On September 2, 2000 at Balpex, a group of collectors formed a new society called the Ottoman and Near East Philatelic Society (ONEPS). We publish The Levant journal three times per year and are an affiliate of the American Philatelic Society. As of 1/1/03 we have over 140 global members.

Our purpose is to promote the collection and study of the postage stamps, postal stationery, revenue stamps, an postal history of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey, and the Ottoman successor states.

We hold an annual meeting in the U.S. The key benefits of membership in any philatelic society are good fellowship and a good journal. We strive to excel at both.