Keeping posted

Penguins, chess and animation feature at the International Jerusalem Stamp Exhibition.

By BARRY DAVIS
If stamps are your thing, you’d be well advised to get yourself down to the International Convention Center next week for the 2010 International Jerusalem Stamp Exhibition, which runs from Sunday to Thursday (12 noon to 8 p.m. daily). The grand event will feature tens of thousands of philatelic items, including 100 collections of rare stamps and special exhibits. The exhibition is organized by the Israeli Philatelic Federation and the Israel Post Philatelic Services. Admission is free.
The exhibition is, in fact, a competition among collectors. Each exhibit will be evaluated by a panel of judges from the World Philatelic Association, who will award points. Medals will be given to the winning exhibitors. Stamp exhibitions around the world are ranked for competition purposes in accordance with the regulations of the World Philatelic Association.
The exhibition promises to be a rare treat for collectors and amateur stamp enthusiasts alike, who will be able to catch a glimpse of some of the world of philately’s rarest and most precious gems. The organizers have placed the emphasis on providing interest and fun for the whole family, with all sorts of surprises and activities lined up over the five days.
The Israel Post Philatelic Services has issued innovative items especially for the exhibition, including Israel’s first animated booklet based entirely on stamps, and other products that feature Jerusalem sites and landscapes.
Exhibition visitors looking for something on the personalized side can purchase a special issue of a My Stamp album, which will include their photograph alongside an Israeli flag and pictures with scenes of Jerusalem.
The exhibition will include valuable stamps and postal items from all over the world on a wide range of topics, with exhibitors bringing collections from such countries as Israel, China, the United States and Britain, and rare stamps that feature Israel. There will also be subject-related exhibits, including stamps featuring penguins (from Shahar Eliezer), the history of photography (Aryeh Lavi), anti-Semitism and the Holocaust (Aryeh Levin) and chess (Yoram Lovianicker). Other areas to be covered at the exhibition include postal services in Jerusalem during the siege of Jerusalem and the War of Independence; Turkish philatelic services in Palestine between 1818 and 1841; stamps with images and designs relating to chocolate and smoking from a collection from China; and mummies and the development of dolls from a British collection.
Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to benefit from philatelic tips and guidance, and there will be a special children’s area where junior visitors can compare and swap stamps. There will also be stands with stamp traders from Israel and abroad, and discounts will be offered on stamp-collecting equipment.
Other exhibits will include stamps printed on a wide range of materials, including iron, wood and silk, as well as three-dimensional stamps. Visitors looking for a bit of intrigue should enjoy looking at some stamps with propaganda intent which, at the time, caused diplomatic furor. There will also be exhibits issued for charity purposes.
And if you suspect – and hope – that you might have a gold mine tucked away in a drawer, experts will be on hand to assess the value of your stamps.