Awards

Germany Philatelic Society Member Awards

GPS Membership Medals

A wearable gold medal with ribbon is presented at the annual show for members who have reached their 50th year of membership. A wearable silver medal with ribbon is presented at the annual show for members who have reached their 25th year of membership.

George A. Blizil Memorial Award
Annual Award for the Best Article Published in the
German Postal Specialist

A $100.00 cash award is given annually for the article selected as the best in terms of research, content and subject as determined by a committee whose members are selected by the GPS Executive Committee. Previous winners: Refer to list below. Note that the year given for the award is the year of publication.

Germany Philatelic Society President’s Special Award 

A personalized award given to a Society member for outstanding service to the Society. Chosen and supplied by the President as special recognition and as a token of the Society’s appreciation. Usually presented at the GPS Annual Meeting. It is not required to be given annually and more than one may be given in any year, at the discretion of the President. Previous winners: Refer to list below.

GPS Awards for Philatelic Exhibits

GPS awards for philatelic exhibits are granted only to exhibits of Germany and related areas (colonies, occupations, locals, etc.) at our annual convention show venue for the GPS National Meeting, at WSP shows (upon request), and at other non-convention shows as approved by the GPS Board (upon request). There must be a minimum of three German related exhibits at any show to qualify for any Society medal. Medals awarded differ depending on the type of show (see below). The GPS Board may choose to award national meeting medals and awards for a virtual show if we are unable to meet for our national meeting.

GPS Philatelic Awards at the GPS National Meeting

President’s Grand Award
(GPS Grand Award)

Best German area exhibit at the annual GPS convention by a GPS member. The GPS President provides the award. An exhibit cannot win this more than once in three years. Refer to list of previous winners below. 

Chris Hunt Award
(GPS Reserve Grand Award)

Second best German area exhibit at the annual GPS convention, but not restricted to GPS members. Refer to list of previous winners below. 

GPS One Frame Grand Award

Best German area one frame exhibit at the annual GPS convention, but not restricted to GPS members. Must be at least three one frame German area exhibits. Refer to list of previous winners below. 

Herman L. Halle Research Award
Best Exhibit Research

Best research evident in an exhibit of Germany or related area, exhibited at the GPS annual convention (Certificate). No GPS membership requirement. Refer to list of previous winners below.

GPS Exhibit Medals

Large GPS medals shall be awarded in the same manner as the show medals of the same level. GPS medals are given to all German area exhibits as merited. Note that the actual, physical medal provided may be of a color and or size different from the award level but still represents the level attained.

GPS Awards at Non-Convention Shows

The GPS also offers awards for German exhibits at non-convention shows, upon application of the show chair. As for the convention, there must be a minimum of three German area exhibits. For WSP shows, a small gold medal, a small silver medal, and a small bronze medal are offered, for the best three exhibits, in order. Unlike medals at the GPS National Meeting, these medals are not based on the show’s medal level. Judges are not required to give all medals. For non-WSP shows, upon application of the show chair, a single small bronze medal is available for the best German area exhibit.

GPS Special Award

This is available upon request to APS-certified exhibitions or shows. The award may be given to any exhibit, topic or category and is not limited to Germany-area exhibits. Award consists of a year’s subscription to the Society’s gold-award winning publication and one of its award-winning books.

German Colonies Collectors Group Award

Colonel W. E. Davis Award

Best Exhibit of German Colonies or German Post Offices Abroad. Awarded by the German Colonies Collectors Group

(Not given by GPS–listed here as GPS and GCCG collaborate at the National Meeting)