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Member<br />
Services<br />
Handbook<br />
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
America’s Stamp Club<br />
12/2013
Welcome to America’s Stamp Club<br />
Learn More, Do More, Enjoy More with APS<br />
Take advantage of your member services, there’s Something for Everyone!<br />
Administrative Services . .............................16<br />
Address Changes • Register your Collecting Interests<br />
Mailing List Requests • Dispute Resolution<br />
Contact Us ..........................................2<br />
Clubs and Specialty Groups ...........................3<br />
Dealer Members .................................... 16<br />
Education — Learning Never Ends . ..................4–5<br />
Expertizing .........................................13<br />
Library .............................................6<br />
Magazine — The <strong>American</strong> Philatelist . ...................3<br />
Mail Sales Division .................................8–9<br />
Mentor Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
Online Stamp Store ..................................10<br />
Protect Your Collection<br />
Estate Planning ................................... 15<br />
Insurance Plan .................................... 14<br />
Stamp Theft Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />
Recruit Members & Earn $5...........................16<br />
Shows. .............................................11<br />
Stamp Identification .................................12<br />
Stay Connected.......................................2<br />
Teacher Resources ....................................5<br />
Translation Service . ..................................9<br />
Visit Us<br />
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Center ......................... 11<br />
Website/Online Resources/Media. ......................7<br />
Young Stamp Collectors. ..............................5<br />
Executive Director<br />
Ken Martin, ext. 218<br />
kpmartin@stamps.org<br />
Controller<br />
Rick Banks, ext. 216<br />
rbanks@stamps.org<br />
Director of In<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
Services/Librarian<br />
Tara Murray, ext. 246<br />
tmurray@stamps.org<br />
Manager of Membership<br />
Administration<br />
Judy Johnson, ext. 210<br />
judy@stamps.org<br />
Address Changes:<br />
requests@stamps.org<br />
Director of Circuit Sales<br />
Thomas W. Horn, ext. 227<br />
twhorn@stamps.org<br />
2 APS Handbook of Services<br />
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Research Library<br />
www.stamps.org<br />
http://blog.stamplibrary.org<br />
www.facebook.com/american.philatelic.society<br />
www.linkedin.com/company/<strong>American</strong>-<strong>Philatelic</strong>-<strong>Society</strong><br />
100 Match Factory Place • Bellefonte, PA 16823-1367<br />
Phone: 814-933-3803 • Fax: 814-933-6128<br />
Hours Monday through Friday: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.<br />
Both the building and the Library are closed on all major holidays.<br />
Director of Education & Volunteers<br />
Gretchen Moody, ext. 239<br />
gretchen@stamps.org<br />
Young Stamp Collectors of America<br />
Janet Houser, ext. 238<br />
jehouser@stamps.org<br />
Director of Expertizing<br />
Mercer Bristow, ext. 205<br />
mercer@stamps.org<br />
Director of In<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
Technology/Webmaster<br />
Wendy Masorti, ext. 202<br />
wendy@stamps.org<br />
Director of Internet Sales<br />
Renee Gardner, ext. 270<br />
StampStore@stamps.org<br />
Stay Connected With APS<br />
Director of Shows and Exhibitions<br />
Dana Guyer, ext. 207<br />
dana@stamps.org<br />
Barb Johnson, ext. 217<br />
barbj@stamps.org<br />
Show Time Listings<br />
showtime@stamps.org<br />
Public Relations Manager<br />
Doris Wilson, ext. 223<br />
doris@stamps.org<br />
The <strong>American</strong> Philatelist<br />
Barbara Boal, ext. 221<br />
baboal@stamps.org<br />
Advertising In<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
Helen Bruno, ext. 224<br />
adsales@stamps.org<br />
Twitter.com/APS_Stamps • Twitter.com/Stamplibrary<br />
www.youtube.com/user/AmericasStampClub<br />
www.pinterest.com/amphilatelicsoc/<br />
www.pinterest.com/stamplibrary/
The <strong>American</strong> Philatelist<br />
The <strong>American</strong> Philatelist is the premier philatelic magazine in the nation and the oldest<br />
continuously published philatelic journal in the world. This award-winning monthly publication<br />
features:<br />
• Colorful articles, with subjects ranging from topicals to postal history, cinderellas to<br />
revenues, research to philatelic memories — all written by APS members.<br />
• Calendar of upcoming stamp shows and exhibitions.<br />
• <strong>Society</strong> news, resources, and sources for stamps.<br />
• Advertisements from the world’s leading stamp dealers.<br />
• And much more!<br />
The AP also is available online at www.stamps.org/<strong>American</strong>-Philatelist. Members must<br />
sign in to gain access. From the pages of the online version readers can click on links and<br />
directing them to a particular advertiser or APS service. Other highlights of the digital AP are<br />
printer-friendly pages; a downloadable PDF version; a translation application; a zoom tool to<br />
see enlargements of the pages, stamps, or covers; and more. Other online perks for members<br />
include Bonus Content (www.stamps.org/AP-Album) and archives of issues back to 2007.<br />
Write an Article — We welcome articles about any aspect of philately, so long as they are<br />
original with the AP. You may request “Author Guidelines” from or submit your manuscript to:<br />
The <strong>American</strong> Philatelist, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or e-mail at aparticle@<br />
stamps.org or online at www.stamps.org.<br />
Advertise — If you would like to advertise in the AP, call 814-933-3818 or e-mail<br />
adsales@stamps.org for our ad rates and deadlines. Ad design services available.<br />
Learning through APS<br />
Affiliates & Chapters<br />
Join a national group that specializes in your<br />
areas of interests or find a club in your area!<br />
Affiliates<br />
National Specialty Societies<br />
An APS affiliate is a national organization formed for the<br />
study of a special area of philately. The APS has 200 affiliates<br />
specializing in everything from Air Mail to Zeppelins. Each<br />
group is affiliated with the APS, but is a separate organization<br />
offering varying services to its members. Nearly all publish<br />
specialized journals.<br />
How To Join an APS Affiliate<br />
Contact the APS to receive a list of current affiliates or visit<br />
www.stamps.org/Specialty-Societies for an online directory with<br />
contact addresses, websites, and e-mails. Application forms for<br />
APS affiliates are available from the APS, 100 Match Factory<br />
Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823; 814-933-3803, ext. 201, or by<br />
contacting the societies directly from the in<strong>format</strong>ion provided<br />
on the APS website.<br />
Local Stamp Clubs<br />
Looking to find a club in your area The APS has 500+ local<br />
clubs throughout the U.S. and many countries. All are chapter<br />
members of the APS, but each is a separate organization offering<br />
its own services to its members. Visit www.stamps.org/Local-<br />
Clubs to find the nearest APS club in your area, the time and<br />
location of its meetings, and contact in<strong>format</strong>ion.<br />
The APS supports its chapters through the Chapter Activities<br />
Committee, which sponsors a publication contest and conducts<br />
other programs for local clubs. The APS also offers clubs the<br />
use of audio visual programs, CDs, sales circuits, and the help of<br />
