Category Archives: Stamp Shows

China Society Backs Boston 2026 Show

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
China Stamp Society Joins Boston 2026

Boston 2026 World Expo is pleased to announce that another major society will be participating in the international exposition.

China Stamp SocietyThe China Stamp Society plans on holding its annual convention and additional seminars for those interested in philately of the region according to H. James Maxwell, show liaison and editor of the group’s award winning bi-monthly publication, “The China Clipper.”

Formed in 1936 the CSS is the world’s largest English-speaking philatelic society specializing in China and related regions, including Hong Kong, Macau, Manchukuo, Tibet, Shanghai and the Treaty Ports, Foreign Offices in China and the Japanese Occupation of China. It is the oldest affiliate of the American Philatelic Society. Their web site is at chinastampsociety.org.

President of Boston 2026 Yamil Kouri and Executive Director Mark Butterline both welcomed the news. “We are happy organizations continue to choose our exhibition as their society’s destination of choice for meetings and conventions. An additional thanks to those, including the CSS, that are able to financially support us as well,” said Kouri.

Philatelic groups from around the world are encouraged to contact Mark Schwartz, Boston 2026 Society Chair, as soon as possible by email at Mark.Schwartz@Boston2026.org to make their show interests known, whether it be for a society table or meeting space.

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 Twitter and Facebook.

Great American Stamp Show 2023 Update (February)

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A few updates on Great American Stamp Show 2023, which will include the American First Day Cover Society’s Americover 2023:

  • The show hotel block is 72% booked. A sellout appears likely; don’t dawdle! At $139 a night (show rate), you’re not likely to do much better in downtown Cleveland.
  • Function tickets (banquets, etc.) are now on sale on the website.
  • A pre-show learning course has been scheduled: “All About Cancellations,” taught by Gary Loew, on Wednesday, August 9th. Click here for more information. The course is limited to 30 participants.

More information on the show: here

Chicago Suburb Chosen for Big Show In 2025

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The American Philatelic Society Board of Directors has chosen Schaumburg, Illinois, as the site for Great American Stamp Show 2025. The dates are August 14-17, 2025. It is about 30 miles from the Chicago Loop but, more importantly, adjacent to O’Hare Airport.

The other city under consideration was Las Vegas.

The show hotel for the show will be the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, a Marriott property directly connected to the convention center.

There will be no GASS in 2026: The APS Board approved skipping its own show that year and instead will hold its annual meeting at Boston 2026, the U.S. international show. Those dates are May 23-30, 2026. In 2016, when the U.S. “international” was held in New York City, the APS instead held its annual show, then called “StampShow,” in Portland, Oregon — the other side of the country, hoping to attract collectors who could not make the trip to the East Coast.

Early Information about U.S. Big Summer Show

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The site for Great American Stamp Show 2023 — Cleveland’s Huntington Convention Center — has self-cleaning escalator hand-rails! Do you need another reason to go?

If so, here’s other new information about the show:

There is now information on the APS website: https://stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show

The show hotel is the Westin Cleveland Downtown, at $139/night. Use the link off the website or “AP1” (that’s a one) or ask for the American Philatelic Society room block.

The Westin is two block from the convention center. All guests will get free WiFi. The parking is valet parking at $42 a night. (A 20% discount may be available; APS is checking.)

Everything at the convention center is cashless. Use debit or credit cards.

The convention center has water bottle filling stations.

The meeting rooms are right outside the bourse area. You may not get a chance to use those escalators!

The U.S. Postal Service will have two first-days at the show.

On the website, you can already request meeting times for your organizations and sign up to volunteer.

APS Suspends ARIPEX (Arizona)

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[press release]
APS Board Suspends ARIPEX WSP Accreditation

On Thursday, November 3, 2022, the APS Board of Directors unanimously voted to suspend the World Series of Philately accreditation for ARIPEX ahead of the planned show in 2023. The suspension means the winner of the competitive exhibition will not be eligible for the Champion of Champions.

