American First Day Cover Society

Not only will there be two World Series of Philately exhibitions at the combined show August 7-9, near Baltimore-Washington Airport, there will also be a Young Exhibitors Competition, a classification of two- to three-frame exhibits, an "Informal Class" of exhibits with minimal rules and a single-page display of "One of My Favorites."

The deadline for entering exhibits is June 30, 2026. The prospectus can be found on the BALPEX website at https://balpex.org/exhibits.html 

"Favorites" is described as single pages of a single item or set, "a place to single out a gem from your collection. This is just for fun, although there will be a people’s choice award. There is no charge to enter.

The Informal Class is described as an opportunity "where new exhibitors can show material and receive suggestions and encouragement in an informal setting." It is intended for everything from future WSP exhibits to material that doesn't fit the current system to displays by those who have "philosophical differences" with the established exhibiting rules. The fee is one-third that of the regular exhibiting classes, $6 per frame.

The Baltimore Philatelic Society first began holding the stamp collecting shows that became BALPEX in the 1930s. This year's show is at the BWI Marriott Hotel in Linthicum Heights, MD, at the airport, just a few miles south of Baltimore. A special show rate for hotel rooms is available and there is a free shuttle from the airport terminal to the Marriott.

Americover, the convention, exhibition and celebration of the American First Day Cover Society, is normally held in conjunction with Great American Stamp Show. However, with no GASS scheduled this year because of Boston 2026, the AFDCS looked for alternatives.

AFDCS Sponsors 8 Postmarks for Boston 2026:
One Pictorial for Each Day

In addition to the daily "theme" postmarks provided by the U.S. Postal Service and the various first-day cancels, the American First Day Cover Society has announced eight AFDCS Station postmarks that will be available to collectors at the Boston 2026 World Expo show.

AFDCS Membership chair Trevor Bills led the effort for the postmarks. The special days of the show, to be commemorated both by the USPS and the AFDCS cancels, are:

• May 23 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Day
• May 24 Favorite Stamp Day
• May 25 Stamp Collectors Day
• May 26 Letter Writing Day
• May 27 International Peace Day
• May 28 Sports Day
• May 29 Honoring Heroes Day
• May 30 Youth and Family Day

Each postmark should be available at the USPS Cancellations Booth at the show starting on its date and then for the rest of the show. Each design measures 1.50- by 2.50 inches.

The AFDCS is also producing and selling the Official Souvenir Show Covers, one for each day of the show, with cachets (designs) by professional philatelic artist Chris Calle. These will be available at the AFDCS Booth, Tables 18-20, in the Americas Pavilion.

After the email blast about all the wonderful FDC opportunities at Boston 2026, the question arose, "How can I get the Official Souvenir Show Covers and AFDCS cachets if I'm not at the show?"

Visit the AFDCS Marketplace's Newly-Added Covers page, where you can order unserviced cachets and serviced covers. You'll also find FDCs there for other recent issues.

You might say we've got you covered.

The serviced covers won't be shipped until after June 1.

Payment on our site is made through the PayPal system, even if you are paying with a non-PayPal debit or credit card. However, if you want to use a payment card more directly, send an email to sales@afdcs.org and request an invoice. Or send a check to AFDCS Sales, Box 44, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0044.

We also still have shifts open for volunteers at the AFDCS' three tables at Boston 2026. Please contact sales@afdcs.org to sign up.

The American First Day Cover Society is providing plenty of reasons for FDC collectors to attend. By the numbers:

• 1 AFDCS regional meeting
• 6 U.S. first-days and a "dedication"
• first-day cachets for the six new U.S. issues
• 8 foreign first-days by five countries
• 4 AFDCS-presented seminars
• 4 meetings of AFDCS chapters
• 8 official souvenir show covers
• 1 cachet artist with an auto(graph) pen,
• 1 FDC-related book signing
• 8 gold-medal entries from seven countries in the Experimental Class exhibition, and
• countless FDC and event covers on our three tables in the Americas Pavilion.

 The Regional Meeting is on Sunday, May 24, at 2 p.m. in Room 153C on Level 1.