exhibition judges. Free show listings on the APS Show Calendar<br />
and mailing lists are available to chapters to help promote their<br />
club and any upcoming events.<br />
If your Specialty Group or Local Club is interested in the benefits of joining forces with the APS,<br />
contact us today for details: 814-933-3803, or visit us online at www.stamps.org<br />
APS Handbook of Services 3
Learning Never Ends with APS...<br />
In<strong>format</strong>ion, Courses, Clubs & Specialty Groups, Books, Magazine Articles, Library…<br />
Whether you are a beginning stamp<br />
collector or have collected for years,<br />
the APS provides opportunities to<br />
broaden your interests and enhance<br />
your collecting enjoyment!<br />
Answers Are a Member Service<br />
Fast, friendly in<strong>format</strong>ion is one of the most valuable<br />
benefits of APS membership! The APS staff offers responses to<br />
questions like: “My mint stamps are stuck together, how do I<br />
get them apart” “Where can I find supplements for my stamp<br />
album” “How do I collect plate blocks from the self-adhesive<br />
stamp sheets”<br />
Answers may involve referring a member to library<br />
materials, matching a member with a mentor, or suggesting an<br />
affiliated club for collectors who are looking for more in-depth<br />
support.<br />
While our staff does not have all the answers, they often<br />
can point you to an individual, dealer, philatelic publication, or<br />
another organization that can meet your specific need.<br />
We also offer a Q&A section on our website that is packed<br />
with helpful in<strong>format</strong>ion. Visit www.stamps.org.<br />
In<strong>format</strong>ion on Getting Started<br />
Free in<strong>format</strong>ional brochures are available upon request or in<br />
<strong>pdf</strong> <strong>format</strong> on our website. The brochures cover the basics such<br />
as where to find stamps; tools of the hobby; soaking, sorting and<br />
mounting stamps; and more!<br />
Available online at the APS education page is introductory<br />
in<strong>format</strong>ion about the hobby. Here you can discover how stamps<br />
came to be, tips on getting started, and how to improve your<br />
stamp collection. The APS also offers a variety of publications<br />
for sale, and material just for beginners.<br />
Mentor Services<br />
The dictionary defines a mentor as “a wise and trusted<br />
counselor,” combining the instructional attributes of a teacher<br />
with the insights of a guide or seasoned traveling companion. At<br />
the APS, a mentor is a fellow collector who is familiar with the<br />
territory you’re just discovering, a philatelic friend who can help<br />
show you the lay of the land.<br />
APS Mentor Service — The APS Mentor Service allows you<br />
to tap into the talent and experience we have available among<br />
our members Mentors answer questions by mail, e-mail, or<br />
phone contact. To participate, complete the Mentor Request<br />
form (enclosed in the front of your handbook) and mail it to the<br />
Education Department with $2 mint postage.<br />
Summer Seminar students hard at work.<br />
APS StampBuddy Service — The StampBuddy Service goal<br />
is to make your stamp collecting experience enjoyable.<br />
A StampBuddy mentor who has similar interests and the<br />
desire to help fellow collectors will be matched with you.<br />
A mentor can accompany you to a show, club meeting, or<br />
dealer. Your mentor can also advise you on how to store<br />
your stamps and covers, where to buy your supplies,<br />
and much more. StampBuddy mentors have a wealth<br />
of in<strong>format</strong>ion and are eager to share it with the new<br />
collector. Go to the APS website to learn more: www.<br />
stamps.org/StampBuddy.<br />
Education Courses<br />
The APS Education Department offers both traditional<br />
and online courses. The traditional courses are offered at the<br />
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Center in Bellefonte as well as at various<br />
venues around the United States, usually in connection with a<br />
stamp show.<br />
Traditional Courses<br />
• Adult Beginner’s Workshop— Stamp Collecting 101, a<br />
half-day beginner’s workshop for adults age 15 and up, is<br />
an opportunity to learn a great deal about the hobby in a<br />
short time from friendly stamp experts. The workshop is<br />
held during the <strong>Society</strong>’s annual AmeriStamp Expo and<br />
StampShow. Topics covered include how to understand<br />
and use the Scott Catalogue; basic tools of the hobby;<br />
how to mount and store philatelic material; how to soak<br />
stamps off paper; and how to identify worldwide stamps.<br />
A small fee is charged to cover the cost of materials.<br />
Contact the Education Department for more details.<br />
• Summer Seminar on Philately — Every June some of<br />
the greatest experts in the hobby — and collectors<br />
eager to learn from them — gather for a week-long,<br />
intensive, hands-on program. Small classes allow highly<br />
personalized instruction and sharing of in<strong>format</strong>ion.<br />
Each student selects one “major” course of study. Elective<br />
courses and group sessions allow students to sample<br />
4 APS Handbook of Services
topics outside their major course. The week includes<br />
tours of the <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Center, use of the<br />
Sales Division and the Library, an auction of studentconsigned<br />
material, and social events.<br />
• APS Courses “On the Road” — The APS occasionally<br />
offers educational courses prior to large national shows<br />
in major cities. Frequently, the course content is tailored<br />
to what collectors in that area wish to learn.<br />
Online Courses at APS StampCampus<br />
Online courses are available at various times throughout<br />
the year and vary in <strong>format</strong> from live Internet classes to<br />
correspondence. Check the APS website for specific<br />
course topics and dates. Each course is written by<br />
collectors for collectors.<br />
• Basic Stamp Collecting (four lessons).<br />
• Collecting First Day Covers (Parts 1& 2).<br />
• Keys to Exhibiting (six lessons).<br />
Publications<br />
What better way to learn than through reading<br />
APS publications range from books and kits for the<br />
beginner, to coffee table books, to scholarly works.<br />
Members enjoy a generous 20% discount on many<br />
<strong>Society</strong> publications.<br />
For a complete list of publications, visit the APS<br />
Shop at www.stamps.org/Publications or request a brochure by<br />
phone: 814-933-3803 or e-mail: requests@stamps.org.<br />
Just For Kids<br />
Get an Early Start with APS<br />
Stamp collecting is a hobby young people enjoy. Many older<br />
stamp collectors got their start as children and credit their stamp<br />
collecting hobby with success in school and academic endeavors.<br />
Kids can enjoy the hobby by:<br />
• Visiting “Just For Kids” at www.stamps.org — for<br />
in<strong>format</strong>ion, fun facts, activities, upcoming stamp<br />
releases, and more!<br />
• Joining an AllStar Stamp Club in your area — have fun<br />
with young collectors just like you! Contact the APS<br />
today for a club near you!<br />
• Joining Young Stamp Collectors of America —<br />
an Internet-based group for young collectors<br />
under 18. As a member you will receive the<br />
YSCA e-newsletter, special low prices on<br />
collecting supplies, an exciting website, online<br />
support via e-mail, and a monthly e-meeting!<br />
• Earning your Boy Scout Stamp Collecting<br />
Merit Badge.<br />
Contact YSCA@stamps.org for more in<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
on Youth Stamp Collecting activities.<br />
Teacher/Leader Resources<br />
