Boston 2026 World Stamp Show

OK, sure. As a local, I've tried to report here on the actual state of "street crime, safety, and the mayor's and governor's policies on them," but it appears that many have selective hearing (reading?) when I've tried to point out that Boston (and in particular, the neighborhood where the show will take place) is very safe and has been for quite some time.

No surprise that folks tend to gravitate towards views that reinforce their existing beliefs and echo their favorite news sources or elected officials. I'm not clutching at pearls on my annual trip to Houston (16th highest violent crime rate per capita in the US) or letting my own political leanings color my decision to visit or my experience there.

Of course crime related concerns are separate from tariffs and related fallout. I wouldn't call it gaslighting, but revcollector's point is valid: there was no such handwringing over shows held in Chicago or SF (GASS and Westpex). Here we have a bona fide international show where certain economic policies are already having a negative impact. Rather than acknowledge that, there seems to be a lot of "wait and see" (but the negative impact is *already* happening!) or "if the show fails it'll be because of crime" (completely unsubstantiated).

As I said before, it's a tough year to host an international show. Lots of folks who don't have access to the full picture (in re show management) or don't want to educate themselves regarding the facts (in re crime rates) are providing undue negativity here, and I can't figure out why. Sour grapes because they're not going? Cognitive dissonance from the impact of big, beautiful tariffs? I get it, Boston is a stupidly expensive place to hold a show, and frankly, I think that cost of attendance should not be a barrier and should have been more of a consideration in location selection. Dallas or Orlando would have suited me just fine.

But the decision to host it here was made a long time ago; planning's been in the works for a decade now, and I think it's in all of our interests that the show's a success with robust attendance, etc.

Additionally there was no hand wringing over the internationals held there, Ameripex '87 nor Pacific '97.

Crime rates and lawless disruption is not the same especially when crime rates have been doctored downward by political design or order. And frankly crime is not an issue anywhere until it affects you. The only crime statistic that matters is when it is 100% certain you were the crime victim. And every ad say YOU can win if you play the lottery, is another ad which distorts perception of statistical chances be it crime rates, hit by a lightning strike or an asteroid strike.

Anyone unwilling to look at and acknowledge the spreading, within and without this country, discrimination and purposeful disruption targeting Jews, Israel, Jewish and Israel supporters either supports that targeting, supports the politics of that targeting, or has been living under a rock. That statement is a statement of fact, not anything pro or con about the reasons folks choose to engage in the targeting behavior.

Yes, Boston is expensive but that can only be fixed by not going to Boston but that horse left the barn 9.5 years ago.

Tariffs create an additional expense. No country in the world is tariff free on all goods. Tariffs change. They are nothing new, but yes folks get upset when their seeming "free ride" get changed and charged.

Having a stronger visa policy may keep some international folks away, of if they have done or taken action for which they can be denied entry to the USA, that is their issue, not the show's. A simple DUI (not to down grade DUIs,I have had good friends killed by DUI drivers) will keep people barred from Canada looking to work or move there.

So I say again, set the rules and guidelines so folks can make a decision about attending before it becomes too late to plan the trip.

The other real discussions are avoid. To wit, if not an exhibitor, there is no need to be worried about the exhibits nor attend if you have an exhibit. Likewise there is no need to attend if a country's delegate can carry exhibit material to the show.

If not living locally, the overhead associated with attending the show will not be over come by discounts being offered at the show. Every dealer there sell on the internet. Wasting money on overhead for purchases makes the purchases cost prohibited as compared to just internet or mail order. Thus I ask, when exhibiting and buying and selling is eliminated what is left as a reason to attend the show at its current overhead costs.

Of course, if local it is a fun show to attend with little overhead costs.I hit my "local" international everyday in San Francisco. Chicago for Ameripex was reasonable without the huge comparative cost of housing that exists today post pandemic.

In summary, I wish the show luck, it still needs it, lots of luck.

But me, I will miss it as much as I missed New York and D.C. Internationals which as I look back is not at all.

Lastly, full disclosure, one of the greatest items I own was purchased at Pacific '97. From a California dealer who attended all the local shows, who specifically looked for me on the floor as he knew I attended, who would have contacted me about the items and as a last backstop would have told me to which auction it was consigned. He bought the item from a show walk in specifically with me in mind. He did not normally stock or buy classic commercial use FDCs, but he and I both got lucky while the walk in seller was fully satisfied with the first offer received and sold on the spot at the first dealer's offer.

I am amazed that you ever leave your house at all.

The No Kings march was the first time PPG has been out this year.

Miss you Don.

He would not be able to end the tariffs either.

Made me laugh GeoffHa.

In my day job, we needed to satisfy three entities. All three happy was a rare day, one or two mad, a normal day. All three pissed, short of a miracle explanation you name would be remember and not remembered in a good way. Most of the time walking the professional tightrope had one always pissed off.

So, I can see from comments directed at me here on SCF, I am walking the fine line. Accused as a POTUS Trump lover and as a POTUS Trump hater shows I am doing an acceptable job of being politically neutral or opaque.


