FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2008...The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (USPCS) had a very successful 2008 annual meeting in conjunction with 45th annual Exhibit of the North New Jersey Federated Stamp Clubs, Inc. (NOJEX), from May 23rd to 25th. This meeting marked the 4th straight year of membership growth for the Classics Society as well as the 4th straight year of profitability. In the evening of the first day of NOJEX the Classics Society, the Carriers and Locals Society and the United States Stamp Society held a joint dinner at the Iberia Peninsula restaurant in Newark. "Bringing together members of these three societies at a single show to discuss and exhibit the areas of United States philately that we are all passionate about is a real treat," proclaimed Wade E. Saadi, President of the Classics Society. "We look forward to our next joint meeting with the USSS, planned for the NAPEX show in Virginia in 2012."

The annual meeting of the USPCS included announcements for the full Chronicle run to be put on word searchable CD/DVD. Additionally, Dwayne Littauer's exhibit "Pre U.P.U. Rates Between the U.S. and the German States" is now available in full color on CD from the Society's website USPCS.org. Classics Society directors Michael Heller, Jim Lee, Stephen Pacetti and Rob Lund were re-elected along with officers Wade E. Saadi - President, John Barwis - Vice President, Dr. Charles J. DiComo - Secretary, Rob Lund - Assistant Secretary & Dwayne O. Littauer - Treasurer. Two public presentations were given at the show and were very well received by Society members and non-society members alike. Steve Pacetti's talk on Friday afternoon was entitled: "Leeds Patent Envelopes" and Scott Trepel's Saturday afternoon talk focused on: "The City Despatch Post 1842-1852 Issues: A Study of America's First and Most Versatile Stamp-Producing Plate." Our Carriers and Locals Society brethren jointly sponsored Trepel's talk.

Two awards relating to the Society's journal The Chronicle were announced at NOJEX:

The first was the Mortimer L. Neinken Award, awarded by the Section Editors of the Chronicle, for the best stamp article in the 2007 Chronicle: The recipient was Matthew Kewriga for his article: "The United States 1870 2¢ Jackson: From Conception to Finished Die," Chronicle 213. This is a detailed and well-illustrated examination of the development of the 2¢ Andrew Jackson large Bank Note stamp of 1870, tracing the evolution of the design from the initial models to the completed die. Based on a study of all known essay varieties (11 types in all) and new archival information, Kewriga's article corrects the Scott catalog listings, adds new paper and color varieties, and shows in great detail how the National Bank Note Company fulfilled its contract obligation in creating this stamp. Crisp and well-explained illustrations help tell the story: A first-rate piece of stamp research.

The second was the Susan M. McDonald Award, awarded by the Section Editors of the Chronicle, for the best postal history article in the 2007 Chronicles: The recipient was Stephen B. Pacetti for his article: "The Leeds Patent Envelope: A Review and a Possible New Earliest Known Use" Chronicle 214. This is a well-illustrated overview of one of the earliest and best-known patent envelopes. Written in an engaging narrative style, with photos showing in great detail the intricacies of the various Leeds patent designs, this article traces the evolution of the Leeds envelopes, provides a useful summary of previous scholarship and adds much new information to the philatelic record.

The selection of Anthony S. Wawrukiewicz and John Hotchner to be added to the role of Distinguished Philatelists was announced at NOJEX, but the official signing will occur at the APS Stampshow in Hartford, CT in August. Additionally Rob Lund was awarded the Brookman Cup.

Tony Wawrukiewicz is probably best known for his seminal references on U.S. postal rates, beginning with U.S. Domestic Postal Rates, 1872-1993, which he co-authored with the great Henry W. Beecher. Beecher died before the book went to press, leaving the responsibility to Wawrukiewicz to see it through to publication and to its warm reception by U.S. collectors.

In addition to his books, Tony Wawrukiewicz has authored a continuing stream of articles on U.S. postal rates, markings and services, in such key journals as the U.S. Specialist, The American Philatelist, The Meter Stamp Society Quarterly Bulletin and Modern Postal History Journal. For the past four years he has written a monthly column on "Modern U.S. Postal History" for Linn's Stamp News. He has also served as editor of Auxiliary Markings since 2003 and has also contributed articles to that journal.

John Hotchner is one of the most prolific and influential philatelists of the present era. It's impossible to list his philatelic contributions without considerable use of such phrases as "also," "further" and "in addition." He's probably best known as an author. Several generations of readers have enjoyed and learned from his weekly "US Notes" column on page 6 of Linn's Stamp News, from 1987 to the present. He has also been prominent as the editor of U.S. Stamps and Postal History, since its inception in 1981; as editor of The Philatelic Exhibitor since 1986, as author of two sections of Linn's Almanac and since 2006 a monthly columnist in The American Stamp Dealer and Collector.

The Brookman Cup citation reads, "Awarded to a Member of The U. S. Philatelic Classics Society for Outstanding Service to the Society".

Rob Lund is a soft-spoken gentleman, who works diligently for the betterment of the Society. He has helped the Classic's Society immensely with his unselfish devotion to the Society's purpose and cause. He has served the Society in a number of important roles including as Membership Chair, Assistant Secretary and as the booth coordinator for major stamp shows.

The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society is the only organization that studies in depth the stamps and postal history of the United States from the Colonial era to 1900. Our members include both collectors and students. Many have written articles that have been published in our award winning quarterly magazine, The Chronicle of the U.S. Classic Postal Issues, and in other publications. Information about the USPCS, membership, its publications, and articles of interest to collectors and students of the classic period of U.S. philately, can found at the society's website at www.uspcs.org. Copies of back issues of the Chronicle and previously published books are also available from the society's bookstore, accessible from the society's website, or directly at http://www.uspcs.org/store.html.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Wade E. Saadi
President, USPCS
wade@pencom.com

or

Alexander Haimann
Publicist, USPCS
alex@mysticrarestamps.com