STAMPEX - 29th September - 2nd October 2021 - in a time of Covid.
Run by the PTS (Philatelic Traders Society), Stampex claims to be the UK’s largest Stamp Fair. It hosts the National Stamp Exhibition displays of formal society philately and post history which is organised by the ABPS (Association of British Philatelic Societies Limited). Held twice a year in the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper St, The Angel, London, N1 0QH, Stampex Autumn 2021 runs from 29th September - 2nd October 2021.
I have criticised Stampex before following visitor and dealer criticisms. I am not going to repeat them here. I will not be attending this year such is my disillusionment with the event, organised philately, public transport and the times we are living in. I know I am not the only postal historian staying away. I know of both dealers and collectors who see little point in going. Many believe that the York Stamp Fair is now the must-go-to event for stamping in the UK.
For the benefit of readers thinking of attending Stampex, once the unrivalled leading UK stamp fair, I enclose below the email sent by Graham Winters FRPSL, Chairman ABPS, which was forwarded to me by SACS (SA Collectors' Society).
Read this before you attend Stampex.
A number of things have changed - you will have to pay a £10 entry fee if you go on the first day (free thereafter but you will need to register, I understand). (As of 2025 this changed. It is now FREE to attend.) Of most concern are the organisers' ill-conceived precautions regarding Covid.
Date: 22 September 2021 at 11:39
Subject: Important information about Stampex from the ABPS
Dear Colleague
A message from Graham Winters, Chairman of the ABPS. Please circulate to all your members.
As Stampex approaches, it seems sensible for ABPS to explain the COVID procedures which will be in place during the show. For entry to the Business Design Centre, the PTS, who own and run Stampex require that all people show evidence of double vaccination or a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours. This is to ensure that the event itself is as safe as possible for all attending.
For the hand-in day on Tuesday the 28th September from 12 noon, the COVID procedures do not apply although there will be˜spot checks'. > Those handing in exhibits should ask at the door to be shown to the 'BIN Room'.
Just a reminder that on the first day, the 29th September, there is an admission charge of £10 which may be paid in advance by using the Stampex website or at the door on the day. Those paying at the door may have to queue.
Of course, both ABPS and PTS expect all those attending, including on the hand-in day, to be respectful of others…. Mask-wearing is opttional but keeping a sensible distance from each other, washing hands regularly, and using hand-sanitising stations is clearly good practice. We all hope that everyone will have an enjoyable Stampex experience.
Graham Winters FRPSL, Chairman ABPS.
Of course, the requirement "that all people show evidence of double vaccination or a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours" is a nonsense not supported by the government's own data. The fact is that having a double jab is no defence against catching Covid again and infecting other people with it. All the double jab does is, hopefully, ensure that if and when you contract Covid again you only get mildly ill with it rather than seriously so. A VACCINE PASSPORT IS NOT PROOF THAT THE BEARER DOES NOT SUFFER FROM COVID! This unpleasant reality means that double jabbed visitors to Stampex who show a vaccine passports could be bringing Covid into the stamp fair. Only if the double vaccinated were also required to show proof of negative lateral flow test, itself a highly unreliable test, would the Stampex organisers be able to weed out the positive carriers from among the double jabbed attendees.
The fact that "COVID procedures do not apply ... on Tuesday the 28th September from 12 noon" is another nonsense. If these rules are to mean anything during the duration of the show, why are they suspended for the Tuesday? It doesn't make sense or science, just like the government's response to the Covid pandemic. It's a lot like the wealthy at Davos or the politicians at a G7 meeting where they wear masks in front of the TV cameras but behind the scenes (as photos and TV footage show) theres' not a mask in sight. One rule for us.... another for them.
Regarding being "respectful of others….keeping a sensible distance from each other, washing hands regularly, and using hand-sanitising stations is clearly good practice" is good advice but social distancing is impossible when standing shoulder to shoulder with other collectors or sitting next to them on the smaller dealer's stands while examining covers touched by other visitors. The smaller dealers paying Stampex's exorbitant fees are not going to ask customers to come back later in order to implement social distancing. As for "washing hands regularly" how often will you be expected to sanitise your hands? Every time you visit a stall? How often can you sanitise your hands? As for wearing masks, which is optional, there is no data that shows they work. Expect to see loads of old boys wearing them. Masks just make you feel safer and that you are doing right by the rest of the herd!
Despite all this, I wish I was going. I have had some enjoyable times at Stampex and bought some wonderful material.
STAMPEX - 28th October - 31st October 2026.
As I write this the second of four days of Stampex at the at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, has started. The first day was very busy wih many dealers expressing surprise at the attendance and the volume of sales made. Generally, the more expensive, high-end, top quality philatelic (stamp) dealers seemed to get less of the action compared to the lower end tables that specialised in affordable postal history (covers and postcards).The name 'STAMPEX' now appears a contradiction in terms.