Edit:
Does not change my wish of good luck, Boston 2026 will need it, position.

Hi folks,

Full disclosure - I am not part of the Boston 2026 organising committee. I am just helping to communicate the latest press releases so that the news reaches as big an audience as possible.

Sad that the uncertainty over the tariff situation is indeed making things very difficult for both exhibitors and dealers. The latest announcement from the committee:

For Immediate Release

Update on U.S. Philatelic Tariffs

Boston 2026 has been working with various officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection, regarding tariffs and the exhibition. Lower-level analysts specializing in collectibles up to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have been consulted, along with Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The 1994 amendment to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) states that informational materials are free of all tariffs. Our case, being presented by Mick Zais, former U.S. Acting Secretary of Education during the first Trump administration, is that philately is primarily an educational undertaking. Since stamps, philatelic material and exhibits are the informational media instruments furthering that pursuit, no tariff should be levied.

As a supplemental strategy, we have employed a customs broker, Vantage Point, to assist with acquiring temporary importation bonds, permitting exhibits for display purposes and other philatelic material not being sold, to enter the country under a tariff-free status. This would allow Boston 2026 commissioners and exhibitors from abroad bringing in "displays," along with auction houses not directly selling material at the show, to enter and depart without worry.

We continue our efforts in anticipation of a resolution as soon as possible and thank everyone involved for their patience and understanding. Further news will be released as soon as a final resolution is known.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Facebook, X and Instagram. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

Thomas M. Fortunato
Boston 2026 Public Relations Chair
U.S. East Commissioner

Alas, Burlingame and Schaumburg are not like Boston.

@Prexie3c: And here is the short translation:

1. We do not know anything. We do know that contacting the government food ladder up and down is a useless endeavor because everyone knows there's a guy who makes random decisions depending on whether the breakfast egg/weather/Joe Biden was good or bad.
2. It seems that a bank guarantee has to be deposited covering the value of the exhibit or dealer material. This obviously causes considerable additional expenses for foreign exhibitors/dealers.

Oddly, in most of the world, tariffs are charged on what actually was sold, not on what is not going to be sold but exhibited, nor on what, only in part, might be sold.

As for Europeans being worried about a possible protest against an Israeli postage stamp making an appearance: people coming up with such worries are more of a worry to Europeans than the prospect of such a protest. Asians might even have a cuppa with those protesters.

[qSo, I can see from comments directed at me here on SCF, I am walking the fine line. Accused as a POTUS Trump lover and as a POTUS Trump hater shows I am doing an acceptable job of being politically neutral or opaque][/q]


The fact that you took an obviously tongue in cheek remark seriously clearly shows which side of the fence you are on........

One's still "SF", the other's still "Chicago". Boston has a much smaller footprint than either of these cities/metro areas. In both, you'll find good areas and bad areas. The 2026 show will be in a very safe neighborhood (rather sterile, I'd say), so nothing to reasonably worry about. For example, Houston has a massive footprint and of course there are very nice places and some not-so-nice places contained within city limits. Please do your homework or, at the very least, take it from someone who lives there.

I'll say it again: it's getting harder and harder with each passing year to put on a stamp show. Putting on a big international show is harder still. I find the negativity here quite unnecessary and saddening. If one can't make it to a given show because inconvenient/expensive/etc., fine, but no reason to put it down and try and rain on the parade of others. I've personally never made it to Westpex because of the time and expense involved in flying across the country for a weekend show, but I'd love to someday.

The dialog here is nuts!! It appears people are looking for any excuse, as well as trying to justify to others, reasons, (real or unreal) for staying away from Boston 2026!! Huh!! Boston is expensive!! Flat out true. There are ways to stay & commute that are less expensive. Boston is not the Garden of Eden pre-apple situation. Boston protects it residence & visitors with whatever resources necessary. Boston has the BEST MEDICAL FACILITIES in the World!! Boston has the finest educational, cultural, arts centers in the Northeast.

Boston was chosen 10 years ago to host the largest International Philatelic gathering known.

Things happen that know one knew would or will. Boston survived a revolution 250 years ago, a great fire, race riots in the 60's, student protests in the 60's, came back strong from a horrific terror attack in 2013(?). Boston has been overseen by Irish, Italian, Asian administrations, each providing safe, secure, and prosperous growth.

The cities & towns around have enjoyed the same.

If you enjoy the challenge of a Great Philatelic adventure, BOSTON 2026 will be the biggest challenge of the decade.

Come or don't come, for YOUR reasons, not for SOMEONE ELSES! Do your research, make a pro-con chart. Make a plan, #days stay, where? Travel, commute? Budget? WANT LIST(S)? Off show activities.
It's BOSTON!!! It's May, spring. Italian North End. Chinatown! South End! Theater District! THE SEAPORT!!

What happens - HAPPENS.

Either climb up from under that rock & live or stay put & be paranoid!
Aaarrrggghhhh!!!!!#129327;