Hotchner to receive Neinken medal from Philatelic Foundation

By Linn’s Staff

The Philatelic Foundation in New York City announced Sept. 12 that John M. Hotchner will receive the Foundation’s Neinken medal for distinguished service to philately.

Hotchner will receive the recognition during a ceremony Oct. 26 at the Collectors Club in Manhattan, the Foundation said.

(Hotchner was originally selected to receive the award in 2020. However, delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the relocation of the Collectors Club’s headquarters necessitated waiting until this year to honor him.)

“A collector since the age of five, [Hotchner] has been a devoted leader, writer and active participant in the advancement of organized philately at the international, national and local levels,” the Foundation said.

Hotchner’s presence throughout the hobby has been felt for decades in many areas, including his prodigious research and writing. His popular column, U.S. Stamp Notes, and other articles have appeared in Linn’s Stamp News for almost 50 years.

He also writes a monthly column for the American Stamp Collector & Dealer, the official publication of the American Stamp Dealers Association.

He served 16 years on the board of the American Philatelic Society (including one term as APS president), 20 years on the National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists and 12 years as a member of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.

“As an exhibitor, his exhibits have garnered both national grand and reserve grand awards,” the Foundation said. “He has served as an expertizer of 20th century United States stamps as well as a consultant to the Philatelic Foundation.”

In 2017 Hotchner received philately’s highest honor when he was invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists.

“John has done it all, and always at the highest level of achievement, as a collector and exhibitor, as writer and judge, as a philatelic expert and, as a board member and president of philately’s leading organizations,” Robert G. Rose, chairman of the Philatelic Foundation, said.

The Neinken medal, first presented in 1981, was renamed three years later in honor of Mortimer L. Neinken (1896-1984), the prominent American philatelic researcher, author and former Philatelic Foundation chairman.

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