Did you have a stamp collection growing up?   If you are finding yourself wanting to do something different before September is here – there is time to make plans for the American Philatelic Society (APS) StampShow, August 20-23, 2015.

The event is to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan (On Twitter @APS_stamps). Admission is FREE! Overall Show sponsors are the American Philatelic Society and the United States Postal Service.  Attribution: Images (upper left) and (below right side) are from the American Philatelic Society website promoting the 2015 StampShow.

It is exciting for me to learn that every August the largest annual event is held with the APS StampShow; over the years it has been held in different states.  Previous locations include 2014: Hartford, CT; 2013: Milwaukee, WI; 2012: Sacramento, CA; 2011: Columbus, OH; and 2010: Richmond, VA.

The APS StampShow is hosting 120 dealers, nearly 15,000 pages of exhibits, public auction, first day ceremonies, 50 societies and more!   

Things to do include:  you can view Stamp Exhibits, there are LIVE Auctions, Informative Seminars or Club Meetings, you can attend a First Day Ceremony, there are Beginners & Youth Programs you can check out, and site seeing are listed among things to do.

Have you had a stamp collection passed onto you from a favorite family member?  Are you wanting to explore the hobby of stamp collecting for yourself?    Or you could be a new member of your local stamp club – like I am – and are already looking at making plans by looking at the Future APS StampShow Dates:   StampShow 2016  August 4-7, Portland, OR;  StampShow 2017 August 3-6, Richmond, VA; and StampShow 2018 August 2-5, Columbus, OH.

The APS Events and Shows Calendar is definitely worth exploring.    I hope you will enjoy a few minutes surfing the site and exploring its many offerings.  And perhaps one day we will all be there on the StampShow Floor – together – exploring – and writing home about it!

Anchors Aweigh,  

Helen