The winter stamp show of the Columbia Philatelic Society will take place Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Tri-City Leisure Center, 485 Brooks Ave., West Columbia.

Doors open at 11 a.m. Friday and close at 5 p.m. Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On hand will be 14 professional stamp dealers offering stamps, postcards, covers (envelopes) and postal history. They will also be available to appraise stamp collections and/or individual items.

Club members will exhibit their collections, which, in years past, have included the history of scouting in stamps; an exhibit of the very first United States postage stamps; a display of real and counterfeit stamps from around the world; stamps and covers commemorating the Revolutionary War battle of Cowpens; first day covers autographed by Hollywood celebrities, astronauts and presidents of the United States and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles postcards.

One of the highlights of this show will be the “History of the United States in Stamps” honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Also featured will be a special table for kids who want to learn about stamp collecting. Free stamps will be available to everyone who might want to start this hobby.

Admission is free. Parking is free, and there’s a drawing every hour for a $10 gift certificate to be spent at the show.

The Columbia Philatelic Society has been meeting regularly since 1935 and is the oldest stamp club in South Carolina. It’s a member of the American Philatelic Society, the largest nonprofit organization for stamp collectors in the world.

The group meets on the third Sunday of each month from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Tri-City Leisure Center. When a holiday takes place on the third Sunday, the club moves its meeting to the second Sunday of the month.

At each meeting, a member presents a program on a special aspect of collecting. Past topics have included: how to identify counterfeit stamps, a look at the most valuable postage stamps, the history of postal vending machines, a visit to the U.S. Stamp Museum in Washington and the local one in Charleston and “What are Paquebots?”

Out-of-town members and others unable to attend in person can participate in the monthly meetings via Zoom.

Visitors are always welcome. For more information, contact Jerry Emanuel at jemassoc2@gmail.com.