Author: Tom Fortunato

Boston 2026 World Expo is pleased to announce that it has received a $5,000 donation from the Collectors Club of Chicago (CCC) Board of Directors. The Boston 2026 executives are grateful to Bill Maddocks, CCC President, Melanie Rogers, CCC Secretary, and the rest of the board of the CCC for their generous support of Boston 2026.
 
Founded in the late 1920s The Collectors Club of Chicago has as its primary objectives the documentation, preservation, advancement and promotion of philately through education, study, research and services.  It is best known for its publication prowess of high quality original research works, catering to a wide assortment of philatelic interests.
 
Today meetings are held at the club’s stately four-story row house property, The Cabeen House, on North Dearborn Street in the ‘Gold Coast’ district of downtown Chicago.  Most current members reside outside of greater Chicago, including many countries overseas.
 
The property also houses the largest philatelic library collection in the midwestern United States containing books, philatelic journals, CDs, post office publications, auction catalogs and a wealth of other material.  It is available for members as well as, “anyone in the philatelic community demonstrating a need to conduct philatelic research requiring philatelic literature.”
 
Societies and philatelic groups considering participation in Boston 2026 are encouraged to contact Mark Schwartz, Boston 2026 Society Chair, as soon as possible to express their interests.

Dr. Yamil H. Kouri, Jr., president of Boston 2026 is pleased to announce the first donation to Boston 2026 World Expo by an auction house. Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. of New York City, and its President, Scott R. Trepel, have pledged a donation of $10,000 to the Boston 2026 show fund. Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries will also take a large dealer booth (#125) on the Boston 2026 show floor.

Scott Trepel has been the president of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries since 1992. At the Great American Stamp Show 2021 he was presented the John Walter Scott Dealer Award by the American Philatelic Society. He is also a past member of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum Advisory Council.

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. was also a major contributor to New York 2016 World Stamp Show, the previous world philatelic exhibition in the United States. Scott’s partnership with Boston 2026 World Expo will contribute to its success.

Yamil and Scott will also be exploring joint marketing and sponsorship opportunities involving both organizations.

With over three years to go before America’s next international opens its doors, progress on several fronts is ahead of schedule according to the Boston 2026 Leadership Team.
 
One month into the formal booth selection process sale of dealer booths have been stronger than expected according to Mark Butterline, show Executive Director.  “All 10’x30′ booths are now sold out, with several other popular sizes expected to sell out soon.”  USA/Canada Bourse Manager Mark Reasoner (Mark.Reasoner@Boston2026.org) encourages prospective dealers to reach out to him as soon as possible to avoid disappointment in getting the right-size booth for their business.  Dealers from other parts of the world may contact International Bourse Manager Sandeep Jaiswal to facilitate their arrangements (Sandeep.Jaiswal@Boston2026.org).
 
“Philatelic organizations and individuals have been generous in their support of Boston 2026”, says Yamil Kouri, show President.  “Our efforts in quietly seeking financial support from a variety of sources are paying off thanks to the behind-the-scenes assistance of many Boston 2026 supporters.”  Information on making donations can be found on the Donor page of the show’s web site at Boston2026.org.  Remember, as a 501(c)3 organization, donations may be tax deductible for those who itemize.
 
Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions of San Francisco has become the first auction house to confirm their staging of live auctions at Boston 2026.  Each of the show’s eight days offers auction firms the opportunity to host an exclusive live auction.  Schuyler Rumsey has chosen Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 2026 for their events.  Start gathering your consignments!

Boston 2026 World Expo is pleased to announce that another major society will be participating in the international exposition. The China Stamp Society plans on holding its annual convention and additional seminars for those interested in philately of the region according to H. James Maxwell, show liaison and editor of the group’s award winning bimonthly publication, The China Clipper.

Formed in 1936 the CSS is the world’s largest English speaking philatelic society specializing in China and related regions, including Hong Kong, Macau, Manchukuo, Tibet, Shanghai and the Treaty Ports, Foreign Offices in China and the Japanese Occupation of China. It is the oldest affiliate of the American Philatelic Society. Their web site is at chinastampsociety.org.

President of Boston 2026 Yamil Kouri and Executive Director Mark Butterline both welcomed the news. “We are happy organizations continue to choose our exhibition as their society’s destination of choice for meetings and conventions. An additional thanks to those, including the CSS, that are able to financially support us as well,” said Kouri.

Boston 2026 World Expo continues to emphasize the importance of its online media presence by appointing two specialists as social media chairs.

Alyssa Baumgardner and Alison Sullivan, both of whom work with CEO Charles Epting at H. R. Harmer Fine Stamp Auctions in Manhattan, have jointly agreed to take on the volunteer online promotional position.

Both young philatelists graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with B.A. degrees in 2019 and are account managers with the firm. Alyssa additionally takes on Harmer marketing responsibilities, with Alison heading up office operations.

