Boston 2026 - Any Reports?

I looked at a lot of the German covers at the $5 booth ( from Finland). There were a fair number of covers worth about that as well as the lesser ones. I only found a couple, but people were certainly buying.

So far, I've attended on Saturday and Sunday and had a wonderful time. Heard lots of foreign visitors and seen many crowded dealer booths and some not so crowded. The USPS unveilings and booth were very crowded. There were many more younger people and female attendees evident than at smaller US shows. Food is expensive, on par with the cost of food at Fenway Park, but as I see it, the extra cost is a convenience fee. Less expensive food can be purchased outside the exhibition if someone wanted to leave the floor to leave for lunch. From all the happy greetings I've heard being expressed and smiles I've seen, it sounds like many people are enjoying the social aspect. Despite the chillier than usual weather, the out of town attendees I have asked have said they are enjoying the town so far. I've spent my time so far focusing on covers and hope to return later in the week to make some larger (for me) $ stamp purchases and to purchase some literature. I also visited the $5/cover dealer (Vesa's Worldwide Stamps, from Finland) and found 5 WW2 era covers with contents in an area of special interest and for which I would usually pay $15-20 each.

For those considering driving, parking is easy in the lot behind the Exhibition building, although might be a little hard to find if someone hasn't been there previously. It is a short distance from Interstate Route 93. To park in the lot, from Summer Street (the road in front of the Exhibition Center) pull into the driveway to the left of the Center as if going to the adjacent hotels, stay to right and follow the elevated road next the center all the way to the rear of the building to the surface parking lot. It costs $35 for the day and shuttle buses run every 5 minutes to bring you to the front door. It is a big building and access to the show is in the front, so taking the shuttle bus is definitely the way to go.

Gibby01, appreciate the recap and the photos. Did you get a photo of the piles of free stamps? Sounds like that was fun!

They are huge. About the same size as I saw at the St. Louis show.

I did not take a picture at the free stamps tables but in retrospect I should have. The social aspect of the free stamps was also enjoyable. Ended up at a chatty table, people asking each other what they were looking for and handing over stamps to each other based on each others wants. Noticed the younger people generally were looking for topicals, or single country. I was looking for perfins, precancels, or things that might fit holes I have in my albums. I also grabbed US transportation coils on paper, snatched up a bunch of strips of 3 to 5, plan to expand in that area one day. Different approaches to the same hobby, all at the same table.

"There were lots of young people, not just kids but in the 20-40 range. They may not have been hanging out in the stodgy sections of the dealer bourse but they were attending."

Yes, I was very pleased with the age mix.

"I met at least two people from the UK so international visitors are coming. "

Far more than just Brits, and not just the first other countries you might think of. For instance there were 2 guys from Argentina that I encountered and I hung out for a while with a guy I know from Switzerland.

I was mostly positive on the show. My main gripes were the show program was $25 (passed) and there was a weird layout where they walled off various themes (including most of the society booths) and it was far from obvious where/what those areas were (some overhead signage/banners would have done the trick) and not as easy to see what was in each one (you had to find the entrance to each) compared to just going up and down the aisles of the rest of the show.

I have met people from France and Brazil, and have seen several other nationalities based on bits of overheard conversations.

Day 4?

"covers at the $5 booth (from Finland) ....but people were certainly buying"

The couple running the booth were quite young for dealers. They did well in part because some of the US based cover dealers that normally do the APS show were not in Boston.

"There were many more younger people and female attendees evident than at smaller US shows"

I'd say the % of females was higher among the younger crowd than among the older crowd, but still more than a few older women. Quite pleased with the overall demographics.

"For those considering driving, parking is easy in the lot behind the Exhibition building, although might be a little hard to find if someone hasn't been there previously. It is a short distance from Interstate Route 93. To park in the lot, from Summer Street (the road in front of the Exhibition Center) pull into the driveway to the left of the Center as if going to the adjacent hotels, stay to right and follow the elevated road next the center all the way to the rear of the building to the surface parking lot."

Or just put Klaflin St into your driving app (first day I forgot the 2nd L and google decided I said Clayton, then I tried more emphatically and it heard Clay Flynn - I finally gave up on voice and typed it in). It will take you around the building on surface streets instead of the elevated road along the side of the building.

"Day 4?"

I had to drive home today.

What the APS sent out today (APS Newsletter): https://aps.cvtrk.io/cv/viewemail/2...CEC37462D338 (Edit: Has show pictures)

Today the crowd was somewhat older, as might be expected. But still busy.

I have been there every day thus far. Almost through my budget (1/2 went Sunday). Got some nice classics at a great price (I felt good with the purchases). Many dealers traveled many miles, and all say they are having a good show. The USPS retail section is busy from opening to close each day, with 30' queue lines, filling at least 2-1/2 of a 4-line queue. 1st Day Ceremonies filled each morning. The day-to-day dealers are packed. I am eyeing a specific dealer who has claimed this is his last show & going back Friday & Saturday for bigger savings opportunities. Having a great time, many sessions on many topics each day. Lots of activities for the young collector & yes MANY, MANY, free grab bag fish bowls & several display cases of stamps for all attendees to grab from, (TONS). Only 4-days left closes at 3:00PM Saturday.

Definitely a little quieter today than the weekend, but a dealer I talked to said it was busier than expected. Given the day of the week and the fact that we're a few days into the show now, he had scheduled some meetings with other dealers mid-afternoon, but everyone ended up dealing with customers. A good problem to have.

I've also been struck by the fact that the crowd has skewed younger and more female than usual. Good to see the occasional recent college grad (as overheard) parked at a red box dealer. Speaking of, those dealers have been consistently at/near capacity throughout the show. Same for pretty much any dealer with the 'sit down and browse' (as opposed to a glass display case) type of stand.

I haven't seen any comments related to the auctions. Any skinny to share?

They started yesterday, and I saw several people picking up lots.