12/28/2015 (P1767)

National Postage Stamp Show Coming to Atlanta

AmeriStamp Expo, the nation’s second largest annual postage stamp event, will take place in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia in the Hilton Atlanta Downtown at 255 Courtland St., N.E., on Friday, January 29 through Sunday, January 31. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.

This event, co-located with the Southeastern Stamp Expo, is expected to draw more than 2,500 attendees from throughout the United States and abroad. Stamp collectors, dealers, artisans, historians, and the general public will gather to learn about the history and value of stamps, buy and sell stamps, meet a stamp designer, or get an up-close view of rare postage stamps.

More than 55 domestic and international dealers will have booths at the show to buy and sell stamps and customized cover envelopes. For the bargain hunter, several special booths will sell items for $1 or less. At Stamps by the Bucket, youth (under age 16) will be able to pick through thousands of stamps, filling a bucket for only $1, while adults pay $5 for a bucket.

Show-goers also will have an opportunity to see a few of America’s rarest postal items including:

  • 1789 U.S. Presidential “Free Frank” by George Washington, the earliest known
  • 1918 Jenny Invert   
  • 1931 APS membership application of Franklin D. Roosevelt and other famous collectors
  • 1962 Dag Hammarskjold Invert pane

In addition to these rarities, an estimated 300 exhibit frames will display competitive and educational stamps, postal history, and philatelic materials.

 The United States Postal Service will issue 10 new Botanical Art postage stamps during a first-day-of-issue ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, January 29 in the Hilton Atlanta Crystal Ballroom.

A free ceremony program with a stamp and cancellation will be provided to attendees. Ceremony dignitaries also will be available to provide autographs. Participating dignitaries include:

  • Mildred Pinnell Fockele, Vice President, Horticulture – Atlanta Botanical Garden
  • Scott English, Executive Director – American Philatelic Society
  • Kristen Seaver, Area Vice President – United States Postal Service
  • Austin Foo, Young Philatelic Leader Fellow – American Philatelic Society
  • Dawn Hamman, Master of Ceremonies – American Topical Association

With the issuance of the new Botanical Art stamps, Friday’s focus is centered around a botanical theme, while Saturday will feature Georgia History, and Sunday is Family Day. A specially designed postmark will be used daily for items mailed from the show. Featured speakers related to these themes include:

Postal History, Yesterday and Today ® Sat. January 30 at 10 a.m.
Georgia Postal History Society, Annual Meeting

Historical and Cultural Themes on Stamps ® Sat. January 30 at Noon.
Thomas Broadhead, Knoxville Philatelic Society

Postage Stamps Related to the African Diaspora ® Sat. January 30 at 1 p.m.
Ebony Society of Philatelic Events & Reflections (ESPER), General Meeting

Adventures of a Philatelic Horticulturist ® Sun. January 31 Noon
Phil Stager, American Topical Association

The Art of Postage Stamps and Cachets ® Sun. January 31 at 1 p.m.
Chris Calle, Stamp Designer

In addition to his talk about the Art of Postage Stamps and Cachets, world-renowned stamp designer Chris Calle has again created the official AmeriStamp cachets for 2016. These specially designed envelopes will be available for sale, in addition to his own customized cachets. A stamp designer for several countries, Calle is credited with designing more than 200 worldwide postage stamps, including at least 25 for the United States. Calle will be available for autographs at the APS Booth. A number of other artists will be present with their original work at the Cachetmakers Bourse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Among the most popular reasons to attend the expo is the “Stamps In your Attic” program, a free service to assist individuals with identification and evaluation of philatelic items. The public is encouraged to bring along inherited collections of stamps or old family correspondence for input as to their uniqueness, and suggestions on what to do with them.  

Youth can learn about stamp collecting, compete for prizes, design stamps, play games, and pick up items for their stamp collections in the Youth Area – all for free! Adults interested in learning more about the basics of stamp collecting can attend “Stamp Collecting 101” from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 31. This beginner course introduces collectors to the tools and techniques involved in handling, preserving, and storing a collection. The cost is $20 ($15 for APS members), and includes a starter collecting kit.

For those who want to learn more about Georgia stamps, a free 16-page starter album is available for download from the APS website: www.stamps.org/userfiles/file/albums/Georgia-Supplement.pdf.

AmeriStamp Expo, co-located with the Southeastern Stamp Expo, is hosted jointly by the American Philatelic Society and the Southeastern Federation of Stamp Clubs. The stamp show will be held at the Hilton Atlanta Downtown at 255 Courtland St., N.E., Atlanta, Georgia, just 1.5 blocks from the Peachtree Center stop on the MARTA subway. Parking is also available in nearby parking garages for as low as $5 on the weekend.

Complete event details are available at www.stamps.org/AmeriStamp-Expo, or by writing the American Philatelic Society at 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Additional questions may be directed to: (814) 933-3803 ext. 217 or [email protected].

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