American First Day Cover Society

Devoted to the advancement of first day cover collecting

AFDCS Awards and Honors
Honoring those who have served the American First Day Cover Society

Glenn C. Michael Special Recognition Awards

Description

See the list of recipients

Distinguished Service Awards

Description

See the list of recipients

Honorary Life Membership

Description

See the list of recipients

Phillip H. Ward, Jr. Memorial Award
For Excellence in First Day Cover Literature

Stacks Image 16201 Sponsored by the AFDCS, the Philip H. Ward competition is open to all authors of FDC articles which have appeared in a recognized philatelic publication during a calendar year, or books published during that year. Articles published in First Days are automatically considered. Others may be submitted to the Ward Award Committee chair, Mark Goodson, 315 E. Dewey Dr., Ellettsville, IN 47429, bgdsn@comcast.net.

Philip H. Ward, Jr. of Philadelphia (1886-1963), for whom the memorial award is named, was a prominent, world-famous philatelist. It was due to his pioneering and imaginative spirit that the field of First Day Covers received its initial impetus during the early part of the 20th century. His contributions are unparalleled in the history of the hobby.

See the list of recipients

Glenn C. Michael Special Recognition Awards

2022	Mark Gereb
Year	Winner(s)
2021	Tom Peluso (posthumous), Otto Thamasett, Tris Fall, James Hogg, Chris Lazaroff, Gary Dickinson, and John White and the Ries Chapter Auction Committee
2019	John Byrnes
2013	Diane and Ralph Achgill, Ralph Nafziger, Betty Hundley
2010	Mark Goodson, Todd Ronnei, Cynthia Scott, Randall Sherman, Richard Sine
2008	Lloyd de Vries, Alan Warren, Dave Bennett, Allen Klein, Peter Martin
2007	John Cali
2006	Hal Ansink, Andrew McFarlane, William Sumpter, Ralph Achgill, Allison Cusick, Norman Elrod, Tom Foust, Foster Miller, and Mike Litvak and his Donation Auction Committee of Dave Bennett, Kathy Clements, Bob Lewin, Tina Phillips, George Rost, Shirley Ulling and Rick Whyte
2005	Linda Hassa
2003	George Athens
2002	Charles Schretzmann, Hal Ansink
2001	Doug Kelsey, Tom Foust, Barry Newton
2000	Mike Mellone, Dottie Graf, Paul Hubartt
1999	Earl Lowenstein, Gary and Sharolyn Chicoine
1998	Cynthia Scott, Norm Walker, James McCusker
1997	Bob Colby, Foster Miller, Betty Hundley
1996	John Cali, Adam Bert, William Paisley, Ed Ward
1995	Julian Pugh, Bill Wise, Barry Newton, George Athens
1994	Gary Denis, Joe Hough, Lorraine Bailey, Betty Buchanan, Mike Mellone
1993	Lloyd de Vries, Elliot Fischer, Paul Hubartt, Margaret Monty, Steve Ripley
1992	Allison Cusick, John Jezek, Lee Howard, Tom Lane
1991	Barry Ellis, Pat Rourk, Bernie Kroll, Bill Simpson
1990	Gerry Adlman, Bob Masto, Larry Carney, Jack Harlan, Charles Schretzmann
1989	Monte Eiserman, Martin Feibusch, Ron Allen, Cynthia Scott, Bill Sumpter, Alan Warren
1988	Ruth Moore, Mike Litvak, Bill Lloyd, Wayne Gasper, Clark Heins, Bernard Goldberg, Adam Bert

