Sberatel.info
19. April, 2024
The largest spring meeting of collectors hosted over 80 exhibitors and attracted over 3,000 visitors to the Olympik Hotel in Prague. The next Sberatel fair will take place on 6 -7 September at the PVA Expo in Prague.
Dealers from all over the world brought stamps, coins, banknotes, medals, postcards and other collecting material to Prague on 22 – 23 March.
Collectors from all over the country and abroad are heading to the fair, where more than half of the exhibitors are also coming from. For example, every year the German Post takes part in the event, which this year has prepared a commemorative envelope and a special cachet. Traditionally, women and young people up to the age of 18 are admitted free of charge. In this way, the organisers are trying to promote collecting among women and bring the younger generation into it.
A queue as long as a subway line stretched from the early morning hours around one entire side of the hotel, where the Spring Sberatel fair was held. There, collectors waited for the low numbers of the 0 euro souvenir note, which commemorates fifty years since the first metro line in Prague was launched.
Right at the fair, it was possible to have your own brought-in collections appraised by connoisseurs from professional organisations on both days. Experts from the Association of Czech Philatelists (postage stamps), the Czech Numismatic Society (coins, medals, banknotes), the Autograph Collectors’ Club (signatures), Antik Kures (antiques) and the Museum of Securities (shares, valuables) are available to visitors.
No one brought the Blue Mauritius, but perhaps Harrison Ford’s original signature did. But it was not for sale, a nice collector, who travels all over the world to meet celebrities, only came to “show it off”. But visitors could buy other curiosities such as vintage ties, old posters, watches or vintage stocks.
Collecting is a big draw! Even the most watched Czech TV station Nova came to film the spring Sberatel fair, but Czech Radio was interested in the event and the invitation to Sberatel appeared on dozens of Internet portals.
A rarity at the Spring Sberatel fair. A unique proof sheet of postage stamps without a denomination with the motif of speed cycling was exhibited at the fair. The stamp belongs to the series issued for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The rare sheet, of which only one example exists, is said to have been awarded to cyclist Jason Kenny, who won two gold medals in the event. The stamp sheet was kindly loaned to the Spring Collector Fair by a philatelist from the UK.
The Sberatel fair is held 3 times a year in Prague. In March and November at the Olympik Hotel and in September at the PVA Expo Prague.
More about the Spring Sberatel fair – https://www.sberatel.info/en/spring-fair/
More about the Autumn Sberatel fair – https://www.sberatel.info/en/fair-collector/
Red, photo credit: Sberatel fair