The American First Day Cover Society (AFDCS) has donated $5,000 to Boston 2026, the next internationally sanctioned U.S. philatelic exhibition.
The AFDCS unanimously approved the donation this July as its officials, as well as other leaders with the American Philatelic Society and Boston 2026, called on the hobby’s international governing body to approve first-day covers (FDCs) as a separate class. Currently, FDCs belong to the “Other” class.
“We want to send a message that the AFDCS is a major player in the hobby, not just another organization,” said AFDCS board member Foster Miller, who proposed the donation. “We also want to send a message to the international stamp community that first-day covers are important.”
Part of a series of once-in-a-decade international shows south of the border, Boston 2026 will take place on May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. For more details, visit boston2026.org.
The previous event was held in New York in 2016. The world’s largest non-profit organization for FDC collectors, the AFDCS is also the fourth largest stamp society in the United States. It sponsors an annual contest for cachetmakers and co-sponsors the annual Great American Stamp Show (GASS), which will next be held on Aug. 25-28 in Sacramento, Calif. The AFDCS-sponsored Americover Exhibition at GASS will feature 25 exhibits across 138 frames.