Three-day 91st RPSC Convention to bring 29 dealers, 72 exhibits, 197-lot auction, several seminars to Mississauga this weekend
Royal*2019*Royale is set to open its doors at the Hilton Mississauga tomorrow, and show-goers are eager with anticipation for three days of philatelic festivities.
This weekend’s massive convention includes an extensive bourse and exhibition, but there’s more to this year’s show than dealers and exhibits.
Organized by the Bramalea Stamp Club, West Toronto Stamp Club (WTSC) and Canadian Stamp News, this year’s Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) Convention has two special themes. First, 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of what was then known as the Canadian Philatelic Association receiving its “Royal” designation from Queen Elizabeth II. This theme is commemorated on one of two show covers to be available for purchase this weekend.
The second theme, “It’s Your Royal,” pays tribute to all members and the important role each one plays in enhancing the hobby for collectors of all ages and levels.
“I’m really excited about it, and I think we’ll have a great attendance,” said show chair Joe Trauzzi, of the Bramalea Stamp Club, who added it’s been 12 years since the Royal Convention was held in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
SHOW HOURS
The Royal*2019*Royale bourse and exhibition hall will be open June 21 from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; June 22 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and June 23 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $5 on June 21 and 22, free on June 23, or $8 for a two-day pass covering both Friday and Saturday. Registrants are not required to pay daily show admission.
The RPSC is also eager to launch its partnership with the American Philatelic Society (APS), which is sending Scott Tiffney, its director of information services, to the Royal for a variety of seminars. Tiffney, who spoke at last year’s British North America Philatelic Society Convention, is also the library director of the APS’ American Philatelic Research Library (APRL).
This year’s Royal marks the first steps in a plan slated to culminate with a quasi-international show in 2021, the midpoint between the World Stamp Show in New York three years ago and the one coming to Boston in 2026. In turn, The RPSC will also send representatives to major U.S. shows beginning this fall.
An international show slated to be held in Canada in 2022 is also in the “very preliminary” planning stages, according to one source.
FREE PARKING
If you are attending this year’s Royal, parking at the Hilton Mississauga is free while at the show. The Hilton will be placing a notice on its parking meters listing the shows and events – including the Royal – that are exempt from having to pay parking.
The Hilton Mississauga is located at 6750 Mississauga Rd., which is directly beside Highway 401 (Mississauga Road exit).
OPENING DAY
This year’s convention is being held at the Hilton Mississauga on 6750 Mississauga Rd., in Mississauga, Ont., which is directly beside Highway 401 (Mississauga Road exit) and only 30 minutes from downtown Toronto.
For more detailed directions from a variety of locations, click here.
Tomorrow morning – Opening Day – the RPSC Welcome Desk will open at 10:30 a.m. in the Graydon Ballroom entrance along with auction lot viewing in the Greenwich Room.
The bourse and exhibition hall will be open June 21 from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 (or $8 for a two-day pass covering both Friday and Saturday), but registrants are not required to pay daily show admission.
The bourse and exhibition hall is located in the hotel’s 9,000-square-foot Graydon Ballroom.
The show’s opening ceremonies will be held shortly before 11 a.m., with all dealers, exhibitors, organizers and show-goers meeting in the show foyer.
“Being back in the GTA will attract a lot of people, plus we have 219 frames of exhibits, with some exhibitors from as far away as New Zealand,” said Trauzzi.
“You’ll have the opportunity to look at fascinating material that’s from halfway around the world and understand its philatelic story.”
Speakers on opening day include:
- Garfield Portch, of the WTSC, speaking on “Forensic Philately and the Greene Foundation – A Look at Expertizing” at 11:30 a.m.;
- Scott Tiffney, of the APRL, speaking about the APRL on June 21 at 12:30 p.m.;
- exhibitor Dave Bartlet speaking on “The Automation of Postage Dispensing” on June 21 at 2 p.m.; and
- exhibitor Leopold Beaudet speaking on “The Admirals After Marler” on June 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Each presentation will be held in the Compass Room.
