From hosting special club meetings to setting up post office displays, our members let us know some of the ways you'll be spreading the good word of philately this National Stamp Collecting Month. Why not take a look at some of the responses and get inspired for your own celebrations?
For our part, we'll be even more steeped in stamps than usual this month — if you don't already follow us on social media, make sure to check out our Instagram and Facebook pages this month to see some of what we're getting up to!
Have plans you want to share? Send us an email at digitalcontent@stamps.org!
Terry Blum, APS member and President of the Western Monroe Philatelic Society, shared that the APS Chapter has again this year reserved the display cases of the Ogden Farmers' Library in Spencerport, NY to promote National Stamp Collecting Month. Terry writes that the displays are not only free publicity, but also a nice way to introduce younger library patrons to stamp collecting.
The Butler County Philatelic Society, an APS Chapter, writes that they will host a stamp swap on October 14 at the Highfield Community Center in Butler, PA in celebration of National Stamp Collecting Month. Members are asked to bring stamps and/or stamp collecting items to trade with others — fair trades only, no cash! New members are very welcome to attend, and can join the BCPS for life for the low, low price of just $15.
Proud APS Life Member Bruce Weinman shared that he has been collecting for more than 70 years, and is still having a wonderful time with stamps!
Edward writes that he will be making time for his World War II collection and all of its collateral material, which he began in 1989. He says: "It has been for me a great learning experience as well as a philatelic experience. And it’s not over yet!"
APS Life Member Jim Balog has been creates displays for local post offices, including the Fairport Harbor, OH (44077) post office (pictured below). The display features items related to National Stamp Collecting Month, including vintage USPS ads from National Geographic.
APS Member Steve D'Angelo of Little Art Treasures writes that he's been selling stamps online for nearly 25 years; in his recent posts on X (formerly Twitter), he's included callouts reminding followers and customers that October is National Stamp Collecting Month.
APS Member Wayne Broky says that he's looking forward to working on his collection of foreign stamps this month, as well as attending a meeting of his stamp club later in October. He also plans to catch up with various publications from Mystic Stamp Company, Scott Publishing Company, and, of course, the APS.
Digital Life Member Richard Babcock wrote to us about the type of cover he'll be spending time researching this October. He says that doing the research to find out more about the cover, but especially about the person it was sent to, and bringing his findings together to reach a conclusion brings excitement and gratification. In the example below, Richard says that the question he asked himself was why the letter never found its intended recipient.
The answer? He was shot down over France in 1942.
Thank you to everyone who wrote in to share how they celebrate National Stamp Collecting Month; we at the APS wish you and yours a very philatelic (and slightly spooky) October!