 The seminars are

• Chris Calle, "Design of Stamps and Show Covers," Monday, 2 p.m., Room 156C
• Foster Miller, "7-1-71 First Day Covers," Wednesday, 2 pm, Room 158
• USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services, Thursday, 2 p.m., Room 158
• Gary Loew, "Coxsackie to Vienna via West Africa FDC," Friday, 3 p.m., Room 158
• 
  

 The Chapters with events are

• Ebony Society of Philatelic Events And Reflections (ESPER) (Saturday, 2 p.m., Room 157C
• American Ceremony Program Society (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Room 158)
• Maximum Card Study Unit (MACSU) (Thursday, 11 a.m., Room 157B)
• Gay & Lesbian History on Stamps (Friday, 1 p.m., Room 157C)

 Of course, there's much more than just FDCs at this show — merit badge workshops, other organization's meetings, talks on everything from technology to mail service 250 years ago. More events are being added to the schedule all the time. For more information, check the Boston 2026 app or go to the Boston2026.org website.

The American First Day Cover Society is producing the Official Boston 2026 World Expo show covers, both serviced and unserviced. The press release is many places. You can see and order all 8 cachets here. They will also be on-sale at the AFDCS' stand at the show, booths 18, 19 and 20 in the Americas Pavilion. Also there will be cachet designer Chris Calle, who has shown willingness in the past to provide autographs.

Prefer to order by mail? Send orders (payable to AFDCS) to AFDCS Sales, Box 44, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0044.  However, covers will be sent after June 1.

The AFDCS will have at least two tables (18 and 19) for sales and promotion of FDC collecting and the Society in the Americas Pavilion at the Boston 2026 international stamp show, May 23-30. Volunteers are needed to assist in staffing the AFDCS booth. Shifts will be 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 to 2 p.m., 2 to 4 and 4 to 6 for the first seven days of the show and 10-12 and 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday May 30, the last day of the show. Volunteers are also needed for cover preparation from 9AM to 10AM each day of the show (we will arrange for early admission to the show).

 If you can assist at the show, please email AFDCS Boston 2026 Show Coordinator Foster Miller at fmillerfdc@gmail.com. Please specify the dates and times you will be available. Please do not respond "as needed," but rather provide dates and times.

A variety of first day cover catalogues originally published by FDC Publishing (Mike Mellone) are now available for purchase either as a PDF digital download or three-hole punched unbound print-on-demand hardcopy here. These include the 18-volume Planty cachet catalogues for 1920s and 1930s issues, the Mellone cachet catalogues for the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, and First Cachets Revealed 2006 Professional Edition.

Also, a limited number of AFDCS Court of Honor #45 (2025 holidays) first day covers honoring Carolyn Marks remain available and can be ordered on our website. There are also AFDCS cachets for recent issues and space missions here. (COH #45 is also on that page.) 

Keep checking the "Newly-Added" page for the latest issues.

The American Philatelic Society board has approved the joint show of BALPEX and Americover in 2026, with two World Series of Philately exhibitions.

Nominations will be accepted through May 30, 2026, for the Philip H. Ward Award for Excellence in First Day Cover Literature, presented annually by the American First Day Cover Society. All works published in 2025 are eligible.

All articles and published in First Days, the AFDCS journal, are automatically considered. Other articles and works may be submitted to the Ward Award Committee chair, Mark Goodson, 315 East Dewey Street, Ellettsville, IN 47429-1901, bgdsn@comcast.net, either as clippings or .pdf scans of the material as published.

The award is presented each year at Americover, the annual convention of the AFDCS, which will be held August 7-9, 2026, in conjunction with BALPEX. A complete list of past winners can be found at www.afdcs.org/Awards-&-Honors#phw

Past works honored by the AFDCS reflect a wide variety of sources, including journals of other organizations and books.

The award is named in honor of Philip H. Ward (1890-1963), the distinguished Philadelphia stamp collector, dealer and journalist who was a pioneer in the field of first day covers. The award was instituted by the AFDCS in 1964. 

The Board of Directors of the American First Day Cover Society has re-elected Lloyd de Vries of New Jersey as the organization's president for calendar-year 2026. Others re-elected as AFDCS officers were Ralph Nafziger of Oregon, executive vice president; Walter Douglas George of Massachusetts, first vice president; and Mark Gereb of New Jersey, recording secretary. In addition, Eric Wile of North Carolina was elected as Treasurer, replacing Mark Thompson of Tennessee, who has retired.

They, along with the editor of the journal First Days, the executive secretary, the immediate past president, the general counsel and the chairs of the Education, Sales and Membership departments, comprise the organization's executive committee.

The Board also chose Cynthia Scott of Indiana as its chair for 2026.

AFDCS officers and directors are not compensated nor reimbursed for their travel expenses.