Collectors of stamps, postcards, postal history and historical documents will gather in Quebec City this weekend as the Quebec City Old Paper Show returns to the Travelodge Hotel and Convention Centre on June 6-7.
The annual event will feature more than 20 dealers, a specialized exhibition, presentations and opportunities to buy, sell, exchange and obtain appraisals on a wide variety of paper collectibles. Organizers are also highlighting two important anniversaries this year — the 175th anniversary of the first postage stamps of the Province of Canada and the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of the Intercolonial Railway.
A major attraction will be the show’s exhibition of rare and unusual items, which invites collectors to share exceptional pieces from their collections without the extensive preparation typically associated with competitive exhibitions.
“Many collectors, whether philatelists, lovers of postal history and postmarks, or historical documents often hold real treasures in their collections but rarely have the chance to share them with others,” said co-organizers Hugo Deshaye and Grégoire Teyssier.
The exhibition format allows participants to display a single item or a one-page presentation rather than mounting a traditional multi-frame exhibit.
“No need to embark on the long and tedious work of assembling a collection of multiple pages spread out on one or more exhibition frames. Here, even a single piece presented on one or two pages is sufficient,” the organizers added.
Exhibitors may choose to have their entries evaluated by a panel of accredited judges from the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada. A judging form developed specifically for one-page exhibits will be used, with criteria including title development, presentation, layout and evidence of research.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to select their favourite exhibits in three categories: philately, illustrated postcards and historical documents.
This year’s anniversary themes tie closely to Canadian postal and transportation history. The first postage stamps of the Province of Canada were issued in 1851, while the Intercolonial Railway officially opened in 1876, helping connect the Maritime provinces with central Canada and improving the movement of mail throughout the region.
The show is supported by three founding organizations: the Quebec Philatelic Society, the Quebec Postcard Collectors Club and the Quebec Postal History Society.
Founded in 1929, the Quebec Philatelic Society is recognized as the first French-language philatelic society in North America and today counts more than 140 active members. The Quebec Postal History Society, established in 1980, promotes research into Quebec postal history and publishes its quarterly Bulletin d’histoire postale et de marcophilie.
The Quebec City Old Paper Show will run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Travelodge Hotel and Convention Centre, 3125 Boulevard Hochelaga. Admission is $5 on Saturday, including a show catalogue, while admission is free on Sunday. Free parking is available.