Helpful Stamp Organizations and Museums
Collectors have to sift through lots of information while tracking down and researching stamps. It can be helpful to have a handy list of organizations that in one way or another support that effort.
American First Day Cover Society
PO Box 65730
Tucson, AZ 85728-5730
Website: http://www.afdcs.org/
AFDCS is a not-for-profit society focusing on First Day Covers and First Day Cover collecting. It publishes a magazine eight times per year.
American Philatelic Society
100 Match Factory Place
Bellefonte, PA 16823
814-933-3803 EXT 223
Website: http://www.stamps.org
The APS has a range of resources for philatelists. Annual membership provides access to library services, educational seminars and correspondence courses. Members also have access to an estate advisory service, translation service and others. Its magazine, The American Philatelist, comes with the membership, as well.
American Stamp Dealers' Association
3 School St.
Glen Cove, NY 11542-2517
Website: http://www.asdaonline.com/
The ASDA is involved in every aspect of philately and has 11 regional chapters nationwide. It will provide a complete listing of dealers in a collector's area on request.
Junior Philatelists of America
Central Office
P.O. Box 2625
Albany, OR 97321
Website: http://www.jpastamps.org/
The JPA offers auction, exchange, pen pal and other services to young stamp collectors. It also publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, The Philatelic Observer. Adult supporting memberships and gift memberships are also available. The Society publishes helpful brochures that are available to members.
Modern Postal History Society
404 Dorado Ct
High Point, NC 27265-9650
The MPHS centers on the collection and study of postal history, beginning in the early 20th century. Valuable information is available on rates, modern markings such as bar codes and ink-jet postmarks, etc. It publishes a quarterly magazine, Modern Postal History Journal.
Philatelic Foundation
501 Fifth Ave. Rm.1901
New York, NY 10017-6103
Website: http://www.philatelicfoundation.org
The PF is a non-profit organization that provides a renowned expert identification service. The Foundation has a 5,000-volume library, an Expert Committee and other useful resources. It has programs on the Pony Express, classic U.S. stamps, Confederate Postal History and many others.
There are also a number of museums large and small that stamp collectors will want to try to visit. Two of the largest are in Washington, DC, but there are others, as well.
Hall of Stamps United States Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza
Washington, DC 20260-0001
Located at the national US Postal System headquarters, the Hall of Stamps exhibit has on display more than $500,000 worth of rare U.S. stamps and other fascinating artifacts.
National Postal Museum Smithsonian Institution
2 Massachusetts Ave. NE
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20560-0001
Telephone: (202) 633-5500.
Website: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu
Probably the largest collection in the world centered on philately. The collection is huge and historically significant. Research in the collection is allowed by serious collectors, by appointment.