Stamp Show Brings Out Hobbyists

It’s that time of the year again for area residents with an affinity for postage: The 42nd annual Plymouth Stamp Show, sponsored by the West Suburban Stamp Club (WSSC), takes place Saturday and Sunday at Central Middle School.

The show, the largest of its kind in the area, focuses on the time-honored hobby of stamp collecting.

“This is an interesting show for people that have been collecting stamps for a long time and (for) those who may be new to stamp collecting,” said Ed Dubin, a member of the WSSC. “We’ll have dealers from many other places at the show. It’s a great place to go to find out what you’re stamps are worth and learn more about stamp collecting.”

There are many stamp collecting societies participating in this year’s show, including the Peninsular State Philatelic Society, the Plate Number Coil Collectors Club, the American Topical Association, the China Stamp Society and the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, according to Dubin.

Forty dealers will be on hand with stamps and other accessories, such as stamp covers, cachet covers and other collecting supplies.

More than 2,000 exhibit pages will be on display during the show, some of which directly relate to the Plymouth area and others that are collectible for a variety of reasons, Dubin said.

Awards will be given out that will qualify stamp collectors to compete at this year's American Philatelic Society’s World Series of Philately in Columbus, Ohio. Awards will include a grand award for overall excellence, five medals and numerous special awards.

A United States Postal Service representative will also be on hand to sell current collectible stamps and to answer questions.

This year, there are a few notable programming highlights, Dubin said.

“We have a ‘Stamps in Your Closet’ program to tell people more about specific stamps they may own,” he said. “It’s fashioned after the (PBS series) Antiques Roadshow.”

These sessions will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The next generation of stamp collectors can also learn more about stamp collecting at new how-to sessions. Young participants will receive the basic collecting tools, free stamps and tips on starting a collection. After the class, the junior collectors will be invited to visit the show course and attend a club meeting, Dubin said.

The classes are scheduled on at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Dubin said stamp collecting is as hot as ever, and the show is a good introduction point for beginners of all ages.

“We invite everyone to come on out,” he said. “It’s a different way to learn about the area’s history and postal history.”

Central Middle School is located at 650 Church St. in Plymouth. Show hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 pm Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.