Exhibits    Les collections

The BNAPS 2025 Virtual convention will feature an online competitive exhibition. The exhibit classes, frame limits, exhibit rules, judging, and awards will be similar to physical conventions. There are three major differences:

• Exhibits are displayed online rather than mounted in frames. Each exhibit page is displayed as a separate image.
• Viewing isn't constrained to the tight three-day window imposed by a physical convention. Exhibits are displayed from the time they are submitted, beginning in mid-January, until they are removed from the website on 26 April.
• Best of all, there are NO FRAME FEES! And no insurance hassles, no transportation worries.

Non-competitive exhibits are also welcome. First time exhibitor? Want to spark interest in, or get feedback about, your area of specialization from fellow collectors? A non-competitive exhibit avoids the judging pressures and the frame fees.

Who can exhibit

Exhibitors must be members of BNAPS. You can exhibit under a pseudonym. Make your wishes known when you submit your Exhibit Entry Form.

Entry forms must be submitted between 25 January and 15 February.

Exhibit pages must be submitted between 25 January and 20 February. They will be posted on the website as they are submitted and approved by the Exhibits Chair.

Who can view the exhibits

BNAPS 2025 Virtual is open to BNAPS members and non-members; however, everyone must register on the BNAPS website to "attend" the convention. Registration is free. It begins on 25 January. Only registered individuals will be given access to exhibits and study group seminars.

View the exhibits

Exhibition Prospectus and Exhibit Entry Form

Here is the latest Exhibition Prospectus, dated 18 January 2025:

Exhibition Prospectus

Use the online Exhibit Entry Form to enter your exhibit and upload your synopsis and title page directly to the website. The form is accessible only to BNAPS members. You will be prompted to log in when you click the button.

Exhibit Entry Form

How to upload exhibit pages

Three options are available for uploading exhibit pages:

• Option 1: as a set of jpg files, each file corresponding to one exhibit page
• Option 2: as a set of pdf files, each file corresponding to one exhibit page
• Option 3: as a single pdf file containing the entire exhibit. If the file is too big to upload, you can split it into several files, each file containing multiple exhibit pages.

File names MUST conform to a set of rules. The rules are specified in the file upload part of the Exhibit Entry Form and the Exhibition Prospectus.

Exhibit pages can be uploaded to the website during the exhibit submission period, 25 January to 20 February. To upload your exhibit, click on the "Exhibit Entry Form" button above. You can upload multiple files in one operation; however, you are limited to an aggregate file size of about 16 MB, and as you approach the limit, the file upload will be noticeably slow, on the order of 15 to 20 seconds.

Questions

Questions about this virtual exhibition should be directed to the Exhibits Chair, Gary Steele, by email: bnapexExhibits@bnaps.org.

Guidelines for synopsis preparation and information on judging at BNAPS exhibitions are available below.

• Synopsis Preparation
• Judging Guidelines for Juries and Exhibitors

As a specialist society, BNAPS has developed its own Judging Guidelines for BNAPS exhibits. However, the following references offer useful suggestions and guides for the preparation of exhibits.

The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) has published an informative series articles covering various aspects of exhibiting by David Piercey in its journal, The Canadian Philatelist. These articles are available online at the RPSC website. To date, the articles have explored such topics as designing the title page, producing an effective exhibit synopsis, preparing that first exhibit, and the importance of planning, telling a story, presentation, and research.

The American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE) website has articles about creating an exhibit, preparing the synopsis and title page, and judging criteria (but note that the AAPE rules apply to AAPE awards). The website also offers examples of successful exhibits.

The Online Resources and Exhibits (ORE) area of the BNAPS website has several examples of award-winning exhibits, many of them shown at previous BNAPS conventions.