APS Gass (Great American Stamp Show) 2022

Chicago vs Sacramento vs Boston'26

Much of the attendance depends on driving distance and total population within a reasonable radius. Using the "Big Radius Tool" on the StatsAmerica website, Sacramento's radius to draw from has a significantly lower population than Chicago or Boston. For example:

150 mile driving radius:
19.2 vs 14.4 vs 17.0
(population in millions)

250 mile radius:
47.7 vs 18.4 vs 48.6
About 30% increase for Sacramento, while Chicago and Boston more than doubled.

500 mile radius:
85.5 vs 48.4 vs 69.8

Sacramento's 500-mile radius population is essentially equal to Chicago or Boston's 250-mile radius, which does not include Canada data.

It is no wonder there is better attendance at shows from the upper midwest to New England (look at the population radius data for Cleveland, Columbus, Grand Rapids, etc). The geography is much tighter, travel costs less, etc. Yes, the diehards will fly to GASS anywhere, but attendance is mostly from drive-ins.

It would be more useful to compare past more densely populated areas show attendance to recent more densely populated areas show attendance. Where can the data be sourced?

Don't know if there's any reason why the population densities of stamp collectors would be much different than that of the general population, but the APS would have the data on that for at least its members. Those are the folks more likely to patronize a big stamp show versus the locals, who may show up for curiosity's sake or because they have children to entertain.

And even the show count decreased by one when David Grossblat was admitted to the hospital on Saturday. I spoke with him this morning and he sounded good. The hope is a release Monday or soon thereafter. This afternoon would be good too. However, I left the show before noon and the Sunday doctor's rounds and update was yet completed.




The CofC version seems to have had a different organization for the dimensional portion. It was a joy to view. I enjoyed seeing the 80 cent Hawaii exhibit as well.

Parcelpostguy- Do you have any info on what happened to David? I have worked for him occasionally at shows; I will call later in the week but more info would help me decide how long to wait.

He was feeling poorly, was advised to go to a local urgent care clinic which sent him to the hospital where he was admitted. Covid and pneumonia were both ruled out prior to admission for a lung issue. When will he be released is the question still needing an answer.

How long you, or anyone, should wait to call was being determined when I left GASS and returned home. As much as anyone in the hobby may love** David, we are not family, thus not folks to whom the medical team can talk. I trust he, David, has approved some limited information being given to his driver and booth coworker at GASS in order to make appropriate travel plans. At least the delayed return allowed some workaround for the east bound I-10 bridge washed out by an earlier flash flood after they arrived in Sacramento.

(** or insert your own descriptive word. )

Did anyone attend the Rumsey auctions? The prices were quite strong and I was curious about the bidders. Were their a lot of floor bidders?

I missed the auctions on SAN and was curious as to how many lots were hammered down to internet bidders vs floor bidders.

EDIT: I think that I answered my own questions by finding and reviewing the SAN bid history logs for these sales. The internet was very active and prevailed often. There was serious floor competition and the Book won a number of lots.

Still would appreciate a firsthand sense of the auctions.

I actually like David. He mellows out quite a bit once he knows you. At least he did to me. And one can learn a great deal about modern postal history by being around him. And some of his customers as well.

I sat thru the last part of the auction ......thru the collections and large lot section . I bid on a dozen lots and won a few .
Basicly it was a Whale auction and they did come out for this one ,in all three sections . We see that in the pricing .

The revenues brought good and in some cases crazy prices.

As I type this, David is riding through California's Central Valley on the way home to Phoenix.



Edited for smilies.

Good news, thanks.

Mark this date when Revcollector openly and freely engaged in rampant freeform emoji use.

I sent you an email, revcollector, via the SCF message system.

Got it and answered, thanks for the message.