Category: Media Releases

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.”

Boston 2026 World Expo has been granted FIP Patronage by the Federation Internationale de Philatélie (FIP).

The request for such FIP classification was initiated by Boston 2026 leadership and presented to delegates at its 76th Congress Commissions’ Conference Meeting and Meeting of the Associate Members taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia August 4-9. It was approved without objection and continues the tradition of such recognition by once-a-decade U.S. international exhibitions of years past.

An FIP consultant to Boston 2026 will be appointed to work with exhibition management, followed by formal contract negotiation and signing by both organizations in the upcoming year. This collaboration helps ensure a successful event for all involved.

The Organizing Committee of Boston 2026 World Stamp Show, Inc. announces the restructuring of its leadership. Due to health concerns, Nancy Clark will become President Emerita. In 2013, she conceived the idea of hosting a World Stamp Show in Boston and has been the first woman to lead a world philatelic exhibition. Nancy will remain involved in the organization and continue to contribute as a trusted advisor.

Yamil H. Kouri Jr. will become President. He previously held the position of Corporate Director. Mark Schwartz will assume Yamil’s role as Corporate Director.

Preparations for Boston 2026 World Expo continue on several fronts. The American First Day Cover Society is the latest philatelic organization to contribute funds to help make the next U.S. international exhibition possible. A $5,000 donation was approved by AFDCS’s leadership this past week.

Founded in 1955, it is the world’s largest group of over 1,100 members specializing in the creation and collecting of first day covers. Their extensive web site at afdcs.org offers viewers a wealth of information along with videos on their new YouTube channel, accessible through a home page link. “We want to send a message that the AFDCS is a major player in the hobby, not just another organization,” said AFDCS board member Foster Miller, who proposed the donation. “We also want to send a message to the international stamp community that first day covers are important.”

Nancy Clark, Boston 2026 President, said, “It’s just this kind of support within the philatelic community which makes it possible to continue to promote both our hobby and our mission to enrich lives through philately.”

Are you planning to attend the Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento, California in late August? If so, stop by the Boston 2026 First Day Ceremony on opening day, August 25 at 2 PM on the show floor stage. It starts with the design unveiling and release of the second in a series of patriotic-inspired promotional labels followed by a presentation by Yamil Kouri, the show’s Commissioner General and a Director of the once-a-decade exhibition. All are welcome.

March 25, 2022

The United Postal Stationery Society has been named a Boston 2026 World Expo “Society Major Sponsor.” 

UPSS President Edward Heir and past President Wayne Menuz met with Boston 2026 officers at show headquarters in Boxborough, Massachusetts, to discuss ways the society could assist the upcoming international philatelic exhibition. As a result, the UPSS Board of Directors appointed Convention Coordinator Bob Thompson as their Boston 2026 liaison and made a $50,000 major contribution to the expo. 

Quoting the society’s donation letter announcing their plans, “It has been the mission of the United Postal Stationery Society, since its formation in 1945, to support the collection, research and promotion of worldwide postal stationery. Certainly, our society’s active participation in Boston 2026 international exhibition, the once in 10 years philatelic event, is in line with that mission.” Their homepage is at upss.org.

Nancy Clark, President of Boston 2026 World Expo and an active collector and exhibitor of postal stationery, said, “We welcome the strong support of the postal stationery community to our celebration of philately and the study and collecting of postal communication.” 

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23–30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.  Full show details may be found at boston2026.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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Thomas M. Fortunato
Boston 2026 Public Relations Chair
Tom.Fortunato@Boston2026.org

December 10, 2021

Boston 2026 World Expo is pleased to announce that a new version of its first promotional label featuring a colonial post rider is now ready. 

A limited-edition sheetlet of nine rouletted labels depicting the image, signed and numbered by its designer, Chris Calle, is being offered exclusively through the Boston 2026 website for a donation of $10. No more than 450 will be made available on a strictly one-per-person basis. 

Unsigned sheetlets of Design #1 were first released at the Great American Stamp Show in Chicago in August 2021, and since that time have been available by visiting the Boston 2026 promotional table at major U.S. philatelic events.  

To facilitate collector demand they, too, may be requested on the Boston 2026 website. Up to three may be ordered per person, free of charge. 

Postage and handling for each U.S. domestic order is $5. International orders are $10. 

Unsigned sheetlets may continue to be requested at Boston 2026 promotional tables while supplies last at national and international exhibitions, including: 

• Emirates 2022 (Dubai, UAE): January 19–23, 2022
• Southeastern Stamp Expo 2022 (Atlanta, GA): January 28–30, 2022
• London 2022 (London, United Kingdom): February 19–26, 2022
• Philatelic Show 2022 (Boxborough, MA): April 29–May 1, 2022
• CAPEX 22 (Toronto, Canada): June 9–12, 2022.

Four additional collectible label designs will be issued, one per year through 2026, honoring the exhibition’s theme of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. 

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23–30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at www.boston2026.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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Thomas M. Fortunato
Boston 2026 Public Relations Chair
Tom.Fortunato@Boston2026.org

July 22, 2021

Dealers interested in participating in Boston 2026 World Expo have their first opportunity to apply during the Great American Stamp Show in Rosemont, IL.

Dealer Bourse Chair Mark Reasoner will be available to answer questions, distribute and accept applications, and take deposits at his show booth #517 on the last day of GASS, Sunday, August 15.  He is presenting details that morning at the Dealer Breakfast, joined by other Boston 2026 personnel.

Application forms may also be picked up at Boston 2026’s booth #304 or downloaded from the Boston 2026 Website by show time.

Please note that booth selection will be in the order of receipt of completed application forms with deposit.  Deposits are refundable until May 2024.

Dealer inquiries may be sent by email to Mark.Reasoner@Boston2026.org.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23–30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the city’s Seaport District.  See the show’s Website at www.boston2026.org for additional details.

• Download

Thomas M. Fortunato
Boston 2026 Public Relations Chair
Tom.Fortunato@Boston2026.org