I attended Stampex , yesterday somewhat warily, not knowing what to expect and fearing that I was going to spend more money than I liked on postal history material that would probably not stand the test of time. As they say, a fool and his money are soon parted and that was the case yesterday. However, on the slow train from King's Cross back to Cambridge I dug out my day's 33 purchases and examined them closely. While a tad poorer I am pleased with them and returned home happy. I now have more to write about. See three ofr my new covers below.
1925. Cover. CAPE TOWN MAR '5 1925' to WINDHOEK '13 MAR 25'.
2d King's Head mc (machine cancelled) bilingual 'AIR MAIL SAVES TIME - LUGPOS SPAAR TYD'.
Use of this mc does not signify it is an 'Airmail'. cover. This mc was used to promote the use of Airmail.
The rate and the time taken also suggest that this was not an airmail cover.
I bought this cover for its at present unidentified perfin on stamp. The sender is J. W. Jagger & Co. Let's see!
On arrival in London I took the opportunity to stretch my legs by walking briskly from King's Cross up the hill to Islington. I found a cash point machine more-or-less opposite the Angel , one of only two that I passed in my 15 minute walk. If you are going to Stampex and do not want to pay with a card - almost all dealers take plastic nowadays - you should get cash out at your local bank beforehand. There is a very surprising shortage of conveniently placed cash points in and around the Stampex venue.
As I came around the corner into the Business Design Centre, I saw a familiar face from my 1990s Embankment stamping days. It was Gabriel. He remembered me but I cannot remember his surname. It was nice to catch up with him. We both lamented what had happened to the Saturday Embankment Stamp Fair, now sadly down to about three shabby tables of second rate material. Gabriel expressed the opinion that people who cannot sell their material at auction usually end up selling it on eBay!
As usual, the London-based Spink auction house was sponsoring Stampex. As usual, their booth is the first onew that the visitor must pass to gain access to the wider hall. I was hoping to see Ian Shapio, Spink's Document Specialist and fellow member of SACS, as he is recently returned from the National in South Africa (also sponsored by Spink). Ian was already round and about busily circulating and networking with clients past and present and the philatelic community generally. However, I soon bumped into him. He told me in his usual enthusistic way that he had found something absolutely fantastic for me and that he would show it to me in Letchworth. I can't wait. Ian has left me in suspenders!
1928. Cover. CAPE TOWN 'NOV 30 1928' to Twyford, GB.
1d Springbok mc (machine cancelled) bilingual 'STOP DONGAS - KEER DIE SLOTE'.
This mc was used to promote awareness of soil erosion (dongas).
The rate and the time taken also suggest that this was sent surface mail.
I bought this cover for its slogan. The sender is Imperial Cold Storage, Cape Town.
I went to Stampex specifically to see two dealers, Bill Pipe (aka The Magpie) and Alan Burman who had not attended for the last three years or so. I made a beeline for Bill Pipe and on the way passed the table of a very cheery Simon Peetoom, a fellow member of SACS (South African Collectors Society). I will be seeing Simon in Letchworth in 10 days time for the autumn SACS jamboree. SImon was at Stampex with a large stock of GB so I did not tarry there, promising to browse his SA material in Letchworth on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November 2026 at the Letchworth Hall Hotel, Letchworth, SG6 3NP.
1942. WW2 Airmail Letter Card. EGYPT '20 8 42' to GB.
This is one of five airmail letter cards fr0m Egypt which I bought for the correspondence.
I will post further advice on the once I have researched it further. See tentaive advice below.
In any event, this cover will fit into my 'Clive Peter' display, (the sailor man in the 2d stamp).
It was a pleasure to reconnect with Alan who was run off his feet he was so busy. I offered to help but he declined. After having bought some items from him I found a further four covers of censored WW2 correspondence from a Captain Leslie Phillips in Egypt. He was writing letters to his wife in a posh house in Engand and affixing SA stamps to them. Was a relative of Leslie Phillips, the Rand Lord sentenced to death for his part in Rhodes' and Jameson's abortive Raid. I will publish my findings here on the SAPC once I have studied them properly. Having paid Alan already by card, I asked him if he would accept a an old £50. He grimaced but said "yes". An old boy sitting at the table said, "Don't do it. Alan. There are no banks left. You'll be lucky to find one". We all laughed at this unwelcome truth!
All-in-all, a good day with a surprising turn out, mostly elderly Anglo-Saxon men, some colonials like me but also a smattering of British Black and Asian collectrors, as well some European and Asians, including some young female collectors, one buying Russia and Poland another buying Italy. I ate my lunch with a man from Sri Lanka who was stripping album pages of colonial era Ceylon stamps that he placed in organised piles on the table. An Australian asked to join us, saying he promised not to sneeze. We all laughed merrily! Covid was a distant memory.