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Michael Laurence is well-known to stamp collectors as a journalist, and indeed he has had an exceptional career in that profession, serving with a series of impressive publications: the Memphis Press-Scimitar, the Boston Globe, the New York Herald Tribune, Advance magazine, Playboy magazine, and since 1982; with Amos Hobby Publishing, initially as editor and then editor-publisher of Linn’s Stamp News, most recently as senior vice-president and editorial director of the parent firm.

But it would be a disservice to consider his contributions to philately solely in the framework of his accomplishments with Amos Press, as worthy as those have been. Michael Laurence is above all a dedicated collector and philatelic student, whose efforts have significantly enrich the hobby. He began collecting stamps in 1945, and became a serious specialist in the U.S. 10¢ 1869 issue in 1949. It was his impetus which led to the 1869 cover census of the 1970s-early 1980s by the 1869 Pictorial Research Associates (of which Laurence was a founding member). He was also an early member of the Classics Society, and became a regular contributor to the Chronicle. The Chronicle’s 1869 section was launched under Laurence’s editorship in 1974, and he remained section editor until he joincd Linn’s in 1982, when Amos Press policy precluded his involvement in national philatelic organizations. During his active participation in the Classics Society, Laurence was twice a member of the Board of Directors, and was awarded the Brookman Cup in 1981 for his service to the Society.

Michael Laurence has been a successful exhibitor as well as a collector. His specialized 10¢ 1869 exhibit has won three international gold medals, in addition to its national recognition. His other active philatelic collecting interests are idiosyncratic and diversified, to include: Elvis Presley stamps of the world; U.S. Transportation coil stamps; classic Finland; U.S. locals on illustrated advertising covers; early Chicago covers showing signed-in-the-plate wood-engraved advertising cachets; 19th century junk mail; and hometown postal history from Abington, Mass,; Cornish, Exeter and Hanover, N.H.; and Sidney, Ohio.

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