Ellery Denison of Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

, was a philatelist

Philately

Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...

 who specialized in the postage stamp

Postage stamp

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...

s and postal history

Postal history

Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of postage stamps and covers and associated material illustrating historical episodes of postal systems...

 of China.

Collecting interests

Denison's interest in Chinese postage stamps began in the 1930s when he was in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

. He subsequently expanded his collecting and knowledge of Chinese philately and became a recognized expert of Chinese stamps.

Philatelic activity

For twenty five years (1956 to 1981) Denison was the president of the China Stamp Society, and, after retirement from the society, continued on as president emeritus. At the same time, he was a frequent contributor of philatelic articles to its journal, the China Clipper.

Denison was active in philatelic activity in the Washington, D.C. area, which includes Maryland and northern Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, serving as president of several philatelic clubs. He was named a trustee of the NAPEX organization and a member of the Sixth International Philatelic Exhibition, SIPEX committee.

Honors and awards

Ellery Denison was named to the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame

American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame

The American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame award honors deceased philatelists who have contributed significantly to the field of national and/or international philately.-History:...

in 1990.