Effective July 7, Chicagopex 2020 is cancelled due to COVID-19.
Literature exhibit applications are now open for Chicagopex 2020, one of the only U.S. literature competitions accepting nearly all forms of philatelic literature this year.
Organizers with the Chicago Philatelic Society (CPS) are planning to present their annual philatelic exhibition, Chicagopex, on Nov. 20-22 at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca, Ill., just outside of downtown Chicago (and about 500 kilometres west of the Canada-U.S. border at Windsor, Ont.).
This year marks the 54th anniversary of this show’s philatelic literature competition, with books and other materials expected to be on display. Prospective exhibitors are now invited to submit applications for the show’s literature competition to Ken Trettin, literature exhibiting chair, beginning this month. The prospectus and application are available on the Chicagopex website.
GASS CANCELLATION
While the first Great American Stamp Show (GASS), scheduled for Aug. 20-23 in Connecticut, was recently cancelled by the American Philatelic Society (APS), Executive Director Scott English is expected to make an announcement regarding that show’s literature competition soon.
If the GASS literature competition goes ahead, it and Chicagopex will be the only two U.S. literature competitions accepting nearly all forms of philatelic literature in 2020. These include books, journals (excluding local club newsletters), catalogues, columns and individual major articles. They may be printed or digital depending on how they are made available for public consumption. Digital entries can include websites, blogs and message boards that either.
Judging for the Chicagopex literature competition will take place remotely before the in-person show. If the show is cancelled, the literature competition will still be held; to provide feedback, the judges will send written evaluations to all exhibitors after the show dates.
SINGLE-FRAME CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
Separately, the show is also co-hosting AmeriStamp Expo with the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE).
This event includes the Single-Frame Champion of Champions competition, which highlights the top single-frame exhibits from World Series of Philately (WSP) shows in the United States and Canada during the previous year.
The 2020 Single-Frame Champion of Champion qualifiers from the five Canadian WSP shows in 2019 include:
- Neil Donen (“Neil Donen,” Edmonton Spring National Show);
- John McIntyre (“1930 Canadian Weights and Measures 95 Revenue Issue,” Orapex);
- Jean-Jacques Tillard (“St. Pierre et Miquelon, le 20F ‘Montagne et arbres’ de 1947,” Royal*2019*Royale);
- Alexander Globe (“Digital Analysis of Canada’s 2-Ring Stamp Obliterators of 1896-99,” Vanpex); and
- Sam Chiu (“Detained in Hong Kong,” Canpex).
AmeriStamp Expo also features the annual AAPE single-frame team competition.
CONVENING SOCIETIES & DEALERS
In addition, Chicagopex will feature five convening societies, including:
- the American Society of Polar Philatelists;
- the Military Postal History Society;
- the Mobile Post Office Society;
- the United Postal Stationery Society; and
- the Women Exhibitors.
The bourse is expected to host about 75 dealers from the United States, Canada and Europe. The sole Canadian dealer is Roy Houtby, owner of St. Catharines, Ont.’s Roy’s Stamps.
“Roy’s Stamps has already contracted for the 2020 Chicagopex show, and will return to our usual spot on the bourse as we have for the last number of years,” said Houtby, who added Chicagopex “is just one of a dozen U.S. national-level shows we participate in every year.”
“As usual, we will be the lone Canadian dealer in Chicago.”
The U.S. Postal Service and the United Nations Postal Administration are also planning to attend the show.
Show admission and parking are free.