Category: Media Releases

Melanie G. Rogers, President of the Collectors Club of Chicago, has informed Boston 2026 officers of the group’s commitment of yearly $5,000 contributions through the start of the Boston 2026 international exhibition. The CCC made an initial $5,000 donation in March 2023.

“We are thrilled to be able to support Boston 2026. This event will be a phenomenal opportunity for collectors from around the world to come together to enjoy and celebrate our beloved hobby and fellowship” said Rogers.

Incorporated in 1928, the mission of the Collectors Club of Chicago is to advance and promote philately through education, publications, research, exhibitions and maintenance of one of the nation’s largest libraires for collector use. The club’s headquarters is a landmark brownstone in the city’s famous Gold Coast neighborhood.

Ther first of two $5,000 donation checks has been sent to Boston 2026 World Expo officers on behalf of the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History, located on the campus of Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts.

The museum will be hosting a large booth in “Society Row” during the Expo, offering free evaluations of stamps and collections to the general public.

The Spellman is in elite company with the Smithsonian Institution National Postal Museum in Washington, DC, as one of the few philatelic museums in the United States and the oldest postal museum in the western hemisphere.

More than two million items make up the museum’s holdings, including stamps, covers and other postal related items.  Besides the original Spellman philatelic collection, it has added those from dignitaries including U.S. Presidents Roosevelt and Eisenhower, Army General Matthew Ridgway and violinist Jascha Heifetz.

The museum’s slogan, “Your portal to history, culture, and the arts,” embodies the organization’s mission of using philately as an educational tool.  This is especially true through its “Stamps Come Alive” program, integrating expert speakers on a variety of subjects with related philatelic material.  The Spellman is a popular field trip destination for school children in the region.

Brian J. Howard, Spellman Executive Director, said of the donation, “The Spellman Museum is pleased to support the Boston 2026 World Expo.  For over sixty years, the museum has worked to promote philately and to be a repository for both national and worldwide postal history.  This gift is indicative of the strong relationship between the Spellman and this hallmark event; we invite all show attendees to our facility on the Regis College campus during their time in Boston.

As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational institution, The Spellman receives funding from donors across the world supporting their mission and operations.  It is managed through a Board of Trustees, executive director, museum staff and dedicated volunteers.

Bulletin #1 for Boston 2026 World Expo has just been released in digital format and is available for viewing and downloading here.

This first of two expected bulletins contains over 50 pages introducing readers to the composition of the one-a-decade U.S. international exhibition through the people and organizations making it possible.

Boston 2026 President Yamil Kouri said, “Much work has gone into this informative booklet that will answer most questions potential attendees and participants have.  We’ve also included several articles about greater Boston’s historical significance to the nation’s founding along with their philatelic tie-ins.”

Initial show hotel information is included.  At this point arrangements have been made with eight hotels within walking distance of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, site of the show.  More affordable options are being sought further away from the city center.  Reservations for all offerings will be available starting in the Spring of 2025.

Donors are gratefully acknowledged across several pages.   Donation levels are explained with various thank-you premiums associated to each, including admittance to the Minuteman Club.  As a recognized 501(c)3 organization, donations may be tax-deductible to U.S. contributors who itemize.

Bulletin #1 features a listing of current booth holders, numbering over 75.  Booth space is still available for 4- or 8-day options.  Interested dealers are urged to contact US/Canada bourse chair Mark Reasoner (Mark.Reasoner@Boston2026.org) or international bourse chair Sandeep Jaiswal (Sandeep.Jaiswal@Boston2026.org).  Postal administrations will be contacted later this year with participation information.

Mexico-Elmhurst Philatelic Society International has made a $1,500 contribution to Boston 2026 World Expo.

Well-known as the only major philatelic society specializing in Mexican philately of all kinds, MEPSI has members on all continents except Antarctica and in nearly every U.S. state. It is an affiliate of the American Philatelic Society.

The “Elmhurst” part of their name stems from its 1935 origins in Elmhurst, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. It was there that 25 collectors formed a local club that eventually added “Mexico” to the name, as this was the country they discovered they all collected and decided to focus on.

Yearly membership in MEPSI begins in January and entitles collectors to four issues of their Mexicana journal, access to an extensive reference library, circuit book submissions and purchases, and expertization services. Plans are underway for MEPSI to host their 2026 convention at Boston 2026. Find out more about them on their web site at mepsi.info.

Philatelic societies and organizations of any size are welcome to reserve rooms for meetings and presentations daily throughout the eight days of Boston 2026. Contact Society Chair Mark Schwartz (Mark.Schwartz@Boston2026.org) to inquire or make your interests known.

