FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 18, 2005…The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (USPCS) announced that it will hold its 2005 annual meeting in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show (RMSS), formerly known as ROMPEX, in the Denver, CO area from May 13^th to 15^th. The show will be held at the Holiday Inn — Denver International Airport, John Q. Hammons Trade Center, I-70 at Chambers Road, Aurora, (Denver) Colorado. Complete details about the show, hotel and travel arrangements, and hours can be found at the RMSS website at http://www.rockymountainstampshow.com/.

"The annual meeting is a chance for us to meet all of our goals as an organization — to promote interest and knowledge of the classic issues of the United States, to encourage philatelic research and the exchange of information, and to build and increase a sense of community among our members," said Wilson Hulme, President of the Society. "We are looking forward to holding our annual meeting in the Denver area, the home of the Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library, a vibrant collecting community, and magnificent scenery and natural beauty," Hulme continued.

In addition to the conducting of Society business, the annual meeting features philatelic seminars, exhibits of interest to students of the classic period of United States postage, and the awarding of the Society’s annual awards, including the Society’s highest honor — the Distinguished Philatelist Award.

Since its inauguration in 1988, thirty-nine people have been invited to sign this award in recognition for "Exceptionally meritorious service to U. S. philately through published research, award-winning collections, active participation in the organization and promotion of philatelic exhibitions, and sustained administrative service to the national or international organizations which furthered United States philately." Ken Lawrence and Herbert A. Trenchard were the 2004 recipients of the Distinguished Philatelist Award.

In addition, the Society will also present the following additional awards:

• The Stanley B. Ashbrook Cup — Awarded to authors of articles, books, or other studies concerning U. S. postal history from the colonial period to 1894
• The Dr. Carroll Chase Cup — Awarded to authors of articles, books, or other studies concerning any U. S. stamp issued to 1894 including postmaster's provisionals, locals, carriers, and back-of-the-book material
• The Lester G. Brookman Cup — Awarded only to a member of The U. S. Philatelic Classics Society for outstanding service to the Society
• The Elliott Perry Cup — Awarded to authors of articles, books, or other studies concerning either U. S. stamps or postal history to 1894, with particular weight to newly discovered information, reported and used by the recipient, from original sources; from newly found manuscript material; or from materials presently held by the United States archives or any public or private institution
• Mortimer L. Neinken Award — Awarded for articles about U. S. classic stamps published in a given Chronicle volume
• The Susan M. McDonald Award — Awarded for articles about U. S. classic postal history published in a given Chronicle volume

The Society is currently finalizing plans for its annual seminar series, which will be open to the public, to be presented at the show. Anyone interested in presenting a seminar during this meeting or at future events of the Society is encouraged to contact the Society through Charles Souder, at ccsouder@hotmail.com.

Persons interested in exhibiting at RMSS, in conjunction with the USPCS Annual Meeting can download a copy of the Exhibition Prospectus and Application from the RMSS website at http://www.rockymountainstampshow.com/ or through the link at the USPCS website at http://www.uspcs.org. Deadline for submission of exhibition applications is April 15, 2005, or when space has been filled. The Rocky Mountain Stamp Show is qualified as an American Philatelic Society (APS) World Series of Philately stamp show. The Grand Award winner will be qualified to compete in the annual Champion-of-Champions competition at the APS Stampshow in August 2005.

The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, Inc. is the premier organization for the study of the postal issues and postal history from the Stampless Era up to the Bureau Issues of the late 19^th century. The society is the successor of "The Three Cent 1851-57 Unit" (Unit Number 11) of the American Philatelic Society. Our members include both collectors and students. Many have written articles that have been published in our award winning quarterly magazine, The Chronicle, and in other publications. Information about the USPCS, membership, its publications, and articles of interest to collectors and students of the classic period of U.S. philately, can found at the society’s website at www.uspcs.org.

For further information, please contact:

Chip Gliedman

Publicist, USPCS

Wilson Hulme

President, USPCS