The thirteenth biennial Postal History Symposium will be held November 1st & 2nd, 2024 at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. The theme for the 2024 symposium will be "The Universal Postal Union: Connecting the World by Mail," commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the Treaty of Bern.

The event is jointly-sponsored the American Philatelic Research Library, the American Philatelic Society and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. The 2024 symposium will also be co-sponsored by the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, which sponsored the 2020 Virtual Symposium held in lieu of an in-person event. 

Bob Rufe presenting at the Sixth Postal History Symposium at the American Philatelic Center

History

Since 2006, the symposium provides a forum for philatelists, academic scholars, postal historians, and the interested public to discuss and present research that integrates philately or the history of postal operations into the broader context of world history. 

What to Expect

The symposium will feature two days of presentations along with philatelic exhibits dealing with various aspects of the Universal Postal Union, its history, and its importance. In the days leading up to the symposium, a Call for Papers will be announced, inviting those wishing to present at the symposium to submit, as well as offering further details for those planning to attend the event.

For More Information

Check the APS website and the Postal History Symposium webpage in the coming months for further details as they are finalized. For any questions or comments, contact the library at [email protected].