Boston 2026 President Yamil Kouri commented on hearing the news, “Both of these talented ladies bring a wealth of business and personal online experience to us that will augment our efforts in reaching all demographics in support of the exhibition.”

Boston 2026 World Expo is pleased to announce that Graham Beck has joined the exhibition as an online philatelic advisor.

The 36 year old native South African now residing in New Jersey is a YouTube superstar with nearly 29,000 subscribers watching his engaging videos covering the many facets of the hobby from a fresh and entertaining perspective.

Graham’s Exploring Stamps YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/c/ExploringStamps/videos) has been online since 2016 with videos on a variety of subjects, numbering 127 to date. They are a combination of “how-to” and country/stamp related topics that investigate their origins and history ranging from a minute to over an hour in length. All demonstrate the fascination that stamp collecting brings to young and old alike.

Among Graham’s honors is the 2022 APS Ernest A. Kehr Award, presented for making philately attractive as a hobby to newcomers over a minimum of five years. He was invited to participate in the London Stampex #xtremephilately exhibition this past October, described as, “the art of taking a stamp and finding the object, landscape, person on the stamp in real life and then snapping a photo and sharing it on social media.”

Word has reached the Boston 2026 Executive Committee that the Board of Governors of the United States Stamp Society unanimously passed a motion to support the exhibition by becoming a Society Sponsor, donating $25,000 to the Boston 2026 World Expo.

USSS President Nick Lombardi and its Chairman, Roger Brody, jointly confirmed the news to Boston 2026 President Yamil Kouri in a correspondence dated November 23. The group additionally plans to host a society booth throughout the eight day international exhibition.

The United States Stamp Society (USSS) is an association of collectors devoted to the study of postage and revenue stamped paper produced for use in the United States and U.S. administered areas. Founded in 1926, it was formerly known as the Bureau Issues Association, changing its name in 2000 to more fully reflect the study of U.S. philatelic products of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and subsequent private printers. Their comprehensive web site is at www.usstamps.org.

The USSS joins several other major philatelic organizations already pledging their support at various levels of Boston 2026 World Expo, now just 41 months away.

Boston 2026 World Expo is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael E. Lawson as Chief Financial Officer, joining the show’s Corporate Board.

Mike is Professor Emeritus of Boston University, where he served as professor of economics, and as a dean of the Questrom School of Business. He is a former member of the Select Board of the town of Concord, Massachusetts, where he lives with his wife Nancy Nelson. He also serves on several committees and organizations throughout New England and is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution.

Mr. Lawson is President of the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History Corporation. He is a member of the American Philatelic Society and specializes in stamps of the German States and Canadian Provinces.

Current Treasurer, Cass Rejent, retains his position and is now a member of the Organizing Committee.

The Board of Directors of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society met yesterday during the Great American Stamp Show currently going on in Sacramento, California. At the meeting, the board voted unanimously to donate $50,000 to Boston 2026 World Expo.

Initially founded in 1948 by prominent philatelists interested in the 1851-1857 Three Cent Washington issue, the group’s scope eventually expanded to the entire classics period. The society adopted its present name in 1964 and is best known for its very highly regarded publication, The Chronicle.

Elaborating on the donation, USPCS President David D’Alessandris said, “The Philatelic Classics Society supports Boston 2026 because our Board believes that the future of organized philately requires the support of all organizations to make the show a success and to secure our hobby into the future.”

Boston 2026 President Yamil Kouri followed up saying, “Boston 2026 is very grateful for the support of the Philatelic Classics Society, helping to make this country’s next international philatelic exhibition a major success. Boston 2026 hopes to secure the future of the hobby not only nationally but internationally. It takes a group effort, and the society’s sponsorship is a significant step in making this happen.” The USPCS will be the second Society Major Sponsor of the show.

Boston 2026’s second collectible label was released earlier today on the first day of the Great American Stamp Show in August in Sacramento, California. This second-in-a-series patriotic-themed promotional label was created by award-winning stamp designer Chris Calle, whose artwork was used on the first label and will continue yearly up until show time. Each sheetlet contains nine self-stick labels of the same design.

The label’s image prominently depicts Benjamin Franklin and the July 16, 1722 front page of Boston’s New-England Courant weekly newspaper founded by his brother James. Ben apprenticed for the paper as a teenager setting type and regularly writing a highly opinionated column under the nom de plume of “Silence Dogwood.” A copy of that very page with Ben’s thoughts can be found online here: www.ushistory.org/franklin/courant/issue51.htm.

Like the first label from 2021, both an unsigned and an artist-signed version of the sheetlet are being made available, with Chris Calle signing a numbered limited edition of 450 of this second design. Orders are being accepted on the Boston 2026 web site now. Label 1’s signed version has been sold out for months. Boston 2026 President Emerita, Nancy Clark, commented, “Chris Calle’s colorful artwork on Label #2 focuses on a true Bostonian, born there and apprenticed there. The images selected for Label #2 ring true to Boston’s slogan, the birthplace of the American Revolution.”