London International Stamp Exhibition 1950 souvenir sheet

A philatelic exhibition is an exhibition of

stamps Stamp or Stamps or Stamping may refer to: Official documents and related impressions * Postage stamp, used to indicate prepayment of fees for public mail * Ration stamp, indicating the right to rationed goods * Revenue stamp, used on documents to ...

and

postal history Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of the use of postage stamps and Cover (philately), covers and associated postal artifacts illustrating historical episodes in the development of postal system ...

where stamp collectors (

philatelists Philately (; ) is the study of postage stamps and postal history. It also refers to the collection and appreciation of stamps and other philatelic products. While closely associated with stamp collecting and the study of postage, it is possible ...

) compete for medals. The displays are shown in glass frames, and the exhibition is normally accompanied by stamp dealer bourses and post office stands where stamps and other philatelic items may be purchased. Many philatelic exhibitions are regular events, held annually or at some other frequency and they are important events in the philatelic calendar.

Types of exhibition

Exhibitions are normally of international, national, regional or local scope. They may also be for specific collecting interests, for instance the
Eurothema
' exhibition for thematic collecting. The most prestigious international exhibitions are those for which

Fédération Internationale de Philatélie The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) is the world federation for philately (the study of postage stamps and postal history). Based in Zürich, Switzerland, the FIP was founded on 18 June 1926. Aims The FIP was founded in 1926 w ...

(FIP) patronage is granted, although the increasing cost of complying with FIP requirements has caused concern with some exhibition organisers, particularly in the developing world.

Classes of exhibit

Exhibits are shown in different classes. Normally the classes are similar to those of the FIP Commissions: *

Aerophilately Aerophilately is the branch of philately that specializes in the study of airmail. Philatelists have observed the development of mail transport by air from its beginning, and all aspects of airmail service have been extensively studied and docum ...

* Astrophilately * Fight against Forgeries * Maximaphily *

Philatelic literature Philatelic literature is written material relating to philately, primarily information about postage stamps and postal history. Background to philatelic literature Philatelic literature is held by stamp collectors and dealers, philatelic soc ...

Postal history Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of the use of postage stamps and Cover (philately), covers and associated postal artifacts illustrating historical episodes in the development of postal system ...

Postal stationery A piece of postal stationery is a stationery item, such as a stamped envelope, letter sheet, postal card, lettercard, aerogram or Newspaper wrapper, wrapper, with an imprinted stamp or inscription indicating that a specific rate of postage ...

* Thematic philately * Traditional philately *

Revenue In accounting, revenue is the total amount of income generated by the sale of product (business), goods and services related to the primary operations of a business. Commercial revenue may also be referred to as sales or as turnover. Some compan ...

s * Youth philately Not all classes are shown at every exhibition as exhibits and jurors may not be available. In addition, exhibitions not endorsed by FIP may have different classes.

Judging

Philatelic judging is done according to agreed criteria,Guidelines for the Preparation of Philatelic Displays and Competitive Exhibits by Mark Bailey.
Wokingham & District Philatelic Society, 22 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011. and in the case of international exhibitions the rules of the FIP are normally used. Judges need to be accredited by the FIP in order to be qualified to judge at FIP endorsed exhibitions. Judging is a skill in its own right for which training is required.

Prizes

The judges award a variety of prizes, including gold, vermeil and silver medals and other prizes as determined by the exhibition officials.

Souvenirs

It is common for commemorative covers and

souvenir sheet A souvenir sheet or miniature sheet is a postage stamp or a small group of postage stamps still attached to the sheet on which they were printed. They may be either regular issues that just happen to be printed in small groups (typical of many ea ...

s to be produced for the larger exhibitions and these are a recognised collecting specialism in themselves.

References

External links

{{commonscat, Philatelic exhibitions
EXPONET virtual philatelic exhibition
Philatelic events Stamp collecting