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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 10, 2010 · 22 Artscene By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 Annual show gets stamp of approval Stamp collectors and the curious have a chance to buy and sell stamps or just learn about the art of collecting from some 18 dealers Saturday at the annual Oakville Stamp Show. Hosted by the Oakville Stamp Club, the free show takes place at St. Paul's United Church and about 400 visitors are expected. "Our show is good because of the type of dealers we have with the better weather this time of year. People are able to travel more," said Bernd Duddeck, show chair. He said dealers and visitors travel from far reaches of Ontario to come to this show. Stamp dealers will be on hand to buy and sell, but they will also be able to evaluate a stamp's worth. Duddeck said rarity and printing errors are two factors for valuable stamps. Stamps printed with incorrect colours or cut by a misaligned machine become rarities. "Every stamp collector is always hoping to find one of those rare treasures and you still do, lots of times." "Now, because the baby boomers' parents are passing on. A lot of people or their spouses are not interested in stamps, they don't want them and just want to get rid of them. So a lot of this material from 75 to 100 years ago is coming to light." However, Duddeck tells people, "Don't collect hobbies: stamps, sports had to find ways to amuse yourself. Now, most kids stop collecting stamps by the age of 12 or 14. But a lot of them start collecting again when they're grown up and have their own children." He said the number of people collecting has remained about the same over the years but the collectors themselves are getting older. "That's, of course, for the good of collecting because adults have more disposable income. They tend to be the more serious collectors." He said anyone could be a collector. When he was younger he collected because it was entertainment. "If you have the collector in you, it's like anything else, it drives you to finish a collection and move on. You start out with one album and next time you look around, you have a roomful." "Stamps make you learn things: geography, history," he said. "When was the first stamp ever published and by what country: Great Britain in 1840. Before 1840, you sent an envelope and they just wrote on the envelope how much it was going to cost. If you didn't collect stamps why would you ever think of that." Duddeck noted this is one of between 50 to 100 stamp shows in Canada each year. Those attending will be able to buy raffle tickets to win stamps from the dealers. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church located at 454 Rebecca St. OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTOS A COLLECTIBLE: Jeffrey Bryder and granddad Charles Coomber examine stamps at the Oakville Stamp Club's annual stamp Show at St. Paul's United Church last year. Below, Bill Coates examines a Canada Scott #10 stamp valued at $30,000 at the show several years ago. cards, comics, anything like that to getting into stamp collecting." make money. Collect for the enjoyThis is Duddeck's third show as ment and the pleasure." chair. In his tenure, he's been trying So, who are stamp collectors? to involve children into stamp col"Most stamp dealers are like myself, lecting. There will be a children's area they're retired," Duddeck said. "They at this year's show. collected for many years, accumulated "We try promoting stamp collecta lot of extra stock and in their retireing in young children," he said. "It's ment years became dealers. We find not like in the old days when all you now more than ever baby boomers are had was a radio and little bit of TV and