- The AMC was a proud joint-organizer of AMSIPEX-26: the 2nd International Virtual Aero- and Astrophilatelic Exhibition: on February 14-22, 2026. It includes a celebration of World Air Mail Day on February 18, 2026 with an International Webinar, Special Cover release, and other activities. Further details are available at: https://www.amsipex.com
- AMC member Piyush Khaitan FRPSL, FPCI advised us AMSIPEX-25, the 1st International Virtual Aerophilatelic and Astrophilatelic Exhibition was held in February 2025 which will also celebrate World Air Mail Day on February 18th, the anniversary of the First Aerial Post on that day in 1911. The show website is https://www.amsipex.com.
- The Auxiliary Markings Club had a table at the Pacific International Philatelic Exposition - PIPEX May 3, 2024 / May 4 (10 am-6 pm) and May 5 (10 am-4 pm) at the Monarch Hotel and Conference Center, 12566 SE 93rd Avenue, Clackamas, OR. There was free parking, admission, and an Airport Shuttle. AMC Past President Ralph Nafziger and current President John Hotchner had exhibits. Ralph hosted a Show and Tell on Sunday Morning.
- The Auxiliary Markings Club now has Facebook and YouTube pages:
AMC on Facebook and 
AMC on YouTube - The Auxiliary Club membership approved the 2023 revisions to the Bylaws and Constitution.
- Member Responses to the AMC Membership Satisfaction Survey (Questionnaire) distributed in our July 2023 Auxiliary Markings newsletter have been compiled by our President John Hotchner and are available online: 23-amc-questionnaire-2023-09-06 answers.pdf as a PDF file. We welcome your further insights and feedback.
- The Auxiliary Markings Club board has approved free on-line open access (except the latest 2 full years) to our high resolution newsletters ... paid members can access all issues (your user name and password are required when clicking on the "members only links" which are available from the webmaster or the membership secretary).
- The Auxiliary Markings Club is deeply saddened to report that Dr. Anthony (Tony) Wawrukiewicz, esteemed editor of the Auxiliary Markings newsletter for the first 19 years, renowned philatelist, author, and radiologist, passed away on July 11, 2023. The Auxiliary Markings Club members extend our condolences to his family; he will be deeply missed. A special memorial issue was mailed to all members on August 2nd and is included in all 2023 club memberships. His successor, Andrew Kelley, will continue to edit our newsletter.
- An informal Auxiliary Markings "show and tell" session was held Friday August 11, 2023 at the Great American Stamp Show (GASS) at 1 pm in room 14 of the Huntington Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave., in Cleveland, Ohio. Our Auxiliary Markings newsletter editor Andrew Kelley hosted; members and the general public were welcome and discussed a variety of auxiliary markings covers brought by participants.
- Our latest informal Auxiliary Markings "show and tell" session was held October 7, 2023 at Indypex at 1 pm in the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds & Exhibition Center, 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville, Indiana 46060. Auxiliary Markings member John Becker hosted; members and the general public were welcome and discussed a variety of auxiliary markings covers brought by participants.
- The Auxiliary Markings Club "show and tell" session was held at PIPEX on May 7, 2023 at 11 am at the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas Oregon. There was a lively discussion about many of the unusual auxiliary markings covers purchased at the show.
- The Auxiliary Markings Club was a convening society for ARIPEX 2022 in Mesa, AZ (next to Phoenix) from February 18 - 20, 2022. The popular AMC show-and-tell session was on February 18 at 3 PM.
K. David Steidley, Ph.D. ran the meeting.
- the Auxiliary Markings Club general membership meeting and "show and tell" session was held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2019. St. Andrews Parish Hall, Door 17, 1899 McCoy Road, Columbus, OH
- the Auxiliary Markings Club had a "show and tell" session at INDYPEX 2018 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville IN at 11 am Saturday, October 6, 2018.
- the Auxiliary Markings Club had a "show and tell" session at the APS StampShow in Columbus, OH. The session was at 3 p.m. Friday, August 10, 2018 in room B 242 in the convention center.
