The Auxiliary Markings Club: Awards, Covers, Member Pages, Help Requested
The Auxiliary Markings Club, postalmarkings.org, seeks to provide a forum for collectors of these fascinating and ubiquitous bits of postal history - either as a primary interest (e.g. pointing fingers) or as adjunct (e.g. part of Prexie Postal History).
Auxiliary Markings Club
- Awards-Covers-Member pages (here)
- Home page
- Bibliography
- Earliest Known Use
- Markings List brief
- Markings List full
- Newsletter
- Newsletter Index Adobe PDF
- Press Releases
Philatelic Resources (elsewhere)
- American Philatelic Society
- Civil Censorship Study Group
- Errors, Freaks & Oddities Club
- Machine Cancel Society
- Mobile Post Office Society
- U. S. Stamp Society
Exhibit Copies from the Auxiliary Markings Club
The AMC exhibit copying service has a number of member exhibits available for purchase in bound or unbound formats.
AMC Member Research Help Wanted
This AMC Member Research Help Wanted section is ONLY intended for soliciting information to help advance studies. It is NOT for buying/ selling/ trading material. Please contact the webmaster () to add your request.
- Information Needed: Any available information on an unrecorded crash cover (not listed in the AAMS Vol. I Catalog) cancelled in Philadelphia, Pa on April 19, 1944, addressed to an APO c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Cal. Air mail postage was paid, though washed off the cover, which is water-damaged and singed on the left side. It was originally addressed to APO 928 (then in New Guinea) and readdressed to APO 713-1, also in New Guinea. Where and when the crash took place can not be determined, but there is a boxed purple hand-stamp saying "Unavoidably Damaged in Transit". Since the war as in progress, I would not expect a detailed and really informative hand stamp. Any assistance appreciated......John Hotchner, jmhstamp (at) verizon.net, PO Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041. - [Feb. 14, 2013]
- WANTED: Copies of USPO postal supply catalogs from any year. Beginning in 1902, or earlier?, the USPO dictated that only USPO issued devices could be used on mail by postal clerks. These documents come in at least two versions; one for 1sr and 2nd class post offices; and, one for 3rd and 4th class post offices. Available devices were listed in a supplemental pamphlet sent out to postmasters listing all available postal supplies. Xerox or digital copies work just as well as original documents. Some are rather large. I am looking for copies of the pages listing postmark, auxiliary devices, and inks. If you have any to share, please contact: Russ Ryle at theryles (at) bluemarble.net or POB 2466, Bloomington, IN 47402 with the year(s) and title of your document. Also, mention the format you prefer to use sharing copies of the needed pages. Thanks in advance for helping. Look forward to seeing you in St. Louis in March. - [Feb. 12, 2013]
AMC Member Auxiliary Markings Web Pages
Auxiliary markings web pages by AMC club members. Please contact the webmaster (on "home" page) to add your pages.
- Roland Austin's Auxiliary Markings In My Collection
- Tom Fortunato's 20th-21st Century US Auxiliary Markings Sampler
- John Gordon's John's Modern Postal History
Featured Member Covers
Cover from Thomas Myers
(courtesy of Thomas Myers)
Earliest Known Usage (EKU) for "RELEASED BY P.O. INSPECTOR/ENGAGED ON CENSORSHIP." This censored letter was mailed from UK on November 21, 1941 via New York to Mexico.
Covers from Ginny Nightingale
A remarkable MissenT marking. (posted online - October 6, 2011).
(courtesy of Ginny Nightingale)
I'm into NY examiner's marks (& mourning covers) and was surprised to see this is a pointing hand
from the NY Registry Division. (posted online - September 13, 2011).
(courtesy of Ginny Nightingale)
Cover from Zeb Vance
(courtesy of Zeb Vance)
This censored letter was mailed from New York on March 3, 1943 to Argentina. I looked at the Auxiliary Markings Record and didn't see the "SPANISH LANGUAGE" handstamp listed. I believe it's obvious that the mark indicates that the letter is in Spanish and was applied to facilitate censoring. However was the mark applied by the sender or was it applied when opened by a non-Spanish speaking censor?.John Hotchner writes "Believe this would have been placed by the company sending the letter - a business letter more than likely, and would be to facilitate censoring." (July 31, 2007).
Covers from Chris Masters
(courtesy of Chris Masters)
"This is the mail / letter / package for which you sent postage" with 1905 Los Angeles duplex unusual Barry Station C.
(courtesy of Chris Masters)
"This is the mail for which you sent postage" auxiliary marking 1907 with Oakland duplex and pink (postage) due. Five markings just to collect postage - no wonder the postal workers are busy.
