Articles

Articles On Stamp Collecting: Topical/Thematic Collecting

Going For Glory In Competitive Philatelic Exhibition

An overwhelming majority of stamp collectors simply enjoy the hobby of collecting philatelic items. What does this mean? It means only one thing: pure enjoyment of the hobby itself. Naturally, they know what they collect and they know the "basics" of stamp collecting. Some of them add more fun to their recreation by participating in competitive philatelic exhibitions. It is at this stage when one's status as a philatelist is tested and confirmed in public by recognized philatelic organizations. On the national level, these organizations are the local stamp clubs and national philatelic federation and associations. On the international level, there are four well-known and highly respected organizations, namely: the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP), the Federation of European Philately Association (FEPA), the Federation Interamericana de Filatelia (FIAF) and the Federation Internationale de Philatelie (FIP).

Competitive philatelic exhibition is an important event in the life of a stamp collector, and the collector has to take the necessary preparation in order to insure that a good exhibit will be displayed in public. Listed below are some pointers to remember.

A. Host Of Competitive Philatelic Exhibition

1. The stamp collector must join a local stamp club or national

organization which serves as host of competitive philatelic

exhibition. Thematic exhibit is a major category of philatelic

exhibition.

2. The club must be a member of the national philatelic federation

which is the representative member of the country in international

organizations such as the FIAP, the FEPA, the FIAF and the FIP.

B. Basic Requirements In Competitive Philatelic Exhibition-Thematic Category

1. The stamp collector must apply for participation in the competition

and pay the application fee for the use of the exhibit frames if the

local club or national organization requires such payment.

2. Exhibit frames are standard display boards in competitive philatelic

exhibition. A frame can accommodate 16 pages of standard size

bond paper (8 1/2" X 11"). In philatelic exhibition, the white vellum

paper is used rather than the ordinary bond paper.

3. Local clubs do allow a one-frame thematic exhibit for beginners in

stamp collecting. Whatever the initial number of frames used, the

beginner is encouraged to develop the exhibit into a five-frame

exhibit which consists of 80 pages.

4. A five-frame exhibit is the minimum requirement for international

philatelic exhibition. Other requirements include the number of

times the thematic exhibit had been displayed in local and

national competitions, the awards it had received, years of owner-

ship and application fee.

5. A thematic exhibit is a synthesis of all the requirements of a good

exhibit. There are five requirements: the plan, the theme which is

based on the plan, thematic knowledge, philatelic knowledge and

philatelic materials. The plan defines the structure or establishes the

parameter of the exhibit while the theme (a story or a thesis) is

developed within the parameter of the exhibit. Both the plan and

the theme are freely chosen by the collector. Development of the

theme is based on knowledge of the chosen theme, the judicious

use of philatelic items and the application of philatelic knowledge

relevant to the chosen theme.

6. The criteria used in evaluating thematic exhibits in competitive

philatelic exhibition are the following:

6.1. Plan

6.2. Development (Treatment and Importance)

6.3. Philatelic Knowledge, Study and Research

6.4. Condition and Rarity

6.5. Presentation

Each category is assigned a maximum point, ranging from 5 points

to 30 points. The total is 100 which is the highest possible score for a

thematic exhibit.

7. "Guidelines on Thematic Exhibition" can be obtained from local

stamp clubs, national philatelic organizations, the continental

federations and the Federation Internationale de Philatelie.

C. Preparation For Making The Thematic Exhibit

1. Have an adequate supply of white vellum paper (standard size of a

bond paper) and plastic covers for the exhibit pages. Check the color

intensity of the white vellum paper. Some are "very white," others

are "dull white" and still others are "dirty white." Use only one shade

of white paper.

2. Use clear stamp mounts as protective covering for the philatelic

items since their usage is a requirement.

3. Use a large stamp album and/or stock pages as temporary "place-

holders" for the philatelic items. These philatelic accessories keep

things in an organized manner and they can serve as temporary

exhibit pages until the actual exhibit pages are made.

4. Make an outline of the thematic exhibit. It serves as a guide and can

be used as the plan of the exhibit

4.1. The title page, which is the first page of the exhibit, should give

the exact title of the thematic exhibit and a short but clear and

concise description of the theme of the exhibit.

4.2. The plan page, which is the second page of the exhibit, should

contain the sections (and sub-sections) of the thematic exhibit.

5. Make a list of what you have in your collection, what you do not

have and what you need for the thematic exhibit.

6. Check the philatelic items.

6.1. As a rule, philatelic items in "very fine" condition tend to get

higher scores than philatelic items in "poor-to-fine" condition.

6.2. As a rule, older and rare philatelic items tend to get higher

scores than new philatelic items.

7. Review the story or thesis of the thematic exhibit.

7.1. As a rule, a thematic exhibit which shows considerable research

work tend to receive a higher score than a thematic exhibit

which provides few information on the chosen theme.

7.2. As a rule, a thematic exhibit which gives short but clear

and concise descriptions of the chosen theme tend to receive a

higher score than a thematic exhibit which is either "too wordy"

or "too stingy" with words.

8. Check the exhibit pages.

8.1. Make sure the exhibit pages are clean.

8.2. Use an imaginary border when arranging the text contents and

philatelic items. "Balanced and symmetrical" exhibit pages tend

to be viewed favorably by judges.

8.3. Use a variety of philatelic materials for the exhibit pages without

violating the imaginary border. It is one clear indication of the

depth of an exhibitor's philatelic knowledge.

These are some of the things a stamp collector should remember when planning to participate in competitive philatelic exhibition. Finally, have fun learning about philately. If the stamp collector follows these simple reminders and continues to enjoy the hobby, then the collector is most likely to get the highly-prized goal in stamp collecting: an award in international philatelic exhibition which is a public confirmation of one's status as a philatelist.

Updated: October 12, 2010

Click Or Press The Stamp Or Underlined Titles To View

Basic Information On The Philippines - (Articles - VII)

L I N K S

Back To Articles On Philately

Back To "Topical Collecting: In The Eye Of The Beholder" - (Articles - I)

Back To "One Kind Of Data Gathering In Topical Stamp Collecting" - (Articles - V)

Proceed To Winning Exhibits

Proceed To Photo Gallery

alex_moises@hotmail.com alexmoi04@yahoo.com

Alex Angara Moises. Advance Thematic Collector. Philippines

Back To Top