Tuscora Stamp Club marks 75 years

Tuscora Stamp Club will celebrate 75 years of collecting in Tuscarawas County, Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tuscora Park pavilion. Throughout the day, there will be seven Dealer Bourse exhibits and stamp packets for new and junior collectors. Parking and admission for the show are free, and food will be available. A stamp auction will be held at 4 p.m.

Club president Steve Worsham said the group began in 1950 after a notice in the Daily Reporter of Dover announced a meeting at Tuscora Park for stamp collectors. “In the early days, much of the meeting time was spent showing favorites of each other’s collections,” Worsham said. "As we grew, we held our first stamp exhibition, Tuscopex, in 1962 at the Dover Masonic Temple. A special cachet envelope, honoring the development and progress of Tuscarawas County, was prepared by Jack Carpenter.”

There were 80 frames, displaying collections prepared by 25 exhibitors. "It was possibly the most outstanding exhibition the club has ever held. Various themes are adopted for the exhibitions each year. This year’s showings will include a large collection of stamps, including many from Israel, that were nearly thrown out following an estate sale,” Worsham said.

Currently, the club meets twice a month, the first Wednesday and third Tuesday, except for December when the annual Christmas dinner is held. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia. 

Members receive a club newsletter that describes upcoming philatelic events and other club related information. Besides the Christmas dinner, a wide variety of programs include mini-auctions, a club picnic, and the spring exhibition. The club has an open membership policy, oriented toward family participation. New members are always welcome.