Southeastern Stamp Expo 2015
The Southeastern Stamp Expo 2015 was a smash hit! Our attendance grew from the year before, and we had a number of practically unique features that simply could not be seen at other shows.
The star of the show had to be the appearance of the right-side-up Jenny sheet. This rarity (only one of 100 printed by the USPS with only 30 or so discovered) showed up in a local collector's mailbox, and he made it available to the show. As a result, the Southeastern Stamp Expo exhibited this rare piece at a national show for the first time ever, and the media, including Linn's Stamp News, were all over it.
The exhibits were superb, with the Grand Award going to David Pitts for Bermuda Postal History: From Colonization to the UPU. Robert Benninghoff took home the Reserve Grand for Irish Definitive Coil Stamps 1922-1940. He also took the One Frame Grand for The Collection of Postage Due Fees in Ireland 1914-1926.
Also making an appearance was a one frame exhibit by Randy Neil titled OH MY! WEIRD COVERS. Randy wrote an article about this exhibit in the American Exhibitor, and showed it at the SESE for the first time. Check out the full palmares to see who won which awards.
We're grateful to our jury, which was led by Tom Mazza leading a panel of John Allen, Roland Cipolla, Hal Vogel, and Ross Towle. Huntsville's own Raymond Pietruszka conducted his first apprenticeship and we were honored to have him.
The Rowland Hill Award for lifetime service to philately in the Southeastern US was presented to current SEFSC President, Charles O'Brien III. You can read Charles' bio in the Show Program.
The show theme was a celebration of the opening of the new College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. Ed Jackson prepared a one frame display on Football on US Stamps and artist Chris Lazaroff prepared a wonderful show cover featuring a college fooball cachet.
On Friday morning, the United States Postal Service honored the Expo with a First Day of Issue ceremony for the $2 Patriot Waves of Color stamp. Attendees could get their program signed by the presiding dignitaries and then purchase freshly postmarked first day covers from two participating cachetmakers, Chris Lazaroff and Kendal Bevil. Note that Kendal has only recently started attending shows again, and made the SESE his first stop. His display of hand-painted first day covers in the lobby was spectacular, and Kendal even gave a presentation on his life as an artist. Linn's Stamp News later did an article on Kendal in November that further discusses his career and talents.
Several philatelic societies also graced us with their presence. The American First Day Cover Society had a regional meeting, with several exhibitors bringing exhibits. Members also enjoyed the Saturday Cachetmakers Bourse, with four cachetmakers participating. ESPER was here in strength as well. They too held a regional meeting, with two well received presentations. John Allen spoke on "Hidden History in Black America", and Educator and Civil War Re-enactor Donald West spoke on "African Americans and the Civil War." Members also had a reception in their honor in the show's hospitality suite. And the American Topical Association joined us too. ATA Executive Director Vera Felts joined us and hosted a round table symposium for ATA members and other topicalists. Then they enjoyed a night out on Friday night at a local restaurant. And we cannot forget the Georgia Postal History Society, who once again held their annual meeting, and listened to Steve Swain present on "Bittersweet Family Postal History."
Lastly, we received some nice media coverage on the show. Joshua Sharpe of the Gwinnett Daily Post did a great story on the Expo and the USPS First Day of Issue Ceremony. And Randy Neil wrote a column for the American Stamp Dealer & Collector complimenting the show, our venue, and the organizing committee.
To better organize and present the dozens of photos we have taken of the 2015 SESE, we are categorizing them as shown below.
Exhibition
The Upright Jenny Sheet
Bourse
First Day of Issue Ceremony
Seminars
ESPER
Awards Banquet
Awards Presentations
2015 Show Program
Miscellaneous
The star of the show had to be the appearance of the right-side-up Jenny sheet. This rarity (only one of 100 printed by the USPS with only 30 or so discovered) showed up in a local collector's mailbox, and he made it available to the show. As a result, the Southeastern Stamp Expo exhibited this rare piece at a national show for the first time ever, and the media, including Linn's Stamp News, were all over it.
The exhibits were superb, with the Grand Award going to David Pitts for Bermuda Postal History: From Colonization to the UPU. Robert Benninghoff took home the Reserve Grand for Irish Definitive Coil Stamps 1922-1940. He also took the One Frame Grand for The Collection of Postage Due Fees in Ireland 1914-1926.
Also making an appearance was a one frame exhibit by Randy Neil titled OH MY! WEIRD COVERS. Randy wrote an article about this exhibit in the American Exhibitor, and showed it at the SESE for the first time. Check out the full palmares to see who won which awards.
We're grateful to our jury, which was led by Tom Mazza leading a panel of John Allen, Roland Cipolla, Hal Vogel, and Ross Towle. Huntsville's own Raymond Pietruszka conducted his first apprenticeship and we were honored to have him.
The Rowland Hill Award for lifetime service to philately in the Southeastern US was presented to current SEFSC President, Charles O'Brien III. You can read Charles' bio in the Show Program.
The show theme was a celebration of the opening of the new College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. Ed Jackson prepared a one frame display on Football on US Stamps and artist Chris Lazaroff prepared a wonderful show cover featuring a college fooball cachet.
On Friday morning, the United States Postal Service honored the Expo with a First Day of Issue ceremony for the $2 Patriot Waves of Color stamp. Attendees could get their program signed by the presiding dignitaries and then purchase freshly postmarked first day covers from two participating cachetmakers, Chris Lazaroff and Kendal Bevil. Note that Kendal has only recently started attending shows again, and made the SESE his first stop. His display of hand-painted first day covers in the lobby was spectacular, and Kendal even gave a presentation on his life as an artist. Linn's Stamp News later did an article on Kendal in November that further discusses his career and talents.
Several philatelic societies also graced us with their presence. The American First Day Cover Society had a regional meeting, with several exhibitors bringing exhibits. Members also enjoyed the Saturday Cachetmakers Bourse, with four cachetmakers participating. ESPER was here in strength as well. They too held a regional meeting, with two well received presentations. John Allen spoke on "Hidden History in Black America", and Educator and Civil War Re-enactor Donald West spoke on "African Americans and the Civil War." Members also had a reception in their honor in the show's hospitality suite. And the American Topical Association joined us too. ATA Executive Director Vera Felts joined us and hosted a round table symposium for ATA members and other topicalists. Then they enjoyed a night out on Friday night at a local restaurant. And we cannot forget the Georgia Postal History Society, who once again held their annual meeting, and listened to Steve Swain present on "Bittersweet Family Postal History."
Lastly, we received some nice media coverage on the show. Joshua Sharpe of the Gwinnett Daily Post did a great story on the Expo and the USPS First Day of Issue Ceremony. And Randy Neil wrote a column for the American Stamp Dealer & Collector complimenting the show, our venue, and the organizing committee.
To better organize and present the dozens of photos we have taken of the 2015 SESE, we are categorizing them as shown below.
Exhibition
The Upright Jenny Sheet
Bourse
First Day of Issue Ceremony
Seminars
ESPER
Awards Banquet
Awards Presentations
2015 Show Program
Miscellaneous