Quick Details
Name: Washington 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition, or for short, Washington 2006 World Stamp Expo or Washington 2006
When: Saturday, May 27, 2006 (Memorial Day weekend) through Saturday, June 3, 8 total days
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily except Saturday, May 27th (Opening Day, 10:30 a.m. opening) and Friday, June 2 (closing at 5:30 p.m. to accommodate the Palmares Banquet)
Where: Washington, DC Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place N.W., Washington DC, 20001 between 7th and 9th, and K and N St. Admission is free, registration required.
Who: Organized by Washington Philatelic Exhibition, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
Sponsors: Under the auspices of the American Philatelic Society, with support from the American Stamp Dealers Association and United States Postal Service
Patronage: Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP)
Slogan: “Stamps – and so much more!”— Discover the city's culture while Celebrating philately
Themes:
* The Role of the Post Office Uniting the Country
* Children – They Are The Future
* Moving the Mail in the 21st Century
Budget: $3.3 million, funded through donations and booth income
Highlights:
* Well over $200 million worth of philatelic items on display and for sale on the show floor
* New U.S. stamp Issues and first day of issue ceremonies
* U.S. Postal Service retail station
* Special daily postmarks and cancellations
* Many foreign government postal stands selling stamps at face value
* New foreign stamp issues and ceremonies
* Autograph sessions
* 150 stamp vendors from over 15 countries selling stamps for pennies up to millions of dollars
* 3,800 competitive exhibit frames (more than 60,000 pages) from collections around the world
* Rarities of the world in 500 frames of Court of Honor displays
* Non-competitive exhibition of first day covers
* Philatelic literature competition
* Youth and beginners section
* “What Is It?” booth to answer stamp questions by the general public
* Philatelic society conventions, meetings and seminars
* Special Tours of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
Origins of Washington 2006
Washington 2006 upholds a tradition started back in 1926 with the first U.S. international philatelic exhibition held in 1926 in New York City. Since that time, this country has hosted such mega-events about every 10 years. The last was held in San Francisco, California, in 1997, celebrating the 150th anniversary of America’s first postage stamps.
It was two years earlier, in 1995, that a core of collectors in the metro-DC area decided to form an exploratory committee to potentially become the host for the 2006 spectacular. Many had close ties to NAPEX, the yearly national level stamp exhibition held in the DC suburbs.
The U.S. representative to the FIP, the American Philatelic Society, later selected Washington Philatelic Exhibition, Inc. as the winning organization to hold the 2006 event.
President of Washington 2006 is Michael Dixon. Dr. Dixon has prior experience in internationals as a member of the team for London 1980, Great Britain’s once-a-decade exposition. He is an international exhibitor and judge, and served as U.S. Commissioner to other shows.
Colonel Stephen Luster is the Senior Vice President and General Chairman. Also a judge and international exhibitor, Steve is best known for his award-winning thematic exhibit, “Toward a United Europe.”
Executive Director is Gordon Morison. Appointed to the position in 1999, Gordon brings his decades of USPS and philatelic experience to the group. He is a former U.S. Assistant Postmaster and was the driving force behind their 1989 international show, also held in Washington, DC. Most recently he was President of Nordia 2001, the Scandinavian area show held in Tucson, Arizona. He is also an international exhibitor.
Washington Philatelic Exhibition, Inc. is funded exclusively through the generosity of donor members, philatelic organizations, corporate sponsors, and income derived through the sale of bourse booths. It is a recognized 501(c)(3) educational not-for-profit organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
There are literally hundreds of people who will make Washington 2006 a reality. Volunteers come from backgrounds almost as diverse as their collecting interests. The exhibition brings together beginning collectors through life-long experts. See the officers and chairmen.
The Venue: DC Convention Center
Site of Washington 2006 is the Washington, DC Convention Center. Completed in 2003, the building has over 2.3 million square feet of space, including several exhibition halls, meeting rooms, and restaurants. Washington 2006 occupies the lowest level and the meeting rooms one level above, with more than 500,000 square feet in total.
GES Exposition Services of Washington, DC was selected as the chief decorators for the show. GES typically handles over 3,000 trade shows in the U.S. and Canada annually.
Exhibits and Awards
A total of 3,800 display frames will be shown at Washington 2006 in a variety of categories. Each frame holds 16- 8.5 x 11 inch pages in a 4x4 vertical configuration.
Competitive Class (3,800 frames)
The finest collections in the world are condensed into no more that 10 frames (160 pages) and presented to judges for their awards consideration. Exhibits are classified into a number of categories as set forth by the FIP, the international governing body of philately.
Designed by Richard Sheaff, all award medals are 2.25 inches in diameter and are struck in .999 silver, weighing 5 ounces. They were minted by Northwest Territorial Mint of Auburn, Washington.
The exhibitor’s name will be engraved on each, with a special metal ingot inset above the stamps related to the award level received: bronze, silver-bronze, silver, vermeil, or gold, in regular or large-sized format.
