Philatelic Society of Lancaster County
The James Buchanan Chapter #173 of the American Philatelic Society 
Chapter #118 of the American Topical Association 
Member Spotlight
Charles J. DiComo, PhD
About Our President: Charles is a lifelong philatelist, postal historian & award-winning author. He enjoys researching, restoring, writing, publishing & presenting on a broad array of philatelic & postal history topics. He is President of the Philatelic Society of Lancaster County (PA); President of the Empire State Postal History Society (NY), Editor-in-Chief of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society’s award-winning The Chairman’s Chatter and Life Member, on the Board of the Pennsylvania Postal History Society and an emeritus member of the Council of Philatelists of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. A native New Yorker, he resides in Lancaster, PA with his wife Kathleen and their two daughters, McKenna & Mia. Charles is a healthcare executive with a distinguished career in the Life Sciences, Cancer Diagnostics, Biotechnology and Global Clinical Trials sectors. Email me any time charlesdicomo@gmail.com
Charles is very active in the philatelic community. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning The Chairman’s Chatter, Editorial Proofreader for The Chronicle, Webmaster and Life Member of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, and has held Officer and Board roles. He is also the President, Web Designer & Developer and Archivist of the Philatelic Society of Lancaster County (PA), as well as President and Webmaster of the Empire State Postal History Society. Charles served for 9+ years on the Council of Philatelists at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum, co-leading the new initiatives committee and contributing to the NPM’s Arago website launched in 2006 – an online resource for the study of philately and postal operations. He is also a Charter member of The Philatelic Gathering founded in West Chester PA in 2018, whose mission is to share the love of philately with others.
He has received numerous honors over the years. Below are a few highlights.
In 2003, he received the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society Lester Brookman Cup, for giving unselfishly his time and effort to transforming the USPCS website into a highly effective electronic gateway for the Society and philatelic community and the American Philatelic Society Spark Plug Award in recognition of his positive impact and achievements in enhancing and growing the Philatelic Society of Lancaster Country, APS Chapter 173. In the 2018 American Philatelic Society Website Award Competition, three Gold Medals (out of 8 awarded) went to websites that Charles developed, designed and currently administers. These are the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Philatelic Society of Lancaster County and the Empire State Postal History Society. This award recognizes website excellence and exemplifies the very best that is happening out in the local stamp and postal history communities.
In 2020, Charles was honored with the American Philatelic Society’s Nicholas G. Carter Volunteer Recognition Award for his National Promotion, Service and Innovation to philately and the hobby. In 2019, he was awarded the APS Article of Distinction for An 1845 “Ship Letter” from Port-au-Prince, Hispaniola to New York City on the Brig Hayti., which was a special feature in the January 2019 Philatelic Society of Lancaster County Newsletter, and subsequently published in the March 2019 Empire State Postal History Society journal Excelsior! You can also view the article and other award winners on the APS website HERE.
In 2020, he was the recipient of the Grand Award & Large Gold in Literature at the Sarasota National Stamp Expo & Writers Unit 30 for his work entitled New Plate Flaw Discovery: “Dash and Ink Trail” on 3¢ 1851 Stamp, which was published in The Chronicle 259 (August 2018), Vol. 70, No. 3, pp 215-217. He also received a Large Vermeil for An 1845 “Ship Letter” from Port-au-Prince, Hispaniola to New York City on the Brig Hayti. He was also honored with the Excelsior! Best Article Award by his peers at the Empire State Postal History Society for his 2019 article entitled From the Front Lines: Lt. Col. William G. Belknap’s First Hand Account of the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War in 1846. This article also took home a Large Vermeil at the 2020 SESCAL (Stamp Exhibition of Southern California) First Annual Literature Exhibition of Philatelic Articles.
In 2021, Charles was awarded a Gold Medal at the SESCAL 2nd Annual Literature Exhibition, a Gold Medal at CHICAGOPEX 55th Annual Literature Exhibition and a Large Vermeil at the American Philatelic Society Great American Stamp Show’s 53rd Annual National Literature Exhibition for his article appearing in the February 2021 American Philatelist research issue entitled A Noteworthy Precancel on Lancaster Watch Company’s Advertising Covers.
