The American Philatelic Congress and the Postal History Society merged to form a new organization named American Philatelic and Postal History Congress (APPHC) on January 1, 2021.

Since 1935 The American Philatelic Congress has held annual meetings and published an award-winning hard bound volume annually, The Congress Book, with original in-depth articles covering a wide range of philatelic subjects. The American Philatelic Congress also sponsors an exhibiting award to promote excellence in the text descriptions of philatelic exhibits. Both will continue.

The Postal History Society was founded in 1951 and has consistently published ground-breaking articles in its award-winning Postal History Journal. The journal will continue as the Postal History Journal sponsored by the APPHC. In addition, the Postal History Society has awarded a medal recognizing the best postal history exhibit at every World Series of Philately show that requests it. That award will continue as the Postal History Medal of the APPHC.

With the merger, the new organization will combine the resources of the two societies to continue to publish the highest level of philatelic research with a broad appeal. Longer articles, generally not suitable to be appear in a single issue of most periodical publications, will continue to be included in The Congress Book, dealing with both philatelic and postal history subjects. Shorter postal history articles, in many cases expanding the boundaries of this genre, will be published in the Postal History Journal.

The American Philatelic and Postal History Congress will continue to bestow its previous awards to exhibits for their writing and postal history presentations.

Annual membership dues in the American Philatelic and Postal History Congress start at $50 for domestic and $70 for international associates. For more information, please visit www.americanphilateliccongress.org.