- January 28-31, 2016: AmeriStampExpo / Southeastern Stamp Exposition, Hilton Atlanta Hotel, 255 Courtland St, NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 was Auxiliary Markings Club Annual meeting and "Show and Tell" event on Saturday January 30 at 12 noon in the Crystal Ballroom B room at the Hilton Atlanta Hotel. Auxiliary Markings Club Detailed Schedule of Events January 28-31
- June 11, 2016 at 11 am was World Stamp Expo / New York City: Auxiliary Markings Club "Show and Tell" event
- August 20-25, 2015 was the APS StampShow in Grand Rapids, MI with our Show and Tell session included 16 participating collectors.
- May 15-17, 2015 was our Annual Meeting at ROPEX in The Greater Canandaigua Civic Center, 250 North Bloomfield Road, Canadaigua, NY. The Club had 37 frames of exhibits, a table, and a dinner. The Board of Directors meeting was held on Friday, May 15. The General Membership meeting with a "show and tell" session was Saturday, May 16.
- An Auxiliary Markings Club "Show and Tell" Meeting: was held at the APS AmeriStampExpo in Riverside, CA February 13-15, 2015. The session was scheduled for room 3 in the Riverside Convention Center at 1 p.m. Friday, February 13 to share and discuss covers with auxiliary markings.
- March 22-24, 2013: St. Louis Stamp Expo: Auxiliary Markings Club Annual meeting celebrated our tenth anniversary. Meeting included a board meeting, general membership meeting and "show and tell" session, a Friday evening dinner, two seminars, and we had a table at the show, along with several exhibits.
- August 8-11, 2013: APS StampShow, Milwaukee, WI had a "show and tell" session at this show.
- The StampShow 2011 AMC "Show and Tell" Meeting: Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus, OH on Friday August 12, 2011 at 1:00 pm in room E150 to share your interesting covers with the members.
- The 2011 AMC Annual Meeting was held at ROMPEX 2011: Crowne Plaza Hotel - Denver International Airport, I-70 and Chambers Rd, Denver, CO, May 13-15, 2011. The Annual General Membership Meeting was held in the Copper Mountain Room of the hotel on Saturday May 14, 2011 at 11 am and the following agenda was planned:
- Call to Order
- Introduction of Board members
- Summary of Friday's Board meeting
- Treasurer's report
- Membership report
- Show and Tell session
- The 2010 Auxiliary Markings Club Annual Meeting was held at TEXPEX 2010: Saturday April 17, 2010 at 1 pm, Teak Room, Doubletree Hotel Dallas Near the Galleria, 4099 Valley View Lane, Dallas, TX. Agenda:
- Call to Order
- Introduction of Board Members
- Summary of Friday's Board meeting
- Treasurer's Report
- Membership Report
- Show and Tell session for members
- We had an Auxiliary Markings Club Show and Tell session at AmeriStamp Expo/ TEXPEX was held February 20-22, 2009 at the Arlington Convention Center, 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, Texas. The AMC Show and Tell session was at 11 a.m., Friday, February 20, 2009 in room M-10 of the Arlington Convention Center. This is an opportunity to show your covers and perhaps solve some mysteries and obtain answers to your questions about your covers. It has become a popular activity.
- The AMC 2009 Annual Meeting was held at PIPEX 2009. PIPEX 2009 was May 22, 23, and 24 (note corrected dates) at the Doubletree Hotel Lloyd Center in Portland, OR. The Show hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. PIPEX will include over 200 frames of exhibits, over thirty dealers, including the United States Postal Service, a large youth program, a "Grandma's Attic" booth to answer questions and provide free appraisals, a silent auction, first day covers, and seminars and meetings sponsored by participating societies but open to the public. Admission is free to the public.
