UNEXPO 2023 officially began at 9:30 a.m. at the American Philatelic Center last Friday – but the APC was buzzing with activity much earlier, as exhibitors, dealers, and volunteers descended on Bellefonte to prepare for two jam-packed days of United Nations philately. In the days leading up to the stamp show, APC building supervisor Fred Fox could be found setting up frames in every available square foot of space in the building with the assistance of perennial volunteers and keepers of Building 5 Leonard & Darlene Bloom and Librarian and Director of Information Services Scott Tiffney. Then on the week of the show, members of the UNPI began to appear to set up their exhibits – and, in the case of UNPI President and APS Board Vice President Greg Galletti, to attend the joint APS/APRL Board Meeting on October 19 between adding finishing touches to the show.

(L to R) UNPI Board of Directors members Caroline Scannell, Larry Fillion, and Chris Dahle pose cheerfully with the sign directing show attendees to the APC. Photo courtesy of Greg Galletti.

On 10 a.m. on Friday, UNEXPO 2023 was opened with heartfelt welcomes delivered by APS Executive Director Scott English, APS Board President Cheryl Ganz, and Galletti (in his trademark blue beret decked out in UN-related pins). During her remarks, President Ganz noted that the gray skies and light rain outside were “perfect weather for philately,” and we could not agree more – the light drumming of the rain on the roofs of the Match Factory added to the welcoming atmosphere of the show.

(L to R) Galletti, Ganz, and English pose on the steps of the American Philatelic Research Library.

Following the show opening, Jay Bigalke, Editor-in-Chief of Linn’s Stamp News and the Scott postage stamp catalogs, spoke about the 2023 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United Nations Stamps with show attendees, before shifting to MC mode to host a special UNPA pre-release ceremony for the Marie Curie definitive stamp alongside Galletti and English. The stamp, designed by Rorie Katz of the UN and engraved by Martin Mörck, will be issued on November 7 and is for use from the post office at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Galletti shared in his remarks that, as a nuclear engineer by trade, the stamp of Madame Curie is particularly close to his heart.  In lieu of the unreleased Curie stamps, attendees were presented with a souvenir from another UN FDIC, the 2023 UNESCO World Heritage stamp featuring Nemrut Dağ in Türkiye – and one special attendee (coincidentally APS Editor-in-Chief Susanna Mills) received a presentation folder marked “38.” The designation meant she had won a secret lottery, and the winner came away with her very own UN #38: a souvenir sheet issued in 1955 to honor the 10^th anniversary of the United Nations.

"Out of a whole room of UN collectors who would appreciate and enjoy this gift, it ends up in the hands of someone clueless about its significance,” joked Mills. “But truly, thank you! I'll treasure it."

(L to R) Bigalke, Galletti, and English pose for photos during the pre-release ceremony for a UN stamp honoring Marie Curie.

In the afternoon, several talks were held in the Morse Building of the APC, including “UPU Specimen Program & Museums” by the National Postal Museum’s Chief Curator of Philately, Daniel Piazza, “ILO Conferences held while ILO was in Montreal, 1940-1948” by UNPI Vice President and Journal Editor Blanton Clement Jr., and “Protest Cards” by UNPI Secretary Ron Klimley. Following the talks, show-goers were invited to take in the exhibits and visit the bourse (featuring the UNPA, etradegoods, Fox River Stamps, UNPI, Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc., and Geezer’s Tweezers) before setting off for Bellefonte haunt Titan Hollow for the UNPI Celebration Banquet. Diners were treated to the culinary stylings of Alloy Kitchen and had the chance to catch up between the distribution of awards. Exhibits Committee Chair Tony Dewey played host, while various members of the UNPI board and UNEXPO committee (including Galletti; Clement; Klimley; UNPI Director, former President, and UNEXPO co-chair Larry Fillion; UNPI Director Caroline Scannell; UNPI Treasurer Chris Dahle; and show judges John Hotchner, Darrell Ertzberger and Ron Strawser) delivered awards, received awards, and posed enthusiastically for photographs. Said photographs (a sampling of which are shared below) show that a good time truly was had by all.

Banquet photos courtesy of Greg Galletti

Saturday, though not rainy, saw gusts of wind that drove some members of the wider Bellefonte community into the waiting arms of UNEXPO. After holding the annual UNPI meeting in the morning, Galletti delivered the welcome for the second day of the show before launching into a talk titled “Making of UN Headquarters” followed by hosting the Dick Powers Awards. Following a jam-packed morning for the UNPI President, hosting duties were assumed first by Dewey, who hosted the AAPE Exhibiting Forum, and chief judge Hotchner, who hosted the Jury feedback session with his fellow judges. Following a final tour of the exhibits (and a chance to snap a few pictures with well-earned awards) and a last shot at the bourse, UNEXPO had officially come to a close.

(L to R) Judges Darrell Ertzberger, John Hotchner (chief), and Ron Strawser host the Jury Feedback panel. Photo courtesy Greg Galletti.

Reports from both attendees and organizers were positive, with Galletti deeming the show a great success, and show-goers appreciating the chance to “talk shop” with a core group of their fellow collectors (and make a few trades and sales while they were at it).

“It was just a nice atmosphere,” said APS Executive Assistant Amy Larimer. “It was cozy. People talked, used the library – they were pleased to be here with each other.”

To see the full list of UNEXPO 2023 palmares, click here. 

Special thanks to Amy Larimer for additional reporting. Did we miss anything in our coverage? Did you attend the show and have a story you’d like to share? Let us know at digitalcontent@stamps.org!