News from F.I.S.A.
We follow the international news on all philatelic items, but especially on aerophilately and astrophilately: exhibitions, news from our members, flash-news on specific items (first flights etc.), obituaries, F.I.P. news, ... If you have any news you want to see published on these pages, please send us the information.
Boston 2026 - World F.I.P. Exhibition
Boston 2026
Boston will be the world’s center of philately for eight days in 2026, as the twelfth international philatelic exhibition of the United States gathers at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC).
To be held during Memorial Day week (May 23–30, 2026) in the Seaport section of the city, Boston 2026 World Expo will be a significant part of the country’s 250th anniversary festivities.
In a 352,000 square foot contiguous exhibition area, Boston 2026 will be hosting a large dealer bourse, as well as a sizable postal administration bourse, and society presence. There will be an FIP competitive exhibition of approximately 3,500 frames, plus other special/court of honor exhibits, as well as a large FIP literature competition.
We will be hosting hundreds of meetings/presentations in 40+ meeting rooms of various sizes. A large opening ceremony and closing awards dinner will be staged using the BCEC’s banquet room facilities. Travelers from out of town will appreciate that Boston’s Logan Airport and Amtrak’s South Station are less than 15 minutes away from the BCEC, and that eight show hotels will be within walking distance.
And best of all, attendance is FREE!!!
Events on Aero- and Astrophilately
The schedule of Events at Boston 2026 is available on the Boston 2026 page.
For Aero- and Astrophilately we have knowledge of the following event:
At Boston 2026 will be a PowerPoint presentation at 2 PM, Sunday 24 May 2026
“World War I German Airship Combat Operations Postal History”
by Fred Reynolds, PhD.
Fred Reynolds also shows his five frame exhibit “World War I German Airship Combat Operations” at Boston2026, in the German Salon.
For discussions or comments on either the exhibit or the presentation, Fred Reynolds will be working at the joint American Air Mail Society (AAMS)/Military Postal History Society (MPHS) Booth 721
Fred Reynolds, PhD, Colonel US Army retired, RPSL.
An American researcher, exhibitor, and writer on World War I German airship combat operations.
Tariff Issue Resolved !
Until this year, stamps and covers could be imported into the United States under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) 9704 free of duty. However, several months ago, new country specific tariffs came into effect. This affected philatelic material, which in turn, resulted in the global philatelic community fearing that foreign participants at the upcoming Boston 2026 World Expo would experience unacceptably high costs.
After close consultation with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the past several weeks, the Boston 2026 Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that stamps and covers are, once again, tariff free for entry into the US. Specifically, the initial ruling letter that resulted in philatelic tariffs has now been ruled void ab initio (i.e., null from the beginning) and voided. A new set of ruling letters holding that philatelic material covered by HTSUS 9704 is again tariff free has been issued. See the Tariffs webpage for more information.
To ensure the free and smooth entry of philatelic material for the show, the show organizers have hired a customs brokerage firm, Vantage Point Services. They will provide foreign parties (i.e., dealers, auction houses, postal administrations and commissioners) importing philatelic material with the appropriate instructions and documentation for entry into the US. The customs broker offers support at multiple ports of entry, including Boston, New York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles.