The Library History Buff

Promoting the appreciation, enjoyment, and preservation of library history

Library Philatelic Exhibits

In 2003, I started exhibiting portions of my collection of  postal librariana at stamp shows. I have usually exhibited at two or three of the World Series of Philately Stamp Shows each year. These shows are sanctioned by the American Philatelic Society (APS).  Exhibits at these shows are evaluated by a panel of judges certified by the APS. I normally exhibit in the Display Division which allows the inclusion of of some artifacts that are not postal in nature. Exhibits are placed in frames (see photo to the left) that hold sixteen 8 1/2" by 11" pages.  Exhibits can range in size from 1 frame to 10 frames.

In 2008 I made a major revision of my primary exhibit which was previously entitled "America's Libraries 1731-1920". I called the revised exhibit "The Evolution of the American Public Library".  The new version of the exhibit allowed me to tell a fuller story of the American public library by eliminating material relating to other types of libraries. In 2009 after more changes, I exhibited at the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show in Denver. This time the exhibit was titled "America's Public Libraries and Their Forerunners". My primary exhibit has also previously been exhibited under the title "America's Libraries" and "The Story of America's Libraries".

I recently developed two more display exhibits which I also showed at Denver on a non-competitive basis. These are a three frame exhibit entitled "America's Philatelic Libraries and Museums" and a one frame exhibit entitled "The World's Philatelic Libraries and Museums".  I have previously developed a four frame exhibit entitled "America's Presidential Libraries" (4 frames) which I have only shown locally. I plan to expand that exhibit to at least 6 frames and rename it "America's Presidential Libraries and Museums". I plan to show that exhibit competitively in the future.  On the drawing board is a ten frame display exhibit on the Library of Congress.

I have also developed Illustrated Division (First Day Cover) philatelic exhibits. For more on these click here.

Exhibit awards for my ten frame display exhibit that is constantly evolving

For exhibit titled: "America's Public Libraries and Their Forerunners"

Rocky Mountain Stamp Show 2009
Gold Medal/Award

For exhibit titled: "Evolution of the American Public Library"

CHICAGOPEX 2008
Vermeil Award (award level between gold and silver)
AAPE Gold Award of Honor

MILCOPEX 2008 (Milwaukee's national stamp show)
Gold Medal/Award
American Philatelic Society Research Award
American Philatelic Congress Award

Minnesota Stamp Expo 2008
Gold Medal/Award
Award for Best Americana Exhibit

For exhibit titled: "America's Libraries 1731-1920"

St. Louis Stamp Expo 2007
Gold Medal
Best Display Exhibit

MILCOPEX 2006
Gold Medal
William J. Ulhein Award for Best Americana Exhibit
AAPE Creativity in Philatelic Exhibiting Medal

American Philatelic Society StampShow 2006 (Chicago)
Gold Medal

For exhibit titled: "America's Libraries"

American Topical Association National Topical Stamp Show 2005
Gold Medal (the first Display Division exhibit to win gold at an ATA show)
American Philatelic Society 1900-1940 Medal of Excellence
American Philatelic Society Research Medal
American Philatelic Congress Award for Excellence

American Philatelic Society StampShow 2005 (Grand Rapids, MI)
Gold Medal

For exhibit titled: "The Story of America's Libraries"

MILCOPEX 2004
Gold Medal
William J. Ulhein Award for Best Americana Exhibit

St. Louis Stamp Expo 2004
Vermeil Medal (Vermeil is the medal level between Gold and Silver)

CHICAGOPEX 2003
Gold Medal
American Philatelic Congress Award for Excellence
AAPE Creativity in Philatelic Exhibiting Medal
American Topical Association First Place Medal

MILCOPEX 2003
Vermeil Medal
American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE) Award of Honor

American Topical Association National Topical Stamp Show 2003
Vermeil Medal
Best Americana Exhibit Award

This site created and maintained by Larry T. Nix
Send comments or questions to nix@libraryhistorybuff.org
Last updated: 06-01-09  © 2005-2009 Larry T. Nix
Also check out the Library History Buff Blog.