Great American Stamp Show

[youpiao]

As you are probably aware by now, the new name for the American Philatelic Society's annual big event is the Great American Stamp Show.





I have to say, I'm feeling rather hurt that none of my suggestions made it into the Final Five which were voted on.

[khj]

I would have voted for your 2nd suggestion.

Not sure I want to attend a show full of old folks and the acronym GASS.

[youpiao]

Oct 25, 2019 18:16:21 GMT -5 khj said:

I would have voted for your 2nd suggestion.
Thanks, k. Appreciate it.

Not sure I want to attend a show full of old folks and the acronym GASS.
I resemble that remark.

[angore]

The show is a combined event of 3 groups: APS, ATA, AFDCS. This gets lost in some as APS is hyping it the most. It makes sense given costs and dwindling show dealers. In the end I do not think the name matters.

As usual, there is a sizeable expense (transportation, lodging, food) required for many to attend. There are some that will always go no matter.

[frog]

My question about these shows is always timing.It seems they are prone to schedule them all on holiday weekends.Who in their right mind would want to travel the highways on a holiday?Then add the inflated costs of room and board for the holiday and they really need re-thinking the whole thing.

[greaden]

Oct 25, 2019 18:16:21 GMT -5 khj said:

I would have voted for your 2nd suggestion.

Not sure I want to attend a show full of old folks and the acronym GASS.

I first thought that including the modifier, "great", was unnecessary. Now I see why it is there.

[mourningdoves]

Re: your last proposal. A dealer DBA "Geezer's Tweezers" used to make the rounds of the stamp shows around here. (I think he was from Maryland, but I'm not totally sure.) I was sitting at his table one day, minding my own business as I always do, but I couldn't help but hear someone asking him, "However did you come up with the name 'Geezer's Tweezers'?" I couldn't help it and said, "Because he couldn't think of anything that rhymed with 'git'." Extremely rude of me, but they all got a good laugh out of it. Not long after that, he either sold the business or turned it over to some younger relatives. I don't know. They're more intense about selling stuff than he was (he was really a cool guy, the original GT was, and he more or less let his stock sell itself) and I never talked to them all that much.

I never picked up on the Great American Stamp Show's unfortunate acronym, which might be the only time in my life I've missed a cue for a fart joke. Maybe "Great American Philatelic Show", where you can go and fill some spaces in your albums, would work better.

[youpiao]

In acknowledgment of k's efforts to preach the joys of collecting margin paper, they could have a Great American Selvage and Perfs Show. Then when the oft-predicted death of the hobby finally happens, they could have one last GASP.

[youpiao]

Oct 26, 2019 5:44:00 GMT -5 angore said:

The show is a combined event of 3 groups: APS, ATA, AFDCS. This gets lost in some as APS is hyping it the most. It makes sense given costs and dwindling show dealers. In the end I do not think the name matters.

As usual, there is a sizeable expense (transportation, lodging, food) required for many to attend. There are some that will always go no matter.

It makes sense to combine the 3 into one Great show, just in the perspective of supporting the hobby, and should have been done long ago. I'm sure there are many avid collectors like myself who are only casually interested in topicals or FDC's and who find it hard enough to get to a national APS show (which I have yet to do), never mind going through the time, expense, and effort to get to 2 other nationals of only peripheral interest.

[JerryB]

Hi mourningdoves

When I lived in NY I used to go to the shows. I think I remember him (do remember the name). Did you ever see the "Cowboy". Guy wore a Stetson and cowboy boots and carried an accountant's case with really good stamps (I bought a $5 Hamilton from him). I have to say one thing about NY. Back in the 80's we had some weird stamp dealers. As they say, "Only in New York".

Jerry B

[angore]

I am not a real show goer because I collect just common material now and dealers at shows offer no real advantage over the online places. If they had some real seminars (not mostly meet and greets) advertised well in advance I would be more tempted. As for exhibits, I look them over but not really interested in most any of them. There are society meetings and those actively involved always go for social reasons.

I do not see the attraction for new collectors.

[stampie78]

Oct 27, 2019 5:30:17 GMT -5 angore said:

I am not a real show goer because I collect just common material now and dealers at shows offer no real advantage over the online places. If they had some real seminars (not mostly meet and greets) advertised well in advance I would be more tempted. As for exhibits, I look them over but not really interested in most any of them. There are society meetings and those actively involved always go for social reasons.

I do not see the attraction for new collectors.

I have only been to one major stamp show in my life. It was a BNAPS show in Toronto in the 70s. At the time I worked just an hour drive north of Toronto so we made a day of it. Well worth the time and bad traffic. The main attraction was the British Guiana magenta, complete with security guards. The dealers name who was exhibiting the stamp escapes me at the moment, but he never let it out of his sight. Big name dealer of the time.  Needless to say I moved on to the nickel box a few tables down. I can at least say I have been within a couple feet of the rarest stamp on the planet. But I do have a facsimile which came in a dime packet years ago.

Never got the chance to go to a major stamp show again.

[zepherusbane]

I've never been to a stamp show, national or otherwise. I would enjoy the chance if I can manage it someday. For now, I've been settling for once a year stopping at the closest dealer to me (about a 2.5-hour drive).

[coastwatcher]

In 2006, I returned to stamp collecting after a 25 year hiatus. At the time, all the buzz in philatelic circles was about Washington 2006 and I made plans to attend. Unfortunately, work got in the way and I had to cancel. I’ve often kicked myself for not putting work on hold for a few days and attending anyway. Work was also the reason that I stopped collecting again back then

Now that I’m retired and collecting again, I relish the opportunity to attend a national or international show, regardless of what it’s called. Even if I walk out without having bought a single stamp, I know that I would just enjoy being there. To me, the atmosphere and excitement of such an event would make the trip worthwhile.

[mourningdoves]

Oct 27, 2019 5:23:10 GMT -5 JerryB said:

When I lived in NY I used to go to the shows. I think I remember him (do remember the name). Did you ever see the "Cowboy". Guy wore a Stetson and cowboy boots and carried an accountant's case with really good stamps (I bought a $5 Hamilton from him). I have to say one thing about NY. Back in the 80's we had some weird stamp dealers. As they say, "Only in New York".

I remember that guy, but I haven't seen him for years. Might have been at the 2008 GASS in Hartford, when I was making my reentry into the fine avocation known as "philately". I wasn't hugely impressed with the self-presentation of many of the dealers there, but I've come to realize that there are thousands of easier ways of making a living and I shouldn't get on their case for being bizarre.

Oct 27, 2019 4:51:48 GMT -5 youpiao said:

In acknowledgment of k's efforts to preach the joys of collecting margin paper, they could have a Great American Selvage and Perfs Show. Then when the oft-predicted death of the hobby finally happens, they could have one last GASP.

Why all the negativity, youpiao ? GASP really stands for "tens of thousands of people gasping in awe".

"Willya take a gander at that 16-scale perforation? I ain't seen nuthin' like it since they landed on the Moon!"
"I hope that my distant descendants can still read .jpg's so they can share this moment with me."
"Whooeeeee! 7-scale roulettes! Hot diggety doof, I'm feelin' lucky today!!"
"If this is only an illusion, reality can wait."
"That does it! I'm quitting the police force tomorrow and devoting the rest of my life to collecting selvage off of Spanish Civil War locals."

[JerryB]

Hi mourningdoves

I eventually found out that our "Cowboy" was from Queens. His "store" was a corner table at a specific Queens diner near Creedmore Hospital. How appropriate

Jerry B