WESTPEX – The First 50 Years

Kristin Patterson

In 2010 WESTPEX celebrated its fiftieth year as one of the premier stamp shows in the United States.  To commemorate this Golden Anniversary event, Kristin Patterson searched the archives and interviewed participants to create a 200-page soft cover book, telling the story from the show's birth to today. Depicted are the people and highlight events of the annual exhibition through the years.

Meet the founders who had the visions for a premier stamp show.  See some of the original artifacts in full color, such as cachets, programs and banquet menus. Read about the six chairmen who have steered this event, the more than 200 dedicated committee people who helped, a similar number of judges, who awarded the exhibition awards, and, of course, all the WESTPEX Grand Award winners and their exhibits.  Learn about the goal of WESTPEX to encourage the hobby of stamp collecting and philately, its support of a Youth Program and other philatelic organizations, and the challenges in staging a national stamp show and exhibition.

This 8.5" x 11" soft cover book in color retails for $30 plus California sales tax of $2.85 if applicable. Add $5 for priority mail orders. Order and payment may be made through PayPal (click on the book) for processing or payment by check sent to WESTPEX, Inc. P.O. Box 210579, San Francisco, CA 94121-0579.

This limited edition book will also be available at the 2011 WESTPEX Stamp Show, April 29-May 1, 2011 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, 1800 Old Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA, just one mile south of the San Francisco International Airport. Check the show program for location of the souvenir sales area. The author will be available to sign copies of her book.