CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA

1. Current membership stands at 489. All members receive the quarterly journal (Civil War Philatelist). Editor: Wayne L. Youngblood
   -- 11 JUL 2023 --
   The current Second Quarter 2023 issue contains the following articles, columns, and features:
   • "The Varieties of a Confederate 11-Star Flag Design" by James W. Milgram MD. 
   • "Ogden Handcrafted Confederate Provisional Forgeries (with census)" by Patricia A. Kaufman.
   • "Fort Warrem, Mass., as a Confederate POW Camp and its Postal History" by Steve Feller.
   • "James Battle, Confederate Steamer" by James W. Milgram MD.
   • "Travis, Texas, and the Disappearing Postmaster" by Robert Maroney.
   • "President's Message" Mike O'Reilly.
   • "Editor's Pasteboard" by Wayne L. Youngblood.
   • News of the Society. 
   • Click Confederate Philatelist Archives if you wish to review 87 past articles from The Confederate Philatelist journal. If you join the society (link to an application is below), then you will receive a copy of the new quarterly Civil War Philatelist journal in the mail and will also be able to access and search all archived articles from the beginning as well as read the current issue of the journal online at the Civil War Philatelic Society website. A great benefit of membership.
   
   
2. Access to an Authentication Service for CSA stamps and covers. The authentication service is also available to non-members, but the fees are higher. For more information about the Authentication Service, please visit the "Authentication" section, Authentication Service (opens in a new window), of the Civil War Philatelic Society (Confederate Stamp Alliance) website. The Authentication Service will still continue to accept only Confederate and Confederate related items for certification and will not accept Union material unless there is a Confederate connection to the item (such as POW, Through-the Lines, Blockade etc).  


3. Annual Convention and Exhibition sponsored by the Civil War Philatelic Society (formerly the Confederate Stamp Alliance) and held at various shows across the country. Exhibits will feature material from both sides of the war. Convention Reports and Photos chronicle the CSA Conventions from 1999 to 2019. The first convention held under the new CWPS desgnation was held at NAPEX 2021 (Tysons Corner Va) 22-24 OCT 2021. The second convention under the new name was held in Baltimore, Maryland, at the BALPEX 2022 show 2-4 SEP 2022. The third convention under the new name was held in Sarasota, Florida, at the Sarasota National Stamp Exhibition 20-22 JAN 2023. A report of this most recent convention can be found on the Convention Reports and Photos page. The next convention is scheduled for the St Louis Stamp Expo 22-24 MAR 2024.


4. In addition to the annual Convention, the Society sponsors another weekend meeting for Confederate Philatelists at various locations throughout the country and usually midway between the annual conventions. In place of a 2019 Mid-Year Gathering, the Confederate Stamp Alliance in conjunction with the American Philatelic Society hosted a major event at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, "The Civil War a Postal System Divided" 24-26 OCT 2019. Reports and photos of this event and prior Gatherings can be found on the Mid-Year Gathering page. The Mid-Year Gathering scheduled for Vicksburg, Mississippi, 16-18 OCT 2020 was canceled because of the COVID-19 virus situation. No mid-year gatherings held in 2021 or 2022. There mayl be a gathering scheduled for 2023. More information to come when available.


5. The 10% discount from my Confederate Stamps and Postal History Net Price Lists for members of the Confederate Stamp Alliance will continue for members who continue on with the organization under the new name.

Confederate States Catalog and Handbook -- In October 2006, the Confederate Stamp Alliance announced acquisition of the rights to the New Dietz Confederate States Catalog and Handbook last published in 1986. The 21st Century edition of the Confederate States Catalog and Handbook is long overdue and will no doubt be in much demand by collectors, serious students and dealers. The new catalog will take advantage of all the marvelous changes in technology that have occurred in the past two decades and will be a full color catalog. 17 OCT 2012 -- After six years of  intense work, the new catalog is now finished and will be available before the end of 2012. Pre-publication orders are now being taken through the Confederate Stamp Alliance website www.csalliance.org. 7 APR 2013 -- The new CSA catalog is now sold out and out-of-print. Copies may still be available occasionally on the secondary market.

If you are an active CSA Collector, The Civil War Philatelist (formerly The Confederate Philatelist) and the above described discount from my net-price lists are well worth the annual dues. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Civil War Philatelic Society, just access the Membership Application (opens in a new window) and print it out (2 pages). The directions for filling out the form and mailing it are self-explanatory. This is the new updated application for the Society.

To learn more about the Civil War Philatelic Society (CWPS), formerly the Confederate Stamp Alliance (CSA), and review the history and services of the Society and the latest official newsletter among other features, please visit the official Home Page of the Society using the link below (opens in a new window). There is also a "Members Only" section with a complete searchable online listing of all the issues of The Confederate Philatelist journal going back to the beginning of the journal. 

At the Washington DC 2006 International Show held 27 MAY - 3 JUN 2006, I had the privilege of having on display at my booth the original 2c Altered Printing Plate constructed for the Confederacy by De La Rue and Company in London, England in 1862. The plate was shipped to the CSA by De La Rue but never made it to Richmond and simply disappeared until August Dietz Sr was able to locate it and secure ownership in 1926. The plate was on loan for the show courtesy of CSA Member Colonel Bruce Engsler of Charlottesville, Virginia who is the current owner (only the third owner since 1926). The plate can be seen in the left foreground in the picture below with a closeup following.

A surprise visitor to the show is seen in the photo above. Holding the plate is August Dietz IV, Great Grandson of August Dietz Sr (1869-1963) who is known to all CSA collectors as the Father of Confederate philately. August Dietz Sr was a founder of the Confederate Stamp Alliance in 1935 and its first president. Mr. Dietz IV (known as Andy) was very kind to share with us at the booth family memories of his great-grandfather. He remembered the plate although he admitted that he had not seen the plate since he was eight years old. Another interesting fact is that Mr. Dietz IV is still in possession of the original Washington Flat Bed Press used in Richmond to print the CSA stamps. August Dietz Sr obtained that press many years ago, and it is still in the family's possession today. (Update: The press was later sold at auction by the Dietz family and purchased by Mystic Stamp Company of Camden NY where the press is currently on display at the Mystic Stamp Company Headquarters.)

Click PHOTOS if you wish to see some additional pictures from the Washington 2006 Show.