Philatelic Education
Virtual Campus
Stamp Saturday
Summer Seminar
Mentor Service
 
 

June 21-26
A registration form is available online and in pdf format.

The American Philatelic Summer Seminar is unique in the hobby, offering instruction in specific philatelic areas through a combination of lectures and hands-on workshops.

In its 30th year, many students return year after year, to learn more about the hobby and for the social benefits.

Hosted in the education wing of the American Philatelic Center, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, the 2009 Summer Seminar begins with a Sunday evening reception. The remainder of the seminar week, Monday–Thursday, features 4½ hours daily of class time, PLUS afternoon elective workshops, a student auction, a Buy, Sell, Trade Night, and two dinners. You’ll finish off the week on Friday with a morning session with the staff of the American Philatelic Center, and one last opportunity to use the library, sales division, expertizing reference library, and other resources at the Center.

2009 Major Courses

Seminar participants select ONE course, of the seven offered, on which to focus during the four days of class.
Major courses meet for 4½ hours each day. All are led by knowledgeable collectors — authors, judges, exhibitors, expertizers, or other authorities.
Courses feature in-class discussions, question-and-answer opportunities, and informal, hands-on workshops. Class sizes may vary and are limited for the ultimate learning experience.

Philatelic Marketplace, with Irv Miller and Clark Frazier, navigates you through the maze of valuing, buying, and selling stamps and philatelic material. Learn how to determine the value of philatelic collectibles — from items already in your collection to material that you’re interested in buying or selling. Explore the many philatelic venues available today: APS Sales Division, the APS StampStore, the Internet, auction houses, and more. Identify factors that affect value, with some hands-on practice and application in the philatelic marketplace.

Stamp Technology, with Wayne Youngblood, CLASS IS FULL
(to be put on a waiting list please contact Gretchen)
will help you explore how stamps are produced and why it is important to learn about their physical qualities. The class covers the topics of printing methods, watermarks, perforations, luminescence, color, fakes and forgeries and will include a field trip to a printer to see course topics in action. This is a bedrock course for any stamp collector.

The Washington/Franklin Issues, with Dennis Gilson, leads you on a four-day exploration of the more than 200 individual stamps that make up this challenging series. You will learn how to identify the different issues, while detecting the most obvious fakes and alterations. This class is not just for the expert collector, but also for anyone who has collected, wants to collect, or is considering collecting these classic issues. Included are hands-on sessions where you will receive a variety of stamps from the series and be guided through the identification process.

Postal History, with Diane DeBlois and Robert Dalton Harris, CLASS IS FULL (to be put on a waiting list please contact Gretchen)
is a new course in United States postal history — a “behind-the-scenes” tour of how the mail system actually worked, particularly at times of reform or innovation: the mapping of the system, introduction of the first postage stamp, registry, money order, Rural Free Delivery, Air Mail, etc. Students will work from the evidence backward, a ‘hands-on’ approach to understanding the markings on mail by using covers and documents from the 1830s to the 1930s. Students are encouraged to bring their own examples, especially the puzzling ones!

Computer Technology in Philately, with George Fekete and Barb Boal, will provide students with a toolkit designed to optimize use of the computer for a variety of philatelic tasks in this hands-on course. Software and technology that can be used to take advantage of graphics, drawing, scanning, database, publishing, and specialized commercial applications will be covered. Although the software and technology presented in this course can be used on a PC or Mac, a PC with Windows operating system will be used in the classroom. Enrolled students will be invited to suggest topics not mentioned in this course description for possible integration into the curriculum. Students must bring their own laptop.

More Stamps of the British Commonwealth, with Ian Kimmerly, will focus on what is collectible of these used stamps. Part I of British Commonwealth Stamps (offered in 2008) focused on the varieties which result from the production of stamps. Part II will continue with postmarks in all their glory, as well as rates, postal and non-postal usages. There will be an emphasis on stamps which are reasonably available and reasonably priced. A CD will be provided with lots of information and images which will mean there is no need to take notes. The course is recommended for collectors who took the 2008 course or those with a good background in British Commonwealth stamps.

