2020 Postal History Symposium: Call for Papers

THE ELEVENTH POSTAL HISTORY SYMPOSIUM

CALL FOR PAPERS

October 29-31, 2020
American Philatelic Center, American Philatelic Society
Bellefonte, PA

SYMPOSIUM THEME

Postal Innovation of the Classic Era Evolution Leading to Modernization

From the earliest days of philately in the United States, the Classic Era of American postal history has come to define one of the greatest periods of postal innovation. From the time of stampless delivery, whose cost was borne by the recipient, to pre-paid letters carried by private mail carriers and provisional post offices, culminating in a preliminary system of universal prepayment requiring the creation, issuance and application of postage stamps, this era of American postal history was replete with many significant innovators and innovation that lead in time to the development and growth of a formalized modern postal system. Along with the United States, many other countries played an equally important role in the evolution and progress of postal history with creators and ideas that greatly contributed and furthered postal development into the modern age.

Deadlines for proposals:

One-page proposal and CV due May 15, 2020. In addition to a one-page proposal, each individual should submit a one-page curriculum vitae with contact information (e-mail, phone, address) to stiffney@stamps.org.  

Notification of acceptance will be mailed on or about May 29, 2019.  

Papers are due by September 1, 2020.  Accepted proposals must result in papers of 3000-4000 words, including bibliographic material, citations, and image titles. The articles must be formatted according to the guidelines of the United States Philatelic Classics Society. Images should be placed and discussed within the text and image permissions must be acquired. Writers will have the opportunity to revise their papers after the symposium and before papers are considered for publication by either the USPCS or the APS.

For more information and updates regarding the 2020 Postal History Symposium please see the Postal History Symposium web page on the APS website.

Possible topics include:

  • Delivery modes and methods
  • Early mechanization
  • Development of postal service
  • Postal routes
  • Types of early philatelic production
  • Postal inventions and inventors