Universal Ship Cancellation Society (USCS) is an international philatelic

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...

 non-profit organization with an interest in postmark

Postmark

thumb|USS TexasA postmark is a postal marking made on a letter, package, postcard or the like indicating the date and time that the item was delivered into the care of the postal service...

s and covers

Cover (philately)

In philately, the term cover pertains to the outside of an envelope or package with an address, typically with postage stamps that have been cancelled and is a term generally used among stamp and postal history collectors. The term does not include the contents of the letter or package, although...

 from all maritime services. Founded in 1932, the USCS is one of the oldest specialized postal

Mail

Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...

 history societies in the world and the only organization in the United States devoted to navy and maritime covers.

As of 2008, the USCS consists of about 1,300 members worldwide. Member’s interests includes topics such as: navy ships of all countries, merchant ships with seapost

Seapost Service

A Seapost was a mail compartment aboard an ocean-going vessel in which international exchange mail was distributed. The first USA service of this type was the U.S.-German Seapost, which began operating in 1891 on the S.S. Havel North German Lloyd Line. This service rapidly expanded with routes to...

 and paquebot markings, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard, navy bases, related cachet

Cachet

In philately, a cachet is a printed or stamped design or inscription, other than a cancellation or pre-printed postage, on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. There are official and private cachets. They commemorate everything from the first flight...

s and other navy memorabilia.

Advancing the hobby & conducting research

The USCS holds annual conventions in various cities throughout the United States and has local chapters in many cities in the United States and Europe. The USCS also uses study units formed by members to research specialized interests and maintains a photograph library with over 3,000 negatives of ships.

Publications

The USCS publishes the following:

• USCS Log. Monthly 32-page journal with articles of lasting interest on Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and other maritime covers; and historical articles of various U.S. and foreign ships.

• USCS Handbook. Contains basic information for collectors, including a postmark primer, naval terms dictionary, hull classifications
  Taxonomy
  Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
  
  , and the society history.

• Catalog of United States Naval Postmarks. A reference of nearly a century of postal history.

• Naval Cover
  Ship cover
  In philately, a ship cover is a cover that was mailed aboard a ship, while a naval cover is one posted on a navy vessel. Shipboard postal facilities are ubiquitous on ships of any size, although the "post office" may consist only of an alcove and a sailor working it part-time.Ship covers usually...
  
   Cachet Makers’ Catalog. A reference volume of sponsors and cachet artists with illustrations and summary information on the people involved.

• Data Sheets. Compilations of historical interest, events and operations.

See also

• Cachet
  Cachet
  In philately, a cachet is a printed or stamped design or inscription, other than a cancellation or pre-printed postage, on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. There are official and private cachets. They commemorate everything from the first flight...
  
  
• Cancellation (mail)
• Cover (philately)
  Cover (philately)
  In philately, the term cover pertains to the outside of an envelope or package with an address, typically with postage stamps that have been cancelled and is a term generally used among stamp and postal history collectors. The term does not include the contents of the letter or package, although...
  
  
• Philately
  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...
  
  
• Postmark
  Postmark
  thumb|USS TexasA postmark is a postal marking made on a letter, package, postcard or the like indicating the date and time that the item was delivered into the care of the postal service...
  
  
• Seapost Service
  Seapost Service
  A Seapost was a mail compartment aboard an ocean-going vessel in which international exchange mail was distributed. The first USA service of this type was the U.S.-German Seapost, which began operating in 1891 on the S.S. Havel North German Lloyd Line. This service rapidly expanded with routes to...
  
  
• Ship cover
  Ship cover
  In philately, a ship cover is a cover that was mailed aboard a ship, while a naval cover is one posted on a navy vessel. Shipboard postal facilities are ubiquitous on ships of any size, although the "post office" may consist only of an alcove and a sailor working it part-time.Ship covers usually...