Benefits of ATA Membership

Topical Time

Topical Time is the bi-monthly journal of the American Topical Association. For more information, click on the Topical Time link. For categorized articles from the Topical Time click on the Articles link. To see a Table of Contents of some of the recent issues, click on the T.T. Indexes link.

National Topical Stamp Show and Convention (NTSS)

Every year since 1952, the ATA has held its annual convention in a different location around the United States and Canada. That convention now is part of the National Topical Stamp Show, the largest all-topical show in the United States, sponsored by the ATA. For more information about the ATA's National Topical Stamp Show (NTSS), hit the Stamp Shows link.

Topical Handbooks

The ATA has published many handbooks on popular topics. The subjects include birds, women, plants, space, astronomy, religion, computers, maps, stamps on stamps, tennis, theater, fish, and many others. ATA members receive a discount from non-member's prices when purchasing these handbooks.

Checklists

One of the most valuable services of the ATA in starting a new topical collection is our Checklist Service. There are over 420 checklists, ranging from a single page to those with many pages. These lists are available to members only at a nominal cost per page. Complete lists of available checklists are periodically printed in Topical Time, and can be found on line by hitting the Checklists link.

Insurance

Your home insurance policy probably does not cover your stamp collection. However, ATA members living in the U.S.A., Canada, and 10 other countries can now obtain economical insurance for their collections, provided by the Collectibles Insurance Agency (CIA), P. O. Box 1200-TT, Westminster, MD 21158. Their toll-free telephone number is 1-888-837-9537, (fax 410-876-9233). CIA also has a website at www.collectinsure.com .Contact this company for complete details on the ATA insurance program.

Translation Service

Members of the ATA can also use our translation service for foreign letters or articles. Twenty-seven languages can be translated, including German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian and Chinese. Please contact the Central Office for more information.

Slide Shows

Slide shows, with 50 popular titles, are available for your stamp club. For a list of the slide shows available, hit the Slide Shows link. Coming soon: CDs or DVDs of many of these shows will be available for sale or rental.

Topical Awards

Stamp shows which have a topical section in their prospectus can obtain the ATA Best in Topical Award certificate or Best in Topical First Medal for the best topical exhibit in the show at no cost. The ATA Second Place Award and Third Place Award medals are also available at a nominal cost.  An ATA Youth Award is also available free of charge to shows having topical exhibits by youths.

Topical Specialists

An information board is available for ATA members only, in which up to 500 topical specialists will answer questions on as many as 325 different topics for just the cost of return postage.

Claims Service

When disagreements occur between ATA members and/or dealers, claims of $25 or more can be directed to the Claims Director, who will attempt to help in the resolution of the problem.

Heirs / Estate Service

Where can your spouse or children turn if something happens to you?  The ATA provides an heirs and estates assistance service. Just contact the Central Office.

Study Units / Chapters

The ATA has 49 Study Units on  major topics, and has 32 Chapters in both the US and around the world.  Study Units are comprised of collectors with similar topical interests and their membership can be worldwide. Chapters are local stamp clubs of topical collectors of a wide range of subjects. 

Car Rental Discounts

Car rental discounts are available through Alamo and National car rentals. Call in reservation and give the following ID#s to the agent. Alamo - 706768, National - 5282865.