Distinguished Service Awards

Year	Winner(s)	Year	Winner(s)
2025	TBD	2024	D.A. Lux
2023	No Award	2022	Tris Fall & Mark Thompson
2021	Gerald Strauss	2020	No Award
2019	Dave Bennett, Rollin Berger, Mark Goodson. Kerry Heffner	2018	No Award
2017	Peter McClure*	2016	Chris Lazaroff
2015	Ralph Nafziger	2014	Peter D. Martin & John H. White
2013	No Award	2012	Todd Ronnei
2011	Ralph Achgill*	2010	Norman L. Elrod*
2009	Allen Klein* Julian Pugh*	2008	Lloyd de Vries
2007	Betty Hundley Doug Kelsey*	2006	Michael Litvak Foster E. Miller, III
2005	Steve Ripley Betty Buchanan* Elliot Fischer*	2004	Cynthia Scott
2003	No Award	2002	Dorothy Graf*
2001	No Award	2000	Michael A. Mellone* David S. Zubatsky*
1999	Norman Walker*	1998	Joe D. Hough* William A. Sumpter*
1997	Barry Newton Tom Foust*	1996	No Award
1995	No Award	1994	Gerry Adlman* E. Lee Howard*
1993	John Jezek, Jr.*	1992	William H. Lloyd*
1991	No Award	1990	No Award
1989	Wayne P. Gasper*	1988	Allison W. Cusick
1987	Harold G. Ansink*	1986	No Award
1985	Richard A. Monty*	1984	Donald B. Crisman
1983	William H. Bayless*	1982	Patricia A. Siskin
1981	Alan Warren	1980	Frank F. Raciti*
1979	Adam K. Bert*	1978	Ben Papell*
1977	George A. Comnes*	1976	Donald G. Heuring*
1975	Sol Koved*	1974	Robert Graebner* William E. Decker*
1973	Curtis Patterson* Monte Eiserman*	1972	Richard Thompson*
1971	No Award	1970	Marge Finger*

* deceased

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBER

Year	Number	Name	Contributions
2024	28	Mark Thompson	Exemplary service as Advertising Manager and Treasurer
2022	27	Michael Litvak	30+ years as Executive Vice President
2009	26	E. Lee Howard*	Past President and Director, Bylaws Committee
2009	25	Robert Quintero*	Secretary of Motor City Stamp & Cover Club (AFDCS’s oldest continuous chapter), hosted AFDCS conventions, produced thousands of covers for the chapter
2008	24	Allison W. Cusick	Past President, long time Expertizing Committee Chair
2008	23	Elliot M. Fischer*	Long-time Treasurer
2008	22	Lorraine E. Bailey	Cachet and covers sales, long-time Life Member
2008	21	Douglas A. Kelsey*	Long-time Executive Director
2007	20	George Athens*	Long-time supporter of AFDCS in Florida, representing and promoting the society at local and national shows there with a society table
2005	19	Dottie Graf*	Long-time assistant to Mike Mellone
2005	18	Mike Mellone*	Long-time Bourse Chairman of AFDCS, Author of Cachet Catalogs
2004	17	Barry Newton	Long-term Editor of First Days
2002	16	Tom Foust*	Long-time President of AFDCS serving in that office 1988-2006
2002	15	Hal G. Ansink*	Long-time Author, Education Dept. Chair, and Director of the Court of Honor First Day Cover series
2001	14	Richard A. Monty*	Long-time Chairman of the Board, Author, spearheaded the First Cachets project
1996	13	Alan Warren	Charter Member of AFDCS, Director, Recording Secretary, Author
1992	12	Monte Eiserman*	Membership Chair of AFDCS over 30 years
1989	11	Curtis Patterson*	Past President of AFDCS, long-term supporter of the society, first curator of AFDCS Archives
1985	10	Sol Koved*	Long-time Editor of First Days
1980	9	Earl Planty*	Past President of AFDCS, author of cachet catalogs
1980	8	Samuel August*	Founder of Washington Press and ArtCraft cachets, benefactor of AFDCS
1980	7	Leo August*	Founder of Washington Press and ArtCraft cachets, benefactor of AFDCS
1977	6	Henry S. Raposa*	Philatelic Program Analyst, Stamp Development Branch, USPS
1973	5	David L. Lidman*	Retired philatelic columnist for the New York Times
1972	4	Raymond L. Blozis*	Philatelic Affairs Division, USPS, arranged for first day ceremonies
1972	3	Gordon C. Morison*	Manger, Philatelic Affairs Dept., USPS
1967	2	Stanley J. Hodziewich*	Key Post Office Department staff at first day ceremonies, arranged for cancellations
1958	1	L. Rohe Walter*	Special Assistant to the Postmaster General