A number of special prizes have been donated to Washington 2006 by specialty societies, businesses, and individuals. They include many hand-crafted items of wood, glass, and silver.
The top three Grand Prix prizes of the exhibition are all Steuben Glass crystal pieces by Corning Glass Works of New York.
Court of Honor
Rarities and unique philatelic items abound in this group of exhibits.
British Caribbean items are featured in selections from the Royal Philatelic Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Collection was started in the 1860’s by Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and expanded greatly over the decades.
The Postmaster General’s Collection is another world-class display of pieces from a huge inventory of material housed at the U.S. Postal Service’s headquarters. This collection began as a Post Office reference file in the 1860’s and contains hundreds of thousands of U.S. philatelic items, from the ordinary to one-of-a-kind pre-production and post-production treasures. Shown above is the postal cancellation kit sent to the moon in 1971 with the Apollo 15 crew.
Several other renowned collections and individual rarities will be represented in the Court of Honor.
Society Exhibits (up to 130 frames)
These exhibits showcase the wide variety of philatelic collecting societies in the U.S. as well as around the world.
Each organization has 16 pages to tell its story, show items relating to their interests, and potentially recruit new members.
First Day Cover Exhibits
A small section of frames will showcase examples of first day cover collecting.
The Bourse (Stamp Dealers' Sales Area)
Besides the exhibits, the biggest draw for collectors to Washington 2006 is the ability to visit with hundreds of dealers and postal administrations from around the world and purchase material from them.
Pre-Show Dealers Bourse
The American Stamp Dealers Association is sponsoring a one-day special bourse exclusively for stamp dealers, taking place on Friday, May 26, the day before the official show opening.
Only dealer members in good standing of the ASDA, APS, IFSDA (and its member associations) and/or PTS are eligible to participate. It takes place in an area adjacent to the main show floor. Pre-registration for this event is required by participants.
World-Class Dealers
Washington 2006 expects approximately 150 dealers from at least 15 countries to participate in the 8-day show bourse. Besides stamps and other philatelic items, collecting supplies, literature, postcards, and paper ephemera will all be available for purchase at the show.
Postal Administrations
Countries from around the world or their sales agents will come to the exhibition to sell their latest issues. Look for their colorful booths around the show floor decorated with flags, posters and native items. The workers often come wearing traditional clothing of their country.
Cachet Makers Bourse
An area will be set aside on the floor exclusively for makers of souvenir covers to sell their material. This is a popular collecting area with a unique, creative and homespun appeal to collectors and non-collectors alike.
Live Auctions
A number of well-known auction firms have been selected as official auctioneers of Washington 2006. Each will hold an evening auction session. They include:
Matthew Bennett Inc., Baltimore, MD
David Feldman, Geneva, Switzerland
H.R. Harmer, subsidiary of Greg Manning Auctions, Inc., New York City, NY
Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, San Francisco, CA
Spink, London, England
An “Educational Centerpiece”
Washington 2006 will use this exhibition as an educational centerpiece to expand an interest in stamp collecting throughout the Americas. Programs will be developed to bring the art and history of philately to new audiences with a special emphasis on school age children, special tours, and visiting experts.
Bus loads of kids from through the region will be regular sights at the exhibition. Washington 2006 and the USPS will each have their own youth/beginners area.
The USPS will provide a special area for youth where youngsters will use computers to learn about stamp collecting and the mails.
The Lewis and Clark expedition will be the theme for the Washington 2006 zone, headed by Nancy Clark.
Cheryl Edgcomb, executive director of Stamp Camp USA, brings her seminars for beginning collectors to the show for several sessions.
Washington 2006 plays host to the finalists of the “Historic Art Contest” cachet design project sponsored by the Jamestown 2007 organization of Virginia. The endeavor potentially involves 1.3 million students in 2,000 public and private schools state-wide.
A “Collect a Million Stamps” effort is underway to meet the needs of volunteers preparing “goodie” packets of stamps for Washington 2006 visitors.
A number of classes for elementary school teachers is being organized as a way of bringing subjects such as history, geography and math alive through the use of stamps in the classroom.
Specialty societies will hold meetings about their collecting interests throughout the exhibition. Most are open to the public and a great way to learn about a possible new collecting area to explore.
Visit the National Postal Museum
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum’s permanent collection of philatelic artifacts, stamps and related items (more than 13 million objects in fact) span hundreds of years and make it a Mecca for philatelists year-round. But arrangements are underway to make your stop at the museum even more special in 2006.
One of the greatest collections of early U.S. philatelic material ever assembled was donated to the New York Public Library on the death of its owner, Benjamin Miller. It has remained tucked away out of public viewing for many years, and contains one of two known copies of the famous 1868 1 cent “Z grill” stamp. That centerpiece highlights arguably the most extensive collection of United States postage stamps issued prior to 1925.
By special agreement with the Library, the National Postal Museum will be displaying parts of this famous collection in 2006 coinciding with Washington 2006.
