02/10/2017 (P1777)

National Postal History and
Stamp Show Coming to Reno

AmeriStamp Expo, the nation’s second largest postage stamp and postal history show, will take place March 3–5 in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center at 4590 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. 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. Details are available on the show website: www.stamps.org/StampExpo.
Postal historians as well stamp collectors, dealers, artisans, and the general public can learn about stamps and postal history, buy and sell stamps, and have stamp collections evaluated. Displays include letter carriers’ museum artifacts, an historic postal vehicle, an historic post office window, and a few of America’s rarest postal items — including the earliest known U.S. Presidential “Free Frank” from 1789. More than 130 private collections of stamps, postal history, and philatelic material will be exhibited.
Among the most popular reasons to attend the Expo is the “Stamps In Your Attic” program, a free service to identify and evaluate stamps and postal history. The public is encouraged to bring along inherited collections of stamps or old family correspondence to receive input as to their uniqueness and care.
Youth can learn about stamp collecting through microscopes, design their own stamps, fill a stamp passport, play games, and pick up items for their collections in the Youth Area — all for free. Adults interested in learning more about the hobby can attend free Beginning Collectors seminars and other workshops.
Friday, March 3, ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, for the new Barn Swallow Stamped Envelope and Flora stamps being issued by the United States Postal Service® and Marshall Islands Postal Service, respectively. Saturday, March 4, a special ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. to celebrate the national kick-off to the 25th anniversary National Association of Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger®” Food Drive. Artist Jeff Keane of the Family Circus comic strip will help dedicate a personalized postage souvenir sheet featuring the iconic campaign artwork, printed by PhotoStamps.com. Autograph sessions will follow each ceremony. Proceeds from postage sheet sales will benefit the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, who will also have a booth at the show to accept contributions and donations of canned goods.
AmeriStamp Expo 2017 is hosted by the American Philatelic Society, in partnership with the National Association of Letter Carriers and the United States Postal Service. Event details are available at www.stamps.org/StampExpo. For details, call (814) 933-3803 ext. 217 or email [email protected].
The AmeriStamp Expo Fact Sheet is below. High-resolution photos are available upon request.
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AmeriStamp Expo 2017 Fact Sheet
AmeriStamp Expo Facts:
» 2017 marks the 60th consecutive show (held annually since 1958)
» 2,500 people, expected average attendance
» 130 competitive exhibits in nearly 250 exhibit frames
» 60 booths featuring 40 stamps dealers, 7 collecting groups, and 3 museum displays
» 40 meetings and seminars
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Special displays:
» 1929 Ford Model ‘A’ Mail Truck from the National Automobile Museum, The Harrah Collection
» Circa 1898–1923 post office service window from the Sparks Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
» Museum Artifacts from the National Association of Letter Carriers
» 1789 U.S. Presidential “Free Frank” by George Washington, the earliest known
» 1918 Jenny Invert, of the famous and unsolved stamp theft
» 1962 Dag Hammarskjold Invert pane
A complete AmeriStamp Expo schedule can be found at stamps.org/ASE-Schedule. Highlights below:
Special Ceremonies:
» Friday, March 3, 11 a.m. • Barn Swallow Envelope — United States Postal Service®
» Friday, March 3, 1 p.m. • Flora — Marshall Islands Postal Service
» Saturday, March 4, 11 a.m. • National Kick-Off Ceremony, 25th Anniversary ‘Stamp Out Hunger®’ Food Drive — National Association of Letter Carriers
Featured Expo Speakers & Topics (free unless otherwise noted):
» APS On The Road Course: EFOs & You: Benefitting From Postal Blunders ® Th. March 2 — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $145 ($95 for APS members). stamps.org/On-the-Road-Courses
» Beginning Collector’s Series • Fri. March 3 — 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m.
» Book Signing: Tales by Mail Book 2, by Karen Cartier • Fri. March 3 — 2 p.m. (+Sat. 1 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.) Book » Signing: Robbing the Post Office, by Howard Petschel • Fri. March 3 — 4 p.m. (+Sat. 3 p.m., Sun 1 p.m.)
» APS On The Road Course: Ghosts of the Glory Trail: Nevada Revenue-Stamped Documents 1863–1873 • Sat. March 4 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $145 ($95 for APS members)
» Autograph Sessions: Jeff Keane, Artist Family Circus and ‘Stamp Out Hunger®’ • Sat. March 4 — 11:30 a.m. Fri.-Sun. — 1:30 p.m. at the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Booth
» Autograph Sessions: Chris Calle, International Stamp Designer • Fri.–Sun. March 35, Daily at APS Booth.
Featured Philatelic Exhibits:
» Ghosts of the Glory Trail: Nevada Revenue-Stamped Documents 1863–1873, a Geographic Analysis – Michael Mahler
» Reno, Nevada: A Pictorial Look at Earlier Times — Richard Dreiling
About the American Philatelic Society (APS):
» Established in 1886 as the American Philatelic Association (APA)
» More than 30,000 members, domestic and international
» Headquartered in town of Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania
» Co-located with the American Philatelic Research Library (APRL) – nation’s largest philatelic library
For More Information about:
The American Philatelic Society: stamps.org/Media-Overview
National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive: www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive/food-drive-tool-kit

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