The annual stamp show Chicagopex opens today in Itasca, Ill., which is less than five hours east of the border at Windsor, Ont.-Detroit, Mich.
The show is being held Nov. 18-20 at the Westin Chicago Northwest on 400 Park Blvd., in Itasca. In addition to hobby-related attractions, the show boasts free admission and parking as well as complimentary stamps for children.
This year’s show theme is “Celebrating 60 Years of Europa Stamps.” Special souvenir show cachets and cancellation will be available for all three days of the show. Two societies are holding conventions at Chicagopex 2016: Scandinavian Collectors Club and the American Air Mail Society.
This year marks the 130th year of the Chicago Philatelic Society (CPS), whose show committee organizes the event. The CPS was established in 1886, the same year as the American Philatelic Society (APS), which is sending several staff members to serve as representatives at the show. The CPS holds the distinction of being Chapter No. 1 of American’s national stamp club, which today has hundreds of chapters and affiliates nationwide. The CPS will hold its monthly meeting, which is open to the public, at the show on Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.
SHOW EVENTS
Chicagopex 2016 features numerous society meetings and a book signing among its special events. Husband-and-wife team of authors Jack and Carol Yao will appear on Nov. 19 to sign copies of their book, Yao’s Catalogue of Worldwide Reply Coupons. They will also have copies for sale.
The 130th Annual Philatelic Exhibition features the following meetings (all at no cost and open to the public):
- Scandinavian Collectors Club – Nov. 19 at 10 a.m.
- Military Postal History Society – Nov. 19 at 11 a.m.
- American Air Mail Society – Nov. 19 at 11 a.m.
- Germany Philatelic Society Chapter No. 5 – Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.
- USPCS Banknote Study Group – Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.
- Illinois Postal History Society – Nov. 20 at 11 a.m.
Many of these groups feature expert guest speakers giving talks that are open to the public. The full schedule will appear in the show program, which will be available at the hospitality desk in the hotel’s atrium.
There will be 290 frames of philatelic material on display with something of interest for all attendees. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the philatelic literature competition with the books and other materials on display. Chicagopex is also serving as a test site for electronic literature such as websites, blogs and online articles.
The show bourse will feature 75 dealers from the U.S. and Europe. They will offer a vast array of material to interest everyone from the beginning collector to the advanced collector and exhibitor. The U.S. Postal Service and the U.N. Postal Administration will also be in attendance.
The show includes a Regency-Superior auction and a youth booth with free stamps. CPS member Andrew Oleksiuk will be operating the booth, which may include videos and other interactive elements from Stamps for Kids.
Attendees are asked to contact the hotel to make reservations and to mention Chicagopex for the special room rate. Show hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Nov. 18-19 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 20.
ABOUT THE CPS
The Chicago Philatelic Society was established Oct. 8, 1886, continuing the Chicago Stamp Collectors Union, which was organized in Dec. 1884. The CPS is Chapter No. 1 of the American Philatelic Society and one of two organizations with the longest uninterrupted service to philately in the U.S. Each month, CPS holds meetings on the third Thursday in downtown Chicago at the Harold Washington Library (400 S. State St.) in meeting room 3N-6. Meetings run from 7 p.m.-9 p.m., and usually include a philatelic presentation in addition to society business. All are welcome.