Here Be Dragons <strong>Show</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> 2018 & NATIONAL TOPICAL STAMP SHOW Columbus, OH • August 9-12 666 AMERICAN PHILATELIST / JULY 2018
<strong>The</strong>re’ll be dragons and penguins and cats, oh my! And, more exhibits galore, rarities and dozens of dealers, Oh, My! And, presentations and friends and youth activities, OH, MY! All of those elements and many more promise <strong>to</strong> make the 2018 <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> / <strong>National</strong> <strong>Topical</strong> <strong>Stamp</strong> <strong>Show</strong> a must-visit destination this summer for stamp collec<strong>to</strong>rs of all ages and levels. <strong>The</strong> show is set for August 9 <strong>to</strong> 12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> – the nation’s largest annual stamp event – is sponsored by the American Philatelic Society and this year welcomes the American <strong>Topical</strong> Association as a first-time co-sponsor. <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> serves as the annual general meeting of the APS, which was founded in 1886. This year’s meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on the Saturday of the show. <strong>The</strong> ATA will hold its 69th annual meeting at 1 p.m. Friday. <strong>The</strong> June issue of <strong>The</strong> American Philatelist covered some of the show’s events and this month we offer some more highlights. A special pre-show event is the annual Tiffany Talk. Elliott Gruber, direc<strong>to</strong>r of the Smithsonian <strong>National</strong> Postal Museum, is this year’s guest speaker. <strong>The</strong> talk is open <strong>to</strong> all and is scheduled for 5 p.m., Wednesday, August 8 at the show hotel, the Crowne Plaza. Next, we better chat about those critters. Dragons swoop Elliott Gruber, direc<strong>to</strong>r of the Smithsonian <strong>National</strong> Postal Museum, is this year’s Tiffany Talk guest speaker. on<strong>to</strong> center stage at noon on the show’s opening day as the U.S. Postal Service issues four new Dragons stamps. <strong>The</strong>se would be a great start <strong>to</strong> a <strong>to</strong>pical collection, which, according <strong>to</strong> the ATA, has more than 500 entries dating back <strong>to</strong> the 19th century. (Be sure <strong>to</strong> see our s<strong>to</strong>ry about dragons on stamps in this issue of <strong>The</strong> AP and check out our new Dragons <strong>Stamp</strong> Album online (aps.buzz/DragonAlbum). <strong>The</strong> American <strong>Topical</strong> Association will offer two major presentations. Jeff Lough will lead a trip through his<strong>to</strong>ry and a trip around the world in his talk about Dragons on <strong>Stamp</strong>s. Laurie Ryan will chat about JRR Tolkien and related philately. And, also courtesy of the ATA, this is the time <strong>to</strong> test your knowledge about dragons as you can play dragon trivia at the association’s booth. Elsewhere, the Penguins on <strong>Stamp</strong>s Study Group will have a booth <strong>to</strong> chat about this unique specialty and, for some pho<strong>to</strong> fun, you can have your picture taken with a giant penguin (tuxedo garb not manda<strong>to</strong>ry). Other animals making their appearance include: birds, as Tim Hodge gives a talk about “Birds of Prey Through Philately”; a mouse, as Ed Bergen offers presentations on his award-winning exhibit and book based on Mickey Mouse; and “Cats from A <strong>to</strong> Z” with Marci Jarvis. <strong>The</strong> Basics What: <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> and <strong>National</strong> <strong>Topical</strong> <strong>Stamp</strong> <strong>Show</strong> Sponsors: American Philatelic Society, American <strong>Topical</strong> Association and the U.S. Postal Service. When: August 9 <strong>to</strong> 12; 10 a.m. <strong>to</strong> 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m. <strong>to</strong> 4 p.m. Sunday Where: Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio Conventions: 132nd annual convention of the APS; ATA membership also will convene Admission: Free, but visi<strong>to</strong>rs must register (online registration makes entry <strong>to</strong> the show quicker) Mobile <strong>Show</strong> App: Download the <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> app <strong>to</strong> your mobile device <strong>to</strong> enhance your show experience. Instructions and links can be found online at: aps.buzz/ DragonApp. <strong>The</strong> app is availble for iPhone and Android devices. Call for Volunteers Volunteers are always needed <strong>to</strong> help make our shows work for the benefit of all collec<strong>to</strong>rs. <strong>Stamp</strong> collec<strong>to</strong>rs, friends, APS members, and family are welcome – stamp knowledge is not required. Most volunteer activity occurs on-site immediately preceding, during, or following the show. For ease of scheduling, two-hour shifts are preferred. Training and written instructions are available for most tasks. Volunteers who serve eight hours or more will be eligible <strong>to</strong> receive a free ticket <strong>to</strong> the awards banquet Saturday evening. If you can volunteer, and have not yet signed up, please consider doing so. <strong>The</strong>re are all sorts of jobs available. Please visit our volunteer section online (www.stamps. org/SS-Volunteers) <strong>to</strong> sign up or call <strong>Show</strong>s Assistant Kathleen Edwards at 814-933-3803, ext. 217. For More Information For more information about any aspects of the show, visit www. stamps.org/STAMPSHOW. For more information about exhibit or society space, contact Kathleen Edwards, <strong>Show</strong>s and Exhibitions Assistant Kathleen Edwards at 814-933-3803, ext. 217; or by email at kedwards@stamps.org. For more information from or about the ATA, visit www. american<strong>to</strong>picalassn.org/home.shtml. <strong>The</strong> <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> mobile app also contains the most up <strong>to</strong> date information, dealer listings and schedules. <strong>The</strong> app also enables you <strong>to</strong> receive messages about <strong><strong>Stamp</strong><strong>Show</strong></strong> news, schedule changes and special activites and events. Download the app <strong>to</strong> your iPhone or Android device. <strong>Complete</strong> instructions are available online at: aps.buzz/ DragonApp. JULY 2018 / AMERICAN PHILATELIST 667
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