The APS StampShow, the nation’s largest annual postage stamp show and exhibition, will take place August 4-7, 2016 in the Oregon Convention Center at 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97232.
Public hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public. Complete details are available on the show website: www.stamps.org/STAMPSHOW.
Founded in 1886, the American Philatelic Society will mark its 130th annual convention in Portland, anticipating 5,000 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, and meet stamp designers. Show-goers also will have an opportunity to see more than 125 philatelic exhibits and a few of America’s rarest postal items: The earliest known U.S. Presidential “Free Frank” from 1789, and the recently recovered Inverted Jenny, position 76, to be displayed alongside position 65 from the McCoy block for the first time at StampShow in 61 years.
At the show, the National Stamp Dealers Association will again lead the “Stamps In your Attic” program, a free on-site service to identify and evaluate philatelic items. The public is encouraged to bring collections of stamps or old family correspondence for input as to their uniqueness and care.
Youth can learn about stamp collecting, design stamps, play games, and pick up items for their collections in the Youth Area – all for free. Adults interested in learning about the hobby’s tools, lingo, preservation, and storage can attend the free Beginning Collector’s Series, or visit the Beginners’ Area. A free starter album is available for download online: http://stamps.org/userfiles/file/albums/Oregon.pdf.
Nearly 100 booths at the show will feature domestic and international dealers, and several special booths will sell items for $1 or less. At Stamps by the Bucket, youth (under age 16) can pick through thousands of stamps, filling a bucket for only $1, while adults pay $5 per bucket.
The United States Postal Service® will issue four Songbirds in Snow commemorative stamps during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 4 in room C123-124. Friday, the Marshall Islands will release new Peace Doves stamps at 12 p.m., followed by an APS special event to recognize the Columbia River Gorge at 1 p.m. A themed postmark will be used daily for items mailed from the show, and featured speakers will present on related topics.
The Oregon Convention Center is located on the Blue, Green, and Red Lines of the MAX light rail. Parking is available on-site for $10 per day, or in nearby parking garages. Complete event details are available at www.stamps.org/StampShow, or by contacting the American Philatelic Society Show Office at: (814) 933-3803 ext. 217, [email protected], 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823.
