Long-time collector Bill Schultz, of West Chester, Pa., has a challenge for all of the postal historians out there.
A nearby cover shows his surname used in the Sept. 18, 1911-dated postmark from Schultz, W. Va. An unincorporated community in Pleasants County, located in the state’s northwest corner, the community owes its name to settler Christian Schultz.
“Can you match or top this one?” asked the collector Schultz, referring to one’s surname used in a postal marking. “The best one I receive will get a nice philatelic prize from me.”
Readers can send relevant covers to Schultz at bill@patriciaschultz.com.
Schultz retired as a philatelic judge in 2021 after nearly 20 years of scoring competitive exhibits at the national level in both Canada and the United States. That year, he also received the American Philatelic Society’s Ernest Kehr Award for “enduring contributions that help guarantee the future of the hobby,” according to his citation. With more than six decades of philatelic experience altogether, Schultz has also found success as an award-winning exhibitor. He also serves the exhibiting world as a teacher at educational events; as a board member of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, whose mentoring program he leads; and as the author of the monthly “Facets of Exhibiting” column in American Stamp Collector & Dealer, published by the American Stamp Dealers Association.