Category Archives: Stamp Shows

Postal Stationery Group Aids Boston 2026 Show

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[press release]
Boston 2026 “Society Major Sponsor” Named

The United Postal Stationery Society has been named a Boston 2026 World Expo “Society Major Sponsor.”

UPSS President Edward Heir and past President Wayne Menuz met with Boston 2026 officers at show headquarters in Boxborough, Massachusetts, to discuss ways the society could assist the upcoming international philatelic exhibition. As a result, the UPSS Board of Directors appointed Convention Coordinator Bob Thompson as their Boston 2026 liaison and made a $50,000 major contribution to the expo.

Quoting the society’s donation letter announcing their plans, “It has been the mission of the United Postal Stationery Society, since its formation in 1945, to support the collection, research and promotion of worldwide postal stationery. Certainly, our society’s active participation in Boston 2026 international exhibition, the once in 10 years philatelic event, is in line with that mission.” Their homepage is at upss.org.

Nancy Clark (left), President of Boston 2026 World Expo and an active collector and exhibitor of postal stationery, said, “We welcome the strong support of the postal stationery community to our celebration of philately and the study and collecting of postal communication.”

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at boston2026.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

Stamp Show Thrown for a Loss By Penn State

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Aerophilately 2022 has been rescheduled, because Penn State rescheduled a football game for the previously-announced weekend.

The show will be held at the American Philatelic Center, the headquarters of the American Philatelic Society and American Philatelic Research Library. (The latter owns the building.) The new dates are November 4-6.

This World Series of Philately show is sponsored by the American Air Mail Society. APS has arranged for different national societies to hold their own shows at the Center, usually in October. Aerophilately 2022 had been scheduled for October 21-23.

However, scheduling is at the whim of the Penn State football program. For those who don’t know, hotel rooms in the Bellefonte-State College Pa. area are all but sold out on football weekends. On “away” weekends, rooms are plentiful and fairly cheap.

Great Rate for Great Show: 2022 GASS Hotel

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[press release]
Great Rate for Great Show
Great American Stamp Show Hotel Rate Is $150

The Sheraton Grand Sacramento, the official show hotel for Great American Stamp Show 2022, is now accepting reservations at the special show rate of $150. The link for online booking is on the American Philatelic Society website at stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show/travel .

The American First Day Cover Society is a co-host of the philatelic event, along with the APS and the American Topical Association. GASS is being held August 25-28 in the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center’s Halls C and D, on the J Street side of the building. The Sheraton Grand is the closest hotel to the stamp show, right across the street.

GASS will be the biggest stamp collecting show of the year, with top exhibits and dealers and meetings of nearly every major philatelic society. The U.S. Postal Service will issue its Pony Cars stamps at the show, with the California Auto Museum just a mile away. The USPS will also have a fully-stocked sales counter.

The Sheraton Grand itself is a combination of old and new. The front portion was originally a public market – a forerunner of today’s modern grocery store and mall. It was a three-story building where fresh produce, baked goods, clothing, and bulk feed were sold, with coffee shops and lunch counters.

Today, that area houses the hotel’s lobby, restaurants and meeting/banquet rooms, while a new 28-story tower houses 503 guest rooms and suites. All those registering with the GASS discount will receive free Wi-Fi in their rooms. Digital check-in, mobile key, room service, a 24-hour fitness center and valet parking are available to all guests.

The “senior” rates for most other hotels in the area start at about $100 more per night; even the nearby Quality Inn is $147. Parking near the convention center for those staying out of town for cheaper hotel rates will soon even the score, at $20+ a day. Staying in the show hotel is also much more convenient, since some meetings and events will be held there.

The AFDCS will hold its open Board of Directors at the Sheraton Grand and likely its President’s Banquet, a nightly hospitality suite and a free breakfast for its Life and Charter members. The Monday post-show tour organized by the AFDCS and ATA will depart from the hotel, too.

In addition to co-hosting GASS, the AFDCS publishes an award-winning journal, a cachetmakers directory, handbooks and catalogues; promotes philatelic exhibiting and cachetmaking; and producing first day covers for select issues.

Membership in the AFDCS starts at $24 for Internet-only access or $35 with the printed magazine, a good asset for any first day cover collector.

For more information on the AFDCS, visit its website www.afdcs.org, email afdcs@afdcs.org or write to the society at Post Office Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246.

Major First Day Cover Exhibition in August

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[press release]
Major First Day Cover Exhibition in August
Prospectus and Entry Form Now Available

First day cover exhibits will be the focus of a special section at the biggest U.S. stamp show of the year, this summer’s Great American Stamp Show 2022, August 25-28, in Sacramento, Calif.

