Picture shows example of what you will receive

U.S. #1311

5¢ SIPEX Souvenir Sheet

 

Issue Date: May 23, 1966

City: Washington, DC

Quantity: 14,680,000

Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Printing Method: Lithographed, engraved

Perforations: None

Color: Multicolored

 

This SIPEX issue was released to recognize the Sixth International Philatelic Exhibition at Washington, D.C., in 1966. It was the first international stamp show ever held in the Nation's capital.

 

Opening Of SIPEX

On May 21, 1966, the Sixth International Philatelic Exhibition opened in Washington, DC.

All five previous US international philatelic exhibitions had been held in New York City. Initially, SIPEX was also to be held there, but disagreement among the show’s planners nearly canceled the event.

In the years leading up to SIPEX, some of the planners of the show had different ideas about how they thought it should be run. Some felt that because there were yearly shows that catered to the “popular collector,” SIPEX should be a more exclusive show of limited size. As these disagreements continued, the planning committee ultimately announced they would be unable to produce the show.

In the meantime, a new hall of Philately and Postal History had opened at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. This inspired local Washington, DC, collectors to form their own National Philatelic Exhibition, which was a great a success. As they learned that the New York SIPEX was to be canceled, they offered to host the show in Washington, as long as they got support from the Association for Stamp Exhibitions. They succeeded in getting support from the ASE as well as the American Stamp Dealer’s Association and the American Airmail Society.

The group would have just 18 months in which plan SIPEX. Most exhibitions were planned years in advance, so it was a massive undertaking. But they managed to meet the challenge and SIPEX opened on May 21, 1966, at Washington’s Shoreham Hotel. During the opening ceremonies, Postmaster General Lawrence O’Brien addressed the crowd with a message from President Johnson and “a special word of welcome to the visitors from foreign lands who are here for this world-renowned exhibition.” He went on to encourage foreign visitors to explore other parts of America while they were there.