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, Editor-in-Chief of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society’s The Chairman’s Chatter and Life Member, and on the Board of the Pennsylvania Postal History Society.
A native New Yorker, he currently resides in Lancaster, PA with his wife Kathleen of 25 years and their two daughters, McKenna and Mia. Charles is an executive leader with a distinguished career in the Healthcare, Life Sciences, Diagnostic and Global Clinical Trials industries.
Charles is very active in the philatelic community. He is the Editor-in-Chief of The Chairman’s Chatter, Editorial Proofreader for The Chronicl2018e, 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 of the Philatelic Society of Lancaster County 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, including the USPCS’ 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 APS’ 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 and Large Gold in Literature at the Sarasota National Stamp Expo and 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 Large Vermeil at the American Philatelic Society Great American Stamp Show’s 53rd Annual National Literature Exhibition for his article which appeared in the February 2021 research issue of the American Philatelist 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.”
He maintains active memberships in the American Philatelic Society (30+ yrs.), APS Writers Unit #30, British North American Philatelic Society (20+ yrs.), 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 NY, the Carriers and Locals Society, the Postal History Society, and U.S. Stamp Society – to name a few.
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 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).
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. (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.
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)