The American Helvetia Philatelic Society (AHPS) is an international philatelic society devoted to the study of postage stamps and postal history of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Founded in 1975 in the United States, it is the largest English-language Swiss philatelic society in the world, with over 215 members from 11 countries as of 2025."Publications." American Helvetia Philatelic Society (swiss-stamps.org). Accessed 25 Aug 2025.
History The American Helvetia Philatelic Society was formed in 1975 through the merger of the Helvetia Philatelic Society of America and the Swiss American Stamp Society.AHPS Home page. Accessed 25 Aug 2025."Annotated Table of Contents to the Helvetia Alphorn". Accessed 25 Aug 2025.
The society's lineage goes back to 1938, when the original Helvetia Society was founded and began publishing the Helvetia Bulletin (1938–1957), a journal of research on classic Swiss issues. After 1957, organized activity at the U.S. national level declined until the late 1960s, when two organizations revived interest in Swiss philately: the Helvetia Philatelic Society of America (publishing Helvetia Alphorn, 1969–1974) and the Swiss American Stamp Society (publishing Helvetia Herald, 1970–1974). The merger in 1975 created AHPS, which launched the bimonthly journal TELL. TELL continues as the society's journal, and all four publications are archived and accessible digitally.
Year Event 1938 Helvetia Society founded; Helvetia Bulletin begins (1938–1957) 1957 Helvetia Bulletin ceases; activity becomes dormant 1969 Helvetia Philatelic Society of America founded; Helvetia Alphorn begins 1970 Swiss American Stamp Society founded; Helvetia Herald begins 1975 Merger creates AHPS; TELL launched (1975–present)
Membership Membership is open worldwide to collectors of all experience levels. As of 2025, the society counts over 215 members from 11 countries. AHPS emphasizes inclusivity and welcomes diversity in background, nationality, and collecting experience.
Members receive the bimonthly journal TELL, with access to the back-issue archive, and a digital subscription to the Helvetia Philatelic Society of Great Britain newsletter. The society holds monthly member meetings via Zoom featuring presentations and Show & Tell & Ask sessions, and runs member-only auctions. Members also take part in annual conventions and international stamp exhibitions in person,"Boston 2026 receives grant from American Helvetia Philatelic Society." Canadian Stamp News, 27 Sept 2024. and have access to online research archives and guides.
AHPS members collect and study Swiss material from the cantonal issues of 1843–1854 through federal definitives, commemoratives, semi-postal (charity) issues, and modern issues including crypto stamps. Other areas of interest include postal history and postmarks, revenue and fiscal stamps, Liechtenstein stamps and postal history, and topical collections such as railways, landscapes, and art on stamps.
Publications AHPS and its predecessor societies have published English-language journals on Swiss and Liechtenstein philately continuously since 1938: Helvetia Bulletin (1938–1957), of the original Helvetia Society, focused on classic Swiss philatelic research Helvetia Alphorn (1969–1974), of the Helvetia Philatelic Society of America Helvetia Herald (1970–1974), of the Swiss American Stamp Society TELL (1975–present), of AHPS, which carries research, translations, Q&A, literature reviews, news, and dealer ads
Tables of contents, author indexes, and full back issues of all four journals are available through the AHPS website.
In addition to its in-house publications, AHPS and its members appear in wider philatelic literature. Richard T. Hall and George Struble published a short history of the society, "Communication through TELL and Zoom: The American Helvetia Philatelic Society," in Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 5–6/2026, p. 58.Richard T. Hall and George Struble, "Communication through TELL and Zoom: The American Helvetia Philatelic Society," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 5–6/2026, p. 58. Steven Opheim wrote about AHPS for the American Philatelic Society's The American Philatelist in December 2025. AHPS members also contribute regularly on Swiss philatelic topics: Richard T. Hall has written for Linn's Stamp News on Swiss folk festivals, the William Tell legend, Pro Juventute issues, and the borders on Switzerland's Arms issues.Richard T. Hall, "Swiss folk festivals featured on stamps," Linn's Stamp News, May 2, 2021.Richard T. Hall, "The legend of William Tell on Switzerland's stamps," Linn's Stamp News, Feb 26, 2017.Richard T. Hall, "What makes Swiss Pro Juventute stamps so special?" Linn's Stamp News, Apr 30, 2021.Richard T. Hall, "Examine the borders on Switzerland's arms issues," Linn's Stamp News, Jun 2, 2017. George Struble has contributed to Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), including a multi-part series on Swiss airmail rates to the United States from 1924 to 1939, articles on the 1920 Basel–Frankfurt airmail service, coverage of PIPEX 2023, and a two-part study (2025) of SCADTA from a Swiss perspective.George Struble, "SCADTA — Schweizer Perspektive, Teil 1," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 3/2025.George Struble, "SCADTA — Schweizer Perspektive, Teil 2," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 4/2025.George Struble, "Around the World," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 1/2025.George Struble, "Einladung zur virtuellen Briefmarkenausstellung PIPEX 2023," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 12/2022.George Struble, "1920: Der Luftpostdienst Basel–Frankfurt (1)," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 5/2021.George Struble, "1920: Der Luftpostdienst Basel–Frankfurt (2)," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 7/2021.George Struble, "Die Tarife für Schweizer Luftpost in die Vereinigten Staaten 1924–1939 (Teil 1)," Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (SBZ), Nr. 7/2020; continuing series through Nr. 12/2020, Nr. 1/2021, Nr. 3/2021, Nr. 4/2021.
Auctions AHPS conducts member-only auctions of Swiss and Liechtenstein philatelic material several times a year.
Awards The society sponsors awards at exhibitions, including: Grand Award for best member exhibit at national conventions Swiss-themed gold, silver, and bronze medals at national-level exhibitions One-frame, novice, and youth awards Certificates for local show exhibits
Affiliations Affiliate No. 52, American Philatelic Society Member, Union of Swiss Philatelic Societies Member, Collaboration Crew
Online presence AHPS runs a Facebook Group for members and others interested in Swiss philately. The society's website hosts the TELL archive, research documents, collecting guides, and online exhibits.
See also Postage stamps and postal history of Switzerland Postage stamps and postal history of Liechtenstein Zumstein catalog Michel catalog Scott catalogue American Philatelic Society Royal Philatelic Society London Philatelic literature References
External links Official website of the American Helvetia Philatelic Society AHPS Publications Archive – digital access to TELL (1975–present) and predecessor journals (Helvetia Bulletin, Helvetia Alphorn, Helvetia Herald) AHPS Facebook Group Linn's Stamp News – U.S. philatelic newsweekly featuring articles on Swiss stamps by AHPS members Boston 2026 World Stamp Expo – international exhibition where AHPS is a participating society Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung (Journal Philatélique Suisse)