Tradition well represented: the Monegasque Post Office. Photo: Wolfgang Maassen
Actually, everything was just like before, even if Corona had forced a three-year instead of a two-year break this time. The sun was shining and in mild temperatures Prince Albert II opened the overall event on 24 November 2022 in the presence of high-ranking guests from politics and philately and devoted well over an hour to viewing the 100 world rarities and ‘iconic items’ that were attractively housed in the Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies and with special exhibitions on “The Postal History of Napoleon’s Grand Armée” and India in the Top Car Museum. During his usual tour of the dealer and post office hall in the directly adjacent Espace Léo Ferré, Albert II greeted many a well-known professional philatelist whom he already knew from previous years.
Prince Albert II (right) follows with interest the explanations of collectors at their exhibit. Photo: Wolfgang Maassen
As in the past, the opening day was well attended, but the two following days were visibly less so. On the other hand, “the Congress”, i.e. the noble representatives of international philately from all continents, including those from associations and societies, danced at the evening dinners. Even the so-called gala dinner at the Hôtel de Paris was attended by Prince Albert II and over 360 guests! There were probably even more at the cocktail reception hosted by the internet portal operator Sebastien Delcampe.
Various fringe events were interesting. First of all, the Edition d’Or book presentations of the Global Philatelic Network of the auction houses Heinrich Köhler and Corinphila, which this time presented four new book productions of their own, as well as a new book by Hervé Barbelin on Oscar Berger-Levrault, which they sponsored and which was presented for the first time simultaneously in two translations in German and English. The C.G. Award 2022 competition rounded off the literary programme on the same opening day.
On Friday, 25 November 2022, the Congress of the World Association of Philatelic Journalists and Authors was on the agenda, at which the entire previous Board of Directors, led by President Wolfgang Maassen, was unanimously confirmed in office for another four years. However, Maassen also reported good figures for the AIJP: not only constant membership figures, but also a financial situation that was respectable. The congress was followed by a panel discussion chaired by the American Charles Epting, who interviewed his interviewees Bill Hedley (FEPA President), the philatelist Adriano Bergamini from Lugano/Switzerland, Dieter Michelson as a representative of the trade and auctions, as well as Rüdiger Weng and Wolfgang Maassen from Germany on the subject of “Philately – forever in the Shadows”. They all agreed in their assessment of the general situation, but also that more efforts and new ideas were needed to bring philately out of its shadowy existence and back into the light. Increased marketing (according to Weng) and new social co-operations on timely topics (according to Maassen) were just some of the points raised in the varied discussion, which was excellently moderated by Epting.
Charles Epting, USA (right) moderated an interesting discussion with well-known guests on the future of philately. Photo: Claudia Maassen
The general meeting of the European Academy of Philately on Saturday, 26 November, further presentations and a closing dinner concluded the programme. The members’ meeting of the organising Club de Monte-Carlo, which currently has around 110 members (including so-called associate members), was eagerly awaited. It had already become known in advance that the halls and rooms on the Terrasses de Fontvieille, which had been used for 25 years, would soon have to make way for a new building, so that a new location had to be found. The club said goodbye to its long-time president and noble sponsor Patrick Maselis from Belgium and almost unanimously elected Olivier D. Stocker, CEO of the world-renowned auction house Spink & Son, as his successor. Both were already able to announce on 27 November that the Club de Monte-Carlo had found new, also well-suited premises in a prime location in the centre of Monte-Carlo, only about a minute’s walk from the Hôtel Hermitage, so that in future the well-known International MonacoPhil Exhibitions will also be held biennially, now also together at the same venue. All that remains is to say: Noblesse oblige – or rather: tradition obliges!