As one person penned, “Dr. DiComo successfully presented his research by weaving the philatelic research of the pre-cancel with a social story of the watch company. The author’s presentation style allowed his research to flow as a historical story instead of a clinical dissertation… The “lesson learned” is that world class philatelic research needs to be multi-dimensional… not only does it need to be well researched, it must be written in a manner that captivates the reader.”
In 2022, Charles was awarded a Large Vermeil at the 3rd Annual SESCAL Virtual Literature Exhibit of Philatelic Articles for his article entitled H.H. Warner & Co. “Safe Remedies” Major Double Transfer of Central Vignette on 6¢ Medicine Stamp, RS258dt, which was published in The American Revenuer, Volume 75, No. 2, 2Q2022 Issue, pp. 59-61.
In addition, he was also awarded a Bronze medal for his article entitled The History of the Ill-Fated Dirigible Akron and the Discovery of a Scarce “Souvenir of Balloon Akron” Fabric Postcard from 1912, which appeared as a Special Feature in the PSLC Newsletter, as well as The Card, the newsletter of the Lancaster County Postcard Club. Congratulations to all the authors and honorees.
Once more in 2022, Charles was recognized with a Large Gold Medal in the APS Star Route competition for his editorial prowess in publishing The Chairman’s Chatter, the Newsletter of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society. Recently relaunched, this competition judges the various newsletters and websites of APS Chapters. Since the mid-1800s, the Star Routes were the most challenging routes in the country to deliver U.S. mail. Congress called for contractors to deliver the mail with “celerity, certainty, and security,” soon replaced with three stars. Our chapters serve and grow the hobby in those same tough terrains with that same mission. Four times yearly, Charles edits a Chatter containing the activities of the Society. It contains such columns as a letter from the President; various committee reports; members who have won medals at WSP shows; photos taken at recent Society events; etc. Congratulations, Charles!
In 2023, Charles was honored with two Vermeil at the 2023 Sarasota National Stamp Expo & Writers Unit 30 for articles published in philatelic journals in 2022.
The first winning article is A One-Day Wonder: Name of Post Office on Long Island became Jones Beach for a Single Day in 1932. This appeared in The Excelsior!, October 2022, Whole No. 36, New Series, pp. 3-6, the postal history journal of the Empire State Postal History Society, of which Charles is also President. This article was also honored with the Excelsior! Best Article Award 2022 by his peers at the Empire State Postal History Society. The second is H. H. Warner & Co. ‘Safe Remedies’ Major Double Transfer of Central Vignette on 6¢ Medicine Stamp, RS258dt, which appeared in The American Revenuer, Second Quarter 2022 (Vol. 75, No. 2), pg. 59-61.
To view all the Awardees, click, 
2023 Sarasota Literature Palmares.
He maintains active memberships in the American Philatelic Society, APS Writers Unit #30, American Revenue Association, British North American Philatelic Society, Pennsylvania Postal History Society; Reading Stamp Collectors Club, Red Rose Coin Club and the Society of Paper Money Collectors. He has also held memberships in the Collectors Club of New York, the Carriers & Locals Society, the Postal History Society, and U.S. Stamp Society.
Charles is a noted specialist of the U.S. 1¢ and 3¢ Cent Stamp, 1851-1860 Issue: including plating, colors/shades, cancels, uses, perforations, gum, paper and postal history. He is a 35+ year member of the 3 Cent 1851 Study Group and was mentored by Dick Celler, Dr. Wilbur Amonette, W. Wilson Hulme, Gary Granzow, Roy Weber, Bob Hegland, just to name a few. He also researches, writes and lectures on U.S. Private Die Proprietary Revenue stamps and wrappers and the firms and wares they produced. Finally, he studies and publishes on Stampless “Ship” Letters entering and exiting New York City harbor during the 1830 to 1860 period, predominantly transatlantic sailings. (P11DB). (AP26). (IAW).
23. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J. “Oh, So Pretty! Prexies from Pawling Travel to Toronto via Special Postal Treaty”, Excelsior!, April 2023, Whole No. 37 NS, pp. 7.
22. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J. A Brief History of T. Kensett & Co. and an Updated Census of Their U.S. Private Die Proprietary Revenue Stamp RP1a, The Smokey Mountain Philatelist, Journal of the Ashville Stamp Club, January 2023, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 10-13.
21. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J. and Shaw, PhD, Terry, A One-Day Wonder: Name of Post Office on Long Island became Jones Beach for a single day in 1932, Excelsior!, October 2022, Whole No. 36 NS, pp. 3-6. (Empire State Postal History Society Excelsior! Best Article Award of 2022)
20. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J., Single Cover Shares Many Tales: Criss-cross Writing in the 1840s, Excelsior!, October 2022, Whole No. 36 NS, pp. 1, 14.
19. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J., H.H. Warner & Co. “Safe Remedies” Major Double Transfer of Central Vignette on 6¢ Medicine Stamp, RS258dt, The American Revenuer, Second Quarter 2022, Volume 75, No. 2, pp. 59-61. Cover+TOC+Article. (Large Vermeil SESCAL 2022 Third Annual Virtual Literature Exhibition)
18. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J., Cover Story: International Folded Letter sent by Ship just Days Prior to the Start of the Penny Black Era in 1840, Excelsior!, April 2022, Whole No. 35 NS, pg. 20.
17. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J., The History of the Ill-Fated Dirigible Akron and the Discovery of a Scarce “Souvenir of Balloon Akron” Fabric Postcard from 1912., Special Feature, Philatelic Society of Lancaster County PSLC Newsletter, January 2022, Vol. 85, No. 1 & 2, pp. 7-19. AND the Lancaster County Postcard Club’s The Card, Vol. 33, No. 3, Issue 372, March 2022. (Bronze SESCAL 2022 Third Annual Virtual Literature Exhibition)
16. DiComo, PhD, Charles, J., Mail from the Caribbean Carries an Earliest Known Use, Excelsior!, September 2021, Whole No. 34 NS, pp. 8-9.
15. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., Lancaster to Philadelphia; Same Distance, Different Rates – It’s all about the Sheets, Pennsylvania Postal Historian, May 2021, Vol. 49, No. 2, Whole No. 227, pp. 18-22.
14. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., Scarce Use of 1938 Prexie Makes Nice Addition to Local Collection, Excelsior!, March 2021, Whole No. 33 NS, pp. 22-23.
13. Bowman, John, D. and DiComo, PhD, Charles, J., A Sordid Tale, Investigation Leads to Surprise Ending, Excelsior!, March 2021, Whole No. 33 NS, pp. 13-16.
12. DiComo, PhD, Charles J. and Larry Laliberte, An 1835 Stampless Cover: London to Philadelphia via New York, BULLETIN, March 2021, Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 5-6.
11. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., A Noteworthy Precancel on Lancaster Watch Company’s Advertising Covers, The American Philatelist February 2021, Vol. 135, No. 2, Whole No. 1441, pp. 144-152. “Collecting Insights” reprint of article on APS website, Jan. 13, 2023. (Winner of Gold, SESCAL 2021 Second Annual Literature Exhibition, Gold, CHICAGOPEX 2021 55th Annual Literature Exhibition and a Large Vermeil in Literature, American Philatelic Society, Great American Stamp Show, 53rd Annual National Literature Exhibition, 2021)
10. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., Lancaster to Philadelphia; Same Distance, Different Rates – It’s all about the Sheets, Special Feature, Philatelic Society of Lancaster County Newsletter, January 2021, Vol. 84, No. 1, pp. 7-10.
9. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., From the Front Lines: Lt. Col. William G. Belknap’s First Hand Account of the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War in 1846, Excelsior!, September 2019, Whole No. 30 NS, pp. 19-27. (Empire State Postal History Society Excelsior! Best Article Award of 2019
8. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., The Life of Hiram Vail and the Obsolete Notes produced for his Banking & Collection Office in Amenia, New York, Reprinted with permission in Philatelic Society of Lancaster County Newsletter, July-August 2019, Vol. 82, No. 7-8, pp. 5-9.
7. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., The Life of Hiram Vail and the Obsolete Notes produced for his Banking & Collection Office in Amenia, New York, Paper Money, May-June 2019, Vol. LVIII, No. 3, Whole No. 321, pp. 190-194.
6. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., An 1845 “Ship Letter” from Port-au-Prince, Hispaniola to New York City on the Brig Hayti, Excelsior!, March 2019, Whole No. 29 NS, pp. 5-13. (Large Vermeil in Literature, Sarasota National Stamp Expo & Writers Unit 30, 2020)
5. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., An 1845 “Ship Letter” from Port-au-Prince, Hispaniola to New York City on the Brig Hayti, Special Feature, Philatelic Society of Lancaster County Newsletter, January 2019, Vol. 82, No. 1, pp. 5-11. 2019 APS Article of Distinction Recipient.
4. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., A Patrons View of the Bad Management at the U.S. Post Office Department in 1840, Excelsior!, September 2018, Whole No. 28 NS, pp. 3-7.
3. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., New Plate Flaw Discovery: “Dash and Ink Trail” on 3¢ 1851 Stamp, The Chronicle 259 (August 2018), Vol. 70, No. 3, pp 215-217. (Grand Award & Large Gold in Literature, Sarasota National Stamp Expo & Writers Unit 30, 2020)
2. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., An American Letter Mail Company 1844 Folded Letter from NYC to Albany – A Scarce New Find, Excelsior!, March 2018, Whole No. 27 NS, pp. 3-8.
1. DiComo, PhD, Charles J., From the Grain Fields of Virginia to a Gin Distillery in Holland, Excelsior!, March 2017, Whole No. 25 NS, pp. 12-15.
“The Development of Perforations on U.S. Postage Stamps By Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Company: 1855–1857”, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD for The Philatelic Gathering at Chester County History Center (CCHC)(2023-05-20) “The Cook & Bernheimer ‘Sunsmile’ Major Double Transfer at Left on their U.S. Private Die Proprietary Four-Cents Medicine Stamp #RS61dt”, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2023-04-26) A Brief History of T. Kensett & Co., Food Packers & the U.S. Private Die Proprietary Canned Fruit Revenue Stamp they Briefly Issued in 1867, Featuring my 2023 Census of known #RP1a stamps, updating the 1994 Census, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2022-06-08, updated 2023-03-20) The Elusive Double Transfer on Dr. Kennedy’s “Family Medicines” U.S. Private Die Proprietary 2 Cents Revenue RS155dt, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2022-12-14) The William Gates Matches Company RO88e on Experimental Silk Paper, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2022-05-25) The Scarce D.M. Bennett Private Die Proprietary U.S. Revenue Stamp RS30e on Experimental Silk Paper, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2022-03-23) The Brown’s Bronchial Troches Scarce Private Die Proprietary Stamp RS40e on Experimental Silk Paper, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2022-02-09) Wafer Seals On U.S. Folded Letters & Covers: 1840 – 1860s, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-12-22) The Milwaukee Match Stamps of Greenleaf & Company: A Scarce RO102e on Experimental Silk Paper, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-12-08) The H.H. Warner & Co. “Safe Remedies” Major Double Transfer of Central Vignette on their U.S. Private Die Proprietary Six-Cents Medicine Stamp RS258dt, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-11-10) A New Discovery: An Unlisted All-Over Double Transfer on the U.S. Private Die Proprietary Medicine Stamp RS151 of Johnston, Holloway & Co., by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-09-08) A Brief History and Examination of the U.S. Private Die Proprietary C.B. Woodworth & Son Imperishable Perfumes company and the scarce RT20b