About Us

Western Cover Society (WCS) was chartered in 1950 by several prominent collectors of Western covers. This initial core group included Stanley Ashbrook, Eugene Costales, John Fox, Jay Hertz, Edgar Jessup, Herman Herst, Jr., Robert Siegel, along with other early students of Western material. During our history we have been fortunate to count many members who have enjoyed the fellowship of the Society while contributing to its content. In addition to the many noteworthy students of the Western Mails, we have also been fortunate to have the likes of Senator Barry Goldwater.

The primary focus of our non-profit organization is devoted to the study and understanding of western mail. We do this by sharing knowledge of early Western mails with other collectors and historians. Since its creation the WCS has been the premier conduit through which this valuable information has been made available to members and fellow students. This storage of information includes several important reference books and over 200 research journals which have been published, distributed and archived thought DVD’s. The award-winning quarterly research journal, Western Express, is an invaluable resource to anyone interested in the transportation and delivery of mail in the Western United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, and Western Canada during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. While most WCS members are primarily collectors, many are historians and some are institutions such as libraries, schools, museums, and historical societies. We currently supply some twenty different libraries or societies with copies of the Western Express.

The Western Cover Society is governed by a Board of Directors, including a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Elections for these positions are held every three years. Directors meet annually and as necessary for the administration of the Society. A membership meeting is held each year during the Western Philatelic Exposition (Westpex) at San Francisco. Membership in the Western Cover Society is open to all applicants. The Western Cover Society is affiliate #14 of the American Philatelic Society.