StampShow Shines In Richmond

Approximately 5,000 collectors took part in the American Philatelic Society StampShow 2010. The four-day convention, co-sponsored by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) was held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia, from August 12–15, 2010. Collectors searched dealer inventories for items to enhance their collections, viewed the nearly 15,000 pages of competitive exhibits and rarities on display, had the opportunity to attend more than 150 meetings and seminars, as well as a cornucopia of APS and affiliate events held during the evenings.

Special exhibits such as the famous Inverted Jenny air mail stamp, the National Postal Museum Plate Proof, and the Hoyer & Ludwig press; special youth activities; and free evaluations of personal collections, at the “Stamps in Your Attic” booth, exposed the hobby to many new faces and brought front page coverage in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Most dealers reported brisk sales, with British dealer Stephen Taylor boasting his second-highest sales for a four-day show, beaten only by the 2003 APS StampShow in Columbus, Ohio, where the APS StampShow will reconvene again in 2011.

The show also proved successful for many participating APS affiliates. The Confederate Stamp Alliance celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a myriad of activities including a Southern Supper, with 160 attendees representing 25% of its membership. During the same evening, the United States Philatelic Classics Society (USPCS) and United States Stamp Society (USSS) hosted well-attended dinners. Many societies successfully recruited new members at the show, with the American Topical Association (ATA) signing up 20 new members.

Significant crowds also attended APS evening events, with a record of more than 140 attendees at the Society’s Tiffany Fund-raising Dinner. This year’s dinner speaker, 24-year APS member Karl Rove, delighted attendees with his personal memories of stamp collecting and slides of his political cover collection.

In addition, 270 attendees participated in the APS Awards Dinner, which included the graduation of the 2009–2010 Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship (YPLF) class, introduction of the 2010–2011 YPLF class, announcement of the USSS Barbara Mueller Award for best article in The American Philatelist magazine, and honored the philatelic contributions of the newest Luff Award recipients, in addition to the exhibition winners.

At Saturday morning’s APS General Meeting, Carter Volunteer Award Winners and 25-year and 50-year members were recognized, board officers reported to the membership, and a review of the Society’s 20-year “Into the Future Long Range Plan” was presented.

Next year’s August 11–14, 2011 StampShow event will return to Columbus, Ohio, and celebrate the Society’s 125th anniversary.

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