Philatelic and Postal History Primer
Philatelic Associations
Introduction//Stamp Types//Collection Types//Getting Started//Associations

Stamp Collecting Associations and Organizations

American Philatelic Society (APS)

The APS is the largest, nonprofit society in the world for stamp collectors. It is supported entirely by membership dues, gifts, and the sale of its publications and services. Founded in 1886, the APS is now in its second century of service to stamp collectors and postal historians.

American First Day Cover Society (AFDCS)

The AFDCS is a volunteer non-profit and non-commercial organization serving the needs of First Day Cover collectors, cachet makers, and dealers. Founded in 1955, the society now has a membership of nearly 3,000 active first day cover collectors, including hundreds of collectors who design and manufacture their own cacheted FDCs.

American Topical Association (ATA)

The American Topical Association serves members in 90 countries. It is the largest philatelic society devoted to a specific phase of stamp collecting. Organized in 1949, the ATA has over 50 years of service to its members. The ATA is the best source of information, fellowship and inspiration in the topical field.

Rhode Island Philatelic Society (RIPS)

The Rhode Island Philatelic Society is the oldest Philatelic Society in the United States. The society began in the city of Providence in 1882. The RIPHS has over 100 active members and is a very active organization The Society meets every other Tuesday and visitors and guests are welcome.

 
Universal Ship Cancellation Society (USCS)

The USCS, an international philatelic organization founded in 1932 has over 1,500 members with an interest in postmarks and covers from all maritime services. This includes Navy ships of all countries, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy bases, merchant ships with seapost and paquebot markings, related cachets, and other naval memorabilia. It is the only organization in the U.S. devoted to Navy and maritime covers.

 
United Postal Stationary Society (UPSS)

The United Postal Stationery Society is a non-profit organization which was formed in 1945 through merger of the Postal Card Society of America and the International Postal Stationery Society.  It is the largest society devoted to the collecting of postal stationery with members across the United States and countries throughout the world.

Post Mark Collectors Club (PMCC)

The Post Mark Collectors Club (PMCC) is an International Organization committed to the preservation of postal history and encouraging the hobby of Post Mark collecting. The club is a non-profit affiliate of the American Philatelic Society. 

U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (USPCS)

The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society is the successor of "The Three Cent 1851-57 Unit" (Unit Number 11) of the American Philatelic Society. It was originally founded by a group of '51 to '57 specialists that included Dr. Carroll Chase, Stanley B. Ashbrook, and Leo J. Shaughnessy. Since its founding, the Society has broadened its scope to include postal issues and postal history from the Stampless era up to the Bureau Issues.

Introduction//Stamp Types//Collection Types//Getting Started//Associations


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