While all Canadian stamp shows continue to be cancelled through fall due to COVID-19, south of the border, the show circuit is set to resume in a big way this summer.
Last week, organizers of the first Great American Stamp Show – slated for this August in Illinois – announced the inaugural event would be held at a public in-person venue. At the state level, the 2021 Minnesota Stamp Expo, a World Series of Philately (WSP) show, is also aiming for an in-person return on July 16-18.
“At present, there are no COVID restrictions on the number of attendees permitted in our venue,” reads a statement issued by organizers of the show in suburban Minneapolis, Minn. “We will, of course, comply with all necessary guidelines and limitations in place at the time of the show, which may include mandatory mask wearing and/or social distancing.”
This July, organizers are hoping for more than 25 dealers plus upwards of 200 exhibit frames. In addition to the dealers and exhibition, the show will also feature a cachetmakers bourse, where cachetmakers can sell their wares throughout the three-day event.
Dating back to 1929, the show is sponsored by the Twin City Philatelic Society, Lake Minnetonka Stamp Club, Maplewood Stamp Club and the Minnesota Stamp Dealers Association. Last year marked the first time the show wasn’t held since 1957.
For the past two years, all of Canada’s national-level exhibitions – up to and including this fall’s Canpex in London, Ont. – have been cancelled due to the pandemic.