July 2005
A.L. McCready Award for Philatelic Literature

J.E. (Ted) Nixon, president of The RPSC Philatelic Research Foundation has announced the establishment of a new philatelic literature award to be administered by the Foundation.

Nixon said “the A.L. (Mac) McCready Award will be made annually for the best philatelic research published during a given calendar year.” Eligible publications will be handbooks, special studies, or annuals. The work must be a Canadian publication, a publication by a Canadian in another country, or a publication on a subject relating to what is now Canada published by any writer anywhere in the world.

Articles in magazines, auction catalogues, dealers’ price lists, and exhibition catalogues will not be eligible for this award.

Only publications in English and French will be considered. Evaluation will be conducted using criteria that will examine treatment of contents; originality, significance, and depth of research; technical matters; and presentation. The award will be selected by a panel of three members who will be appointed by the RPSC Philatelic Research Foundation.

Arthur L. McCready was one of Canada’s foremost pioneers in philatelic literature. A newspaperman in eastern Ontario, he was editor of the Cobden Sun for 30 thirty years. His major philatelic undertaking was the purchase of Popular Stamps in 1939. He turned what was little more than a stamp dealer’s trade and price list into one of the country’s most successful journals.

Between 1942 and 1947 when The Canadian Philatelist was born, Popular Stamps served as the RPSC journal. McCready also published several well known philatelic catalogues and handbooks. Charles J.G. Verge, President of The RPSC and a fan and promoter of Mr. McCready said “Mac McCready gave “unflagging service to philatelic literature, and to his worldwide list of subscribers which continues as a legacy for Canadian philatelists today.”

A.L. McCready was inducted into the American Philatelic Society’s Writers’ Unit 30 Hall of Fame at a special breakfast held during CAPEX “96 in Toronto.

Verge said the new award that will bear his name “justly honours the name of one of Canada’s greatest philatelic literature personages.”

Ted Nixon said “to have a significant philatelic literature award in Canada, not only pays tribute to one of our great writers, but also will reward present contributors to the hobby for their scholarly work.”

The award will consist of a specially prepared sculpture mounted on a plaque. The first award will be made next year for material published during 2005. Prospective award nominees will need to send one copy of their publication to the McCready Award Committee, c/o RPSC, P.O. Box 2788, Station ‘D’, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W8.

Information on The RPSC can be had by e-mail at info@rpsc.org or by visiting the Society's website at www.rpsc.org, or by calling 416-979-8874.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael O. Nowlan 506-357-2698
Daryl Oliver 416-979-8874