Nick Lombardi
President