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By Linn’s Staff
The American Philatelic Society has announced the 2026 recipients of the society’s Luff awards. Larry Lyons is being honored with the Luff award for distinguished philatelic research; Charles Verge is being recognized with the Luff award for exceptional contributions to philately; and Elizabeth Hisey is to receive the Luff award for outstanding service to the APS.
Larry Lyons is widely recognized for his extensive and award-winning collections of carrier and local stamps, including forgeries, and Western Express covers. He has been a leading researcher in these fields of study, having been the recipient of numerous accolades including the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society Carroll Chase Cup (1998) and the Diane D. Boehret Award (2009, 2011) for excellence in philatelic literature.
Lyons has published works that are indispensable resources, including The Identifier for Carriers, Locals, Fakes, Forgeries and Bogus Posts of The United States (1998) and the 2007 Pricing Guide for Unlisted Carriers, Locals, Fakes, Forgeries and Bogus Posts of the United States. He has also authored more than 140 original research articles that have appeared in various philatelic journals and publications.
Lyon’s involvement in organized philately has been extensive. He is a member of numerous organizations, including the Carriers and Locals Society, Collectors Club, U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, American Revenue Association and Western Cover Society, and has been executive director of the Philatelic Foundation since June 2010, having served on its board of directors, after previously holding the positions of treasurer and secretary.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Charles Verge is widely acknowledged as one of Canada’s foremost living philatelists, although he has been active all over the world.
Verge has been an international leader in the organizing and judging of philatelic exhibits since 1995, serving at more than 150 national and international stamp shows in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and at Capex 2022 in Toronto.
A historian by training, Verge is the author of four books, including one on Canada’s 1959 5¢ St. Lawrence Seaway invert error (Scott 387a), and countless articles. For many years he was the stamp columnist for the Ottawa Citizen and has been a frequent contributor to the American Philatelist and Canadian Philatelist.
Verge has worked across borders to bring United States and Canadian philately closer together by helping to broker reciprocity agreements over qualifications for national and international shows.
Among his previous honors, Verge signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 2020 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to philately. In 2023 he received the Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for distinguished service to philately from the Collectors Club.
Verge has also held key roles, such as lead trainer for the International Federation of Philately (F.I.P.) jury academy, past president of the Eire Philatelic Association, and advisor to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Away from philately, Verge enjoys collecting hockey memorabilia and in 2002 earned the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for his public service contributions.
Elizabeth Hisey has been engaged with organized philately for more than two decades. She is an APS-accredited judge, judging at shows in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Hisey has served as secretary of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, and president and treasurer of Women Exhibitors, of which she is a founding member.
She collects and exhibits food-related philately, turn-of-the-century advertising covers, and early 1950s Bolivia and has exhibited illustrated mail, postcards and postal history.
Hisey has served as director-at-large for the APS and is a lifetime member of the society. She is a fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London and a member of the Council of Philatelists at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
The Luff award was established in memory of John N. Luff, APS president from 1907 to 1909, who was considered the most prominent American philatelist of his era.
Recipients sign the Luff award scroll and are presented with engraved rings. The 2026 Luff award winners will join a distinguished group of 163 prominent philatelists. The Luff award is the most prestigious recognition presented by the APS to a living philatelist.
The awards will be presented during Boston 2026 World Expo, to be held May 23 to 30 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
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