* deceased

Phillip H. Ward, Jr. Memorial Award

YEAR	AUTHOR(S)	CITED WORK
1964	Stan Hamilton	"Canal Zone First Day Covers"
1965	Curtis B. Patterson and Marge Finger	"Official Cachets on U. S. First Day Covers” series of articles
1966	David J. Simmons	“Israel First Day Covers”
1967	Richard H. Thompson	"Six Cent Airmail (C19) First Day"
1968	Herbert S. Halm	"First Day Covers of Uruguay"
1969	Adam K. Bert	“Counterfeit First Day Covers” series of articles
1970	Jack V. Harvey	"Earliest Known Date of '22 Two-Cent Use”
1971	Jack V. Harvey	"Four New First Day Cities for the 15c Rotary Special Delivery" as well as his continuing series on FDCs of the Kansas-Nebraska issues
1972	Felix D. Bertalanffy	"The Special Cancellations and First Day Covers of Japan”
1973	Curtis B. Patterson	Series of articles on early cachet makers and servicers
1974	David R. Whitesell	"Yorktown: Anatomy of a First Day"
1975	Barry Newton	For numerous features on both classic and contemporary material which appeared in *First Days* during 1975
1976	Pat and Ed Siskin	Five-part series on the Valley Forge commemorative of 1928
1977	Henry B. Scheuer	Multi-part series on the Jamestown Commemorative Issue of 1907
1978	Edward Siskin and Henry B. Scheuer	“Designated First Day Dates,” multi-part series on pre-1922 FDCs
1979	Dr. Melvin L. Baron	Multi-part series on the FDCs of the Canadian postal issues of 1930-40
1980	Jack A. Harlan	"Hobart Schacht's Cachets"
1981	Dr. Leon Cheris	Continuing series, "Postal History: Experimental Tagged First Day Covers 1963-1973”
1982	Dr. Leon Cheris	Continuing series, "Postal History: Experimental Tagged First Day Covers 1963-1973”
1983	Marshall Ackerman	Feature column, "The Simple Pleasures of First Day Cover Collecting"
1984	Richard A. Monty	"Prof. Earl G. Planty: The Dean of First Day Cover Collecting"
1985	Donald E. Sabo	"An Illustrated Catalog of the William G. Windhurst Sc. 610 FDCs: With a Critique on his September 1, 1923, Marion Statistics Report"
1986	Douglas H. Henkle	"U.S. Virgin Islands: Part 2 Sc. 799-802 Laird Cachet Varieties"
1987	Larry S. Weiss	"First Day Covers of Sc. 331a and 332a”
1988	Joe D. Hough	Continuing series of articles on First Day Covers of the Virginia Dare commemorative stamp of 1937
1989	Five authors contributing to a FDC symposium in The United States Specialist	"Evolving First Day Fashions" by Ken Lawrence; "What is a First Day Cover?" by George W. Brett; "A PNC Dealer's View" by Ed Denson; "Thoughts on the Legitimacy of Contemporary First Day Covers" by Allison W. Cusick; and “PNC First Day Covers Still Can Be Faked" by Dr. Robert Rabinowitz
1990	Melvin L. Baron and Stan Lum	A series of articles on classic First Day Covers of Canada
1991	Monte Eiserman	"Conversations with Ludwig W. Staehle” series of articles
1992	G. R. "Dick" Danielson	Two-part article "Vincennes and George Rogers Clark 1779-1929"
1993	Robert Colby	"A Study of Sc. C19, 6¢ Airmail June 30, 1934 FDCs"
1994	Tom O'Hagan	"Bill Olvey and K.M.C. Venture Cachets"
1995	Dr. Michael Rosenthal and Dr. Marvin Speer	Ken Boll Cachet Catalogue
1996	Ken Lawrence	Three-part series "First Day Covers in Earliest Usages"
1997	Herb Trenchard	Series of articles on first day ceremonies of the 1940 Famous American stamps
1998	Lloyd de Vries	"How to Service Quantities of First Day Covers"
1999	Tris Fall	Series of articles "On the Trail of That Elusive Cachet"
2000	Alan Berkun and Wilson Hulme	“Aristocrats of US FDCs - July 1, 1851 3¢ George Washington"
2001	Bruce Perkins	"The International Demise of Private Cachetmaking Part II, Canada Post Office Cachets"
2002	Jerry A. Katz	“FDCs of the Special Delivery Issue of 1922"
2003	Barry N. Kaplan and Michael R. Rosenthal	"The House of Farnam Story"
2004	Alan Berkun	"The 1868 Regular Production D, E, and F Grill EDUs"
2005	Eliot A. Landau	"The 1866 15-cent Black Lincoln"
2006	Ralph H. Nafziger	"Fakes and Forgeries on FDCs and Earliest Documented Usages”
2007	Robert Lewin	"The Magnificent Covers of Ejgil J.S. Halvorsen"
2008	Charles Deaton	"The Philatelic Legacy of the Artistic Edmiston Family: The Story of Gladys Adler & Florence Edmiston"
2009	E. Lee Howard	"Jesse Graham Holland, Pioneer Cachetmaker"
2010	Mark Lerner	“Charles R. Chickering Cachetmaker”
2011	David Zubatsky	“Norbert C. Waldau: A Biography and Catalog of his Handpainted First Day Covers”
2012	Jerry A. Katz	“Henry Hammelman: Pioneer Servicer, Dealer, and Exhibitor”
2013	David Zubatsky	“Walter M. Stawuszewski: Philatelic Artist and Collector”; “Dorothea ‘Dottie’ Bundy and Her Handpainted Cachets”; and “Frank J. Ulrich: Designer of Handdrawn Watercolor Cachets”
2014	Harry F. Themal	“Jackie Kennedy’s ArtCraft Cachet”
2015	Douglas S. Weisz	Dorothy Knapp: Philately and Family
2016	Henry B. Scheuer	“Kansas-Nebraska Overprint Stamps: Why, When and Where They Were Initially Sold”
2017	no award
2018	David Zubatsky	For his ongoing bibliographic series in First Days
2019	Ken Lawrence	"Which Items Franked with 1913 Parcel Post Stamps Are Authentic U.S. First Day Covers?”
2020	Kris McIntosh	"The Fight for the Women’s Right To Vote"
2021	Susan Bahnick Jones	Carol Gordon: Unconventional Cachetmaker
2022 (tie)	Henry B. Scheuer	"How the Earliest Collectors Sought Out First Days"
2022 (tie)	Peter J. LaPlaca and Anthony F. Dewey	The Connecticut Tercentennary Issue of 1935
2023	Ken Lawrence	"The Greatest American First Day Cover"