Today’s teachers need standard-based lessons that meet the<br />
needs of all their students, using hands-on methods. Stamps are<br />
a terrific way to help children achieve. The APS assists teachers<br />
by:<br />
• Offering the “Stamps in the Classroom” workshop at<br />
APS stamp shows and various teacher conventions and<br />
conferences.<br />
• Supporting teachers who join the AllStar Stamp Club<br />
with philatelic material and activities.<br />
• Making available a section of our website with free lesson<br />
plans that incorporate stamps.<br />
• Supplying leaders and teachers with<br />
printable brochures for beginning stamp<br />
collectors.<br />
• Connecting with homeschool families to<br />
provide training in using stamps to teach<br />
and learn.<br />
• Working with university professors in<br />
training pre-service teachers on the use of<br />
stamps in the classroom.<br />
• Offering the <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Center as<br />
a site for classroom field trips.<br />
APS Handbook of Services 5
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Research Library<br />
www.stamplibrary.org<br />
the ultimate philatelic research site<br />
The APRL has one of the world’s largest and most accessible<br />
collections of philatelic literature. Housed in the <strong>American</strong><br />
<strong>Philatelic</strong> Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, its nearly three<br />
miles of shelving contain more than 21,000 book titles and 5,700<br />
journal titles.<br />
The Library Collection<br />
The collection includes books and journals about worldwide<br />
stamps and postal history, as well as the history of philately and<br />
related subjects like transportation and geography. In addition to<br />
books, journals, and newsletters, the Library has:<br />
• Catalogs (general and specialized)<br />
• Government documents<br />
• Auction catalogs and price lists<br />
• Stamp show programs and palmares<br />
• Exhibits (copies of philatelic exhibits)<br />
• CD- and DVD-ROMs<br />
• A growing collection of digital resources<br />
Special collections and archives include the Daniel Hines<br />
Air Mail Collection; the <strong>American</strong> First Day Cover <strong>Society</strong><br />
Archives; reference files compiled by Ernest Kehr, Belmont<br />
Faries, John Stark, and Forest Ellis; the Elliott Perry–Cyril dos<br />
Passos correspondence files; post office documents collections;<br />
and more.<br />
The APRL collections have been strengthened over the years<br />
through the acquisition of specialized libraries including the<br />
State Revenue <strong>Society</strong> Library, <strong>American</strong> Revenue Association<br />
Library, Polonus <strong>Philatelic</strong> <strong>Society</strong> Library, and the Postal<br />
History <strong>Society</strong> Library.<br />
Using the Library<br />
Members are welcome to visit the library in Bellefonte, where<br />
they can browse the collection, access archival materials, consult<br />
with library staff, and use our comfortable research space.<br />
Library collections and services can also be accessed from<br />
anywhere in the world — when you have research questions,<br />
e-mail us at aprl@stamps.org, call us at 814-933-3803, or<br />
discover online resources at www.stamplibrary.org.<br />
The APRL Delivers …<br />
to your mailbox and your inbox<br />
Search our catalog online at www.stamplibrary.org. Access<br />
online publications and request book loans, photocopies, or<br />
scans using the handy cart feature. The catalog also serves as the<br />
<strong>Philatelic</strong> Union Catalog, allowing you to search the holdings of<br />
multiple libraries and an article index simultaneously.<br />
Services for APS members include:<br />
• Book loans by mail<br />
• Photocopy and scanning services<br />
• Reference assistance<br />
The <strong>Philatelic</strong> Literature Review<br />
The APRL’s quarterly journal delivers indexes, bibliographies,<br />
book reviews, library news, and “The Clearinghouse” — a<br />
forum for buying and selling philatelic literature — in both print<br />
and digital <strong>format</strong>s. The basic U.S. subscription — or a digital<br />
subscription anywhere in the world — is just $18 a year.<br />
In between issues, keep up with the latest news by following<br />
the journal’s companion blog, <strong>Philatelic</strong> Literature & Research, at<br />
http://blog.stamplibrary.org.<br />
Tax-Exempt Status<br />
The APRL is a public library under Pennsylvania law and<br />
an authorized tax-exempt, nonprofit institution under Section<br />
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.<br />
The library welcomes donations of philatelic literature and<br />
materials, archival items and collections, as well as monetary<br />
contributions to secure the maintenance and growth of<br />
library services. If you are considering a donation of literature<br />
or archival material, please contact us in advance to make<br />
arrangements.<br />
6 APS Handbook of Services
APS Digital/Web Resources<br />
Stamp collecting is a hobby that can be as diverse a pastime<br />
as we wish it to be. For example, while many collectors prefer the<br />
traditional pursuit of engraved stamps with water-activated gum<br />
that allows a stamp to be easily removed from paper in water,<br />
others may collect stampless covers, postmarks, or colorful<br />
topicals that reflect another hobby. The APS continually strives<br />
to address the interests and needs of all our varied members.<br />
Although we maintain a traditional touch with our printed<br />
monthly journal and though our direct mail sales circuits, we<br />
also utilize technology to allow us to provide additional services<br />
to help our members enhance their enjoyment of collecting.<br />
Stamps.org<br />
The world wide web provides an unparalleled opportunity<br />
for groups and individuals to share vast amounts of in<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
at a relatively low cost. During 2013 the nearly 1,000 pages<br />
on the APS website (www.stamps.org) were visited more than<br />
a half million times. Some of the in<strong>format</strong>ion we provide is<br />
available to anyone, but the site also includes a members-only<br />
area that includes such things as archived issues of The <strong>American</strong><br />
Philatelist and the <strong>Philatelic</strong> Literature Review. Members also can<br />
access records of their recent transactions with the <strong>Society</strong> and<br />
check on items they have available for sale or have submitted for<br />
services such as Quick ID.<br />
In addition to the general in<strong>format</strong>ion on all APS services,<br />
some of the most frequently visited pages include:<br />
• In<strong>format</strong>ion on U.S. New Issues<br />
• Free full-color, downloadable Album Pages<br />
• Dealer contact in<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
• Local club and affiliate in<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
• Digital version of The <strong>American</strong> Philatelist<br />
• Event and Show Calendar<br />
• Literature holdings for the APRL and ten other libraries<br />
• Scans of material in our Reference Collection<br />
• Digital Exhibits<br />
• Award-winning articles<br />
• Free colorful, downloadable Cachets and Wallpaper<br />
• Columns detailing differences between genuine and<br />
forged stamps<br />
• Detailed in<strong>format</strong>ion on the <strong>Society</strong> and Library, including<br />
our history, bylaws, budget, financial statements, annual tax<br />
forms, ethics, and conflict of interest policies also are available.<br />
E-Newsletter<br />
The APS first issued monthly e-newsletters in 2000.<br />
