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Lexington and Concord presented an enormous challenge to patriot written communication, some of which today would be considered “classified”. How could two postal systems possibly co-exist?

Like many children of the 1950’s I was a stamp collector. By mid-1980’s, my childhood memories came alive again once able to acquire many of the finest known examples of classic USA stamps. Ten years later all were dispersed through two single owner New York auctions. Mint stamps in Shreve’s Philatelic Galleries “Premier Sale” on January 19, 1996. Used stamps in Robert Siegel sale 793 of “Classic United States Stamps of Extraordinary Quality and Color” on September 26, 1997.

In search of a new philatelic challenge, a pivot of 180 degrees was to postal history and Philadelphia private post companies. The US Philatelic Classics Society prestigious Susan McDonald Award in 2003 for best article in the Chronicle was “What is a Drop Letter and a Drop Dead Letter?” A second McDonald Award in 2011 was for “The Franklin Carrier Stamp on Cover.” Another 20 research articles in The Penny Post earned the Editor’s Award for best article in 2002, 2009, 2013, and 2014. Published in the New York Collectors Club Philatelist “The Philadelphia Despatch Post” was awarded best article of 2013. My first Single Frame grand award was 2014 from New York Collectors Club for “Local Posts of Philadelphia, 1843 to 1861.”

The highest philatelic award given by the American Philatelic Society is the multi-frame Champion of Champions. In 2006 “Fighting the Fed in Philadelphia: Locals, Carriers, and Independent Mails, 1835 to 1867” was the winner. Subsequent international competition realized 5 large gold medals at China 2009, Italy 2009, Romania 2008, Hungary 2008, and New York 2016. Since 2021 a derivative 8 frame traditional exhibit “Evolution & Impact of Blood’s Local Post: 1842 to 1862” has accepted four Grand Awards and scored a 97.

Searching again for a new challenge and third philatelic life was 18th century pre-stamp postal history of America. A challenging philatelic arena largely centered around Philadelphia and revolutionary war communication. A research article “Birth of New Jersey’s Post” was published in the 2021 New Jersey Postal History Society journal. This year’s 250th anniversary of Lexington & Concord has been commemorated by my monograph “Postal Crisis of 1775.” Passion for early America produced a 8 frame postal history exhibit in 2023 “Evolution of American Mail 1685 to 1799,” which has won two Grand Awards, scored a 97, and at EuroPhilEx Birmingham 2025 was a Candidate for Grand Prix International.

As a 20 year member and recent Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London my wife and I have enjoyed black tie President’s Dinner at the London Guildhall in 2015, and also the Long Room of the Lord’s Cricket Club in 2017. During 2019 it was an honor to give a philatelic presentation in Stockholm in honor of world’s oldest philatelic society RPSL 150th year anniversary. Related collateral material attracted my collecting interests in antiquarian books, colonial maps, broadsides, newspapers and legislative documents. Then 17th century books, 16th century books, 14th century illuminated manuscripts, and even 9th century manuscripts on vellum.

Service to several non-profit organizations has been very fulfilling. The Philatelic Foundation is the premier philatelic expertizing service, on which I have proudly served since 2016 on the Board of Trustees and also as Secretary. Board of Trustees for the Manuscript Society since 2017 introduced annual visits to a large number of historical libraries. Additional service has included President of the Carriers and Locals Society since 2016, President of the Florida Postal History Society 2019 to 2023, and the Pennsylvania Postal History Society Board of Directors since 2023. Also, since 2020 member of the Board of Trustees of the United States Philatelic Classics Society, Regional Vice President for Florida, and in 2024 elected President. What a wonderful life!

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