Federation of European Philatelic Associations

FEPA News No. 46

News,
Exhibitions,
Developments,
The World of Research,
Events Calendar, and more.

LIBEREC 2025
FEPA Recognition
19-22 June

LIBEREC 2025, a national stamp exhibition with international participation, is to be held in Liberec, Czech Republic.

New FEPA Report Unveils Roadmap for Revitalizing Philately Through Social Media

FEPA has released a new report offering concrete strategies to help philatelic federations and societies across Europe strengthen their digital presence and help reverse the declining membership trends.
Read more…

A very warm welcome
from President Bill Hedley

Bill Hedley

Latest News from FEPA

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New APS President: Mark Banchik

Mark Banchik was elected president of the American Philatelic Society (APS). The APS has announced that all newly elected APS and APRL Board members will take the oath of office following the annual membership meeting on Saturday, 16 August,…
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AI meets philately: UPU launches global stamp identification app

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has launched the new WNS app, making stamp identification easier, faster and more accessible than ever before. With a user-friendly interface and AI-supported image recognition, the application allows users to…
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BOSTON 2026 Exhibition Selection Appointees

The latest from BOSTON 2026: The Boston 2026 World Expo Organizing Committee has chosen four prominent philatelists to form the exhibition’s Selection Advisory Committee. All are experienced gold medal exhibitors as well as APS national…
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Predrag Cuki Antić’s “The Principality and Kingdom of Serbia” at the PTT Museum

One of Serbia’s most prominent philatelists, Predrag Cuki Antić, has opened the exhibition “The Principality and Kingdom of Serbia” at the PTT Museum, showcasing his two most valuable collections. Antić emphasised the importance of…
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Phila-France Colmar 2025

This year's French Championship (Championnat de France de philatélie 2025 - Phila-France Colmar 2025) concluded on Sunday, 8 June. The big winner was Jean-Marie Vuillemard, with his exhibit in Postal History, "The Flight of the Eagles", originally…
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Stamps as Witnesses of History

Stamps as Witnesses of History is not a book about the history of stamps as such. It is a book about how stamp issues since Rowland Hill invented the first adhesive postage stamp in 1840 have "witnessed" the seismic global political developments…
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20th UPU Competition Class 2025

Following the success of last year's 19th UPU Competition Class, this year's 20th edition is already making its mark. It has been showcased at URUGUAY 2025, and BERNABA 2025 in Bern, Switzerland, and is scheduled to appear at GASS 2025 in Chicago,…
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ABRIA 2025: Newsletter #7

Received yesterday from Norbert Sehler: The ABRIA on the home straight Only a few weeks to go until the opening of the 7th Altmärkische stamp exhibition. It's well worth a visit, because the exhibition has a lot to offer. 500 years of…
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Proofs, Essays and Reprints of the 2nd and 3rd Issues of the Kingdom of Sardinia

The following report, titled "Paolo Cardillo's Encore", was copied from Vaccari News: In a way, a book being out of print is good news, especially if it ends up being republished. This is what has happened with Paolo Cardillo’s study and…
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Opus XXV

"Italy, its colonies and territories" is this year's theme of Opus XXV, featuring eighteen articles by different authors in 236 pages. "The fact that the current Opus bears the number 25 means that the annual book of our European Academy…
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EXPHIMO 2025 on 7 and 8 June

EXPHIMO 2025 is the 67th International Thematic Philatelic Exhibition to be held at the Sports Centre "Roll Delles", Avenue des Villes Jumelées, L-5612 Mondorf-les-Bains in Luxembourg, over the weekend of 7-8 June. The exhibition is organised…
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BEPHILA 2026 Newsletter #5

This is the latest news from BEPHILA 2026: In a letter dated 19 May 2025, the Chairman of the Bernauer Briefmarkenfreunde, Michael Fukarek, asked the AIJP to award its patronage and for the active support of AIJP members (authors and specialist…
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FIP Postal History Commission update

Malcolm Groom RDP has retired as chairman of the FIP Postal History Commission and been replaced by Henrik Mouritsen RDP (Germany), the Commission's secretary. This is in accordance with the FIP rule that, when the chairman of a commission retires…
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Balkanfila Yearbook 2025

The Balkanfila Workgroup presents its first yearbook! Editor Christos Gikas writes in his foreword: "This inaugural volume features seventeen articles that present readers with diverse philatelic materials, enriching their understanding of…
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Multilaterale exhibition in BERNABA 2025 successfully completed

The BERNABA 2025 exhibition, which served as both the Swiss National Exhibition (NABA) and the exhibition of the regional group Multilaterale, was held in Bern, Switzerland, from 14 to 17 May 2025. The exhibition enjoyed a satisfactory level…
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German Camps for Prisoners of War 1939–1945: Belgians and Frenchmen in Captivity

