Organisers are delivering a first-class event for stamp enthusiasts, not least because it coincides with the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Belgian Federation of Philatelic Associations.

Philately focuses on the study of stamps, which is not the same as stamp collecting. The Belgian Federation is the world's oldest, having launched in Antwerp in 1890, and plans a series of special events at Antverpia – not least of which is the annual European Championship of Philately.

Interest only increases from there: Birdpex, a world-renowned philatelic exhibition centred on the theme of birds, which is held every four years, will run alongside the two others. So essentially, everyone who’s anyone in the world of stamps will be in Antwerp next week. About 50 postal organisations and 100 stamp dealers from around the world will participate, with 2,000 frames of stamps displayed in four exhibition halls. Some 35,000 international visitors are expected at the event, where one of the most popular stamps on display is likely to be the famous “Termonde inversé”, or “Inverted Dendermonde”, said to be the most expensive stamp in Belgium. The 1920 stamp is part of a print run error, and the town hall of Dendermonde is pictured upside down.

The Belgian postal service has also issued a special set of stamps illustrating Antwerp's history and heritage for Antverpia. Considering the three events in one, Antverpia is a “Mecca” for stamp buffs, says event manager Frank Daniels. “We are very excited. Philatelists from all over the world will be converging on the city, and we want to give them a typically warm Flemish welcome,” says Daniels. “It is a unique event and gives the general public the chance to have a glimpse at some of the rarest and most beautiful stamps in the world.”

Each year, the Federation of European Philatelic Associations invites a country to the championship as a special guest; this year, that’s Taiwan. Over the years, Taiwan has been hailed not just for its beautiful stamps that often depict indigenous wildlife, but also for its humanitarian assistance. Taiwan company Chunghwa Post will sponsor a charity sale of Taiwan stamps worth about €11,000. The proceeds of the sale will go to CliniClowns Belgium, a nonprofit organisation that sends professional clowns to visit sick and hospitalised children. The organisation relies entirely on public donations to continue its work. “Sending two clowns to a hospital once a week costs us about €12,500,” says Clini- Clowns coordinator Valerie Van Gastel. “If we succeed in selling the entire collection, we can visit an extra 750 youngsters.”

The Taiwan stand will be a centrepiece of the exhibition. Its staterun enterprise Chunghwa Post will showcase decades of the island’s postage stamps, particularly those featuring birds and endangered species. About 500 species of birds, 70 species of mammals and 3,000 species of fish inhabit Taiwan, affording abundant material for stamp design.

Patrick Wang of the Taipei Representative Office to Belgium says he hopes this will raise public awareness about wildlife conservation. He said that anyone visiting their stand will receive a free calligraphy of their name written in traditional Chinese characters.

Antverpia
9-12 April
Antwerp Expo
Jan Van Rijswijcklaan 191
http://antverpia2010.com