The exhibit prospectus and entry form are now available. There will be three separate World Series of Philately exhibitions: Americover for first day cover exhibits, National Topical Stamp Show for thematic exhibits, and StampShow for others. The show also includes the multi-frame Champion of Champions, Most Popular Champion of Champions, and Youth Champion of Champions competitions, as well as a Literature competition.

The American First Day Cover Society — a co-host of the show — offers a crystal pyramid, provided by its Claude C. Ries Chapter in Southern California, for the Grand Prize in the Americover competition [photo of the 2017 award is show on the right]. Other special awards which may be conferred include most popular, best exhibit by a novice, and Awards of Excellence for four different time periods. A complete list may be found at www.afdcs.org/show_awards.html.

Space is limited for exhibits, so early application is recommended. The prospectus and entry form can be downloaded at www.stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show/exhibitor-information or requested by mail from APS, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or telephone at 814-933-3803. The deadline for applications is May 15.

A fee of $40 will be charged for single-frame exhibits, multi-frame exhibits are $20 per frame. Non-competitive exhibits may be entered, space permitting, at $7.50 per frame, and Youth exhibits are $5.00 per frame. Noncompetitive exhibits will only be accepted if they add significantly to the show.

Membership in the APS, AFDCS, or any other philatelic society is not required. Want to learn more about exhibiting first day covers? The American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors and the AFDCS have prepared a brochure, which can be downloaded at www.afdcs.org/exhibiting.html.

The AFDCS publishes handbooks, catalogues, directories and a bimonthly award-winning journal, First Days. The society also produces some FDCs, advocates for first day cover collecting and exhibiting, and offers awards for the best FDC exhibits at other shows.

For more information on the AFDCS, visit its website www.afdcs.org, email exhibits@afdcs.org or write to the society at Post Office Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246.

GASS 2022 Side Trip: Railroad Museum

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One of the top railroad museums in the country is a short trip from the site of Great American Stamp Show 2022: The California State Railroad Museum. It documents the role of the “iron horse” in connecting California to the rest of the nation. According to Wikipedia, the museum features 21 restored locomotives and railroad cars, some dating back to 1862. Sacramento was the western end of the Transcontinental Railroad, completed in 1869. Exhibits show how railroads changed American society, influencing travel, commerce and daily life. This museum is a focal point of the American Topical Association/American First Day Cover Society joint post-show tour on Monday, August 29th.And, of course, the railroads helped deliver the mail. According to the museum’s website, it is open daily 10 to 5, and it offers excursions along the Sacramento River on weekends.

Exhibits and Major Awards at London 2022

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Exhibits and Major Awards At London 2022

With over 600 competitive exhibits, London 2022, the international stamp exhibition taking place on 19 to 26 February at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington, will have something on display of interest to all collectors. With so many exhibits to enjoy, they will be divided between the two halves of the exhibition.

A full list of the exhibits, and when they will be on display, can be consulted at www.london2022.co. In addition, the entries in the Literature Class can be viewed in the Reading Room, open through the exhibition.

All the exhibits will be competing for a number of major awards.

The Grand Prix National will be awarded to the best exhibit of a predominantly British subject. It is a cut-glass, silver-capped claret jug kindly donated by the Great Britain Philatelic Society.

The Grand Prix International is for the best exhibit, not of a predominantly British subject. The award, donated by the Royal Philatelic Society London, is a British Gold Sovereign, dated 2020, in a presentation box [below].

The award for the best exhibit in the World Stamp Championship Class is a Moorcroft vase and has been donated by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) [below].

A silver London 2022 medal will be awarded for the best exhibit in each class. Many of these have been sponsored, as follows: Postal History (sponsored by the Society of Postal Historians); Traditional Philately (Bill Barrell); Thematic Philately (Christine Earle Memorial Award); Philatelic Literature (Stuart Rossiter Trust); Open Philately (Irish Philatelic Circle and Éire Philatelic Association); Modern Philately (Deegam Publications); Youth Philately (Stamp Active Network).

Sponsors are invited for the remaining classes: Aerophilately; Revenue; Postal Stationery; Picture Postcards. To sponsor one of these awards, please visit the exhibition website.

London 2022 will be open each day from 10am to 6pm (closing at 4pm on Saturday, 26 February). Entry costs £10 on the first day, tickets now available by visiting www.london2022.co; admission is free on all other days.

Key Facts about London 2022

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
London 2022 – The Key Facts

The international stamp exhibition, London 2022, will take place on 19 to 26 February at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. The exhibition has FIP (Fédération Internationale de Philatélie) patronage and FEPA (Federation of European Philatelic Associations) recognition.