(courtesy of Chris Masters)
"Returned for postage. Postage due 1/2 cent" appears to be 1923-1924 from the franking. Looks like the mailer gave up and never remailed the card. A rare Due marking because of the improper 1.5 cent franking?
(courtesy of Chris Masters)
A huge pink finger auxiliary marking with "OUT" August 13, 1920 for unclaimed general delivery. Can see Return to...Unclaimed...From...------Don't see any OUT on fingers on the website? Mailed San Francisco July 28, 1920 arrived new Orleans August 12, 1920 and OUT (that was fast) the 13th. Large pink "A" and something else I can't read on printed side. Finger is over 3" long and 1 1/4" tall. The printed side scan (below) is also an appropriate subject matter.
Cover from Ginny Nightingale
(cover courtesy of Ginny Nightingale)
"The Byrd Antarctic Issue (Scott 733) was issued in connection with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1933 and for use on letters mailed through the Little America Post Office established at the base camp in the territory of the South Pole. In addition to the postage charge of 3 cents, letters sent by the ships of the expedition to be cancelled in Little America were subject to a service charge of 50 cents each" (Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps). There is a limited season for incoming and outgoing mail at the South Pole. Letters were sent down to Antarctica for cancellation; if they missed the return trip they had to be held until the following year. Linn's Stamp News (April 15, 2002, page 28), however, indicates that there was a little more to the story (click on article for full size version) ...
Auxiliary Markings Club Awards Presented
WESTPEX 2021, San Francisco CA (July 30, 2021 - August 1, 2021) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Adhyatman Agarwala (youth exhibitor) Ecuadorian Slogan-Based Covers Related to the Ecuador-Peru Border Conflict of 1941
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- large gold medal (90 points) for single frame exhibit
SEATEX 2019, Seattle WA (September 2019) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Charles J. LaBlonde The Rise & Fall of WWII Postal Censorship—Swiss Perspective
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- vermeil medal
SEATEX 2018, Seattle WA (September 2018) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Anthony S. Wawrukiewicz The Ways U. S. Postage Due Stamps were Used 1879-1986
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
UNEXPO 2017, Bellefonte PA (October 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Larry Fillion Auxiliary Markings on United Nations New York FDCs Sent to Domestic United States Addresses
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- large silver medal
APS StampShow 2017, Richmond VA (August 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Howard Rotterdam Compulsory Registration in Israel
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- large silver medal
ROPEX 2017, Canandaigua NY (May 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Larry Fillion Auxiliary Markings On United Nations New York FDCs Sent To Domestic United States Addresses
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- large vermeil medal
PIPEX 2017, Portland OR (May 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Jerry Johnson U.S. Mail Delivery Problems, 1851-1950
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
WESTPEX 2017, San Francisco CA (April 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Dr. Ross Marshall Russian Mail via Galicia to UPU (1874)
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- large gold medal
- Rossica Best Russian Exhibit
- Polonus Polish Philatelic Society - Gold Award
St. Louis Stamp Expo 2017, St. Louis, MO (March-April 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Roger Heath Refused Mail of Switzerland
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
AmeriStamp Expo 2017, Reno, NV (March 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Larry Fillion Auxiliary Markings on United Nations New York FDCs Sent to United States Addresses
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- large vermeil medal
Sarasota National Stamp Exhibition, Sarasota, FL (February 2017) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Raymond Murphy Non-Standard Censorship of Mail in the Dependencies of Jamaica (Caymans & Turks, Caicos)
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- large silver medal
Ralph Nafziger Auxiliary Markings on U.S. First Day Covers
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- silver medal
SEAPEX 2016, Seattle, WA (September 2016) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Louis Fiset Censored, Rerouted, Suspended, Resumed: U.S. International Mail in World War II
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
- American Philatelic Congress Award
Anthony Wawrukiewicz Operation and Innovation in the Dead Letter Office from 1859-1985
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
- Postal History Society Medal
AmeriStampExpo / Southeastern Stamp Exposition, Atlanta, GA (January 2016) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Sammy Chiu Hong Kong Wartime Airmail September 1939-December 1941
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Richard Graham Award
- vermeil medal
Mike Ley Exclusive Uses of the 50 Cent Prexie
- Auxiliary Marking Club - President’s Award
- gold medal
SEAPEX 2015, Seattle, WA (September 2015) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Roger Heath Refused Mail of Switzerland
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
APS StampShow, Grand Rapids, MI (August 2015) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Roger Heath Refused Mail of Switzerland
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
NAPEX 2015, McLean VA (June 2015) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Alexander Kolchinsky Prisoners of the Great War Send Home Picture Postcards.