- AMC Annual Meeting CHICAGOPEX 2008: Sheraton Chicago Northwest Hotel, 3400 W. Euclid, Arlington Heights, IL, Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 1 pm - 2 pm in Woodfield I meeting room
- American Philatelic Society courses on the road are being offered before CHICAGOPEX 2008: "Exhibiting for the Prize" with Rich Drews and "Collecting British Machins" with David Alderfer on November 19-20, 2008
- AMC Annual Meeting CHICAGOPEX 2008: Sheraton Chicago Northwest Hotel, 3400 W. Euclid, Arlington Heights, IL, Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 1 pm - 2 pm in Woodfield I meeting room
- The AMC held a "Show and Tell" meeting on Friday, August 15, 2008 at StampShow 2008 in Hartford CT.
- The AMC held a "Show and Tell" meeting on Friday, January 11, 2008 during AmeriStampExpo in Charlotte, NC.
During the course of the one-hour meeting, we heard from nine attendees. I led off showing a 1936 US FDC with German markings, which I translated to read "Treat this special message as air post propaganda" on the front, and "Hold until the end of the month at Glanchau. Then return" on the reverse. The FDC also had a French backstamp. I also showed several other unusual (to me) markings. Alan Warren showed a Byrd FDC with "Return to sender, do not reuse envelope" on it. Charles O'Brien showed a cover sent from the US to the Falkland Islands during the Falklands war. The cover was held in Buenos Aires and not delivered owing to the war. A backstamp included Argentina's claim of illegitimate occupation by Great Britain. The cover was returned to the sender.
Alan Parsons showed a stampless NY cover with markings, a "disaster" cover with appropriate markings, and a ladies cover with a circular marking. Steve Edmondson showed a March, 1946 cover to a German POW in California. It was returned with a pointing hand "repatriated." David Straight showed a cover with a pointing hand "Mail in Dispute." Joann Lenz showed an FDC from Illinois to Hong Kong with a complex "return to sender" marking. Mike Lampson showed an official mail cover with a pointing finger in German. I showed a few more covers, including the cover of a magazine marked "received without contents" that I received recently. I also showed a copy of a CDS inscribed "postage stamp lost in transit." John Hotchner had a crash cover, and brought a box full of covers with various auxiliary markings, which many of us enjoyed browsing through after the meeting. The hour quickly passed as we all (10) enjoyed the shown covers. - Ralph
- The Board of the American Philatelic Society has approved the Auxiliary Markings Club as Affiliate #252 of the APS. In July 2007, we were a featured affiliate in the American Philatelist; the note may be viewed on our public relations page
- Auxiliary Markings Club Officers Spoke at APS 2007 Summer Seminar Electives
Three officers of the Auxiliary Markings Club showcased their collecting expertise during the American Philatelic Society’s 2007 Summer Seminar, June 17-22 at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Philately makes room for all types of collectors, including those who concentrate on metered mail and, in more recent times, personalized postage. AMC Webmaster Douglas B. Quine covered these topics and more at Wednesday morning’s General Session. This was an opportunity to learn of Pitney Bowes' historical role in postal automation and ongoing role in the changing environment of moving the mail. AMC Treasurer Gary G. Hendren conducted an elective on silent precancels — precancels that do not contain the town and state name in the imprint on the stamp. Through many examples, Gary showed participants how to identify silent precancels and gave an awareness of what to look for on covers and in collections and stockbooks. United States FDCs, with stamps that went through the mail, sometimes have a wide variety of auxiliary markings, receiving cancels, and more. AMC Director Ralph Nafziger's elective examined these markings, ranging from those applied at the sending post office, to those applied after the FDC was received. Routes, rates and the time spent in transit by these elusive auxiliary-marked FDCs were also discussed. The Summer Seminars, which are open for registration, are more fully described in the APS Summer Seminar Press Release
- Washington DC 2006 - World Philatelic Exhibition was a phenomenal show (the show web site is managed by our own Tom Fortunato who has posted images). The Auxiliary Markings Club was out in force. We participated with a frame in the "Society" area hosted by our own John Hotchner. We held our annual meeting, which was well attended.
