NewMexPex stamp show returns Oct. 28-29

RIO RANCHO – Here’s a question you might only see on “Jeopardy” or “Weakest Link”: How long have people been collecting stamps in the United States?

It may have begun in the summer of 1847, when the first two U.S. stamps were printed and issued.

A five-cent red one pictured Benjamin Franklin, the first U.S. postmaster general, and the 10-cent blank issue depicted George Washington, the nation’s first president. At that time, stamps were not issued in a specific city on the first day of release.

The best place to find stamp collectors in Rio Rancho these days occurs during the annual – except for pandemics – NewMexPex, taking place Oct. 28-29 at the Meadowlark Senior Center on Meadowlark Lane.

This year’s show marks the 18th time it’s taken place; it’s a combined effort of the Albuquerque Philatelic Socierty and the Rio Rancho Stamp Club, which meets regularly at MSC.

The purpose of NewMexPex is to promote the hobby of stamp collecting, and it attracts dealers and collectors from beyond the Land of Enchantment. The show further serves to aid stamp collectors statewide and offers a youth table for younger collectors, displays from local collectors, stamp dealer tables, hourly door prizes and a “What’s in Your Attic?” table to assist folks with things they bring in to learn more.

Parking and admission are free. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, the 28th, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

There’s gonna be a revolution …

Local stamp collector Kevin Tessneer has been a hobbyist since his days as a student at Las Cruces High School (Class of 1980).

His niche collection is the Mexican revolution of 1910, he said, because his mother, a native of Mexico, used to talk about Zapata and the revolutionaries, including Pancho Villa, “all the time.

“There’s quite a few people that collect it,” Tessneer said. “It’s the most complex part of Mexico you can collect. … I became fascinated with that era.”

Stamps in his collection may be found for as little as 25 cents or — and someday he hopes to have enough saved to buy one — $850.

“I have all the cheap stuff, and there’s one stamp that’s got an error on it; it’s $1,100,” he added. “I’ve only seen one in my lifetime, and I waited too long — someone bought it.”

As for his niche, “I have several hundred stamps unique to the Mexican Revolution,” he said. “I do like the used ones with the cancellations (as opposed to unused stamps). That’s history – someone touched it; that letter was sent to somebody.”

If he’s lucky, maybe he’ll find some of his “wants” at NewMexPex, although he also collects stamps with fish on them, stamps with trains and stamps with authors.

“The dealers do have lots of contacts and they’re constantly buying collections and accumulations,” Tessneer said. “And I have enhanced my collection every year at this show.

“Anyone who has a specialty can go (to NewMexPex) and definitely get something new,” he said. “In my opinion, this is a great time to start buying — eventually I think people will rediscover stamp collecting, and if you don’t get into it now, you might end up spending a lot more money in the future.”

Naturally, you don’t have to be a collector to be interested in stamps and the collections that will be on display.

It’s easy and basically inexpensive to start in the hobby.

When it comes to stamp collecting, Tessneer says. “A lot of people are on the fence. Should I start collecting? If I do, what should I collect? We try to get that message across at the show — there’s something for everyone.”

As for Tessneer and his wife, who doesn’t collect, he said, “She’s OK with it and glad I collect stamps because they don’t take up a lot of room.”

Did you know this?

According to the United States Postal service, the most popular U.S. stamps, in order, based upon total sales (figures in millions of stamps) are: Elvis Presley 1993 (124), Wonders of America (87.5), Wildflowers 1992 (76.2), Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues 1993 (75.8), DC Comics Super Heroes 2006 (73), Greetings from America 2002 (71.4), Insects and Spiders 1999 (61), Art of Disney/Romance 2006 (61), legends of Baseball (53.9) and Art of Disney Celebration 2005 (52.8).