Revamped and expanded in 2008, the e-newsletter goes to all<br />
members who have provided their e-mails and requested to be<br />
included on the mailing list. The newsletter supplements the<br />
monthly <strong>American</strong> Philatelist by allowing us to share more timely<br />
news of the <strong>Society</strong> and current events in the hobby.<br />
Online Courses<br />
The <strong>Society</strong> offers an excellent online learning environment<br />
with affordable, personalized instruction for newcomers to<br />
the hobby. Each course is directed by a knowledgeable stamp<br />
collector and provides lessons that aren’t buried in hobby jargon;<br />
won’t demand expensive equipment, software, or materials; and<br />
include open discussions in online chat groups. We currently<br />
are offering three courses: Basics of Stamp Collecting, Keys to<br />
Exhibiting, and Collecting First Day Covers.<br />
Videos<br />
With tens of thousands of stamp collectors in the philatelic<br />
community, we realize that not everyone can attend our Summer<br />
Seminar, our winter and summer stamp shows, the Postal<br />
History Symposiums, and many other philatelic events around<br />
the country. To broaden the audience for these exciting events,<br />
we now videotape and post to the Internet portions of many<br />
such activities and hobby-related talks. Additionally, we have<br />
produced several videos on how to use the various APS services.<br />
A listing of and links to our videos and select other philatelic<br />
videos is available on the Stamp YouTubes page on our website.<br />
Most of the videos are posted on the APS YouTube Channel.<br />
Digital Programs, Publications and Exhibits<br />
Traditionally, APS has provided a slide library of nearly 150<br />
programs that we make available to our local chapters for the<br />
cost of shipping. We have begun the process of converting these<br />
programs to DVDs, most of which are available for purchase<br />
in our online store. We also have converted a few traditional<br />
print publications that are out of copyright, or for which we own<br />
the copyright, to a digital <strong>format</strong>. Some of these are for sale on<br />
DVDs and others can be accessed directly from our library’s<br />
online catalogue (which allows searches for records with digital<br />
content). A number of exhibitors also have given us permission<br />
to post digital copies of their exhibits.<br />
Online Shopping<br />
In addition to our online StampStore, which offers nearly<br />
250,000 stamps and covers for sale to APS members (and<br />
provides members an opportunity to sell their material as well),<br />
the APS offers a complete online shopping experience. Just click<br />
on “Shop” on our home page and then on “Specialty Shops” to<br />
see the range of available publications, hobby supplies, APS logo<br />
merchandise, and gift cards.<br />
Chapter Webpages<br />
APS will produce and maintain a website for our individual<br />
Chapters for $75 per year. This fee includes hosting and allows<br />
up to four updates annually. If your club is interested in a<br />
premium website that would allow updates, a blog, unlimited<br />
pages, photo galleries, etc., please contact our webmaster, Wendy<br />
Masorti (wendy@stamps.org), for further details and related costs.<br />
Social Media<br />
APS and APRL maintain a presence on major social media<br />
platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter,<br />
and Pinterest. Our Library also has its own blog (http://blog.<br />
stamplibrary.org).<br />
APS Handbook of Services 7
Buy & Sell through<br />
APS Sales Circuits<br />
“Mini Stamp Stores” Delivered to Your Home<br />
For more than 125 years, the Sales Division has served as a<br />
middleman for thousands of APS members who wish to buy and/or<br />
sell stamps and covers — all from the convenience of their home!<br />
What the Sales Division<br />
Can Offer You!<br />
• “Mini Stamp Shops” delivered to your home<br />
• $8.0 million inventory<br />
• More than 160 collecting categories<br />
• No buying limit<br />
• $215 average value per sales book<br />
• Friendly staff<br />
• Buyer satisfaction guaranteed<br />
• Sellers’ books insured while circulating<br />
• 40,000 sales books in circulation among members<br />
• Examiners review items for correct identification<br />
and authenticity<br />
• Excellent customer service<br />
(more than 150 combined<br />
years of experience in the APS<br />
Sales Division!)<br />
What Is a “Circuit”<br />
Buying — How Does It Work<br />
Sales books containing<br />
stamps or covers from a specific<br />
category (country, topic, etc.)<br />
are distributed in “circuits” to<br />
prospective buyers who are<br />
grouped geographically.<br />
• Submit a completed Circuit Request form, available from<br />
the Sales Division or online at www.stamps.org.<br />
• Purchase a rubber stamp containing your initials and APS<br />
number to mark the spaces in the sales book where you<br />
have removed a stamp or cover for purchase.<br />
Multiple-name Circuits<br />
• Based on your zip code, you will be assigned to a circuit list<br />
for each category you select.<br />
• A selection of sales books is sent to the first person on<br />
the circuit list. Purchases are marked with a personal<br />
stamper, and the books and paperwork are forwarded to<br />
the next member on the circuit within seven (7) days.<br />
• Each shipment must be forwarded via first class or priority<br />
mail, using the tracking method described in the mailing<br />
instructions supplied in each circuit.<br />
• Payment for items selected should be sent to the APS.<br />
Local Club Circuits<br />
Local APS chapters can request sales books for their<br />
meetings. Mailings may be scheduled as frequently as once a<br />
month. The contents of club circuits are selected based upon the<br />
specific collecting interests of the club’s members.<br />
Direct Individual Circuits<br />
Seasonal – for members who reside “down South” for the<br />
winter. Circuits are sent to each of the two locations directly<br />
from APS.<br />
On Demand — these circuits are sent on demand and based<br />
on availability of selected categories. There is a charge for this<br />
circuit.<br />
Clearance — these circuits contain previously circulated<br />
sales books offered as “buy-whole-book-or-nothing” at<br />
discounted prices.<br />
APS Visitors — for members traveling in the Central<br />
Pennsylvania area and stopping at APS headquarters. The<br />
in-house inventory is available for browsing and purchasing.<br />
Selling — How Do I Begin<br />
Material to be sold must be mounted in one of five types of<br />
sales books, available for purchase at cost from Sales Division.<br />
Each sales book measures 5 x 8 inches; items larger than those<br />
dimensions cannot be accepted.<br />
• Single stamps — 16 pages, 12 spaces per page.<br />
• Blocks of stamps — 16 pages, 6 spaces per page.<br />
• 8-Page single stamps — 8 pages, 12 spaces per page.<br />
• 8-Page blocks of stamps — 8 pages, 6 spaces per page.<br />
• Covers — 14 pages, each having a pocket.<br />
8 APS Handbook of Services
The Sales Division also sells mounts for use with the sales<br />
books. They are closed on three sides, and each has a flap on<br />
the fourth side with a self-adhesive strip on the back. Mounts<br />
are available for definitives and standard commemoratives, large<br />
single stamps, definitive blocks of four, and commemorative<br />
plate blocks.<br />
Detailed Buying and Selling instructions, suggestions, and<br />
rules are printed in each sales book.<br />
I Have the Books — Now What<br />
• The seller mounts, describes, and prices items within each<br />
sales book, and sends the completed book(s) to the Sales<br />
Division.<br />