Ralph Nafziger arranged a show and tell with eight of our members showing items of interest in a show and tell format. Mike Mead, Tony Wauwrukiewicz, Bill Geijsbeek, Alan Warren, Ralph Nafziger, Mark Goodson, Jackie Alton and Doug Merenda presented us with interesting puzzles, solved and unsolved.
We discussed having regional meetings, as our membership is spread so widely across the country, with members in other countries as well. We will have such a meeting in Chicago in conjunction with StampShow in August.
Those fortunate enough to make it to the National Postal Museum, could see John Hotchner's "20th Century United States Auxiliary Markings Documenting Delay of, or Inability to Deliver, the Mail: The First Fifty Years."
- The Auxiliary Markings Newsletter is now available on-line to current members with all back issues (including some in color that were originally published in black and white) at https://www.postal-markings.org/newsletter.html.
- September 23-25, 2005 Second Auxiliary Markings Club annual meeting at the Southeastern Stamp Show (formerly Peach State Stamp Show) www.stampclubs.com/sestampshow.htm. The club's awards were offered for the best exhibits.
June 18-20, 2004 first annual meeting of the Auxiliary Markings Club
ROPEX, Webster Community Field House, Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Road, Webster, NY (suburb of Rochester). Exhibits of any kind are welcome from club members. The first competitions for the Richard B. Graham Award for Excellence in Exhibiting Auxiliary Markings and the President's Award for Single Frame Auxiliary Marking Exhibiting Excellence (described above) will be held at ROPEX 2004. The ROPEX show web site had details about area hotels (which book early).
- Beginning in 2004, the Auxiliary Markings Club awards are described below and winners are listed on our Awards page
- January 31, 2004 at 1 pm in Room 3: Auxiliary Markings Club Membership Forum
AmeriStamp Expo, Norfolk SCOPE, 201 E. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Virginia
discussion of methods that can be used for organizing auxiliary markings, meet board members and fellow collectors
AMC Press Releases
- John M. Hotchner. "Maintaining a Cover Collection: Organization is Everything" (including founding of Auxiliary Markings Club), U. S. Stamp News, p. 6-7
- Auxiliary Markings Club
Award of Merit - exhibit must have won a national Silver Award or better and include a treatment of auxiliary markings. It is open to any exhibit in a National (WSC) stamp exhibition. Contact: Matthew Liebson "AmeriStampExpo participation", Linn's Stamp News
- Everett L. Parker. "This Week in Literature" (Auxiliary Markings Club: Auxiliary Markings newsletter) Mekeels & Stamps Magazine, p. 26
- Janet Klug. "Refresher Course: The Many Different Ways of Collecting and Saving Postmarks", Linn's Stamp News, p. 32-33
- "Show News: Exhibit Championship at Ameristamp Expo in Atlanta, Jan. 27-29", Linn's Stamp News, p. 22
- "AmeriStampExpo participation", Linn's Stamp News
- "Rompex Exhibitor's Prospectus Available", Linn's Stamp News, p. 19
- John M. Hotchner. "US Notes: More Booklets Known with Quality Control Handstamps" (and pointing finger auxiliary markings), Linn's Stamp News, p. 6
- Everett L. Parker. "This Week in Literature" (Auxiliary Markings Club: Auxiliary Markings newsletter) Mekeels & Stamps Magazine, p. 26
- As of this year the Auxiliary Markings Club has been in existence for five years. From a small band of collectors interested in things like pointing hand markings on covers, the club has now reached the level of 250 members having a wide variety of interests related to auxiliary markings on mail.
Further evidence of the growth and vitality of the A.M.C. is the successful transition to a new group of officers and board members, which is a sign of a healthy organization. The founding President, Nancy B. Clark, has moved to Past President status and Director Ralph Nafziger moves up to the President s chair. Ada Prill, Mathew Liebson and Ed. Fisher were elected to the board. Founding Directors John Hotchner and Doug Merenda leave the board with the thanks of the membership for their contribution to the progress of the club.
