Indepex Asiana 2000

Exhibition Report by John MacDonnell, Australian Commissioner

The Department of Posts for India organised the six day Indepex Asiana 2000 14th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition, in conjunction with the Philatelic Congress on India from 7 to 12 December 2000 in Calcutta, India’s cultural capital.  India hosted the first FIAP exhibition in 1977, and an FIP World Exhibition in 1997.

The venue, the Netaji Indoor Stadium was centrally located, adjacent to the famous Eden Gardens Cricket Ground in this cricket-mad city.  The subject of cricket was always the subject of the next sentence when the friendly locals established that I hailed from Australia.

The Exhibition was officially opened by the Governor of West Bengal in the nearby Calcutta Town Hall.  The function was also attended by his Chief Minister and the Federal Minister for Communications and numerous other dignitaries.  Although I have no attendance figures, public interest was obviously strong. Admission was free.  Army police were evident in large numbers in and around the stadium throughout.  Security was particularly tight.  Hordes of uniformed, well-behaved school children (up to 100 bus loads daily) continually filed up and down the aisles.  Each day on the pavement in the outside busy street, several philatelic vendors spread out their philatelic offerings on rugs under large umbrellas.  These were continually, avidly and relentlessly pecked-over by a passing tide of collectors.  An attractive issue of six new stamps bearing the Indepex Asiana logo, depicting Indian jewellery was launched at the Official Opening.  The Exhibition and particularly the Official Opening received wide TV and newspaper coverage.  Street hoardings and signs advertising the show were common.

A total of 1267 frames were on display, with the strength in Traditional (353), Postal History (199) and Thematics (166).  There were entries from 19 FIAP countries.  The 13 Australian entries (66 frames plus 1 literature) were only outnumbered by Indian entries.

John Sinfield was a member of the 19 person (plus 3 apprentices) jury while Ed Druce was a member of the Expert Committee.  Both John and Ed conducted exceptionally well-attended seminars on Thematic and Postal History exhibiting respectively during the Exhibition.  Indian exhibitors were keen to develop their exhibiting skills.

Australian Exhibitor Results

R Kelly Denmark - Postcards & Reply Paid Postcards 1871-1926 Postal Stationery Gold [91]
G Brown Aden Postal History till 1937 Postal History Gold [90]
M Watson Victoria : Registered Mail Postal History Large Vermeil [87]
M Syme Radiomania Thematics Large Vermeil [86] SP
J MacDonnell Hamburg to 1900 Postal History Large Vermeil [85]
M Smith The Performing Arts Thematics Large Vermeil [85] SP
E Todd Madagascar - The 1930-1938 Definitives Traditional Vermeil [84]
J Wilkins Afghanistan - 1840-1996 Postal History Handbook Literature Vermeil [83]
J Dibiase Postage Stamps of Western Australia Traditional Vermeil [80]
A Neboiss Latvia - Railway Postmarks Postal History Vermeil [80]
J Fladeby Norway - Stamp issues 1872-1885 Traditional Vermeil [80]
B Beston The Owl : The Bird of Night Thematics Silver [71]
R Kelly Australia - Railway Parcel Stamps (Eastern States) Traditional Silver [71]

 [ Source:  APF News, February 2001 ]