National Topical Stamp Show in Oregon, July 31- Aug. 2

The American Topical Association will present its 66th annual National Topical Stamp Show July 31-Aug. 2 at the Monarch Hotel and Conference Center, 12566 SE 93rd Ave., in Clackamas, Ore., a Portland suburb.

The show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. A $5 pass provides admission for all three days, with free admission for visitors under age 18 and dealers. Parking is free.

The National Topical Stamp Show is an American Philatelic Society World Series of Philately event. The grand-award winner of the show’s open-exhibit competition is eligible to participate in the Champion of Champions competition at next year’s APS Stampshow 2016, Aug. 4-7 at the Oregon Center in Portland.

The National Topical Stamp Show, which takes place in a different city each year, is the only all-thematic philatelic exhibition in the country. 

The show has a full bourse of dealers carrying topical stamps plus material organized by country.

The show’s theme is “Trails to Topicals,” reflecting the historic journey on the Oregon Trail. The show theme is illustrated on the show cachets by Frans Geerlings and John Colasanti.

Collectors will find plenty to see and do at the show, with a schedule of programs, society meetings and social events.

The ATA annual meeting will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the association president, Jack Andre Denys, presiding. The meeting will include updates on ATA projects, such as the society’s new comprehensive checklist database.

A first-day ceremony for the United States Postal Service’s Fanciful Flowers postal card is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. The card’s imprinted stamp design shows flowers and a bee. Additional details about the new postal card can be found in the July 27 issue of Linn's.

The show will offer a free “Stamps in Your Attic” appraisal service, as well as youth activities.

Entomologist Donald P. Wright Jr. will receive the Distinguished Topical Philatelist award, the highest award given by the ATA.

An active ATA member since 1956, Wright has edited four ATA handbooks, including the recently published handbook of insects on stamps. Wright is a member of the ATA Biology Unit, which is this year’s featured unit. Members will have a table at the show with information about the unit. 

Jack Congrove and Orlie Trier are serving as local managers for the show, and they have arranged tours of Portland and Mount St. Helens.

For complete information about the show, including a dealer listing, visit the ATA website. 

Information is also available from the ATA by e-mail at americantopical@msn.com, and by phone at 618-985-5100.

The ATA promotes and encourages the collection, research and study of topical stamps and their subjects.