APS Executive Director Scott English and the Committee on National Exhibitions and Judging (CANEJ) Chair Darrell Ertzberger participated in ARIPEX in February 2022, identifying issues with the show. The APS offered corrective actions and support to make the necessary changes to ARIPEX but found no improvement.

On October 30, 2022, CANEJ met to review reports from English, Ertzberger, and others and determined that ARIPEX failed to comply with WSP rules and recommended the APS Board suspend WSP accreditation for 2023. Specifically, the Committee found ARIPEX violating three provisions of Section E(2) due to late and incomplete reporting, failing to maintain a level of excellence, and violating one or more rules for WSP exhibitions.

In suspending the WSP accreditation, the APS outlined several steps to address the concerns, or it will revoke accreditation. The required actions are:

  1. Rebuild the show’s organizational structure to include individuals separate from the Show Chair serving as chairs for the bourse, exhibits, awards, and jury to restore confidence the exhibits can be better managed and preserve the national-level requirements,
  2. The governing body, the Arizona Federation of Stamp Clubs, must rebuild its committee to ensure proper oversight and accountability for the show’s operations, and
  3. Commit to the approved rules of the World Series of Philately to include a functioning website, an approved prospectus, and an approved jury no later than August 1, 2023.

“This was not an easy decision, but we have to protect the interests of members who entrust valuable collections to the show committee,” said English, “I’ve heard from members ready, willing, and able to get ARIPEX back on track. We hope the ARIPEX leadership takes the necessary steps to make it happen.”

World Series of Philately
A WSP show is an APS World Series of Philately show. These U.S. national-level shows have undergone an accreditation process and must follow standards (WSP Rules/Requirements) to maintain their status. The multi-frame grand award-winning exhibit at each WSP show is invited to compete in the annual Champion of Champions at the Great American Stamp Show for the highest exhibiting honor.

Eastern Pennsylvania Show Resumes

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Regional stamp show set for Oct. 29

After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, the Allentown Philatelic Society will resume sponsoring its biannual Eastern Pennsylvania Stamp Show (EPASS) from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Schnecksville Fire Company, 4550 Old Packhouse Road, Schnecksville, PA 18078. There is free parking and no admission fee. Food service will be provided by the fire company.

EPASS will feature 12 dealers, 25 tables, a youth and beginners area offering free stamps and collecting materials, hundreds of dollars in door prizes and an historical exhibit. The club will also accept donations of stamps and supplies that will be used to promote the hobby.

Individuals that have inherited collections are encouraged to bring their material to the show for evaluation and possible sale to club members and participating dealers.

The stamp club meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the American Legion Post No. 367, 609 Fullerton Ave., Whitehall, PA 18053. Meetings include auctions, visual presentations and trading among members. The club also maintains a philatelic library for research and information.

The organization will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and plans are underway to mark that milestone. The Allentown chapter is one of the oldest continuously operating stamp clubs in the country.

For more information please call contact Brian Gaydos at ‭(201) 981-9444‬‬; briangaydos1971@gmail.com or visit the website: http://aps-lv-stamps.org/epass/.‬‬

FIP Okays Boston 2026

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[press release]
FIP Patronage Approved for Boston 2026

Boston 2026 World Expo has been granted FIP Patronage by the Federation Internationale de Philatélie (FIP).

The request for such FIP classification was initiated by Boston 2026 leadership and presented to delegates at its 76th Congress Commissions’ Conference Meeting and Meeting of the Associate Members taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia August 4-9. It was approved without objection and continues the tradition of such recognition by once-a-decade U.S. international exhibitions of years past.

An FIP consultant to Boston 2026 will be appointed to work with exhibition management, followed by formal contract negotiation and signing by both organizations in the upcoming year. This collaboration helps ensure a successful event for all involved.

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.

Boston 2026 Leadership Restructured

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Boston 2026 Leadership Restructuring

The Organizing Committee of Boston 2026 World Stamp Show, Inc. announces the restructuring of its leadership. Due to health concerns, Nancy Clark [right] will become President Emerita. In 2013, she conceived the idea of hosting a World Stamp Show in Boston and has been the first woman to lead a world philatelic exhibition. Nancy will remain involved in the organization and continue to contribute as a trusted advisor.