Members receive a high quality, quarterly journal, Auxiliary Markings, edited by the distinguished postal historian, Tony Wawrukiewicz. The journal is published in four color and contains a wealth of information for those interested in auxiliary markings.
The Annual Meeting of the Auxiliary Markings Club will be held at Chicagopex on November 22. All interested collectors are invited to attend.
Membership in the Auxiliary Markings Club is open to all collectors. Dues are $15.00 per year. Information is available online at www.postal-markings.org - "Ameripex Show Schedule", Linn's Stamp News, p. 32
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Three officers of the Auxiliary Markings Club will showcase their collecting expertise during the American Philatelic Society s 2007 Summer Seminar, which will take place June 17-22 at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Philately makes room for all types of collectors, including those who concentrate on metered mail and, in more recent times, personalized postage. AMC Webmaster Douglas B. Quine will cover these topics and more at Wednesday morning s General Session. This is your opportunity to learn of Pitney Bowes' historical role in postal automation and ongoing role in the changing environment of moving the mail.
AMC Treasurer Gary G. Hendren will conduct an elective on silent precancels - precancels that do not contain the town and state name in the imprint on the stamp. Through many examples, Gary will show participants how to identify silent precancels and give an awareness of what to look for on covers and in collections and stockbooks.
United States FDCs, with stamps that went through the mail, sometimes have a wide variety of auxiliary markings, receiving cancels, and more. AMC Director Ralph Nafziger's elective examines these markings, ranging from those applied at the sending post office, to those applied after the FDC was received. Routes, rates and the time spent in transit by these elusive auxiliary-marked FDCs will also be discussed.
Many other one-hour sessions will be held including: CSI Bellefonte with American Philatelic Society Director of Expertizing Mercer Bristow; Writing for a Philatelic Magazine with APS President Janet Klug; Strike Gold on eBay by APS eBay Review Coordinator Frank Sente; The Seebeck Story presented by former American Philatelist editor Bill Welch; EFOs and How They Are Created with stamp printing technology expert Wayne Youngblood; How To Make a Scan Look Good with Philatelic Marketplace co-instructor Clark Frazier; Mail Handling During the Liberty Period by author and award-winning exhibitor C. David Eeles; as well as additional offerings by such philatelic luminaries as Barb Boal, Renee Gardner, Larry Hunt, Ian Kimmerly, Ken Lawrence, and Ken Martin.
These electives supplement the main courses being offered: Detecting Fakes (Bill Dixon); An Introduction to Exhibiting (Peter Butler); Philatelic Literature and History (Herb Trenchard and Gini Horn); The Philatelic Marketplace (Irv Miller and Clark Frazier); Stamp Technology (Wayne Youngblood); and The Washington-Franklin Issues (Dennis Gilson.
In addition to major courses and electives during the day, General Sessions are held first thing each morning. Along with Doug Quine's General Session on metered mail, there will be a special presentation from the National Postal Museum pertaining to Arago - a valuable online resource to the study of philately and postal operations as seen through the NPM's collection, an open discussion about using the Internet to collect, and a round-table discussion on "Internet Scams, Scoundrels, and Security".
Days don't end with these classes. Evenings are chock-full of philately, good food, and fun. Janet Klug sets the tone for the week at the Sunday evening Reception speaking on "Why We Collect?", Kathleen Wunderly shares the connection between "Bellefonte and early air mail" on Monday, followed by, a Seminar Participant Auction of Tuesday, a special Buy, Sell, Trade! Night on Wednesday, and the Thursday evening Distinguished Philatelist Dinner.
There is still time to register. Student registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and classes fill up quickly. That's why it's important that you register today! For your convenience you could sign-up online at APS 2007 Summer Seminar Electives, or print the pdf registration form from the website and mail it to the APS Summer Seminar, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or fax it to 814-933-6128.