Double Transfer, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-06-23) The A.L. Scovill & Company” RS221e on Experimental Silk Paper: A brief History & Examination of Paper, by Dr. Charles J. DiComo (2021-04-28) “Who Needs a Doctor? This Elixir Will Do! A Primer on U.S. Revenue Private Die Proprietary Medicine Stamps and Nostrums”, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-03-24) The Providence, R.I. Pre-Mailing Control Marking on the U.S. 3 Cent 1851-57 Stamp, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-02-24) “The U.S. Proprietary Medicine Company’s private die medicine stamp RS243e on Experimental Silk Paper: A Brief History & Examination.”, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2021-01-13) Banking in the Village of Pawling, NY and Surrounding Townships as told through Postal History, Bank Checks, Currency, Revenue Stamps and Postal Cards: 1849–1929, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-12-23) The 1893 2 Cent Columbian “Broken Hat” Varieties, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-09-23) From the U.S. to Farther India & Back Again: A Five Month Journey of a Baptist Missionary Cover in 1856-1857. The Challenge: Determining the Rates and Routes, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-09-14 for the PA Postal History Society) What Are Those Extra Lines On Your Gravure-printed Stamps, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-08-26) The S.S. Tahiti: Her History, Her Sinking and a “Salvaged” Cover, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-07-08) North Museum of Nature & Science / Philatelic Society of Lancaster County “Passport to Discovery” Program, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-07-08) The Development of Perforations on U.S. Postage Stamps During the Toppan, Carpenter Era, 1855 – 1857, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-06 PSLC; 2019-11 RSCC; 2019-09 GPSCC) From the U.S. to Farther India & Back Again: A Five Month Journey of a Baptist Missionary Cover in 1856-1857. The Challenge: Determining the Rates and Routes, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-02-12 at Club & 2020-06-10 at APS Summer Seminar) “A Primer on the U.S. 3¢ Stamp, 1851-60 Issue: Plates, Colors, Cancels”, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2020-05-27) The Development of Perforations on U.S. Postage Stamps During the Toppan, Carpenter Era, 1855 – 1857, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2019-11 at the Reading Stamp Collectors Club; 2019-09 at The Greater Philadelphia Stamp & Collectors Club) Using Your Stamp Club Newsletter & Website for Productive Communication and Growth, by Paul Petersen and Dr. Charles J. DiComo, APS 2019 Summer Seminar Elective, and accompanying Handout (2019-06-24) “From the U.S. to Farther India & Back Again. A Five Month Journey of a Baptist Missionary Cover in 1856-1857. The Challenge: Determining the Rates and Routes”, by Dr. Charles J. DiComo (2019-05 at the Reading Stamp Collectors Club) “The Development of Perforations on U.S. Postage Stamps: 1855-1857.”: An Abbreviated Overview, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2018-11) “Banking in Pawling, New York: In the Village and Surrounding Townships, 1849 – 1929” , by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2018-08 at the Reading Stamp Collectors Club) “The Providence, R.I. Pre-Mailing Control Marking on the U.S. 3 Cent 1851-57 Stamp”, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD (2017-06 at the Reading Stamp Collectors Club) “The Providence, RI Control Mark on the U.S. 3 Cent 1851-57 Stamp”, by Dr. Charles J. DiComo (2016-04)
Restoration:
Restoration of the U.S. Private Die Proprietary Swaim’s Panacea RS235d Revenue Stamp of 1864, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD
To Be Presented:
An Unlisted Major Double Transfer on The Trenton Match Co.’s U.S. Private Die Proprietary 1¢ Revenue Stamp RO176d, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD
The Elusive Double Transfer on the Ives & Judd Match Company U.S Private Die Proprietary Revenue Stamp RO120dt, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD
The W.S. Kyle Match Company and the Scarce Private Die Proprietary Stamp RO122e on Experimental Silk Paper, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD
A New Paper Variety Discovery on a U.S. Private Die Proprietary Medicine Revenue Stamp: The Jeremiah Curtis & Co RS68e on Experimental Silk Paper, by Charles J. DiComo, PhD