With the arrival of NY2016 looming in the near future, we had no trouble in filling the frames for this year’s One Frame Competition with a group of outstanding exhibits. In fact, we were over-subscribed and had to turn away a number of exhibits. Judges Steve Washburne (Chair), Steve Reinhard and Hal Vogel had the difficult job of selecting the winners from what had to be one of the strongest groups of exhibits in the last decade.

Larry Lyons, continuing to maintain the excellence in exhibiting that he has shown over the past ten years, received the Grand Award for his exhibit entitled Honour’s City Express Post. From Larry’s award winning collection Figure 1 shows unique use of a fourth design Carrier Stamp from Charleston on June 15, 1851 to London. Only two Charleston Carrier Covers of any design are recorded to a foreign destination, and the other is a fifth design adhesive. This cover is illustrated in Figure 2 and was posted from Charleston on March 19, 1856 to a naval surgeon at Garrison Barracks, Cork Ireland. The transatlantic postage for this cover was unpaid and it was sent by the packet Arabia. It bears a rare arched AMERICAN MAIL arched handstamp of Dublin and a manuscript notation: Not Known at Corks Barrack Try Queenstown. This is the only Charleston Carrier Cover to a foreign destination with the fifth design adhesive.

Mark Schwartz received the Reserve Grand for his exhibit Boston’s Paid in Grid Cancels on the U.S. Imperforate Issues. From his collection Figure 3 illustrates one of two known examples of the 1¢ 1851 cancelled with the small red Boston PAID in grid. It was sent on July 14, 1851 from Boston to Hartford. Figure 4 shows also one of two known examples of the 12¢ 1851 cancelled with the small black Boston PAID in grid. This cover was posted on October 8, 1851 to London and forwarded to Florence. Mark’s exhibit also showed use of the iconic small and large Boston PAID in grid cancels on the issues of 1847, demonetized covers, and 1851-1856.

The Judges chose to award four Awards of Merit. Included are: Anthony Dewey for his exhibit The War Rate: 1815 – 1816; Richard Maisel for his exhibit The 1882 Provisional Issue of British Guiana; Liz Hisey for Bolivia Sports Issue 1951; and Don David Price for U.S. State Department Dollar Value Officials of 1873. The entire Price exhibit may viewed by clicking here. Dan Ryterband received the Friendship Cup for his exhibit The American Civil War: Through-the-Lines Prisoner Mail. This award was voted by the membership in attendance. It was established a number of years ago by Alan Holyoake in celebration of the friendship between the Royal Philatelic Society and the Collectors Club.

Special kudos to Liz Hisey for coming out in the top of the competition with a modern exhibit in a formidable field of classic exhibits. She clearly proved that it can be done. Relative to the 2016 competition, I already have accepted the five exhibits which did not make the 2015 competition, and I am pleased to note that Liz Hisey has agreed to be on the panel of judges.