Submissions are now open for the American Philatelic Society’s (APS) 2023 Star Route Awards which recognizes club newsletters and websites.
“Since the mid-1800s, the Star Routes were the most challenging routes in the country to deliver U.S. mail,” states the APS in a newsletter. “Legislation was established by Congress in 1845 calling for contractors to carry the mail with “celerity, certainty, and security.”, but postal clerks weary of repeatedly writing these words in ledgers substituted three asterisks— * * * —and the phrase “Star Route” was born. Star Routes were renamed “Highway Contract Routes” in 1970, though they are still commonly known by their original name today.”
The APS added, “Our chapters serve and grow the hobby in those same tough terrains with that same mission.”
The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 11. After judges evaluate and provide feedback for the newsletters and websites, APS will announce the results in October during National Stamp Collecting Month. For more details visit, stamps.org/community/star-route.