The website of the Polish Philatelists Union has recently announced the release of a new publication by Edward Kubica, focusing on prisoners of war in German camps during the Second World War. The original title is Niemieckie obozy dla jeńców…
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Marke und Münze in Seiersberg-Pirka, Austria

From 23 to 25 May, the OC Marke + Münze, with the support of the Verband Österreichischer Philatelistenvereine (Austrian Philatelic Federation), Austrian Post, and many other sponsors, successfully organised the 21st competitive exhibition…
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FEPA News receives the AEP Prix européenne de la Presse philatélique

The Board of the European Academy of Philately (AEP) has unanimously decided to award the AEP Prix européen de la Presse philatélique for 2024 to FEPA News magazine. This annual prize is awarded to a magazine that demonstrates a high philatelic…
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Voices of Resistance: Slavery and Post in the Caribbean

"Explore the powerful stories of enslaved people whose labour fuelled 19th-century postal ships," says The Postal Museum in London, inviting visitors to the exhibition, which runs until 5 January 2026. Postal ships carried mail between the…
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The King and Queen of Spain will preside over the Honorary Committee of EXFILNA 2025

As announced on the Spanish Federation website: Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have graciously accepted the Honorary Presidency of the 63rd National Philatelic Exhibition (EXFILNA) and the 29th Youth Philatelic Exhibition…
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SLOVPHILEX 2027 World Stamp Exhibition

The Union of Slovak Philatelists, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic and Slovenská Pošta, a.s., is organising the Specialised World Stamp Exhibition  SLOVPHILEX 2027, under FIP patronage and FEPA recognition.…
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Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award Recipients

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has announced the 2025 Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award recipients, Gordon Edwin Eubanks Jr., Christopher Miles Bertram King and Patrick Valère Maria Jérôme Maselis. They will be honored…
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Polish Philatelic Literature Medals for 2024

The Chapter of the Medal “For Merits in the Development of Philatelic Publications” has decided to award the following individuals with the Medal in recognition of their publishing achievements and significant contributions to the development…
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ABRIA 2025: Newsletter #6

Received today from Norbert Sehler, ABRIA 2025 webmaster: The 72-page exhibition catalogue is currently at the printers and will soon be available from the exhibition manager, Eberhard Werner, for €5.00 (postage included). The catalogue…
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MIDPEX 2025 is here

MIDPEX 2025 Warwickshire Event Centre, Leamington Spa, CV31 1XN 5th July 2025, 10am – 4pm The MIDPEX bi-annual philatelic show will take place on 5th July, sponsored by Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd. 41 Dealers and 21 Societies have…
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FEPA at EuroPhilEx 2025: Congress, Presentations, Seminars, Elections

FEPA Congress 2025: The Congress took place on Sunday, 11 May, at the NEC in Birmingham, the venue for Europhilex 2025, with 36 of the 45 National Federations represented. Honoured by the FEPA Board: The late Franco Rigo, for 73 years…
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Boston 2026 Now a General World Exhibition

The latest from BOSTON 2026: The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) has upgraded its Boston 2026 World Expo participation status from “Recognition” to its highest level, “Patronage,” now classifying the event as a General…
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EuroPhilEx 2025 Awards

The Palmares reception, dinner, and award ceremony took place on Saturday evening, 10 May, at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hotel, Birmingham. Grand Prix FEPA: Tom Komnaes (Norway), Norwegian Skilling Covers Domestic and Abroad Grand…
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Roll of Distinguished Philatelists Ceremony

The 104th RDP ceremony was held on Friday, 9 May, at 5:00 pm, at the Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham. Of the four signatories, Adriano Bergamini RDP, Birthe King RDP, and Simon Richards RDP signed the Roll, while Eddie Leibu RDP…

UPU Celebrates 185th Anniversary of Penny Black

From the UPU social media: 185 years ago today, the world’s first postage stamp – the “Penny Black” – came into use in the United Kingdom. Bearing the profile of Queen Victoria, this revolutionary stamp was part of Rowland Hill’s…

President’s Reports to Congress

Upcoming Philatelic Exhibitions and Events

LIBEREC 2025
19–22.6.2025
FEPA RECOGNITION

NORDIA 2025
12–14.9.2025
FEPA RECOGNITION

PHILAKOREA 2025
17–21.9.2025
FIP PATRONAGE

TimFilEx 2025
21–23.11.2025
FEPA RECOGNITION

DUBAI 2026
4–8.2.2026
FIP PATRONAGE