A quartet of postmarks to celebrate APS Stampshow in Grand Rapids

By Michael Baadke

The American Philatelic Society prepared four new pictorial postmarks for its 2015 APS Stampshow in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The show runs Aug. 20-23, and the four postmarks each commemorate one day of the show.

The Aug. 20 postmark shows the Statue of Liberty and reads, “282 days to go,” a reference to the start of World Stamp Show-NY 2016, which will take place May 28-June 4 at the Javits Center in New York City. The postmark is designated for “WSS-NY 2016 Station.”

 The second postmark, on Aug. 21, depicts a classic eagle and shield design, from “Presidential Station.”

A 1931 mail truck is featured in the “Mail Truck Station” postmark for Aug. 22.

The final day celebrates the host state for the show with a “Michigan Station” postmark that includes the APS logo and an outline map of Michigan.

To obtain these postmarks, address your request to the station name given previously, and complete the address as shown here:

APS STAMPSHOW 2015 [Station name], Box 9998, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-9998, Aug. 20-24.

The following cancels are also available:

JUDY JOHNSON NIGHT COMMEMORATIVE Station, Postmaster, Box 7500, Wilmington, DE 19803-9998, Aug. 21. (Text only: “Twentieth Annual Judy Johnson Night; The City of Wilmington’s Tribute to Negro League Baseball; Judy was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.”)

DANE Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Greenville, MI 48838-9998, Aug. 21. (Child’s face looking up, “Danish Festival.”)

MAGNABALL Station, Postmaster, 600 N. Franklin St., Watkins Glen, NY 14891-9998, Aug. 21-23. (Campfire, “Watkins Glen International.”)

FIGURE SKATING Station, Postmaster, 2591 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 12946-9998, Aug. 28. (Two intersecting spotlights showing two figure skaters in silhouette, “World Figure Championship.”)

COSTA MESA CA Station, Postmaster, 1590 Adams Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92628-9800, Aug. 30. (Elvis Presley signature, “Music Icons.”)

BETHEL BAKERY ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, 1001 California Ave., Room 2036, Pittsburgh, PA 15290-9681, Sept. 1. (Party hat, cake with candles and banner “The Cake Place,” “Bethel Bakery Turns 60!”).

The following postmarks received a 30-day extension:

COAST GUARD CITY USA Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Grand Haven, MI 49417-9998, Aug. 5. (“Celebrating 225 years” within black circle, “Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, United States Coast Guard, 1790-2015.”)

USS GARY DECOMMISSIONING Station, Postmaster, 11251 Rancho Carmel Drive, San Diego, CA 92199-9996, Aug. 5. (USS Gary insignia).

MOBILE AL COAST GUARD Station, Postmaster, 250 Saint Joseph St., Mobile, AL 36601-9998, Aug. 5. (Wavy lines, stars, “United States Coast Guard.”)

KODIAK AK COAST GUARD Station, Postmaster, 419 Lower Mill Bay Road, Kodiak, AK 99615-9998, Aug. 5. (Wavy lines, stars, “United States Coast Guard.”)

COAST GUARD CITY Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Elizabeth City, NC 27909-9998, Aug. 7. (Design details unknown.)

STRAIT STAMP SHOW Station, Postmaster, 240 S. Sunnyside Ave., Sequim, WA 98382-9998, Aug. 8. (Freemason symbol of “G” within square and compass.)

TUPELO MS Station, Postmaster, 362 S. Thomas St., Tupelo, MS 38801-9998, Aug. 13. (Elvis Presley signature, “Music Icons.”)

STATE FAIR POSTAL Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Sedalia, MO 65301-9998, Aug. 13-23. (Design details unknown.)

2015 SCIO FALL FESTIVAL Station, Postmaster, 114 E. Main St., Scio, OH 43988-9998, Aug. 14. (Refinery, “Working Towards the Future.”)

For additional guidance, see Linn's instructions for requesting postmarks.

Share information by writing to Postmark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365.