Yamil H. Kouri Jr. [left] will become President. He previously held the position of Corporate Director. Mark Schwartz will assume Yamil’s role as Corporate Director.

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.

AFDCS Donates $5,000 to Boston 2026

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[press release]
AFDCS Donates $5,000 to Boston 2026 International Show

The American First Day Cover Society, the world’s largest not-for-profit organization for FDC collectors, has donated $5,000 to Boston 2026 World Stamp Show, the next internationally-sanctioned stamp collecting exposition in the United States. The contribution was approved in a unanimous vote of the AFDCS Board of Directors.

Leaders of Boston 2026, the American Philatelic Society and the AFDCS have been working toward making first day covers a separate class for exhibits at an international show. Currently, FDCs are part of the “Other” catch-all class.

“We want to send a message that the AFDCS is a major player in the hobby, not just another organization,” said AFDCS board member Foster Miller, who proposed the donation. “We also want to send a message to the international stamp community that first day covers are important.”

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.

The AFDCS is the fourth-largest stamp society in the U.S. In addition to advocating for first day cover collecting and exhibiting, it also publishes handbooks, catalogues, directories, teachers’ aids, and a bimonthly award-winning journal, First Days [right], and has a YouTube channel for videos about FDCs. It sponsors an annual contest for cachetmakers and is a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show, which will next be held August 25-28, 2022, in Sacramento, Calif. The AFDCS-sponsored “Americover Exhibition” at that show will have 25 exhibits in 138 frames.

Membership in the AFDCS starts at $24 for Internet-only access (anywhere in the world) or $35 with the printed magazine. 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.

[press release]
Preparations for Boston 2026 World Expo continue on several fronts. The American First Day Cover Society is the latest philatelic organization to contribute funds to help make the next U.S. international exhibition possible. A $5,000 donation was approved by AFDCS’s leadership this past week.

Founded in 1955, it is the world’s largest group of over 1,100 members specializing in the creation and collecting of first day covers. Their extensive web site at afdcs.org offers viewers a wealth of information along with videos on their new YouTube channel, accessible through a home page link. “We want to send a message that the AFDCS is a major player in the hobby, not just another organization,” said AFDCS board member Foster Miller, who proposed the donation. “We also want to send a message to the international stamp community that first day covers are important.”

Nancy Clark, Boston 2026 President, said, “It’s just this kind of support within the philatelic community which makes it possible to continue to promote both our hobby and our mission to enrich lives through philately.”

Are you planning to attend the Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento, California in late August? If so, stop by the Boston 2026 First Day Ceremony on opening day, August 25 at 2 PM on the show floor stage. It starts with the design unveiling and release of the second in a series of patriotic-inspired promotional labels followed by a presentation by Yamil Kouri [left], the show’s Commissioner General and a Director of the once-a-decade exhibition. All are welcome.

GASS 2022 Seeks Volunteers

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The organizers of Great American Stamp Show (August 25-28 in Sacramento) are looking for volunteers: Frame setup, putting up and later taking down exhibits, and so on. You can see some of the specific pre-show needs here.

Other tasks include the registration booth, working in the Youth Area, and at the Stamps By The Bucket and Covers by the Container tables.

For more information about volunteering and to sign up, visit this page. “For each day that four or more hours of service are provided, we will reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket costs, such as a public transportation fare, or parking at the show venue.”

And, “we also plan to give concession coupons to purchase a drink/snack and often times provide snacks to our volunteers from our APS snack supply,” show director Wendy Masorti said in email in response to my question. “Of course a first day cover of Chris Calle’s cachet will be given to each.”

“I’ve only been able to volunteer at these APS-administered shows on an “ad hoc” basis, but I’ve enjoyed it when I have,” said AFDCS president Lloyd A. de Vries. “You meet people, you guide some, and (at those two “by-the-bucket” booths), it’s fun watching the kids (ages 6-86 😉) find stamps and covers for their collections.”