HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA STAMP EXPO
Minnesota Stamp Expo has a history going back more than ninety years. Unfortunately much of the early history of the show apparently has been lost. Originally known as Twinpex, the show was sponsored by the Twin City Philatelic Society. The society is the oldest stamp club in the Twin Cities, being founded March 15, 1913, with 22 charter members.
The first show was held in connection with the annual American Philatelic Society National Philatelic Exhibition and Convention. It was held in the Hodgson Building in downtown Minneapolis, August 19 - 25, 1929. This show featured a million dollar stamp exhibition (a lot of money in those days). It included the famed British Guiana 1856 one cent magenta, shown by the owner, Arthur Hind, in person.
Twinpex apparently was not an annual event, because the eleventh was staged in 1949, twenty years later. It appears to have occurred each year from 1933 through 1940. However no shows seem to have been held during the period of World War II, 1941 through 1945. The Twinpex shows held in 1949, 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1958 were among the top shows in the nation attracting exhibitors and dealers from across the country.
In 1991 the name of the show was changed from Twinpex to Twin City Stamp Expo, a result of the “hex on the pex” movement. The new name was more meaningful to the non-collecting public.
In 1995 it was decided to upgrade the show from regional to national status and enter the American Philatelic Society World Series of Philately qualification process. The combination of expanding the show and decreasing membership in the Twin City Philatelic Society caused sponsorship of the show to be increased to also include the Lake Minnetonka Stamp Club, the Maplewood Stamp Club and the Minnesota Stamp Dealers Association. To reflect the expanded sponsorship, the name was changed in 1996 to Minnesota Stamp Expo.
Minnesota Stamp Expo failed to meet the APS World Series of Philately qualification standards on the first try in 1995. However, after successfully meeting the standards for the next four years, 1996-1999, we became a fully accredited show in 2000. This means that our grand champion qualifies to compete in the Champion of Champions competition at Great American Stamp Show the following year.
In 1999 the show relocated to the Crystal Community Center, a friendly and convenient location where it has been held ever since.
The show was not held in 2020, a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2021. Unfortunately, in 2023 we were forced to cancel the show due to construction at the show venue. In 2024 we will return to celebrate the 81st production of the show, a long history under three names, many venues and a multitude of formats.
Twinpex apparently was not an annual event, because the eleventh was staged in 1949, twenty years later. It appears to have occurred each year from 1933 through 1940. However no shows seem to have been held during the period of World War II, 1941 through 1945. The Twinpex shows held in 1949, 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1958 were among the top shows in the nation attracting exhibitors and dealers from across the country.
In 1991 the name of the show was changed from Twinpex to Twin City Stamp Expo, a result of the “hex on the pex” movement. The new name was more meaningful to the non-collecting public.
In 1995 it was decided to upgrade the show from regional to national status and enter the American Philatelic Society World Series of Philately qualification process. The combination of expanding the show and decreasing membership in the Twin City Philatelic Society caused sponsorship of the show to be increased to also include the Lake Minnetonka Stamp Club, the Maplewood Stamp Club and the Minnesota Stamp Dealers Association. To reflect the expanded sponsorship, the name was changed in 1996 to Minnesota Stamp Expo.
Minnesota Stamp Expo failed to meet the APS World Series of Philately qualification standards on the first try in 1995. However, after successfully meeting the standards for the next four years, 1996-1999, we became a fully accredited show in 2000. This means that our grand champion qualifies to compete in the Champion of Champions competition at Great American Stamp Show the following year.
In 1999 the show relocated to the Crystal Community Center, a friendly and convenient location where it has been held ever since.
The show was not held in 2020, a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2021. Unfortunately, in 2023 we were forced to cancel the show due to construction at the show venue. In 2024 we will return to celebrate the 81st production of the show, a long history under three names, many venues and a multitude of formats.