Americover Exhibit Awards
Beginning in 2021, Americover is part of the Great American Stamp Show. The four-day event includes three World Series of Philately exhibitions, including the Americover exhibition devoted to FDCs. The Grand Award winners of the Americover exhibition are eligible to compete for the WSP Champion of Champions trophy as the best exhibit in North American philately.
General Information:
- Exhibit awards are not dependent upon medal level.
- AFDCS membership is not a requirement for any award.
- Exhibits that have won either the multi-frame or single-frame Grand Awards are eligible to win these awards after three years have elapsed. All other special awards (including the Reserve Grand Award) may not be won in consecutive years for the same exhibit unless it has been changed significantly with the addition of new material and/or different text, for example.
- All awards need not be given every year. Whether a specific award is given (or not) is up to the jury.
- There must be a minimum of two competitive exhibits eligible for any specific award.
Americover Awards
Claude C. Ries Chapter Grand Award
This award is sponsored by the Claude C. Ries Chapter of the AFDCS. It consists of a crystal pyramid with suitable inscriptions. The award is given to the best multi-frame FDC exhibit at Americover.
Richard H. Thompson Reserve Grand Award
This award is named for Richard H. Thompson, an acclaimed FDC researcher, writer and exhibitor. This award is given to the second best multi-frame FDC exhibit at Americover. The award is sponsored by Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc.
Curtis B. Patterson Single-Frame Grand Award
Curtis B. Patterson was a prolific writer, and served as the AFDCS archivist from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. This award is given to the best single-frame exhibit at Americover. If six or more competitive single-frame exhibits are entered, the Patterson Award recipient will be invited to enter the APS single-frame Champion of Champions exhibit competition.
Robert C. Graebner Novice Award
Robert C. Graebner was a cachetmaker, an AFDCS regional vice-president, and AFDCS president from 1973 to 1974. This award is given to the best exhibit by a first-time exhibitor at Americover. Youth exhibits are eligible for the award.
Marge Finger Most Popular Award
Marge Finger was a researcher and author, and served the AFDCS in many capacities. This award is given to the most popular exhibit, which is determined by balloting among the Americover attendees.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (pre-classic period, 1847-1931)
This award is presented to the exhibit that best exemplifies in-depth research on FDCs or EKUs/EDUs from 1847 until 1931.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (classic period, 1932-1945)
This award is presented to the best FDC exhibit that emphasizes cachets from 1932 through 1945, and that has not won the Grand Award at the same Americover.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (modern era, 1946-1980)
This award is presented to the FDC exhibit that emphasizes cachets from 1946 to 1980, and that has not won the Grand Award at the same Americover.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (modern era, 1981-present)
This award is presented to the FDC exhibit that emphasizes cachets from 1981 to present, and that has not won the Grand Award at the same Americover.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (hand-drawn/hand-painted cachets)
This award is given to the best exhibit that shows hand-drawn and hand-painted cachets.
This award is sponsored by the Claude C. Ries Chapter of the AFDCS. It consists of a crystal pyramid with suitable inscriptions. The award is given to the best multi-frame FDC exhibit at Americover.
Richard H. Thompson Reserve Grand Award
This award is named for Richard H. Thompson, an acclaimed FDC researcher, writer and exhibitor. This award is given to the second best multi-frame FDC exhibit at Americover. The award is sponsored by Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc.
Curtis B. Patterson Single-Frame Grand Award
Curtis B. Patterson was a prolific writer, and served as the AFDCS archivist from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. This award is given to the best single-frame exhibit at Americover. If six or more competitive single-frame exhibits are entered, the Patterson Award recipient will be invited to enter the APS single-frame Champion of Champions exhibit competition.
Robert C. Graebner Novice Award
Robert C. Graebner was a cachetmaker, an AFDCS regional vice-president, and AFDCS president from 1973 to 1974. This award is given to the best exhibit by a first-time exhibitor at Americover. Youth exhibits are eligible for the award.
Marge Finger Most Popular Award
Marge Finger was a researcher and author, and served the AFDCS in many capacities. This award is given to the most popular exhibit, which is determined by balloting among the Americover attendees.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (pre-classic period, 1847-1931)
This award is presented to the exhibit that best exemplifies in-depth research on FDCs or EKUs/EDUs from 1847 until 1931.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (classic period, 1932-1945)
This award is presented to the best FDC exhibit that emphasizes cachets from 1932 through 1945, and that has not won the Grand Award at the same Americover.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (modern era, 1946-1980)
This award is presented to the FDC exhibit that emphasizes cachets from 1946 to 1980, and that has not won the Grand Award at the same Americover.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (modern era, 1981-present)
This award is presented to the FDC exhibit that emphasizes cachets from 1981 to present, and that has not won the Grand Award at the same Americover.
AFDCS Award of Excellence (hand-drawn/hand-painted cachets)
This award is given to the best exhibit that shows hand-drawn and hand-painted cachets.
Americover Grand Award Winners
Andrew McFarlane won the first WSP Americover Grand Award in 2005 with his exhibit
First Days of the 1929 George Rogers Clark Commemorative.
| Year |
Exhibitor |
Exhibit |
| 2005 |
Andrew McFarlane |
First Days of the
1929 George Rogers Clark Commemorative |
| 2006 |
Charles J. O'Brien
III |
Joint Issues with
the United States 1959-1994 |
| 2007 |
Eliot Landau |
The Franklin
Delano Roosevelt Memorial Series of 1945-46 and its First Day Covers |
| 2008 |
Gregg A. Hopkins,
Sr. |
Forerunners: The
Philatelic Truck & Souvenir Sheet |
| 2009 |
Charles J. O'Brien III | Georgia
Bicentennial |
| 2010 |
Ralph Nafziger |
The 3-Cent Oregon
Territory Issue |
| 2011 |
Andrew McFarlane |
The 1947 Postage
Stamp Centenary Commemorative |
| 2012 |
Charles J. O'Brien III | U.S.
Sesquicentennial Exposition |
| 2013 |
Andrew McFarlane |
First Days of the
George Rogers Clark Commemorative |
| 2014 |
Charles J. O'Brien III | The Eagle Has
Landed |
| 2015 |
Jane King Fohn |
The 9-cent Alamo
Stamp and Its First Day Covers |
| 2016 |
Ronald J. Klimley |
The 1964 New York
World's Fair Commemorative |
| 2017 |
Charles J. O'Brien III | New York World’s
Fair 1939 |
| 2018 |
Charles J. O'Brien III | Frank Lloyd
Wright – First Days and Usage of the Two Cent Issue |
| 2019 |
James S. Hering |
The Two-Cent
Hardings |
| 2020 |
No show held |
|
| 2021 |
Anthony F. Dewey |
The 3¢
Connecticut Tercentenary Issue of 1935 and its First Days |
| 2022 |
Charles J. O'Brien III | Georgia Bicentennial |
| 2023 |
William Kelly |
The Iwo Jima Stamp of 1945 - Its
First Days, Cachet Variations & Use |