Review of Stampex 2025

Heidi (left) and Xanthe (right) interviewing PTS Chairman Simon Carson

This was the fourth time I have been to a large stamp event at the Business Design Centre in London but only the third Stampex as my first time was for London 2022 International Stamp Exhibition. Things have changed in a short time, but some things stay the same. It is always reassuring to see friendly dealers and talk to people who know a lot about philately. I don't think that will ever change so long as there are events like Stampex.

What has changed? I think the obvious difference is exhibition space. The first time I came there were hundreds of frames filled with fantastic exhibits. They've all gone and instead you can look at exhibitions on touchscreens. I think that's a really good thing, not just because it embraces new technology but because it makes it easier to find what you're interested in looking at.

Another good thing is the Kids' Zone has moved and is now in a much better position. It's easier to find and also a bit away from where a lot of the other "action" happens.

For the second year, Royal Mail haven't had a stand here so I am guessing we're not going to see them back any time soon. It's totally ridiculous that the biggest stamp show in the UK doesn't have a Royal Mail presence. Isle of Man Stamps was there but not Royal Mail. It makes no sense to me.

Stampex is smaller than when I first visited but it's still a pretty big event. Unfortunately I was only able to attend on Saturday because I was at school during the week, and unfortunately Stampex opens later and closes earlier on Saturday, giving me only five and a half hours. Still, I think I managed to use the time well!

This was the first Stampex where I was given a press pass - in fact, it was the first ever time I've been given a press pass! It's great that people are reading Xanthe's Stamp Magazine and Suzanne Rae from the PTS got in touch a few weeks ago to ask if I would like a press pass for the big event. Of course I did! So we got here a bit early and Suzanne met us and arranged for me and my sister Heidi to interview Simon Carson, who is the chairman of the PTS. It was a good interview and he was really positive and encouraging. The PTS is very lucky to have people like Simon and Suzanne. Suzanne then introduced me and Heidi to Jonas Hällström, who is a very well-known and widely respected philatelist from Sweden. He started writing about stamps when he was the same age I am now, and has since gone on to become the editor of the biggest philatelic magazine in Scandinavia. But I discovered he is so much more than an editor - he is a world expert! It was great to meet him and, like Simon, he was very encouraging.

We visited Stamp Active in the Kids' Zone and then I went to explore Stampex while my sister did some activities related to Monopoly stamps. I looked around the stands and found some things that were really interesting but not exactly within my price range. It was still good to see them and there were some fascinating little pieces of history on display. I am particularly interested in American stamps and military philately, so I was very pleased to find a dealer - Stephen Taylor - who also shares this interest! He is an American dealer living in the UK so he knows a lot about US stamps. I bought some covers with a military relevance and also something extremely special that I will write about in a few days. Stephen very generously applied a discount. Other dealers were similarly happy to offer gifts and reductions.

I spoke with someone who encouraged me to join the National Philatelic Society and subscribe to their magazine, Stamp Lover. I also had lunch with some people from the Lundy Collectors Club and interviewed the manager of the club, Mark McShane. Later, I interviewed Susan Henderson from Stamp Active - I was a bit nervous during my first interview but as the day went on it got easier and I felt more confident asking questions. There was a post box for posting mail, which would be postmarked with the official Stampex cancel of the day. There was a different one for each day of the event. Obviously I was only there on Saturday but I sent a postcard to myself and also a cover to my grandma.

In the afternoon I attended the Stamp Active free auction, where young people spend points. The auctioneer was from Spink, which I was surprised to discover was founded in the year of the Great Fire of London. There were some good items to bid for, and I won one of the things I was really interested in. After that I found a thematic dealer (a friendly husband and wife team who also visit the big annual stamp fair in Liverpool) and bought quite a lot.

Before the auction some of us - Heidi and myself included - were presented with awards for our exhibition entries in the Stamp Active Competition and the British Youth Championships. Heidi and I entered the Stamp Active Competition and we both won the Gold Award in our age categories. My entry was a 24-page exhibition on the Battle of Hastings while Heidi submitted 16 pages about gemstones. Perhaps next year we will enter the British Youth Championships, which will be a step up.

Unfortunately, I don't think I had enough time at Stampex but hopefully next year, when it is held during half-term week, I will be able to spend more time talking to people, looking through all the exhibitions and visiting more of the dealers. I think Stampex is a very important event that will continue to be innovative and at the forefront of championing the world's greatest hobby.