On the heels of a personal donation from its president, Donald J. Sundman, Mystic Stamp Company has come forth with its own $25,000 donation to Boston 2026 World Expo.

Yamil Kouri, Boston 2026 President, welcomed the contribution saying: We continue to be amazed at the generosity of the entire Mystic organization in their backing of America’s next international exhibition.  The company’s slogan as ‘America’s Leading Stamp Dealer’ is certainly befitting their support of the show.

As mentioned in a prior press release Mystic became a 100% employee-owned company in April 2021 with the Sundmans continuing their positions—Donald as president and wife Chacea as director of human resources.  The 110-employee business is based in Camden, New York, specializing in the buying and selling of postage stamps, collecting supplies, and other philatelic items.

The firm’s annual U.S. Stamp Catalog is one of the most comprehensive featuring over 160 pages depicting 4,800 stamps in full color along with other must-haves for collectors.  Those in the U.S. may request one free of charge through their web site at www.mysticstamp.com and learn of their approval services.

First day cover enthusiasts know of the connection between Mystic and three historic mass-producers of cacheted covers formerly in the marketplace.  Fleetwood was bought by Mystic in 2007, followed by Colorano’s silk cachet business in 2016.  Mystic then purchased Artcraft’s 5 million steel-engraved cover inventory in 2019, making it the country’s foremost supplier of FDCs.

Daniel Knowles, President of the Civil War Philatelic Society (CWPS), emailed Boston 2026 World Expo officers that the organization is making a donation of $5,000.

He continued his message saying that the CWPS members, trustees and officers all look forward to participating in the show by holding meetings and presentations along with sharing a society booth with the Carrier and Locals Society.

Founded as the Confederate Stamp Alliance in 1935 by Dr. Marye Y. Dabney and August Dietz, the group broadened its collecting focus in 2020 by inviting all collectors of Civil War philately to become members and renaming the organization to reflect this. Income from dues and a permanent endowment allows the CWPS to support member benefits while continuing to research, publish and promote the many aspects of philately of the era.

The organization’s web site at www.civilwarphilatelicsociety.org details the offerings of the group, including the quarterly Civil War Philatelist magazine, expertizing service, research scholarship, mentor program, periodical archives, auctions, collections, exhibits, and more.

Look on the Boston 2026 web site‘s Donor Page for information about making individual or society donations. As a 501(c)3 organization, donations may be tax deductible.

Philatelic societies and organizations of any size should note that over 40 rooms are available for meetings and presentations daily throughout the eight-day exhibition. Contact Society Chair Mark Schwartz (Mark.Schwartz@Boston2026.org) to inquire or make your interests known.

Donald J. Sundman, president of Mystic Stamp Company, has made a personal donation of $25,000 to Boston 2026 with an additional pledge being made on behalf of the firm.

Considered by many as one of the hobby’s most effective and enthusiastic promoters, Don comes from a family of collectors.  His father, Maynard Sundman, founded the Littleton Stamp Company in 1945 catering to collectors out of his home.  It greatly expanded through his approval service.

The Sundman family purchased Mystic Stamp Company in 1974 when 19-year-old Don was appointed as general manager alongside his brother, David, who managed coin operations.  Today Mystic has over 110 employees at its Camden, NY headquarters and is 100% employee owned.

Don has been at the center of philately’s most notable stories of recent years.  He and David broke the 1987 story of the CIA invert through details obtained through their Freedom of Information Act request.  Mystic successfully filed a law suit in 1994 to prevent the USPS destruction of the Legends of the West recalled error sheets.  Following the firm’s 1998 purchase of the unique U.S. 1 cent Z grill for nearly a million dollars, Don made history again by trading it for the 1918 inverted Jenny plate block in 2005.  Mystic’s $50,000 reward offered for the return of two inverted Jenny stamps stolen in 1955 successfully recovered position 76 of the famous sheet of 100 and announced during World Stamp Show-New York 2016 to a worldwide audience.

In 2004 Don was elected Chairman of the Council of Philatelists of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, stepping down in 2021 but remaining on the Board.  He was appointed a Trustee of the Philatelic Foundation in 2006.  The APS honored him in 2010 with the Luff Award for Outstanding Service.  He has sponsored over 8,000 APS members, a society record.  His philanthropic endeavors continue to be numerous and noteworthy.

Boston 2026 will have a separate Polar Salon pavilion on the show floor during the international exhibition highlighting approximately 200 frames of exhibits, displays and societies. The Polar Salon will also include a Court of Honor featuring extraordinary historical polar artifacts and archival non-competitive polar philatelic material. A related conference is also planned.