Press Credentials and The Press Room
Credentialed members of the philatelic and non-philatelic press will enjoy a “behind the scenes” look into the show and the people and events that make news.
To apply for a press pass, go to the Washington 2006 “For The Media” web page and fill out the online application. The application will be acknowledged and details will be sent as the show grows near.
Heading operations of the Washington 2006 Press Center is Lloyd DeVries, respected CBS radio journalist, APS Board member and philatelist. The room will be equipped with a few computers, data ports, wireless access, and other equipment, along with a small interview area.
It is expected to be open at least 30 minutes before and after the official closing hours of the show. We plan to have daily agendas available, provide interview opportunities of officials and dignitaries, and noteworthy information provided to us by the various postal administrations, dealers, societies and exhibitors.
In return, Washington 2006 asks that we receive a copy of all published articles, stories, and when possible, video, to add to the show's archives.
Register for a Press Pass.
Washington 2006 Web Site
The Washington 2006 web site has been operational since 1998. Its first webmaster was Doug Lehmann, and the site was redesigned by Tom Fortunato in 2001. The current web site was designed by webmaster Randy Neil in 2004.
Full information about the exhibition can be found online and is updated regularly. Prior press releases are there, as are member updates, financial reports, and more. The official schedule of events will be posted as details are confirmed, as will listings of exhibits and a map of the show floor.
The site also houses electronic versions of a number of ads, logos, and other images available for print reproduction or on web pages.
Discount Hotel Rates
Special room rates are available for Washington 2006 participants from seven different hotels within walking distance of the Washington DC Convention Center and may be booked online through the web site or by mail.
Here is the current list of properties offering discounts of up to 40% off regular prices for Washington 2006 visitors during show dates and 3 days before and after them. Early reservations are advised as the number of special-rate rooms in each hotel is limited.
Rates given are for single or double occupancy and are subject to the current 14.5% sales tax in the District of Columbia. Please note that parking fees, if any, are not included with these quotes.
Each B represents one short city block away from the Washington, DC Convention Center, site of the exhibition. All are within a half mile walk (1 km) from the show.
Renaissance Hotel
(Washington 2006 Headquarters Hotel)
$169 per night B
999 9th Street, NW
Grand Hyatt
$169 per night B B B B
1000 H Street, NW
Marriott at Metro Center
$149 per night B B B B B
775 12th Street, NW
Four Points by Sheraton
$139 per night B B B B
1201 K Street, NW
Hamilton Crowne Plaza
$119 per night B B B B B
14th and K Street, NW
Red Roof Inn
$115 per night B B B B
500 H Street, NW
Wyndham Washington
$110 per night B B B B B B
1400 M Street, NW
Do not contact each hotel property asking for these rates, as they can only be booked through the Washington 2006 Hotel Reservation Bureau, a separate organization handling room reservations.
You may go online to see up to the minute room availability and make reservations. For people without Internet access, or who prefer not to register online, request a reservation form by mail from Washington 2006 enclosing a SASE and mail or fax the information to the Bureau. All requests are on a first-come basis, and must include a credit card deposit.
You will receive a confirmation typically in 24 hours if booked online or within 5-7 business days by mail. Cancellations and/or changes received up to March 27, 2006 will not be subject to a fee, otherwise a penalty will be incurred through the Hotel Reservation Bureau or selected hotel. Final payments will be settled with your hotel on arrival.
Read the complete deposit and cancellation policy online or accompanying the mailed reservation form before submitting it. Instructions on where to mail the completed form will be included.
To receive a hotel reservation form by mail, send your request along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Washington 2006 post office box.
Familiar Logos
Washington 2006 has two logo identities, both of which should be familiar through our pre-show publicity. However you may not know the difference between them.
The first is the organization’s corporate logo, which features a stylized image of the Capitol dome. It was Washington 2006’s first “identity,” and continues to be used on official documents of the Washington Philatelic Exhibition, Inc.
The show logo came a few months later, depicting an envelope and U.S. flag on a tan background. This is the primary image you will see in our ads and on display in the exhibition hall.
The first resulted from a logo contest, won by Gary R. Bennett of Elkhart, Indiana in 1999, with the final version designed by Dick Sheaff. Dick also obtained the flag-envelope graphic courtesy of Phil Jordan & Associates, and has used it on publications and in advertising.
Stamp Collecting Lexicon
We stamp collectors have a language all our own. For the non-collector, here are some basic terms or acronyms explained:
APS- American Philatelic Society, the largest U.S. stamp collecting organization with 50,000 members
ASDA- American Stamp Dealers Association
bourse- a stamp show sales area
cachet- a commemorative or souvenir design often found on the left of an envelope bearing related stamps and a cancel in the upper right corner
cancel- a postmark
cover- an envelope, folded letter, or other document typically bearing a stamp or other indication of postage paid
FDC (first day cover)- a cover cancelled on the first day of a stamp’s release from the post office, often with a cachet of some kind
new issues- the latest stamps available from a post office
topical- a stamp or collection dealing with a specific subject matter
USPS- United States Postal Service
