June
22-27
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 29th 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 2008
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 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.
2008
Major Courses
Seminar
participants select ONE course, of the six 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. For the ultimate learning
experience, each class is limited to 15–20 students.
Stamp
Technology, Wayne Youngblood — will
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. This course is often a prerequisite
for other philatelic courses.
Stamps
of the British Commonwealth, -- CLASS
IS FULL -- Ian
Kimmerly — will
survey a large sampling of the stamps issued by British Commonwealth
countries, colonies etc. from 1840 to modern times. All philatelic
eras, the distinctive products of the major printing firms,
characteristics of paper, colour, and printing methods will
be explored. An emphasis will be placed on varieties and errors
especially those which can be distinguished among otherwise
ordinary stamps. The course will attempt to be interactive
and respond to the collecting interests of the participants.
A preferred prerequisite is basic knowledge stamp production
methods.
Evaluating
U.S. Stamps in Today’s Marketplace, -- CLASS
IS FULL -- Irv
Miller and Clark Frazier - will help participants navigate
the maze of valuing, buying, and selling stamps and philatelic
material as a collector or dealer. Participants will learn
how to determine the value of philatelic collectibles, from
items already in their collections to material they are interested
in buying or selling. Also included in the course will be venues
to buy and sell: the internet, auction houses, APS sales division,
StampStore, and more. They will identify factors that affect
value, with some hands-on practice and application in the philatelic
marketplace.
Cultural
Projects in Postal History, -- CLASS
IS FULL -- Diane
DeBlois and Robert Dalton Harris - will assist collectors,
beginner to advanced, to develop a path to a one-frame exhibit
or an article (or both!) of postal history. An encyclopedic
survey of the “stuff” of collecting will encourage
participants to understand and research any possible aspect
of the postal artifact (from paper to gum; address formats
to franking). Then, through workshop activities, participants
will be guided through the evidence of both the cultural and
operational history of the postal system (on the one hand:
geographies, city directories, local histories, newspapers,
biographical dictionaries; on the other: postmaster general
reports, congressional documents, mail contracts, official
register data, etc.). Think of this as a one-room school house
approach: each student will have a project (involving material
either personally collected or provided by prior arrangement),
and will receive one-on-one guidance towards a publication
or an exhibition.
Collecting
the Expos, -- CLASS
IS FULL -- Ken Lawrence - will
cover some of the most popular and attractive U.S. postage
stamps that have been issued to promote and commemorate world’s
fairs. Stamped envelopes for the 1876 Centennial International
Exhibition at Philadelphia; stamps and envelopes for the 1893
World Columbian Exposition at Chicago; stamps for the 1898
Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition at Omaha; and
20th and 21st century fairs since the 1901 Pan-American Expo
comprise this area of collecting. Expo-related postmarks, advertising
covers, cinderella labels, and other memorabilia enrich the
postal and philatelic possibilities. Ken Lawrence will show
how specialists gather expo material into great collections
that can be treasured and displayed with pride. As a bonus,
Herb Trenchard will share collectibles from international philatelic
exhibitions.
Computer
Technology in Philately, -- CLASS
IS FULL -- George
Fekete, coordinator - 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 the course description for possible
integration into the curriculum.
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 2008 are:
- How
to participate in an auction, Irv Miller
- Estate
Planning, Ken
Martin (one session for students and one for spouses
and guests)
- 3-Cent
Workhouse Orange Browns, Larry Hunt
- Personalized
postage, Joann Lenz
- Revenues, Bill
Welch
- Latin
America, Joe Hahn
- So
You Want to be a Stamp Dealer - What’s
It Like the First Year?,Chuck Drouillard
- Dead
Countries, Bob Lamb
- Expertizing
tips, Mercer
Bristow
- First
Day Covers, Alan Warren
- Exhibiting
elective, Peter Butler
- Civil
War Patriotic Covers, Larry Hunt
- Pioneer
Steamers: The Transition Years 1838–1840, James
Pullin
- History
of U.S. Air Mail, Fred Baumann
- Collecting
and Exhibiting Military Mail, Al Kugel
- Scanning
101, Barb
Boal
- How
to Identify Languages, Gini Horn
The
General Sessions, held first thing each morning are open
to all students. Barbara Harrison highlights collecting picture
postcards. Terry McCaffrey will enlighten us about stamp designs.
Lunch
Roundtables feature topics from collecting local postal history,
to running a stamp club, 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.
Seminar Cost
APS
members attend Summer Seminar for only $525; $625 for nonmembers.
Tuition includes the opening dessert reception, Monday dinner,
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: Janet Houser