YEAR	AUTHOR(S)	CITED WORK
2023	Ken Lawrence	"The Greatest American First Day Cover”
2022	Henry B. Scheuer	"How the Earliest Collectors Sought Out First Days"
2022	Peter J. LaPlaca and Anthony F. Dewey	The Connecticut Tercentennary Issue of 1935
2021	Susan Bahnick Jones	Carol Gordon: Unconventional Cachetmaker
2020	Kris McIntosh	"The Fight for the Women’s Right To Vote"
2019	Ken Lawrence	"Which Items Franked with 1913 Parcel Post Stamps Are Authentic U.S. First Day Covers?”
2018	David Zubatsky	For his ongoing bibliographic series in First Days
2017	no award
2016	Henry B. Scheuer	“Kansas-Nebraska Overprint Stamps: Why, When and Where They Were Initially Sold”
2015	Douglas S. Weisz	Dorothy Knapp: Philately and Family
2014	Harry F. Themal	“Jackie Kennedy’s ArtCraft Cachet”
2013	David Zubatsky	“Walter M. Stawuszewski: Philatelic Artist and Collector”; “Dorothea ‘Dottie’ Bundy and Her Handpainted Cachets”; and “Frank J. Ulrich: Designer of Handdrawn Watercolor Cachets”
2012	Jerry A. Katz	“Henry Hammelman: Pioneer Servicer, Dealer, and Exhibitor”
2011	David Zubatsky	“Norbert C. Waldau: A Biography and Catalog of his Handpainted First Day Covers”
2010	Mark Lerner	“Charles R. Chickering Cachetmaker”
2009	E. Lee Howard	"Jesse Graham Holland, Pioneer Cachetmaker"
2008	Charles Deaton	"The Philatelic Legacy of the Artistic Edmiston Family: The Story of Gladys Adler & Florence Edmiston"
2007	Robert Lewin	"The Magnificent Covers of Ejgil J.S. Halvorsen"
2006	Ralph H. Nafziger	"Fakes and Forgeries on FDCs and Earliest Documented Usages”
2005	Eliot A. Landau	"The 1866 15-cent Black Lincoln"
2004	Alan Berkun	"The 1868 Regular Production D, E, and F Grill EDUs"
2003	Barry N. Kaplan and Michael R. Rosenthal	"The House of Farnam Story"
2002	Jerry A. Katz	“FDCs of the Special Delivery Issue of 1922"
2001	Bruce Perkins	"The International Demise of Private Cachetmaking Part II, Canada Post Office Cachets"
2000	Alan Berkun and Wilson Hulme	“Aristocrats of US FDCs - July 1, 1851 3¢ George Washington"
1999	Tris Fall	Series of articles "On the Trail of That Elusive Cachet"
1998	Lloyd de Vries	"How to Service Quantities of First Day Covers"
1997	Herb Trenchard	Series of articles on first day ceremonies of the 1940 Famous American stamps
1996	Ken Lawrence	Three-part series "First Day Covers in Earliest Usages"
1995	Dr. Michael Rosenthal and Dr. Marvin Speer	Ken Boll Cachet Catalogue
1994	Tom O'Hagan	"Bill Olvey and K.M.C. Venture Cachets"
1993	Robert Colby	"A Study of Sc. C19, 6¢ Airmail June 30, 1934 FDCs"
1992	G. R. "Dick" Danielson	Two-part article "Vincennes and George Rogers Clark 1779-1929"
1991	Monte Eiserman	"Conversations with Ludwig W. Staehle” series of articles
1990	Melvin L. Baron and Stan Lum	A series of articles on classic First Day Covers of Canada