An 1870 Large Queen cover paying 10 times the domestic rate is expected to bring $1,500 as Lot 1595.
A ROYAL AUCTION
That day at 5:30 p.m., a 197-lot auction – the first to be held at a Royal in a number of years – will kick off in the Greenwich Room.
Highlights include a Large Queen cover paying 10 times the domestic rate (Lot 1595). One of only seven known, the “somewhat reduced blue envelope” was mailed from Fredericton, N.B., on Nov. 7, 1870, about 55 kilometres southeast to Gagetown paying 10 times the domestic rate. With next-day arrival on the back, the cover is franked on the front by a “very fine pair” of 1868-dated 15-cent greyish purple Queen Victoria stamps (SC #29i) tied by two strikes of a two-ring cancel.
“Outstanding cover and extremely rare,” said auctioneer Peter Maresch, who added there’s a pre-sale estimate of $1,500.
Two 1959 ‘Golden Anniversary of Flight’ stamps are reproduced on one of two show covers to be available at this weekend’s convention.
JUNE 22
The next day, the Welcome Desk will open at 9:30 a.m., followed by the bourse and exhibition hall from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
That day, all RPSC members are encouraged to attend the society’s annual general meeting (AGM), where they can ask questions, raise concerns and voice their opinions at 10 a.m. in the hotel’s Compass Room.
A second show cover for this weekend’s Royal*2019*Royale marks the 60th anniversary of the former Canadian Philatelic Society receiving its ‘Royal’ designation.
The RPSC board of directors is slated to meet at 11 a.m. – immediately after the AGM – in the same room.
Later that day in the Compass Room, there will be another three speakers, including:
- Michel Houde, speaking on “A 29-Year Journey of Discovery of a Unique Canadian” at 12:30 p.m.;
- exhibitor Larry Davidson, of the American Topical Association (ATA), speaking on the ATA’s role plus resources for thematic collectors at 2 p.m.; and
- exhibitor Jean Wang, of the North Toronto Stamp Club, speaking on “Building a Thematic Exhibit” at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, in the show foyer from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Harry Sutherland Philatelic Library (HSPL) will host a book sale with all proceeds going to support the library and its philatelic initiatives. Show-goers are also invited to “Pick the Brains of the Librarians” during the book sale, where librarians Kathy Hartley, of the HSPL, and Tiffney, of the APRL, will be on hand to answer questions and guide researchers.
VISIT THE HSPL
The HSPL at the Toronto-based Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation is inviting all attendees of Royal*2019*Royale to spend a day at the library this weekend.
The HSPL is located at 10 Summerhill Ave., which is less than a one-hour drive from the show venue, the Hilton Mississauga.
“Book a day ahead of or following the convention and use the GO bus, with the stop conveniently located directly across the street from the hotel, to travel into Toronto,” says reference librarian Kathy Hartley. “From its terminus at either the Union or York Mills subway station, we’re just a few stops away at Summerhill.”
Contact library@greenefoundation.ca or click here for more info.
That night, the President’s Reception – a ticketed event – will be held from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in the Greenwich Room, followed by the Awards Banquet.
Bramalea Stamp Club member and Royal*2019*Royale show chair Joe Trauzzi said he’s ‘eager and excited’ for the three-day show this June.
CLOSING DAY
The next day – June 23 – will begin with the PHSC breakfast meeting featuring Dr. Robert Leigh at 8 a.m. in the Greenwich Room. The breakfast will be buffet style.
Leigh will be speaking on the postal development of Upper Canada’s Western District, and tickets are $25.
The Welcome Desk returns at 9:30 a.m. in the show foyer, where show-goers will be allowed to enter the bourse soon after, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Speakers on closing day include Portch, who will speak on “The Postal History of the Post Office in Toronto to January 1901” at 10:30 a.m., and exhibitor and APS life member Liz Hisey speaking on “Treatment” at 2 p.m.
The RPSC chapter representatives meeting will be held at 3 p.m. in the Compass Room.
For more information about this year’s Royal, visit rpscroyal.com.