Stampex, the UK’s largest annual stamp show, held in London, will boost a range of exciting activities and experiences across four full days, including a late Thursday opening. The show has something for everyone, including historians, collecting enthusiasts, postal history lovers, philatelic exhibitors and stamp collecting beginners. Stampex, proudly sponsored by Spink, is based in the beautiful Business Design Centre in central London from 27th September – 30th September 2023. 

With over 60 PTS members already confirmed, including Mark Bloxham Stamps, Stanley Gibbons, Michael Chipperfield, Glasgow Stamp Shop, BB Stamps, Trevor Pateman, Mulready Philatelics, Buckingham Covers, Lighthouse, Corbitts, Thematix and more, this is going to be an exciting show.

The highly successful Table Top Zone will once again be hosted at the “clock end” of the main Mezzanine floor. This is the perfect area to sit, chat and meet dealers whilst hunting through boxes of wonderful artefacts and postal materials. 

The Stampex Auditorium, located on the Village Green, will be host to daily Stampex Talks and panel discussions. The full schedule will be announced at the end of August. There will be something for everyone, including learning “How to bid at Auction”, “How to set up or boost a stamp society”, “How to further your stamp collection” and more.

The Exhibiting Experience will allow visitors to learn, explore and meet exhibitors and find out how to advance their collections.

The Society Meeting Space allows societies to host meetings every day throughout the show, as well as take a table to promote their society and publications. To book a space, visit www.stampexinternational.com/societymeetings

The Stampex Court of Honour for 2023 will display a number of Hidden Treasures for that once in a lifetime opportunity to see beautiful philatelic material up close.

Thanks to support from the Stamp Active Network, the Youth Zone provides children and young adults with the opportunity to explore stamps and take part in fun and games and treasure hunts!

Found some Stamps in the Attic? Visit Stampex and have verified PTS Members help you understand more about your collection, what stories it might tell and what it might be worth. Many dealers at Stampex will buy collections and auctioneers may offer to consign a collection for you.

TICKETS
Please register your attendance in advance at: www.stampexinternational.com/tickets
All attendees will receive a free Show Guide. 
 
Tickets are £10.00 for entry on Day 1 (Wednesday). 
Free Entry Thursday – Saturday. 
Express Entry wristbands are available in advance of the show for all days (subject to small P&P fee).
Stampex Patronage - £75 plus complementary Day 1 Ticket 
 
VENUE
THE BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, 52 UPPER STREET, ISLINGTON, LONDON N1 OQH 
Nearest Tube Station-Angel Islington (Northern Line)
 
DATES/TIMES
Wednesday 27th September: 10:30 – 17:30
Thursday 28th September: 10:00 – 18:30
Friday 29th September: 10:00 – 17:30
Saturday 30th September: 10:00 – 16:00
 
FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE VISIT
www.stampexinternational.com
 
About the Philatelic Traders’ Society 
Formed in 1929 by a group of established stamp dealers, The Philatelic Traders’ Society was created to act for and on behalf of its members for the good of philately. With a Code of Ethics and a service for dispute resolution, The Philatelic Traders’ Society is regarded as a reputable organisation within the industry, upholding the values of honesty and integrity. The PTS also organises Stampex – the UK’s leading philatelic exhibition. www.thepts.net

The Stamp Active Network, the voluntary organisation that promotes stamp collecting for children in the UK, will be at Autumn Stampex providing free stamps and goodie bags for young collectors. There will be a range of free activities including Stamp Art fun with special prizes. The theme of the activities will feature Sport related stamps. The popular free children’s auction on the Saturday will take place in the Stampex auditorium at 2pm with a free draw for a Penny Black for the participants.
Stamp Active will also be giving vouchers to fifty youngsters U18 that attend Stampex, worth £20 each, to spend with dealers at Stampex. Ten vouchers will be available on each of the first three days with a maximum of fifty vouchers overall to be given out during the show.
The Kids Zone will be located at the far end of the mezzanine level (under the clock) on the right-hand side of the Hall.
For further information, look at the Stamp Active website www.stampactive.co.uk

The PTS were delighted to receive this blog post from member John Auld who along side being a member was also part of the council for over 20 years and chair for 6 years. Congratulations John from everyone at the PTS for your 50th Anniversary in philately. #cheers 

So the 9th July is my 50th anniversary in the trade. When thinking about A levels wrote to several major dealers and auctioneers and had 3 introductory interviews. Two said they would offer me a job if there was a vacancy but SG said they would definitely offer me a job .So in June 1973 I wrote to John Farthing at SG to remind him that I was about to leave school and hoped I could start at SG perhaps in September. The very next day he phoned and offered me a job working in the Commonwealth rare stamp dept at £750 per year but he needed me to start asap. Two hours later he rang again to say he had just got my letter and had diaried me from 2 years earlier ! He said that as I was 18 he would increase the starting salary to £850. I asked if I could run it past my parents and they agreed so next morning I rang to confirm and it arranged that I would start on Monday 9th July 1973 complete with my flared beige suit and kipper tie (well John Farthing had a purple suit it was the 1970s after all !) 
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So I arrived and was introduced to Colin Whitehead the Commonwealth manager his assistant Michael Mayall and Chris Rainey who I already knew who was doing stamp fairs! The very next day I was asked to see my first client David Mortimer then a naval commander now of course in Australia. I was later told that it was because he was such a decent man that he was my first client! 

After 30 months I was moved to the buying dept with Barry Peachey ,the late Vic Walker and Chris Radley the GB buyer. I very soon met clients including Joe Saatchi, Phil Wilde of Western Auctions and Frank Stott of Vessey Auctions sadly all three have gone to the great philatelic bourse in the sky. I also met John Curtin of Royale who of course is very much with us .

About this time outside SG I met John Hayward a leading medal dealer who was trying to sell his business to SG. Nobody apart from me knew about this apart from SGs directors. John wanted me to join him as his right hand man whilst he ran the business as part of SG. He loved ringing me up at work until Vic took the call and told him never to ring SG again! Negotiations fell through but he did sell the business to them a couple of years later but did not stay on and by that time I had left! 

After 5 years at SG a friend told me of a vacancy for a describer at City of London Auctions run by the late Brian Tyrrell a former PTS council member so I attended an interview which was a formality as I apparently already had the job! Whilst there I met Bjorn Mciver the office junior and coffee maker and Phyl Wills now company secretary at Argyll Etkin.

So after 3 years there was an unpleasant personality clash with a colleague .I was already supplying lots of my own for the auction so it was time to go on my own for 2 years I supplied auction lots and wheeled and dealt .It was August 1983 my first marriage had broken up and I had an opportunity to take a table at Charing Cross market a bargain £4 for the table and £ 2 parking. My first client was Mike Pugh who bought all my covers which must have been absurdly cheap.

In 1984 Stampex was expanding to 2 halls at the RHS and Ron Mead of RF Postcards said go for it. So I scrounged stock including Mike Pughs cover stock and made a modest profit and have been at every Stampex since.

In 1987 Otto Hornung was looking for PTS council members I casually asked what was involved and found myself pressganged! I was on council for over 20 years and Chairman for 6 years 

I do little retail now apart from York and Stampex and concentrate on Alliance Auctions and have no intention of retiring! 

Amersham and District Philatelic Society announce STAMPERSHAM 2023 STAMP, POSTAL HISTORY and POSTCARD FAIR on SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER. 
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The show is supported by PTS Member Grosvenor Auctions and is held at Chiltern Lifestyle Centre. There will be a 16 sheet competition featuring the Thames Valley Federation.  There will be a hall with dealers including several PTS Members. 

More information is online at www.stampersham.org.uk