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
Westpex 2015, San Francisco, CA (April 2015) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
David Fine Guatemalan Auxiliary Markings, 1898-1967.
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
St. Louis Stamp Expo 2015, St. Louis, MO (March 2015) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Mike Peter Censor Marks of World War I Submarine Mail.
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- vermeil medal
ARIPEX, Mesa, AZ (February 2015) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ronald Strawser Postal History of the United States Famous Americans Issues.
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
APS Stampshow 2014, Hartford, CT (August 2014) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Omar J. Rodriguez Registered Mail of Mexico: Colonial to Early UPU.
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
- APS pre-1900 medal of excellence
NOJEX 2014, Secaucus, NJ (May 2014) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Jaroslav J. Verner Czechoslovak Legions in France, Italy, and Slovakia.
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- vermeil medal
WESTPEX 2014, San Francisco, CA (April 2014) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Dale Forster Western Express Label Covers
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- gold medal
Garfield-Perry March Party 2014 Annual Stamp Exhibition and Bourse, Cleveland, OH (April 2014 - sic) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ralph H. Nafziger Auxiliary Markings on U.S. First Day Covers
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Richard Graham Award
- Gold Medal
Gary Hendren Twisted Caps – Twisted Mail
- Auxiliary Marking Club - President's Award
- Vermeil Medal
Philadelphia National Stamp Exhibition 2014 (PNSE), Philadelphia, PA (April 2014) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Robert Pildes Palestine Emergency Deliveries Inc.
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
WESTPEX 2013, San Francisco, CA (April 2013) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Louis Fiset Censored, Rerouted, Suspended, Resumed: U.S. International Mail in World War II
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
Philadelphia National Stamp Exhibition 2013, Philadelphia, PA (April 2013) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Tony Wawrukiewicz The Return to Writer/Sender Process in the U.S. Domestic Mails 1860-2010
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
St. Louis Stamp Expo 2013, St. Louis, MO (March 2013) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ralph H. Nafziger Auxiliary Markings on U.S. First Day Covers
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Richard Graham Award
Matthew Liebson Buy A Liberty Bond! - World War I Savings Stamp and Liberty Bond Auxiliary Markings
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Presidents Award
Texpex 2013, Grapevine, TX (March 2013) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Roger Heath Swiss Markings on Refused Mail
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
APS Stampshow 2012, Sacramento CA (August 2012) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Harlan F. Stone Switzerland’s Domestic Postage Due Charges 1862-1960s
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- Gold Medal
Philatelic Show 2012 (Northeastern Federation of Stamp Clubs), Boxborough MA (May 2012) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Tony Wawrukiewicz U.S. International Mail Franked with the Non-Official Definitive Non-Denominated Letter Stamps 1978-1995
- Auxiliary Marking Club - President's Award
Nancy and Doug Clark Got Postage?
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Graham Award
WESTPEX 2012, San Francisco CA (April 2012) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Louis Fiset 1871 Commune of Paris Prisoners’ Mail
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
Ameristamp Expo, Atlanta GA (January 2012) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Kathryn Johnson Ceylon Too Late Markings
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- Single frame gold medal
- Single frame reserve grand medal
MILCOPEX, Milwaukee, WI (September 2011) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Edward Fitch U.S. Rural Free Delivery Auxiliary Handstamp Markings
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- Silver medal
APS StampShow, Columbus, OH (August 2011) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ralph Nafziger Auxiliary Markings on U.S. First Day Covers
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- Gold medal
Minnesota Stamp Expo (2011) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Earl H. Galitz Bulgaria in the First World War
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- Vermeil medal
- Military Postal History Society Award
TEXPEX Stamp Show (2011) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
John H. Barwis The Path to a Philadelphia Exchange Office for United States-British Mails"
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- Gold medal
- Grand Award winner for multiframe exhibits (top show honor)
ROMPEX Stamp Show (2011), Denver, CO - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ralph Nafziger U.S. First Day Covers in the Mailstream
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Richard B. Graham award
- Gold medal
Tim Bartshe Reposted, Advertised and Unclaimed: How the South African Republic Dealt With Undeliverable Mail from the 1890s to 1900
- Auxiliary Marking Club - President's Best One Frame Exhibit Award
