|
Doha Stamp Expo Also Offers Bank Notes
 | By William Barrett, Bank Note Reporter
January 28, 2009 |
BNR readers through these pages are kept informed of most bank note and coin events in the United States and to a considerable degree in Europe and from time to time in the Orient.
However, little information appears on the Middle East - perhaps as events are few and far between, and not well attended from outside the region.
I am, therefore, pleased to report on an event in Doha, Qatar that I attended recently. The official purpose of the event can be seen in its name, the 14th GCC Stamps Exhibition Doha 2008.
This was a competitive stamp event, featuring judging by a professional with long experience, Francis Kiddle of the Royal Philatelic Society in London.
In fact the organizers, the Qatar Philatelic and Numismatic Club, and the sponsor, QPost (Qatar's Post Office), were particularly keen to have judges who could train advanced regional collectors to become judges themselves. As well to teach the exhibitors the underlying principles of how to create a winning exhibit.
The exhibition was held at one of Doha's premier shopping complexes, the Villagio Mall, in the suburbs of the capital. The Villagio is an Italian-themed mall featuring not only a full-sized skating rink, but also gondola rides in Venice-style canals.
Previous exhibitions had taken place at the bustling City Centre Mall, located in the business district, rather than the suburban Villagio locale.
As I am planning a series of exhibitions in the Gulf region I thought to time a visit around this (theoretically) philatelic event, as it would be a draw for regional collectors. This turned out to be a fortuitous decision as there were not only competitive exhibits, but also in effect a bourse where each state of the GCC - the Gulf Cooperation Council - had a stand. At these stands collectors and the public could buy philatelic items, and children of all ages get their event booklets stamped, but importantly many also had coins and bank notes and knowledgeable dealers and collectors.
Some also featured regional publications such as a recent coffee-table book by a Saudi collector highlighting his extensive collection.
As a result numismatics was well represented and promoted at the event, and I believe that all the merchants manning the booths did a substantial turnover.
The club itself, which is one of more than 20 of many sorts (including fencing) sponsored by the government and is provided with an annual budget including funds to rent a fine building and to pay for several permanent staff members, presently plans a numismatic event in the first quarter of 2009. This may organized be in conjunction with the Qatar Central Bank, as was their first money exhibition earlier in 2008.
The club also houses the natonal philatelic collection of Qatar, which is housed in a considerable number of steel and glass upright cases on the ground floor. Even if stamps are not your interest, visitors are likely to be taken for a tour and will find it most impressive. The bank notes on display on the upper floor are in fact mostly images, and as bank note issues in Qatar only date back to 1971 it is not yet an extensive series.
The club is a lively spot and provides a place for collectors - including both locals and non-locals, i.e., Qataris and expatriates - to drop in after work and socialize. The club boasts some 240 members, quite a few of whom are interested in bank notes and also some in coins.
The club maintains an active schedule of local exhibitions, particularly targeted at schools and youth, in cooperation with the Minister of Education. It also sends delegations to worldwide philatelic events such as one held earlier this year in Romania and another more recently in Jakarta, these headed by Hussain Rajab, the club's most hospitable vice chairman.
Collectors in the region are welcome to drop by the club after work. The club's telephone number is + 974 4323292, email: qstamps@qatar.net.qa, and most evenings and also Saturday and Sunday the doors are open and you will be made welcome. It is situated next door to the British Council and thus easy to find in a taxi.
Add to: del.icio.us digg
With this article: Email to friend Print
Something to add? Notice an error? Comment on this article. | |