International stamp spotlight comes to Boston in May

The buzz during the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club's 136th March Party this weekend is focusing not just on stamp collecting and meeting old friends, but especially on the upcoming once-a-decade, U.S.-hosted international show taking place in Boston in May. The eight-day Boston 2026 World Stamp Expo — online at boston2026.org — will find collectors from across the country and around the world assembling as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. "It's going to be exciting," Yamil Kouri, president of the organization who has spent nearly a decade planning the show, which is set for May 23-30. Because the show is part of a yearslong schedule of events planned by Massachusetts' Revolution 250 observance, Kouri expects noncollectors to join stamp and postal history enthusiasts at the philatelic festival. More than stamps will be on display, Kouri told me in an interview. The Boston 2026 committee has planned reenactments of historical events — non-gun related, of course — in the years leading to American independence in 1776 at the show venue, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Reenactors will take on the roles of historical figures in depicting key events that marked the burgeoning independence movement in the 18th century. Kouri said documents from the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and other independence leaders will be on display. In addition, show organizers are working with the New England Lego Users Group for a display of models built from the popular brick toy. Visitors of all ages will have the chance to build their own models as well. The show also will feature many of the traditional activities found at stamp shows: exhibits, a large bourse (sales area), displays of rare philatelic items, new collector areas for adults and children, and meetings and presentations on a variety of philatelic topics. More than 3,000 frames of exhibits from domestic and international collectors will be on display, competing for best-of-show honors. More than 20 postal administrations, including the U.S. Postal Service, Ireland's An Post and Ukrposhta from Ukraine, will be on hand. Visitors can pick up a "philatelic passport" and visit each agency to buy a stamp and receive a postmark. I did that at Washington 2006. It was a joy to meet people from around the world while adding a colorful souvenir to my collection. The passport is being provided at no cost by Scott Stamp LLC of Troy, Ohio, publishers of Linn's Stamp News and the Scott postage stamp catalogues. The international show traditionally has seen postal administrations release new stamps. The USPS has scheduled at least two ceremonies for new stamps. As of early March, others releases are planned by Brazil, Greenland and the French archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, south of Newfoundland. More than 100 dealers — from places as diverse as Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom and, of course, the U.S. — will be on hand offering material ranging from inexpensive 10-cent stamps and $1 covers to high-end rarities. Visits to the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History on the campus of Regis College in nearby Weston also are on tap. Shuttle service on May 25 and May 28 costs $35 and includes museum admission. The museum is one of the country's best devoted to philately. It's not too late to plan to attend a show of this magnitude. Boston is 660 miles away by car, so it's a fairly long drive. The city can be reached in one long day or two shorter days of driving. Amtrak serves the city with service from Elyria and Cleveland. The show site in central Boston is 1.5 miles from Logan International Airport. Free shuttle service to the convention center and show hotels will be available. Short-term room rentals offer an alternative to pricey hotels. Kouri said the convention center is near popular restaurants, breweries, museums and historic American Revolution sites, making a visit to Boston one that can build on philatelic interests. Dennis Sadowski can be reached at sadowski.dennis@gmail.com.