The public are invited to bring their stamps to the Cape Town International Convention Center 2, between 8 and 12 November 2022, to be evaluated by philatelic experts.

This event will feature 1600 frames of stamps from all over the world but also a significant amount of frames from South Africa. Each frame comprises 16 A4 pages mounted with stamps and are exhibited in different categories such as aero philately, picture postcards, postal history and social philately that bring along stamps and history. Entry is free to the public.

A highlight of the event will be the award-winning exhibit by Gerhard Kamffer entitled ‘The Road to Democracy’. Letters written by Nelson Mandela from Robben Island and other important artefacts of South Africa’s history will be displayed.

Many rare stamps are truly one of a kind, but collectors often hold out hope that there are additional copies hidden away somewhere, just waiting to be found.

⁠‘What makes a stamp ‘good’ and why are some so valuable?’

This is a short and to the point question to stamp collectors but with answers that could stretch to a medium-sized book says Michael Wigmore, Chairman of the PFSA Expert Committee:

“Firstly is ‘condition.’

Secondly, a ‘good’ stamp may be one that is difficult to source – be it rated as rare, scarce or uncommon – or one that doesn’t necessarily have to be a world rarity – just one that you, as a collector, would like to own.

In the past it has taken me years to track down a nice example of a stamp that filled a gap in my collection, but it cost less than a handful of US dollars when one eventually showed up on the world markets. The first I had seen in that time and haven’t seen another one since. THAT, for me, was a good stamp.

At the other end of the scale there are the stamps that can fetch a King’s ransom at public auction or in private. These most often fall in the supply and demand category but can also be affected by the drawcard of ‘fame.’

Whilst the aspect of ‘one of only ten recorded’ would be obvious to the layman as having an influence on price, there is also the factor of provenance to bear in mind. Knowing that the target stamp was once in the collection of ‘this King, that Prince’ or once previously resided in the collection of one of the recognised doyens of the hobby more than raises the desirability of ownership.

It is the philatelic grail of many philatelists to find such a stamp. Miracles do happen, sometimes by pure chance or through knowledge. The reality is that it is very rare to simply stumble across a philatelic jewel – if it was that easy every accomplished collector, or dealer for that matter, would be retired by now. But,, there is always that chance. It’s the thrill of the chase, the fun that you have with your hobby and your fellow-collectors whilst pursuing your quarry.”

Some of the most valuable stamps in the world often feature some kind of blunder or misprint within one of these main components, known as an error. Typically, a stamp error arises from a mixup in the printing plates during pressing. Errors are usually quickly caught and removed from circulation, increasing rarity and value of the affected stamp.

Perhaps the most famous rare US Stamp, the Inverted Jenny, with its small print run and fanciful error, has been a golden goose for philatelists for over a century. Unlike other stamps, there are 100 Inverted Jennys in circulation, but the wider availability makes the stamps even more sought after. The Inverted Jenny is a misprint of a 1918 stamp featuring one of the Jenny biplanes first used by the US Post Office to carry mail. The plane on the face of the stamp was accidentally printed upside down.

You can see how one of the most valuable stamps in the world was an error. And it brings whimsy and humour to the field of philately.

What else to expect;

• A museum-like rotating exhibition of stamps from all over the World
• Dealers; collectors and experts from more than 40 countries
• SAPO will also be issuing a limited-edition stamp that will be for sale at the event. Furthermore, SAPO have created 5 unique date stamps that will be used each day of the event to celebrate Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, Nadine Gordimer, Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk.
• Visitors can create their own memorabilia by purchasing a special Exhibition envelope with the stamp and having it stamped with the unique date stamp available each day – 8 to 12 November – from the Post Office in honour of these outstanding South Africans.

For more information visit the Cape Town International Stamp Exhibition website:  https://capetown2022.org/