• The Sales Division checks each book for pricing, clarity of<br />
description, and proper mounting, and assigns the book<br />
to an appropriate category.<br />
• For the protection of sellers, the contents of each book are<br />
photographed when received and an acknowledgment of<br />
receipt is sent.<br />
Circulation Time<br />
Sales books are circulated for approximately eighteen<br />
months, after which time they are processed for retirement and<br />
returned to the owner with payment for items sold. The seller<br />
may elect to have a book circulate for twenty-four months.<br />
A book will be retired before eighteen months if there is less<br />
than $10 in unsold material remaining.<br />
Retired books may be offered on our clearance circuits at a<br />
discount for the selling of the contents as one lot.<br />
Summer Seminar participants enjoy some time in the Sales Division.<br />
Payment and Charges<br />
Payment is made to the seller upon retirement of the sales<br />
book, after deduction of appropriate charges:<br />
• 20% commission on material sold.<br />
• 2% insurance charge, based on value of the unsold material<br />
in the book at retirement. (This provides complete<br />
coverage against loss or damage while the material is in<br />
the hands of the Sales Division.)<br />
• Return postage.<br />
• Any fines levied by examiners for improperly identified<br />
items.<br />
All Sales Division charges are deducted at the time of<br />
retirement and are itemized on the retirement statement.<br />
Contact the Sales Division today to get started.<br />
Phone: 814-933-3803, ext. 228 • E-mail: salesdiv@stamps.org<br />
Translation Service Available<br />
As an APS member, you can obtain translations of philatelically related material —<br />
letters, cancellations, inscriptions on stamps, FDC cachets — through the APS Translation<br />
Service. Translations of practically all major languages can be accomplished by the more<br />
than fifty members of the Translation Committee.<br />
FEES: Short translations generally are provided at no charge; in some cases a small fee is assessed. For<br />
difficult or complex translations, higher charges are assessed. All fees, including postage, are set before the<br />
translation is begun, along with a price limit.<br />
As a general rule, three times the postage necessary to send the translation to APS should be enclosed<br />
with the submitted material to cover all forwarding and return postage requirements. Do not send<br />
original material unless it is impossible to make clear photocopies. If it is necessary to send an original<br />
document, send it either by registered or insured mail.<br />
Send all requests to: Bobby Liao, Translation Committee Chairman; c/o <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong>, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823; e-mail apstranslations@<br />
gmail.com; website: sites.google.com/site/apstranslationservice/<br />
You Can Help: If you are able to translate from or to another language and are willing to serve as a member of the<br />
Translation Committee, please offer your services directly to Bobby Liao.<br />
APS Handbook of Services 9
Buy & Sell Online with APS<br />
www.StampStore.org<br />
Visit APS StampStore — your online philatelic marketplace<br />
for stamps, covers, and other philatelic items.<br />
• No bidding or waiting — you see it, you like<br />
it, you buy it!<br />
• APS 30-day money-back guarantee on any<br />
item not as described.<br />
• Buy from fellow APS member/collectors.<br />
• Secure, safe online transactions.<br />
• Speedy shipment of orders.<br />
• More than 225,000 items available, with new<br />
items added every business day.<br />
• Looking for philatelic literature StampStore<br />
also features many new and used books.<br />
How To Sell<br />
If you are interested in selling philatelic items on StampStore,<br />
contact Internet Sales by phone 814-933-3803, ext. 270; by fax<br />
814-933-6128; or e-mail us at stampstore@stamps.org. We will<br />
send you a “free starter packet” that includes submission forms,<br />
instructions, and samples of how to prepare material for our<br />
online sales. Submission forms and instructions also are available<br />
online at www.stampstore.org.<br />
How To Buy<br />
With more than 225,000 items, it might be difficult to figure<br />
out where to begin shopping. Never fear, the “Search Stamps”<br />
feature is a very useful tool for the online shopper.<br />
Search Tips<br />
Searching the more than 225,000 items is very easy! For<br />
the best shopping experience, you will need to narrow<br />
your results to find material that best fits your interests.<br />
However, the more search criteria you enter (e.g. Scott<br />
number range, cost, used or unused, etc.) the fewer<br />
results you will receive. You can always broaden the<br />
search by eliminating some of the criteria.<br />
Your Order<br />
Order Fulfillment/Shipping Fees<br />
Orders are shipped the first business day after payment<br />
is processed for purchases. APS strives to keep our<br />
shipping rates at a minimum. A fee of up to $3.95 + 2%<br />
(insurance/handling) of the order total is charged for<br />
orders shipped within the United States (foreign rates<br />
are higher). Full details and a shipping fee schedule is<br />
available at www.stampstore.org.<br />
Customs and Import Duties will apply if the purchaser is<br />
considered the importer of record, and must comply with<br />
all laws and regulations of the country to which the order<br />
is being sent. Contact the local customs office for further<br />
in<strong>format</strong>ion.<br />
The APS Guarantee states that the <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> stands behind every item sold at StampStore.org.<br />
You have thirty days after the order is shipped from<br />
StampStore.org to return material that is not as described<br />
to receive your money back.<br />
Expertizing an item you purchase can be done by selecting<br />
the “expertize” box on the checkout page. The fee is $25<br />
per stamp. On average the process takes less than 45<br />
days. When we receive the opinion, we will contact you<br />
by phone or e-mail, at which time you may reject the<br />
item if the Expert Committee finds it to be other than as<br />
described by the seller. You will be refunded the full sale<br />
price as well as the expertizing fee.<br />
Log On Today!<br />
www.StampStore.org<br />
to discover one of the Internet’s most popular<br />
philatelic shopping experiences.<br />
Phone: 814-933-3803, ext. 270 • E-mail: stampstore@stamps.org<br />
10 APS Handbook of Services
APS Shows<br />
Each year the APS runs two shows that<br />
rotate around the country. AmeriStamp Expo<br />
is held in January or February and StampShow<br />
in August. For most years, APS StampShow is<br />
the largest philatelic event held anywhere in the<br />
world. StampShow often includes more than<br />
150 dealers buying and selling stamps, 15,000<br />
pages of competitive exhibits, multiple first day<br />
ceremonies, 150 or more seminars, a public<br />
auction, and a youth area.<br />
All members are welcome to attend the free<br />
events, and many affiliates hold meetings and<br />
seminars in conjunction with the APS shows.<br />
Future APS Show:<br />
APS StampShow 2014<br />
August 21–24<br />
Hatford, Connecticut<br />
APS AmeriStamp Expo 2015<br />
February 13–15<br />
Riverside, California<br />
APS StampShow 2015<br />
August 20–23<br />
Grand Rapids, Michigan<br />
New York 2016<br />
May 22–29<br />
World <strong>Philatelic</strong> Exhibition<br />
APS StampShow 2016<br />
August 4–7<br />
Portland, Oregon<br />
Visit www.stamps.org for show details,<br />
travel and hotel accommodations, things to<br />
do in the area, etc.<br />
Check out the APS<br />
