Presented by the Diputación de Alicante, the XXIII Provincial Philatelic Exhibition can be visited at the Provincial Palace through January 7, 2023. The display gathers more than 9,000 stamps, postal cards, and documents from Alicante, sourced from the collections of the Alicante Philatelic and Numismatic Society and its partners. This extensive collection offers a window into the region’s postal history and philatelic heritage, inviting visitors to explore a rich catalog of materials that illuminate how communication evolved in the province over time.
The new proposal features 19 stamp collections that span the postal history of the Valencian Community. Highlights include material from private mailrooms connected to local bathhouses and other spas, as well as stamps affixed to letters and postcards from the era. A range of items produced by the Tolosa National Press and the Cervantinos portals are included, along with pieces from the National Currency and Stamp Factory during the Civil War period. Also on display are documents unearthed in Alicante during the 19th and 20th centuries, including items connected to the State Assembly and the Alicante City Council. Public and private initiatives across the region are represented through Rural Carterías brands and related material.
The collections are organized into four categories: Postal History, Thematic Philately, Open Class – which includes non philatelic material – and Youth Philately. In addition, participants will receive an accreditation diploma and a commemorative stamp and postmark created to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Provincial General Assembly. These elements underscore the enduring value of philately as a cultural archive that records local history in tangible form.
Vice President and Minister of Culture, Julia Parra, attended the inaugural ceremony and noted, “A journey through our history with an element as unique as stamps and philatelic documents and cards.”
After touring the exhibition alongside the president of the Alicante Philatelic and Numismatic Society, Jose Miguel Stephen, and other members of the organization, Parra and the Diputación’s Director of Culture, Maria Jose Argudo, presented diplomas to three private collectors who attended the event.
Speaking about the collections on display, the head of the Department of Culture emphasized that stamps, in a digitized era, still carry remarkable value. He suggested they can anchor historical moments and serve as spontaneous narrators of events, preserving collective memory for future generations.
Exhibition
Open to the public and free of charge, the XXIII Provincial Philatelic Exhibition welcomes visitors from Monday to Saturday. The show runs from today until January 7, with visiting hours from 10:00 to 13:00 in the morning and 17:00 to 21:00 in the afternoon, at the Provincial Palace.
Alicante Philatelic and Numismatic Association
The Alicante Philatelic and Numismatic Society, founded in 1946, aims to promote, share, and sustain the hobby of collecting at all levels and to foster cooperation among enthusiasts. The association includes more than 20,000 collectors and fans. In Spain, philately counts a broad following and a sizable number of investors, reflecting the enduring appeal of stamps as objects of study and collection.