John Hotchner 20th Century US Auxiliary Markings Documenting Delay or Inability to Deliver the Mails
- Court of Honor
WESTPEX Stamp Show (2011) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Roy C. Teixeira German and Austrian Internees in the Acores (May 1916 - October 1919)
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
APS AmeriStamp Expo (2011) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Steve Volis Odessa: Clandestine Mail Surveillance, 1920-1940
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
TEXPEX Stamp Show (2010) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ralph Nafziger U.S. First Day Covers in the Mailstream
- Auxiliary Marking Club Richard B. Graham award
Anthony Wawrukiewicz The Return to Writer/ Sender Process, the Beginnings, 1859-1975
- Auxiliary Marking Club President's Award
Tim Bartshe Reposted, Advertised and Unclaimed: How the South African Republic Dealt With Undeliverable Mail from the 1890s to 1900
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
NAPEX Stamp Show (2010) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
K. David Steidley An American in Paris: Mail Handling by the American Express Co. in Paris, 1895-1939
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
PIPEX Stamp Show (2009) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Jerry Johnson Delays in Delivery of the Mail
- Auxiliary Marking Club Richard B. Graham award
WESTPEX Stamp Show (2009) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Paul Phillips A Matter of Language
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
ROPEX Stamp Show (2009) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Jeffrey Shapiro The Prexies at Work
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
NAPEX Stamp Show (2009) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
David M. Skipton The Blue Pencil: Imperial Russian Censorship of Prison, Exile and Internee Mail
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
CHICAGOPEX (2008) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ralph Nafziger First Day Covers in the Mailstream
- Auxiliary Marking Club Richard B. Graham award
Gary Hendren Twisted Caps – Twisted Mail
- Auxiliary Marking Club President's award
ROPEX Stamp Show (2008) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Stephen Suffet Woody Guthrie, His Life and His Songs
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
PNSE (2008) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Bill Drummond FAM 18: Transatlantic Ocean Ops of Pan American
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
Southeastern Stamp Show (September, 2008) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Nancy and Douglas Clark Got Postage?
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
- Silver medal
Philadelphia National Stamp Expo - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
John Warren Civil Censorship in India 1939-1945
- Auxiliary Marking Club Richard B. Graham award
Tim Bartshe Rate Regulations of Transvaal UPU-Union 1893-1910 as Interpreted through Postage Due Markings
- Auxiliary Marking Club President's award
ROPEX Stamp Show (2007) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Regis Hoffman Letters to the Stars
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
WESTPEX Stamp Show, San Francisco, CA (April, 2007) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Dale Forster Loose Ship Letters of Australia
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
ROPEX Stamp Show (2006) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Alfred Kugel The Allied Intervention in Russia 1918 - 1925
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
Southeastern Stamp Show (September, 2005) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Regis Hoffman Letter to the Stars
- Auxiliary Marking Club Richard B. Graham award
- Vermeil medal
ROPEX Stamp Show (June, 2005) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Alfred Kugel The Allied Intervention in Russia 1918 - 1925
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
PIPEX Stamp Show (May, 2005) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Ralph Nafziger First Day Covers in the Mailstream
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit
WESTPEX Stamp Show (April, 2005) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
Peter Baker Censor Marks, Cachets and Postal Marking of the Free French 1940 - 1945
- Auxiliary Marking Club - Award of Merit (first time awarded)
ROPEX Stamp Show (June, 2004) - Auxiliary Markings Club Awards
(click on award to see enlarged image)
John M. Hotchner 20th Century United States Auxiliary Markings Documenting Delay of, or Inability to Deliver, the Mail: The First Fifty Years
- First winner of the Auxiliary Marking Club's Richard B. Graham Award
- ROPEX Gold
- APS Medal of Excellence 1900-1940
- Dusty Millar Award
Ada M. Prill Uh-Oh - Mistakes in U. S. Auxiliary Markings
- First winner of the Auxiliary Marking Club's President's Award
- ROPEX Silver
Nancy and Douglas Clark
- Free Markings Used in Maine - vermeil
- Maine Stampless Period Forwarded Mail - vermeil
- P. H. Brennan Hand Delivery Service - silver
Dave Allan Cooper, Sr. Canadian Pacific Express Uncalled For and Undeliverable Notices
- ROPEX Silver
Thomas M. Fortunato The Diversity of Ceramics and Ceramic Materials
- ROPEX Gold
- ATA 1st
- Hale Award
Gary Hendren Twisted Caps - Twisted Mails
- ROPEX Silver Bronze
Jeffrey Shapiro ConPHessions of a PHat PHilatelist
- ROPEX "Most Popular"
- ROPEX Silver Bronze
since June 22, 2004 (last updated August 19, 2021).
Copyright (c) 2004-2021 by the Auxiliary Markings Club.