John Macco said,
" I think many space cover collectors are upset with the inconsistency of judging space cover exhibits sometimes a 2 to 3 level drop in awards"
Great points Bob, thanks. I've never exhibited, but I have seen a few dustups between exhibitors and judges--some of them involving the very issues you raised.
If I ever do exhibit, I think I will take your approach: "I wanted my exhibits to be an expression of my interests and my knowledge."
-Steve
I agree 100% with the above 2 posts by Steve and Bob. I exhibit for my own pleasure and to let others know what I collect. The thing that astrophilatelists have a problem with is the 2 to 3 level drop in medal awards. Consistency in judging I think starts with education the judges about our topic.
I think more importantly is to make exhibits available for all to see but wish there was some database to organize them.
... At times, exhibits were judged only on the rarity of the stamps and/or covers that were exhibited; in other words, judges were giving points based on the depth of the exhibitors' pockets, not the intrinsic historic and/or philatelic value of the exhibits....
I discovered this many years ago after attending a couple of shows in New York and overhearing a discussion, at one, between judges dismissing an exhibit that I had just spent an hour. (???) looking at and thought was very interesting. Their main bone of contention was that all the issues being shown were low value.
The exhibit was titled "The Definitives of the Four Kings, which I later discovered was from the name of the Gibbons Specialized Volume Two. The thing that caught my attention was the display, illustrated with little arrows, of dozens of minor flaws of what were common issues, some of which I had, along with their cause as well as an explanation of the different printing process used. There was an introduction to watermarks and the startling news, to me, that some of the KG V issues were in large and small prints.
Later, after a couple of vendor hot dogs and a cup of coffee I went back and discovered that while I had looked at the big ribbon winners, none had caught more than a passing glance and perhaps a subdued silent mental "Wow" at the cost or value which was in the prospectus.
That "loser" collection lit the interest in British Definitives that has only grown.
Anglophile said,
"My impression is that judges view this material as virtually all philatelic in nature, and not rare, and therefore not important."
As many of you know, I am an astrophilatelist- collector of space covers and an exhibitor of a collection titled: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project here in the United States. The Space Unit is trying to resurrect the exhibiting of space covers. Back in the 1970-90's there were many collectors who exhibited regularly that do not now. I would like to find out the reasons why. Astrophilately is alive and strong in Europe as I am always reading about exhibits and seminars on Astrophilately. Ray Cartier former President Space Unit has written a book titled: U.S. Space Cover Collecting Handbook to try to educate judges about space cover collecting. I think many space cover collectors are upset with the inconsistency of judging space cover exhibits sometimes a 2 to 3 level drop in awards. I would like to hear from astrophilatelists from around the world on their opinions on how we here in the Unites States can get more visibility in the philatelic press and exhibitors showing this material. I think all space cover collectors want is fair consistent judging. Let me hear your opinions and/or suggestions.
re: Collecting and Exhibiting Astrophilately
John Macco said,
" I think many space cover collectors are upset with the inconsistency of judging space cover exhibits sometimes a 2 to 3 level drop in awards"
re: Collecting and Exhibiting Astrophilately
Great points Bob, thanks. I've never exhibited, but I have seen a few dustups between exhibitors and judges--some of them involving the very issues you raised.
If I ever do exhibit, I think I will take your approach: "I wanted my exhibits to be an expression of my interests and my knowledge."
-Steve
re: Collecting and Exhibiting Astrophilately
I agree 100% with the above 2 posts by Steve and Bob. I exhibit for my own pleasure and to let others know what I collect. The thing that astrophilatelists have a problem with is the 2 to 3 level drop in medal awards. Consistency in judging I think starts with education the judges about our topic.
re: Collecting and Exhibiting Astrophilately
I think more importantly is to make exhibits available for all to see but wish there was some database to organize them.
re: Collecting and Exhibiting Astrophilately
... At times, exhibits were judged only on the rarity of the stamps and/or covers that were exhibited; in other words, judges were giving points based on the depth of the exhibitors' pockets, not the intrinsic historic and/or philatelic value of the exhibits....
I discovered this many years ago after attending a couple of shows in New York and overhearing a discussion, at one, between judges dismissing an exhibit that I had just spent an hour. (???) looking at and thought was very interesting. Their main bone of contention was that all the issues being shown were low value.
The exhibit was titled "The Definitives of the Four Kings, which I later discovered was from the name of the Gibbons Specialized Volume Two. The thing that caught my attention was the display, illustrated with little arrows, of dozens of minor flaws of what were common issues, some of which I had, along with their cause as well as an explanation of the different printing process used. There was an introduction to watermarks and the startling news, to me, that some of the KG V issues were in large and small prints.
Later, after a couple of vendor hot dogs and a cup of coffee I went back and discovered that while I had looked at the big ribbon winners, none had caught more than a passing glance and perhaps a subdued silent mental "Wow" at the cost or value which was in the prospectus.
That "loser" collection lit the interest in British Definitives that has only grown.
re: Collecting and Exhibiting Astrophilately
Anglophile said,
"My impression is that judges view this material as virtually all philatelic in nature, and not rare, and therefore not important."