Do You Exhibit At Home?

I will too, if there is an interest. Generally, the only people interested in collections are other collectors. There is a scene in the movie "Sweet Alabama" where the mother of the character played by Reese Witherspoon is showing off her thimble collection to the toney mayor of NYC. Can I show you my collection of Beanie Babies?

If I sense an interest that will last more than a moment or two, I'll begin with an album of my "oldies." I specialize in US Air Post and aviation themed stamps. This album starts off with Q8, and then quickly moves to the early airmails and especially covers. I have several "Lindbergh covers" and most people can connect with the them. I can explain the FAM routes covered by the covers, and so forth. In my experience, covers have easier stories to tell than just the stamps themselves, and it is the stories that hold the attention of non-collectors.

If there is any further interest, I'm likely to show off some of my topical collections. These are often modern stamps with a focus on hand painted covers. There are lots of stamps and covers that tell stories of interest to people otherwise interested in history, especially military history. The Chennault (#2187) and 'Hap' Arnold stamps (#2191) are somewhat mundane themselves, but have been the subject of a number of vivid hand painted FDC's. I'm far from finished, but I try to write short background stories to accompany my stamps and covers that I include in my albums. Sometimes, souvenir sheets can help tell the story.

I don't "exhibit" per se, but I'm sure those who do exhibit will agree that it is all about crafting a story that will get people's attention.

Basil

Aside from having a couple of items framed and on the wall of my home office, I do not exhibit at home. That said, I find that there is some interest depending on collection. For example, nobody has ever asked to see my Haiti collection, but occasionally, a Coast Guard veteran has taken an interest in my collection of USCG postal history and a couple of family members have taken an interest in my dead countries collection, though I suspect it is more for the custom pages as they are into crafting.

It seems topics might be a way to generate some interest. When I was still working as a newspaper publisher, I'd have certain journalism stamps/covers framed on my office walls. They always seemed to get some attention....

I must agree with most members here as most of my (fleshy) friends are mostly disinterested in stamp collecting in general so, I really don't bring it up much in conversation. If I do and I sense a genuine interest I'll ask if they would like to see some of my collection. I'll usually show them some covers as they're more attention getting than singles (I think) to the non-collector.