The Chicago Philatelic Society (CPS) will host its annual exhibition, Chicagopex, on Nov. 18-20.
In the suburb of Itasca, Ill., the three-day show will feature several competitive exhibitions, including championship competitions as part of the World Series of Philately (WSP), plus a roughly 75-dealer bourse, club meetings and seminars. Organizers are expecting more than 280 frames to be displayed this fall as part of the largest Midwestern U.S. stamp show.
For the 56th consecutive year, in addition to its philatelic exhibition, Chicagopex will feature a literature exhibition, one of two annual competitions in the United States.
For the second year in a row, the show will also host AmeriStamp Expo with the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE). This event includes the AAPE’s Single-Frame Champion of Champions competition, which determines the top single-frame exhibit from the previous year’s WSP shows in the United States and Canada. AmeriStamp Expo will also feature the annual AAPE single-frame team competition.
Sponsored by AAPE and Women Exhibitors, exhibit expert Liz Hisey, of Florida, will lead a free two-day activity entitled “You Be the Judge,” which will highlight the philatelic judging process. On Nov. 18, an hour-long session will cover judging fundamentals, including treatment, importance and the judges’ evaluation sheet. Participants will then have an opportunity to judge real exhibits, and on Nov. 19, a two-hour session will invite them to compare their findings with the jury. The activity is open to exhibitors and non-exhibitors with a limit of 10 participants. Anyone who’s interested should email Hisey at lizhisey@gmail.com.
U.S. philatelist James Mazepa, a Roll of Distinguished Philatelists signatory, co-ordinated this year’s Chicagopex jury, which includes one Canadian – Toronto’s Charles Verge – for the philatelic exhibition.
In addition to Verge, the philatelic jurists include:
- chief judge Peter McCann;
- John Hotchner;
- Rick Gibson;
- Tom Fortunato;
- Santigo Cruz;
- Tim Bartshe;
- Ray Pietruszka; and
- Mike Ley.
The literature jury includes Chief Judge Pat Walters plus Ken Trettin and Akthem Al-Manaseer.
The bourse will also feature about 75 dealers from the United States and Europe plus a youth and beginner booth. The U.S. Postal Service and the United Nations Postal Administration will also be in attendance.
The show’s meetings will be hosted by the CPS, the Germany Philatelic Society Chapter #5, the Illinois Postal History Society plus three convening societies, including the Mexico-Elmhurst Philatelic Society International, the Rossica Society for Russian Philately and the Bermuda Collectors Society. All meetings and talks will be free and open to the public. For a tentative schedule, click here.
The show will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Nov. 18-19 and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 20. Admission and parking are free.
CPS CELEBRATES 136 YEARS
The CPS marks its 136th anniversary this year.
Formed in 1886, the club stands as chapter No. 1 of the American Philatelic Society and one of the two longest continuously running philately organizations in the United States.