1989	Ken Lawerence, George W. Brett, Ed Denson, Allison W. Cusick, and Dr. Robert Rabinowitz	FDC symposium in The United States Specialist - "Evolving First Day Fashions" (Lawrence); "What is a First Day Cover?" (Brett); "A PNC Dealer's View" (Denson); "Thoughts on the Legitimacy of Contemporary First Day Covers" (Cusick); and “PNC First Day Covers Still Can Be Faked" (Rabinowitz)
1988	Joe D. Hough	Continuing series of articles on First Day Covers of the Virginia Dare commemorative stamp of 1937
1987	Larry S. Weiss	"First Day Covers of Sc. 331a and 332a”
1986	Douglas H. Henkle	"U.S. Virgin Islands: Part 2 Sc. 799-802 Laird Cachet Varieties"
1985	Donald E. Sabo	"An Illustrated Catalog of the William G. Windhurst Sc. 610 FDCs: With a Critique on his September 1, 1923, Marion Statistics Report"
1984	Richard A. Monty	"Prof. Earl G. Planty: The Dean of First Day Cover Collecting"
1983	Marshall Ackerman	Feature column, "The Simple Pleasures of First Day Cover Collecting"
1982	Dr. Leon Cheris	Continuing series, "Postal History: Experimental Tagged First Day Covers 1963-1973”
1981	Dr. Leon Cheris	Continuing series, "Postal History: Experimental Tagged First Day Covers 1963-1973”
1980	Jack A. Harlan	"Hobart Schacht's Cachets"
1979	Dr. Melvin L. Baron	Multi-part series on the FDCs of the Canadian postal issues of 1930-40
1978	Edward Siskin and Henry B. Scheuer	“Designated First Day Dates,” multi-part series on pre-1922 FDCs
1977	Henry B. Scheuer	Multi-part series on the Jamestown Commemorative Issue of 1907
1976	Pat and Ed Siskin	Five-part series on the Valley Forge commemorative of 1928
1975	Barry Newton	For numerous features on both classic and contemporary material which appeared in First Days during 1975
1974	David R. Whitesell	"Yorktown: Anatomy of a First Day"
1973	Curtis B. Patterson	Series of articles on early cachet makers and servicers
1972	Felix D. Bertalanffy	"The Special Cancellations and First Day Covers of Japan”
1971	Jack V. Harvey	"Four New First Day Cities for the 15c Rotary Special Delivery" as well as his continuing series on FDCs of the Kansas-Nebraska issues
1970	Jack V. Harvey	"Earliest Known Date of '22 Two-Cent Use”
1969	Adam K. Bert	“Counterfeit First Day Covers” series of articles
1968	Herbert S. Halm	"First Day Covers of Uruguay"
1967	Richard H. Thompson	"Six Cent Airmail (C19) First Day"
1966	David J. Simmons	“Israel First Day Covers”
1965	Curtis B. Patterson and Marge Finger	"Official Cachets on U. S. First Day Covers” series of articles
1964	Stan Hamilton	"Canal Zone First Day Covers"

American First Day Cover Society
P.O. Box 57
Somerset, WI 54025-0057

Telephone:
+1 (540) 940-1629

Email:
afdcs@afdcs.org

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American First Day Cover Society

AFDCS Awards and HonorsHonoring those who have served the American First Day Cover Society

AFDCS Awards and Honors
Honoring those who have served the American First Day Cover Society