Boston 2026 organizers are pleased to announce that the Polar Salon will be supported in part by a generous $25,000 donation from Jiří Kraus (photo above), a prominent polar philatelist from Liberec, Czech Republic.

Polar philately is a specialized collecting area focusing on stamps, covers and associated documents largely, but not limited to the exploration of the polar Arctic and Antarctic regions. It additionally includes polar-related aerophilately and military/conflict mail, along with thematics and traditional philately from stamp issuing entities in the polar regions and those countries producing “polar” subject emissions.

Competitive exhibits from 1 to 10 frames will be judged by a team of four expert polar philately judges, with an FIP judging option available. Multi-frame grand, reserve grand and single frame grands will be awarded along with donated special prizes. All competitors receive a show medal bearing a special commemorative designation on the reverse.

Members from various polar societies around the world are expected to participate. Further participant details and an exhibition prospectus will be announced soon.

It is with great sadness that the Boston 2026 team and the philatelic community as a whole mourn the passing of Nancy Clark, the founder, patron and president emerita of Boston 2026 World Expo.

Recognized most recently in the 2022 edition of Linn’s Stamp News Most Influential Philatelists and Their Epic Stamp Stories, Nancy’s story began in her home town of Akron, Ohio, where both her parents were stamp collectors and began encouraging her interest in the hobby at the age of 5. She became a music teacher and found employment in Rochester, New York. There she joined the Rochester Philatelic Association in the 1970’s, taking an interest in exhibiting, judging, stamp show organization, and creating youth stamp programs in local grammar schools. Quoting Nancy, “When my kids were kids, that’s when I first began working with beginning collectors.”

Nancy’s talents in these areas became well known to national philatelic leaders at the time and she was tapped to lead youth activities at the 1986 Ameripex international exhibition in Chicago. However, there was a greater need for qualified judges at the time and she reluctantly agreed to turn youth responsibilities to others to judge instead. Around the same time, she received a grant from the Council of Philatelic Organizations to design and develop youth areas for national shows.

Moving out of the area in the early 1980s, she and her husband Doug Clark were the driving force behind the creation of the Georgia Federation of Stamp Clubs in 1990, eventually becoming the current Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs that annually hosts the national WSP Southeastern Stamp Expo. An even bigger assignment awaited her as she was chosen to head the Olymphilex 1996 international exhibition taking place in conjunction with the 100th Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Nancy has always had strong ties with the American Philatelic Society, holding several committee positions and offices over the years, including Treasurer and Director at Large. She was accredited as an APS chief philatelic and literature judge and FIP international judge. Many will remember her for hosting “APS Stamp Talk with Nancy Clark” for more than 17 years, interviewing leaders from organized philately.

In more recent years Nancy was appointed Interpretive Master Planner for the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History in 2010 before heading up Boston 2026 activities.

A recipient of many prestigious award from a variety of societies, Nancy’s philatelic recognitions include the APS 2006 Kehr Award for work with beginning collectors, APS 2008 Luff award for exceptional contributions to philately, the Philatelic Foundation’s 2018 Neinken Medal for distinguished service, and an appointment as a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of London for noteworthy contributions to philately.

Anyone who met her will always remember her smile, kindness and encouragement in whatever philatelic ventures awaited.

The International Society for Japanese Philately (ISJP) is pleased to announce its $5000 donation to Boston 2026 World Expo. Ed Kawasaki, the President of the ISJP, explains, “This donation signifies our commitment to bringing the beauty and excitement of Japanese philately to an international audience, while providing an opportunity for our members to network and share our passion.”

The ISJP will host a booth, hold a series of seminars, have a special networking event, and sponsor the Robert M. Spaulding Award for the best Japanese and related exhibit. “We are delighted to plan a fun and educational gathering while fostering fellowship in Japanese philately,” says Ken Kamholz, publisher of their award-winning quarterly publication. “We are building on the experience of the ISJP’s participation at World Stamp Show NY-2016 and will offer a wonderful opportunity to connect, collect, and learn—whether a neophyte or expert.”

The ISJP was founded in Canada in 1945, now with 450 members from 28 countries and 47 states and territories, as well as strong chapters in London, England; Washington, DC; and Southern California. Members have access to a library, expertizing services, the complete run of JP online and much more. Their web site is at www.isjp.org.

To become a member of the ISJP, please contact Ken at publisher@isjp.org. For those with questions or ideas about making the ISJP’s participation at Boston 2026 a success, please contact ISJP Director, Jeff Susman at jlsusman@UTMB.edu.