The Houston Philatelic Society (HPS) hosted Ltc. David S. Ball, the author of American Astro Philately: The First 50 Years, on March 2, 2026. Ball gave a presentation on Ukrainian war stamps, focusing on how Ukraine has used postage stamps as propaganda and morale boosters during the conflict with Russia since 2022. Ball presented examples of stamps depicting defiant gestures, military victories, and symbolic imagery, including the “done” issue that replaced the original stamp after Ukraine sank the Russian ship Moskva. The presentation highlighted Ukraine’s innovative approach to stamp design and production, including public input for new designs and the use of stamps to celebrate military achievements like the destruction of Russian aircraft and submarines. Ball also discussed his upcoming participation in the Boston 2026 World Stamp Expo in May, where he plans to display drone mail created with a friend to support Ukrainian warfighters.

The Greater Houston Stamp Show will return to the Humble Civic Center on September 18–20, 2026. Collectors can explore classic and modern stamps, postal history, and exhibits, attend educational seminars, and enjoy a welcoming environment for all experience levels. Admission and parking are free, and the Beginner’s Booth will again feature special youth giveaways.

Many of our members have asked about the club’s auction rules and where to get the form we use for listing an item in the auction. To make it easy, a link has been added to the bottom of the calendar event, or you can visit the new auction page to find everything you need. Our next auction is Feb. 9, 2026. Come ready to outbid your fellow collectors!

During the COVID pandemic, our club moved its meetings online. What began as a necessity quickly became an opportunity. The virtual format proved engaging, accessible, and unexpectedly fun, allowing us not only to stay connected but also to share our hobby with collectors far beyond our local community. Now that the pandemic is a distant memory, we have returned to twice monthly in-person meetings, while continuing to meet online on the first Monday of each month.

There are dozens of presentations, short and long, that have only been shared on a limited basis. That just doesn’t feel right, but we have some medicine for this problem. We’ve just added three videos to the archive page, all from guest speakers.

• Discover the Art of Stamp Expertizing with APS Director of Expertizing Ken Martin
• Introduction to Collecting Revenue Stamps by Paul Petersen
• Introduction to Private Die Proprietary Stamps by Dr. Charles J. DiComo

Over the next few weeks, we will be adding more videos to our archive page that you can either view on site or on YouTube. We hope you enjoy them, and remember hit the like button and subscribe!

This year’s GHSS is in the history books, but please continue to check back here for updates on the 2026 Greater Houston Stamp Show scheduled for September 18-20 (Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 10-4) at Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Road, Humble TX 77338.

Below are some photos from this year’s show.