Boston 2026 World Expo

If anyone really wants to understand what is happening with the show, I suggest looking at the list of postal bureau's that are coming, and pay attention to the ones which are missing. I seem to remember that there were about 50 different in 2016.

Royal Mail didn't buy a booth in 2016, either. You could buy their show stamps from a vending machine; otherwise, if you wanted stamps or show cancels, you had to get them from Herrick, no?

If you are going to try to compare apples to apples, you have to consider who bought a booth in 2016, and who was just represented by IGPC or Herrick. Who is filling that role in 2026? I'd expect the country count to be way down.

My 2d on the matter.

Just reading a Canadian Stamp News email received yesterday about upcoming issue. In it was an article about Canada Post not attending the Boston 2026 show because of Canada Post's financial situation. How many other's will not attend because of financial conditions?

Frankly, I doubt it is financial in most of the cases. None of the European postal bureaus will be there except Spain, Ukraine, Ireland, and Romania. None of the major countries of Asia will be there except India. Everyone knows why, and it's not money. The small PO's that are coming proves that.

After constantly being insulted by youknowwho, it's no surprise neither Canada or Mexico attend. Spain can't bail out, apparently, though the insults have started coming in.

For the rest of the world, it's just "How big of a loss are we allowed to take should be attend". There is no way any (foreign) POs can break even, they are in a much worse position than any dealer as they only sell penny stamps, essentially.

What is it?

If you don't know already, there is no point in my telling you just to get the usual suspects complaining that it is "too political". It's an International show, and that means that many non philatelic factors are going to be involved, whether anyone likes or not. Political and otherwise.

On average I spend $3,000/yr. on new issues or back-filling. New Issues from USPS (w/fdc) & back-fill from on-line dealer or local shows, including FDC.) Am I a bargain hunter YES. But I believe that if the dealer is agreeable to my offer or the sale-auction (bargaining from set price) is acceptable to both parties, then a GOOD deal is made. (Whether or not the dealer says to himself, 'got ya' as I walk away). Dealers are called DEALERS, because they want to make a sale and will offer-counter offer to accomplish that.

I've tracked several high-end issues over the past several years (cat$$) and found that several high priced issues have drastically come down. (also, some have significantly gone up) I'm hoping to find the sweet spot on the floor and make some good buys. I have been saving for the BIG purchase since 2016 NYC. I am not going in there desperate, but confident enough to walk away from a MUST HAVE item if I do not believe I have offered or received a counter-offered a fair & reasonable$$.

Man, I am super hyped right now.

An aside: The last FDC issued for the show was identified by USPS as the 4/10/26 issue (per last PHILATELIC update on web site. Anyone hear or see a USPS change notice regarding this, (Figures of American Revolution, Press release by Boston 2026 3/31/26)?

Well, as I've said before, if major postal services and international dealers are not coming because of you-know-who, then they're being pretty petty. It's a bloody stamp show, not a major diplomatic event. And spare us the tariffs and ICE references. The tariff issue was addressed and, despite the hysteria, ICE is not arresting stamp collectors at the airport. If this is the attitude of the stamp community, then let the hobby die a slow death (at least the organized portion of it). And I'm not even a supporter of you-kn-who. Good grief.

The postal services are generally a part of the government, and that makes it a very different thing then just being "petty". They might well think of it as being "complicit" in spending money in a country where there are serious disagreements.

So the SLOVPHILEX 2027 World Stamp Exhibition should be a resounding success as concerns of "being 'complicit'" will be gone. Perhaps Boston is best skipped and US collectors will have a better experience in Slovakia that in the USA especially being removed from current USA political handicaps some see here.

It might be, although I do not know enough about the current Slovakian political situation to be certain. That will be up to the post bureaus involved. And the collectors involved. It's a bit too far away for me personally. BTW, the "some" has become a very significant percentage at this point.

Man I wish I could go to Slovakia, if only to just meet and talk to their beautiful women and drink Slovakian beer, but the flight and hotel stay would be a major expense and I am always terrified of flying.

I'm sure that the beer would be worth it; Bohemia and Slovakia have long been important beer countries.

Yes, that is why I offered next year as an alternative to the USA, it is a Russia leaning country and NATO departure is being considered. Likely quite a political venue improvement for the significant some.

Edited to add:

The FIP General World for 2027 is in Serbia, an ever even larger step away from USA current politics and towards the direction the "significant some" prefer. It should be an enjoyable show.