Philatelic Bibliography - Short Version
Bob is the son and grandson of postmasters in PA, and a collector of US stamps since childhood. His grandfather, William H. Rufe, Sr., received his appointment from PMG John Wanamaker in 1892. Bob’s groundbreaking studies on the U.S. Special Handling issue resulted in the USSS Hopkinson Literature Award in 2007 and the Hopkinson Trophy for the Best Twentieth Century Exhibit at its national show, PNSE, in 2010. The same exhibit, “US Special Handling 1925-1959: The Stamps and the Service,” garnered 23 gold awards at WSP national shows, and international Gold at New York 2016; it won three World Series of Philately Grand Awards. Original research, accompanied by a new exhibit – “The ‘Special’ Booklet Paper Printings of 1928” resulted in the listing of these stamps, namely 563b, 564b, 566a, 567b, 568a, 569a, C11b and E13a in the 2020 edition of the Scott Specialized Catalogue of US Stamps & Covers. He regularly attends the APS Summer Seminar in June, and has presented electives on several subjects. Bob has been President of the Brandywine Valley Stamp Club since 2007, a longtime member of the Delpex Show committee, an APS Tiffany Donor, and a member of the USSS “Ugly Shirts!”