Frederictonians fixing to share ‘down-east hospitality’ at September Royal

Members of the Fredericton & District Stamp Club (FDSC), the local host club of this year’s Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) Convention in the New Brunswick capital.

Fredericton’s first Royal Convention in a quarter century – although the club was forced to cancel its planned 2020 gathering due to COVID-19 – the 2024 show promises to make up for the earlier loss.

“The club is excited about the opportunity to finally host the Royal,” said convention chair and RPSC Fellow Rob Lunn, a long-time member of the FDSC (RPSC Chapter 148). “For many of the local collectors, this will be their first time attending a show of this size. As well, the opportunity for them to access to many of the more prominent full-time dealers will mean the chance to fill in those holes in their collections that have been elusive.”

Both the organizing committee and local collectors look forward to sharing the famed Atlantic Canadian hospitality with visiting show-goers at the Sept. 20-22 show in Fredericton.

“Down-east hospitality is certainly a draw for many Upper Canadians,” said Lunn, who authored an article, “The Philatelic Letterhead of Arthur A. Bartlett,” in the 2021 Anthology published by the invite-only Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada (PSSC), of which he’s a member. “It is friendly and inviting, and we are looking to show that off. For those wanting to spend a few extra days in the area, there are many beautiful natural sites to visit.”

While he’s certain the massive three-day show will attract collectors from across the country and likely even the United States and other countries across the pond, Lunn hopes the non-collecting general public will take advantage of the club’s warm welcome.

“One of the greatest things our hobby has to offer is the social aspect in terms of catching up with stamp collecting friends from across the country and to meet new friends that may share similar interests. For our local folks, it is the opportunity to attend a large national show with prominent dealers and auction houses to buy from and possibly sell some of their collections to. The thing that will make us different from past Royal Conventions is the down-east feel and how everyone will be welcomed. We look forward to seeing many new and old faces.”

MAJOR BOURSE,

COMPETITIVE EXHIBITION

& SOCIAL EVENTS GALORE

The convention’s competitive exhibition will boast a variety of specialized collections, including past award-winning assemblages with material from Canada and around the world.

The bourse’s dealers, meanwhile, promise a full range of material from the most affordable to some of the most expensive items on the market.

“We have already received exhibit applications for a number of exhibits that have won high awards nationally and internationally,” said Lunn. “It will be an opportunity to see some wonderful and rare material. There will be a good showing of Atlantic Canada material covering early New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland philatelic material that may not have been seen by folks from outside the region. We are still looking for some more exhibits.”

Lunn noted the bourse still has “a few” open tables for any interested dealers.

“We have many of the full-time dealers and auction houses that we’re familiar with that attend the national shows, but there is still room for a few others if interested. We are going all out to accommodate our dealers and make sure they have a memorable show.”

Interested dealers can contact the organizing committee via the Royal 2024 website, rpscroyal.com, where collectors, show-goers and exhibitors can view registration and exhibit forms along with other convention details.

As for the convention’s extra-curricular activities, including several to-be-announced off-site social events, organizers have planned a full slate of philatelic presentations and society meetings.

“We will have a good number of presentations and society meetings during the show to provide additional philatelic learning opportunities,” said Lunn, who noted New Brunswick stamp designer Jocelyne Saulnier will give a talk on some of her recent stamp designs for Canada Post.

Saulnier, a more than 30-year freelance graphic designer and art director working out of her studio in Riverview, N.B., will also be available to sign covers franked with her stamps at the show.

Another PSSC member and long-time philatelist Garfield Portch, who currently heads the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation, will also lead a presentation on the Chinese forgeries of Canadian stamps commonly seen on online auction sites in recent months.

“Other presentations will be offered by societies such as the PSSC and BNAPS (British North America Philatelic Society) Atlantic (regional group),” Lunn said, adding there are “other possibilities as well that are early in the discussion phase.”

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