Show Calendar!<br />
In addition to our own shows, the<br />
APS accredits more than thirty annual<br />
national shows. To find<br />
in<strong>format</strong>ion on these<br />
and other local shows in<br />
your area, visit the APS<br />
Show Calendar online or<br />
browse the Show Time<br />
column in The <strong>American</strong><br />
Philatelist where listings<br />
of upcoming shows are<br />
provided.<br />
History at the<br />
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Center<br />
It’s well worth a visit!<br />
The <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Center has much more to offer than just<br />
the vast resources of the Library and Reference Collection and the<br />
opportunity to peruse sales circuits for bargains. A few highlights<br />
include:<br />
The Match Factory — The <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Center includes the<br />
18-building former industrial complex constructed under the direction<br />
of the Pennsylvania Match Company in 1899. Listed on the National<br />
Register of Historic Places, the complex was one of the eight largest<br />
match factories in the United States, with as many as 400 employees.<br />
Headsville, West Virginia, Post Office — The Civil War-era post<br />
office and general store that resided in the<br />
Smithsonian’s National Museum of <strong>American</strong><br />
History for more than 25 years now is on loan<br />
as a contract postal unit for the APS. View<br />
inscriptions written on the shutters by Civil<br />
War soldiers, the original fixtures, and the<br />
building that served as a model for the 8-cent<br />
Mail Order U.S. postage stamp.<br />
Bellefonte Air Mail Pioneers — For<br />
ten years, from 1918 to 1927, Bellefonte was<br />
a regular stop for the fearless pilots of the<br />
early U.S. air mail service. See actual photos<br />
of the early air mail field and equipment as well as a memorial to those<br />
who perished flying “Hell’s Stretch,” as the mountainous area around<br />
Bellefonte was known.<br />
The Rosback Rotary Perforator — The 1915 machine was used<br />
to perforate 6,641 sheets of the 1-cent gray green Washington stamp<br />
issued August 15, 1919 (Scott 536) — the last of the offset Washington<br />
Franklins.<br />
Mail-O-Meter — The Mail-O-Meter, purchased for and donated to<br />
the APS by Kurt and Joann Lenz, was made in 1906 and was used to seal<br />
envelopes and to separate and apply stamps.<br />
Visit www.stamps.org/Show-Calendar/<br />
APS Handbook of Services 11
Quick I.D.<br />
Do you want to buy a stamp on the Internet,<br />
but aren’t sure it is properly identified<br />
Do you have a question about a stamp you<br />
already own<br />
Quick I.D. can help identify that stamp. This is a quick identification<br />
service for items not normally listed in the standard postage catalogues,<br />
such as foreign revenue stamps, charity labels, local stamps, etc. Please<br />
note that it is not an official opinion of authenticity as offered by our<br />
Expertizing Service.<br />
Submitting Items Online<br />
If you own a computer and a scanner, the process is<br />
quick and easy using the Quick I.D. upload wizard! Go to<br />
www.stamps.org/stamp-identification<br />
STEP 1: Scan Images<br />
Scanning tips are available online to help you.<br />
STEP 2: Upload Images<br />
Upload each image by using the online browse<br />
feature.<br />
STEP 3: Send Images<br />
Continue to an online form where you will be asked to<br />
fill in the required in<strong>format</strong>ion and click on Send.<br />
That’s it! Within four working days, you will receive an<br />
e-mail with a link to your Quick I.D. Report.<br />
Submitting Items by Mail<br />
For members without scanning capabilities, you may<br />
submit a good quality color photocopy of the item, along with<br />
a submission form. The forms are available online in printable<br />
.<strong>pdf</strong> <strong>format</strong> at www.stamps.org/stamp-identification or you<br />
may request a form by calling 814-933-3803. Please remember<br />
to include a check and/or credit card number as indicated on<br />
the form to cover the Quick I.D. fees.<br />
Send the photocopy, submission form, and payment to:<br />
Quick I.D., 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte PA 16823.<br />
Quick I.D. Fees<br />
$5 per scanned item (APS member price) or<br />
$10 per scanned item (non-APS member price)<br />
Quick I.D. or Expertizing<br />
Which service do I use<br />
Quick I.D. Is In<strong>format</strong>ion<br />
Quick I.D. provides basic<br />
in<strong>format</strong>ion based on an image of<br />
a stamp. We usually can provide<br />
the country or issuing entity and<br />
design type. We frequently can<br />
provide a catalogue number<br />
and approximate value, but<br />
the opinion is not guaranteed.<br />
Identification is normally provided within four working<br />
days of submission.<br />
Expertizing Is Protection<br />
Expertizing is appropriate to protect your investment<br />
and avoid financial loss or disappointment. For some rare<br />
stamps with a common design it can be nearly impossible<br />
to make a sale without a formal Expertizing Certificate.<br />
Expertizing provides a guaranteed opinion detailing<br />
a stamp’s identity and condition. Quick I.D. may be<br />
sufficient to determine if a stamp has been reperfed,<br />
but Expertizing is usually needed to detect more subtle<br />
alterations like regumming or repairs.<br />
Sophisticated equipment, experts around the country,<br />
our own Reference<br />
Collection, and the<br />
resources of the largest<br />
public philatelic library<br />
are used to examine the<br />
actual stamp. Typical<br />
turn-around time is<br />
less than 45 days, but<br />
some items require as<br />
long as 90 days.<br />
12 APS Handbook of Services
Authentication Service<br />
We Expertize the World!<br />
Since 1903 the <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong> Expertizing Service<br />
(APEX) has reviewed more than 206,000 postage stamps,<br />
covers, and other philatelic material. APEX utilizes the<br />
services of more than 110 specialists and a variety of<br />
high-tech equipment to provide guaranteed opinions.<br />
Anyone may submit material to the service, but APS<br />
members receive discounted rates. Member rates, based on<br />
catalogue value of the material submitted, begin at $20 for items<br />
valued at up to $200. Each item is returned with a certificate<br />
bearing a color scan and a written opinion detailing its identity<br />
and condition.<br />
The Need for Certification<br />
Why Expertize<br />
• To avoid financial loss and disappointment<br />
• To have a warranty of genuineness<br />
• To have proper identification of paper, color, watermark<br />
and grills<br />
• To know if a stamp is never hinged or has been regummed<br />
or had a cancel removed<br />
• To know if a stamp has been repaired or has hidden flaws<br />
• To know if an item has been reperforated or perfs have<br />
been trimmed to resemble a coil or imperforate stamp<br />
• To make it easier to sell your item!<br />
While outright counterfeits may not be as prolific today as<br />
they once were, modern alteration and or repair of genuine items<br />
to increase their value has been spurred by the demand for highquality<br />
material. The desire for perfection has led to extensive<br />
repairing and regumming of the classic issues of all countries.<br />
To Submit an Item<br />
Each item must be accompanied by a submission form.<br />
Forms may be downloaded from the APS website or obtained by<br />
sending a self-addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope to: APEX, 100<br />
Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Guidelines and fees<br />