For more information, contact Janet Houser at jehouser@stamps.org or 814-933-3803, ext. 238. - Press Release
John M. Hotchner, Publicity Chair PO Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041
Formation of the Auxiliary Markings Club Announced
The Auxiliary Markings Club which was formed earlier this year to bring together collectors of U.S. and other postal markings beyond the cancellation has topped 100 members - 129 to be exact - in only six months. The AMC has also brought out, under the editorship of Tony Wawrukiewicz, two issues of its informative quarterly newsletter "Auxiliary Markings".
Auxiliary markings are defined as the messages added to covers by postal services and other entities that help to explain why a letter or package can not be given the requested service, or has been delayed in the mail. Perhaps the most often seen are the wide range of pointing hand return-to-sender markings that can be found as left hands, right hands, with different messages, etc. .
The AMC will hold its first annual convention at ROPEX 2004, scheduled for June 18-20, at the Webster Community Field House, 800 Five Mile Line Road, Webster, New York. Several exhibits of auxiliary markings will be competing for the Richard B. Graham Award, named for the Linn's columnist who has been writing about this field for over 25 years, and is a legend in the postal history realm.
In addition there will be a general membership meeting from 1 to 3 pm on Saturday, and many dealers on the show floor will be featuring this kind of material. The public is welcome. There is no charge for admission to ROPEX or for parking.
Readers are invited to go to www.postal-markings.org for more information and a form to join the AMC; or write to Jerry Johnson, 6621 W. Victoria Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336 for more information. Dues are only $15. - Press Release
John M. Hotchner, Publicity Chair PO Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041
Formation of the Auxiliary Markings Club Announced
The Auxiliary Markings Club has just been formed with the missions of helping to bring order to this diverse and interesting collecting area, to facilitate the exchange of material among members, and to promote our comer of the hobby to those just getting interested.
Auxiliary markings are defined as those messages added to covers by the Postal Service and other entities that help to explain why a letter or package can not be given the requested service, or has been delayed in the mail. Perhaps the most often seen are the wide range of pointing hand retum-to-sender markings that can be found as left hands, right hands, with different messages, etc. The Club intends to cover both U.S. and foreign markings.
The Club has been formed with over 30 members, and a board consisting of President Nancy B. Clark. Vice President Jerry Nylander, Treasurer Gary Hendren, Secretary Jerry Johnson, Directors Michael Strother, Doug Merenda and (co-founder) John Hotchner, Editor Tony Wawrukiewicz, and Webmaster (and co-founder) Douglas Quine.
Readers are invited to go to www.postal-markings.org for more information and a form to sign up as a founding member; or write to Jerry Johnson, 6621 W. Victoria Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336 for more information. Dues are only $15 for the first year. The first issue of the Club's newsletter is expected to be released in January, 2004.
February 2013 article reference
January 29, 2013 American Philatelic Society: Society Exhibit Award list
January 7, 2013 show reference
April 27, 2012 show reference
January 23, 2012 article reference
January 16, 2012 show reference
February 7, 2011 show reference
December 13, 2010 show reference
September 6, 2010 article reference
February 2009 Auxiliary Markings Club is a featured affiliate in American Philatelist (see image on right)
November 14, 2008 article reference
October 2008: Auxiliary Markings Club Celebrates Five Year Anniversary
January 7, 2008 show reference
July, 2007: Auxiliary Markings Club is a featured affiliate in American Philatelist
click for PDF version
March 31, 2007: AMC Officers Featured in APS 2007 Summer Seminar Electives
April 11, 2005: Auxiliary Markings Club Westpex Award
October 25, 2004: Auxiliary Markings Club in Linn's Stamp News
June 14, 2004: Auxiliary Markings Club Convening at Ropex Linn's Stamp News
June 2004: Auxiliary Markings Club web page review in APS Glassine Surfer
May 18, 2004: Auxiliary Markings Club Tops 100; Meets at ROPEX
January 26, 2004: Pointing Hands in 'Auxiliary Markings'
November 24, 2003: Formation of the Auxiliary Markings Club Announced
Last updated September 21, 2026. Copyright (c) 2004-2026 by the Auxiliary Markings Club.