The Business Design Centre is located in Upper Street and is a short walk from Angel station on the Northern Line of London Underground. The Northern Line provides a direct connection to Kings Cross, St Pancras International and Euston national rail stations, and links with many parts of London. However, note that there will be no Northern Line trains between Kennington and Moorgate (thus serving London Bridge Station and Bank) for the duration of the exhibition. Many bus routes pass along Upper Street.

The exhibition will be open each day from 10am to 6pm (except it will close at 4pm on Saturday, 26 February). Entry will be free on all days except for the Opening Day, 19 February. On that day admission will cost £10 (tickets may be purchased in advance by visiting www.london2022.co).

The booth holders will be located on the Village Green, Mezzanine Level and Gallery Bays (a full list of the booth holders can be found on the exhibition website). Present will be dealers, auctioneers, publishers and postal administrations. The stand of Royal Mail will be found on the Village Green on entering the exhibition.

Stamp Active (to be found on the Mezzanine Level) will welcome all young collectors with encouragement and advice.

The Royal Philatelic Society London will have a booth – discover all about the world’s leading philatelic society.

There will be a total of 3,400 frames of exhibits, divided between the two halves of the exhibition. These can be seen in the Gallery Hall and Auditorium. Exhibits of Postal History, Postal Stationery, Open Class, Picture Postcards, Revenues and part of the Youth Class will be on display from Saturday, 19 February until midday on Tuesday, 22 February. Entries of Traditional Philately, Aerophilately, Thematics, the remainder of the Youth Class, plus exhibits for the World Stamp Championship, can be seen from Wednesday, 23 February until midday on Friday, 25 February.

There will be an opportunity during Saturday, 26 February to see those exhibits that have been recognised as the ‘Best in Class’, as well as the Grand Prix National, Grand Prix International and World Stamp Championship winners.

The entries in the Literature Class can be consulted every day of the exhibition in the Reading Room, which will be found on the Village Green.

Catering is provided on the Gallery Level.

Over thirty philatelic societies will be holding meetings during the exhibition while several societies will each have a table at the exhibition on Wednesday, 23 February. In addition during the exhibition FEPA will be holding two seminars, while several of the FIP Commissions will be holding meetings. Full details of all the meetings including day and time can be found on the exhibition website (www.london2022.co).

For those intending to spend a few days in London, hotel bookings can be arranged though HotelSmart, with a link available on the website.

New Version of Boston 2026 Label

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Newest Boston 2026 Collectible Released

Boston 2026 World Expo is pleased to announce that a new version of its first promotional label featuring a colonial post rider is now ready.

A limited edition sheetlet of 9 rouletted labels depicting the image signed and numbered by its designer, Chris Calle, is being offered exclusively through the Boston 2026 web site for a donation of $10. No more than 450 will be made available on a strictly one per person basis.

Unsigned sheetlets of Design #1 were first released at the Great American Stamp Show in Chicago in August and since that time have been available by visiting the Boston 2026 promotional table at major U.S. philatelic events. To facilitate collector demand they, too, may be requested on the Boston 2026 web site. Up to three may be ordered per person, free of charge.

Postage and handling for each U.S. domestic order is $5, with international orders at $10.

Unsigned sheetlets may continue to be requested at Boston 2026 promotional tables while supplies last at national and international exhibitions, including:

  • Emirates 2022 (Dubai, UAE): January 19-23, 2022
  • Southeastern Stamp Expo 2022 (Atlanta, GA): January 28-30, 2022
  • London 2022 (London, United Kingdom): February 19-26, 2022
  • Philatelic Show 2022 (Boxborough, MA): April 29-May 1, 2022
  • CAPEX 22 (Toronto, Canada): June 9-12, 2022

Four additional collectible label designs will be issued, one per year through 2026, honoring the exhibition’s theme of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at boston2026.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

[The Virtual Stamp Club asked Boston 2026 spokesman Tom Fortunato what the difference between this version and the last was. “Only change is the autograph and numbering,” he replied.]

GASS 2022: Old Sacramento Underground

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The sights at Old Sacramento State Park — about a mile from Great American Stamp Show — aren’t just above-ground.After several devastating floods they decided to raise the city by hauling in dirt. The project began in 1868 and finished in 1873.  This basically made the first floors of many buildings become the basements and the second floor became the first floor. Today, there are tours of Sacramento underground.There’s even an underground (or mostly underground) passageway back to the convention center area.

More Old Sacramento Photos

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No, no, this isn’t a photo of a stamp collector in the hotel bar after TurkeyPex 2022 (or 1872, for that matter). It’s one of the displays from Old Sacramento State Park, a little over a mile from the convention center where Great American Stamp Show 2022 will be held August 25-28. You might want to leave some time in your trip to visit Old Sacramento. It looks as if it will be worthwhile.