for submitting items are printed on each form.<br />
Once Submitted<br />
• Each item received is assigned a number and scanned.<br />
That scan is kept on permanent file and is printed on<br />
the certificate when it is returned to the owner after the<br />
process has been finalized.<br />
• Items are directed to experts by registered mail. (Your name<br />
will not be shared with the experts; and, likewise, the<br />
identities of the experts are not shared.)<br />
• A formal opinion is printed on the certificate and the item<br />
is returned to the owner. Any comments from the experts<br />
become part of the permanent file kept by the service.<br />
• On average, the process takes less than 45 days from receipt<br />
to return. However, because the service is operated via<br />
the mail and your stamp may be reviewed by up to five<br />
experts, we ask that you allow 90 days before contacting<br />
us. An item will not be accepted for expertizing if the<br />
owner insists upon a deadline for its return.<br />
• All items are insured for their full value from receipt until<br />
we return them to you.<br />
Occasionally, when the required unanimous opinion cannot<br />
be reached by experts, the service declines to render an opinion<br />
and refunds all fees, minus a nominal administrative charge.<br />
The APEX Guarantee<br />
APEX is the only major expertizer that provides a guarantee.<br />
APS will compensate the owner of a philatelic item that has been<br />
wrongly certified as genuine or misidentified up to $5,000. Full<br />
details of the guarantee are provided on every certificate.<br />
The service renders opinions only on genuineness; it<br />
respectfully declines requests for market value and for<br />
statements of centering and numerical grading, but it will note<br />
defects and alterations not readily apparent.<br />
Reference Collection<br />
Many items that have been judged “not genuine”<br />
subsequently have been donated to the <strong>American</strong> <strong>Philatelic</strong><br />
Reference Collection of Fakes and Forgeries. This provides a<br />
tremendous resource and also removes spurious material from<br />
the marketplace. The collection is housed in the <strong>American</strong><br />
<strong>Philatelic</strong> Center, and researchers may use it there. Donations of<br />
known counterfeits are welcomed at any time.<br />
For More In<strong>format</strong>ion visit<br />
www.stamps.org<br />
Call: 814-933-3803, ext. 205 or 206<br />
E-mail: mercer@stamps.org or krharter@stamps.org<br />
APS Handbook of Services 13
APS Stamp Insurance<br />
APS, Hugh Wood Inc. & You<br />
The perfect partnership for<br />
the protection of your collection.<br />
Major Causes for<br />
<strong>Philatelic</strong> Loss<br />
• Fire • Theft • Water • Travel<br />
• Shipping • Accidental Damage<br />
Protecting Your Collection<br />
Insure It • What To Do if It Is Stolen • Plan Your Estate<br />
The APS considers the<br />
endorsement of any product<br />
or service a serious matter<br />
and recommends only<br />
the best available to the<br />
membership. Hugh Wood,<br />
Inc. is the official insurance<br />
broker for the APS Stamp<br />
Insurance Program. The<br />
prestige of the APS and the<br />
strength of our membership has enabled us to establish this<br />
Stamp Insurance Plan. Compare the coverage and cost of this<br />
plan with your current insurance, and we are confident that<br />
you will agree.<br />
Hugh Wood, Inc. —<br />
the right choice for stamp insurance.<br />
Principal Plan Benefits<br />
• Easy application process:<br />
— call toll free 1-888-APS-6494<br />
— apply online at www.hughwood.com<br />
— send an e-mail to aps@hughwood.com<br />
— send a fax to 1-814-933-3826<br />
— by mail to HWI at the address below<br />
• No inventory or appraisal is required for any single item<br />
valued less than $25,000.<br />
• No exclusion for losses from an unattended automobile.<br />
• No exclusion for items transported in the hold of an<br />
aircraft.<br />
• Collections of all sizes and value are welcome. Premiums<br />
start at just $25 annually.<br />
• No potential tax liability — the insurance program is<br />
filed in all fifty states.<br />
Hugh Wood, Inc.<br />
220 Match Factory Place<br />
Bellefonte, PA 16823<br />
Toll Free: 1-888-APS-6494<br />
www.hughwood.com<br />
HWI/APS Stamp Insurance is exclusively for<br />
APS members — designed by collectors for collectors.<br />
Collect Defensively<br />
Thieves Like Stamps, Too!<br />
Because philatelic collections are both portable and<br />
negotiable, they are especially attractive to thieves. You can<br />
protect your collection by taking several precautions:<br />
• Use security measures like burglar-resistant safes,<br />
burglar alarm systems, bank vaults, and the careful<br />
recording of important philatelic material.<br />
• Photograph, scan, or photocopy the valuable items in<br />
your collection. Keep that record in a safe place, but<br />
never with the collection itself.<br />
• Know the terms of your APS<br />
collector insurance policy and<br />
abide by those terms.<br />
If You Have a Theft<br />
If you are the victim of a stamp<br />
theft, touch nothing and follow these<br />
steps:<br />
• Call the police immediately and<br />
describe your loss as clearly as<br />
possible. Request a copy of the police report for later<br />
reference.<br />
• Contact the APS Stamp Theft Committee by e-mail at<br />
stamptheft@stamps.org. Its services are available to all<br />
victims of stamp theft.<br />
• Advise the investigating officers that you have<br />
contacted the APS Theft Committee.<br />
The committee immediately collects in<strong>format</strong>ion — times,<br />
dates, locations, and facts that will be used as a basis for the<br />
file on your specific case. After an initial interview, victims<br />
are sent a detailed questionnaire and an inventory loss form<br />
to complete and return. The in<strong>format</strong>ion becomes part of a<br />
confidential file and is available for the committee to use in<br />
identifying your stolen property.<br />
Some stamp thefts are reported to the Federal Bureau<br />
of Investigation. Records are maintained for quick reference<br />
as questions arise and are used for statistical studies of theft<br />
locations, frequency, and amount of losses.<br />
To report a theft<br />
E-mail: stamptheft@stamps.org<br />
14 APS Handbook of Services
Planning Your <strong>Philatelic</strong> Estate<br />
Protect the future of your collection<br />
Leave Instructions for Your Heirs<br />
We frequently hear from the heirs of former members asking<br />
for assistance in disposing of a member’s collection. While we do<br />
assist through our Estate Advisory Service, it is much more likely<br />
that your wishes will be fulfilled if you plan ahead. With advance<br />
planning you may minimize estate taxes, better ensure that your<br />
collection is distributed in accordance with your desires, and<br />
help get maximum value from your material.<br />
First things first! Stress that the collection needs care.<br />
Storage in a basement or attic for two years may be very<br />
detrimental. And, if your collection is insured, be sure to<br />
provide policy and contact in<strong>format</strong>ion.<br />
The careful planning of one’s estate requires the preparation<br />
of an inventory, an honest valuation, a plan for distribution, and<br />
selection of an administrator.<br />
1. Inventory. Keeping your material organized will insure<br />
that it can be easily inspected and the better items<br />
identified. That is why one of the most important<br />
documents is an inventory of your collection. Don’t<br />
panic, this does not necessarily have to be a complete<br />
list of stamps and other items — but it should include<br />