It’s All About Thematics!, with Peter Butler, will focus on current ideas about obtaining stamps, organizing and mounting collections, researching themes, using new materials and up-grading techniques for creating unique and personal albums and reviewing guidelines and experimenting with new tools to build exhibits. Copies of Columbo Chronicles (Mary Ann Owens & George Guzzio’s handbook on thematic exhibiting, reprinted with permission) will be distributed prior to the course and used as a reference text throughout the sessions. Special guests will join our class discussion bringing their specific insights not heard anywhere else. Bring your ideas, materials and examples to share and come with challenges needing solutions.

Electives and General Sessions
As a student you will enjoy early morning “General Sessions” and afternoon “Electives,” where you can learn about subjects outside your chosen major. Included in the electives being offered in 2009 are:

  • Come Take A Ride on the Hindenburg, Cheryl Ganz
  • Fancy Cancels, Wade Saadi
  • Moving International Mail Prior to Steam, Jim Pullin
  • Evolution of an Iceland Exhibit, Pat Walker
  • Stories off the shelf with APRL librarian, Gini Horn
  • How to Bid in an Auction, Irv Miller
  • Patriotic Covers, Jim Kloetzel
  • Exploring Postal History From the Inside, David Straight
  • U.S. Precancels, T.G. Rehkop
  • 1851 1-cent Blues, Larry Hunt
  • The History of the Scott Catalogue, Jim Kloetzel
  • Local Postal History, Pat Walker
  • The Internet: Philatelic Friend or Foe, Dennis Gilson & Clark Frazier

The General Sessions, held first thing each morning are open to all students.

Lunch Roundtables feature topics from collecting local postal history, to APS Affiliates, and youth outreach.

Evenings are chock-full of philately, good food, and fun. Tuesday — Auction, Irv Miller as auctioneer
Wednesday — Buy/Sell/Trade Night

On Thursday evening everyone gathers to celebrate the hobby at the Distinguished Philatelist Dinner. Our Distinguished Philatelist is Cheryl Ganz, Curator of Philately for the National Postal Museum.

Seminar Cost
APS members attend Summer Seminar for only $525; $625 for nonmembers. Tuition includes the opening dessert reception, Monday dinner, four lunches, Distinguished Philatelist dinner on Thursday evening, a farewell breakfast on Friday morning, and class time snack and beverage service. Guests are welcome at these functions ($12 reception; $15 per breakfast or lunch event; $35 per dinner event).

Alumni of past Summer Seminars who prefer the social-only aspect of the seminar may attend for $199. Price covers administrative fees, meals, break service, but not class time.

Host Hotel
The registration fee does not include housing for the week. The host hotel, the Holiday Inn Express at Williamsburg Square, 1925 Waddle Road, State College, is offering a special room rate of $81 per night, 814-867-1800. Other housing options include local hotels, bed-and-breakfast facilities, and camping areas. 

Scholarships
Scholarships are available to help serious youth (age 14–18) collectors attend the seminar. Youth must be accompanied by a parent or other adult. A scholarship covers the youth’s tuition, the meals covered in regular seminar tuition, as well as housing at the Holiday Inn Express for the youth and the accompanying adult (i.e., they share a room). Travel and meal expenses for the adult are not covered.

For more information write to Seminar Scholarships, APS, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Application deadline is May 15.

More Information
Student registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis — by mail, fax, or online.

A registration form is available online and in pdf format.

For more information, contact:
APS Summer Seminar
100 Match Factory Place • Bellefonte, PA 16823
814-933-3803 • Fax: 814-933-6128
E-mail: Gretchen Moody

 


Contact Information available for the APS Staff
APS Webmaster - Doris Wilson
Technical Contact - Brian Krasinski
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