different collections or exhibits, number of albums<br />
and title of their contents, the nature of loose stamps,<br />
literature, etc. The list should also identify the location of<br />
the items (book case in stamp room, bank vault, etc.) and<br />
if any items have expert certificates.<br />
2. Honest Evaluation. A common mistake is that the<br />
collector has not shared an honest evaluation with<br />
anyone else. We hear far too many horror stories about<br />
collections for which the value was hidden from other<br />
family members who, not realizing the collection<br />
represented significant value, simply pitched it. And<br />
it is also not uncommon to hear about the crestfallen<br />
spouse who believes the collection of modern U.S. first<br />
day covers is worth $50,000. If you don’t want the value<br />
of your collection known while you are alive, at least<br />
provide a reasonable estimate in the documents you<br />
leave behind to be opened after your death. In making<br />
an inventory, list catalogue value, replacement value, and<br />
estimated price that might be realized at a forced sale.<br />
3. Plan for Distribution. Ask yourself a few questions:<br />
• Do I want to pass my collection on to others<br />
• Do I want portions that may not have much value<br />
used to promote stamp collecting to kids<br />
• Have I promised any item(s) to a fellow collector<br />
• Do I want my family members to benefit financially<br />
from the sale of my collection<br />
Whatever your designated wishes, it is important to provide<br />
precise written instructions. It is also beneficial to provide a list<br />
of any dealers or auction houses that you wish to be used or that<br />
are familiar with dealing with similar material. Also indicate any<br />
friends who know the material and might be willing or have<br />
agreed to help prepare your material for sale. Remember, your<br />
heirs may get swamped with alleged promises, so protect them<br />
by providing a written record of any designations and relevant<br />
contact in<strong>format</strong>ion that can be easily found and shared with<br />
your administrator.<br />
4. Select an Administrator. Many individuals designate a<br />
family member as executor for their estate, but if your<br />
family has little philatelic knowledge you may be better<br />
off choosing a trusted friend who understands your<br />
collection. Precise instructions on specific items may<br />
prove difficult to implement without a basic knowledge<br />
of stamp collecting. There is nothing that prevents you<br />
from designating a “sub-executor” for your philatelic<br />
collection who is different than the main executor. If you<br />
do not have anyone you feel comfortable with appointing<br />
as your philatelic administrator, you may refer your heirs<br />
to the APS Estate Advisory Service and provide details<br />
of how we can be reached (see below for special Estate<br />
Labels).<br />
Planning Resources:<br />
• Estate Advisory Labels — Self-stick identification labels<br />
are available free to APS members who want their heirs<br />
to use the APS Estate Advisory Service — Call 814-933-<br />
3803 ext. 201.<br />
• APS Dealer and Chapter Listings are available to help<br />
find individuals who would be interested in purchasing<br />
your collection. (For listings contact APS or visit<br />
www.stamps.org/dealers for dealer listing and<br />
www.stamps.org/local-clubs for chapter listing.)<br />
When an Estate Plan Has NOT been Provided<br />
Heirs of APS members may contact the APS Estate<br />
Advisory Service. In<strong>format</strong>ion is available online at:<br />
www.stamps.org or by calling 814-933-3803.<br />
APS Handbook of Services 15
We Are Here To Serve You<br />
Managing Your Membership Is Easy<br />
APS Members Enjoy a Variety of Benefits from the Administration Office<br />
• Maintain your membership record by notifying<br />
us any time you have a change in your contact<br />
in<strong>format</strong>ion or even when you go on an extended<br />
vacation. Permanent summer or winter vacation<br />
addresses can be stored so that your copy of The<br />
<strong>American</strong> Philatelist will be routed automatically to the<br />
appropriate address.<br />
• Register up to six collecting interests to take<br />
advantage of specialized mailing list offers and<br />
exchange partner requests.<br />
• Verify the membership status of any present or<br />
former APS member.<br />
• Get in touch with other collectors with APS<br />
directories of local stamp clubs, dealers in your area,<br />
and specialty societies geared to your collecting<br />
interests.<br />
• Request mailing lists tailored by collecting interest,<br />
zip code areas, or by date of membership. There are<br />
requirements and fees for requesting a mailing list —<br />
call the APS for more details.<br />
• Resolve disputes with other APS members by<br />
taking advantage of the complaint process. Members<br />
found guilty of conduct unbecoming a member are<br />
subject to discipline and possible expulsion from<br />
membership.<br />
Membership Questions<br />
Call 814-933-3803<br />
Address Changes • ext. 201<br />
Membership Verification • ext. 201, 210<br />
Register Collecting Interests • ext. 201<br />
Request Mailing Lists • ext. 210<br />
Member Disputes • ext. 202<br />
Dealer Status • ext. 210<br />
Recruiting Materials • ext. 210<br />
To receive periodic e-mail announcements from APS, make sure we<br />
have your current e-mail address and enter “apsnews@stamps.org”<br />
in your computer’s e-mail address book.<br />
Professional Stamp Dealers<br />
Any member of the APS, age 21 or older, who earns a living<br />
by dealing in stamps or other philatelic items (in business at<br />
least two years) may apply for dealer membership as a fulltime<br />
or part-time APS dealer. Dealer membership is provided<br />
to identify professional members as a benefit to the entire<br />
membership. There are APS dealers who can guide you in<br />
expanding your collection, in learning about or disposing of<br />
an inherited collection, or helping you to sell your duplicates.<br />
Fellow members can search the dealer database online at www.<br />
stamps.org/dealers by business name, city, state/country, or<br />
by business specialty; and for those that do not have Internet<br />
access, you can request a printed listing from the APS at 100<br />
Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823.<br />
For more in<strong>format</strong>ion about contacting a dealer near you or<br />
about the benefits of becoming an APS dealer, visit www.stamps.<br />
org/dealers or call 814-933-3803, ext. 210.<br />
Support the Hobby, Invite<br />
a Fellow Collector To Join the APS<br />
And Earn $5 Cash!<br />
That’s right, for every individual joining the APS as a<br />
result of your referral, we will send you $5! Use it to buy<br />
lunch, purchase APS items, return it as a tax-deductible<br />
contribution, or use it towards next year’s dues!<br />
Do you know a friend, relative, or neighbor<br />
who might appreciate membership in the APS<br />
Sponsor them for membership — it’s easy!<br />
• Simply send us their name and address — we<br />
will send in<strong>format</strong>ion to join with you listed as<br />
“Proposer.”<br />
• Request applications from the APS — print your<br />
name and APS number in the space provided for<br />
“Proposer” and pass it to a fellow collector.<br />
• Business Reply Cards (BRCs) — request BRCs from<br />
the APS, stamp your name and APS # on each<br />
card as referral, and then include them in your<br />
philatelic correspondence, display them at a store<br />
or a stamp bourse, or hand them out at a club<br />
meeting.<br />
For in<strong>format</strong>ion contact: judy@stamps.org<br />
Phone: 814-933-3803, ext. 210