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phone cards, minerals, and the hobby and art of collecting – the largest
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Sběratel.info

News Bulletin No. 47

21. 07. 2009 | Minister of Education Endorses Trade Fair | Czech Mint For Sale | Contest for Best Medal of 2008 | Mini Beer Calendars from Russia and Postcards from China | Premiere of Romanian Post in Prague | Ambigram Exhibition | Showcase Yourself, Both Before and During Trade Fair |

Minister of Education Endorses Trade Fair

The Minister of Education, Youth and Physical Education of the Czech Republic, Dr. Miroslava Kopicová, is endorsing the international Collector trade fair. In her letter dated 30 June 2009, she praises the fact that the organisers will grant free access to youths under the age of 18, because she is convinced that collectorship teaches, among other things, the development of patience, diligence and concentration. It also provides considerable satisfaction by expanding their understanding of the given field and by giving them the opportunity to make new friends. The Minister writes that the social benefits of collectorship must be valued and cultivated in the educational process, both at schools and at other educational institutions.

Czech Mint For Sale

From 1 August, the production of money, commemorative coins and medals will be ensured by the new joint-stock company Czech Mint (Česká mincovna). To date, coins have been produced by a division of Jablonex Group under the same name. The new company is a one-hundred-percent subsidiary of Jablonex Group. In the autumn, it should be ready for sale. "We would like somebody who is experienced in the field to take over the mint," says Jan Vízek, director of the mint. Hence, the offer was made primarily to mints in the European Union, the U.S. and Canada. According to Mr. Vízek, it must also be a reliable investor, because it should continue minting the Czech national currency. The Czech National Bank is not interested in purchasing the mint and will not interfere in its sale. This year, the mint is forecasting revenues of about half a billion crowns, and 65 million crowns in profit. Czech Mint is traditionally among the major exhibitors at the Collector trade fair in Prague, and will naturally participate in the exposition this year as well.

Contest for Best Medal of 2008

At 12 noon on Saturday, 5 September, the results of the contest for the best Czech medal of 2008 will be announced at a ceremony at the Collector trade fair. You can still cast your vote for your favourite medal at www.medaile-roku.cz. You can only vote once every 24 hours. You can also send an SMS message. The proceeds from the fees for SMS messages will be donated by the organiser of the contest, the magazine Mince & Bankovky, to a civic association that helps children who have blood production disorders. The fee is CZK 9 per SMS message.

Mini Beer Calendars from Russia and Postcards from China

This year, perennial exhibitors Yevgeniy Nikiforov from St. Petersburg and Xu Wei from Suzhou City will have a surprise in store for those trade fair visitors who collect "bohemicas" - meaning foreign collectibles with Czech themes. Mr. Nikiforov will have special mini calendars for the years 2009 and 2010 at his stand, while the entire collection contains 21 pocket calendars with beer labels on the cover. Xu Wei, who is primarily known as a dealer of telephone cards, is bringing special postcards to this year's trade fair in Prague, which have been postmarked in China.

Premiere of Romanian Post in Prague

The sixteenth post office administration to participate in this year's trade fair is the Romanian Post, represented by the company Romfilatelia. It will have items both on exhibition and for sale at the Collector trade fair for the first time. The Austrian Post, which has recently become known among philatelists for the unusual design of its postage stamps, is no newcomer to the Prague event. Their uniqueness is not only derived from the use of celebrities, as was the case with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004, but also unusual materials. The Austrians are sure to have stamps coated in gold foil, sprinkled with Swarovski crystals or printed on textile at their stand.

Ambigram Exhibition

The renowned creator of Czechoslovak and later Czech postage stamps, artist Oldřich Pošmurný, will familiarise the public at this year's trade fair with his prime hobby - the creation of ambigrams. An ambigram is the graphic depiction of a word designed to read the same whether read right-side up or upside down. Mr. Pošmurný is probably the only graphic designer in the Czech Republic engaged in this form of art. He will exhibit several dozen ambigrams at the trade fair. What's more, those who buy a postcard-style admission ticket will find the ambigram of the Collector trade fair on it.

Showcase Yourself, Both Before and During Trade Fair

Do not miss out on the advertising opportunities offered to you by the very website you are reading right now. We guarantee a 50% discount to exhibitors. Advertisements in the trade fair catalogue are also available at a 50% discount to exhibitors. Have a look at the detailed terms and conditions at www.sberatel.info/en/collector-fair/price-list.html, and make use of this opportunity to attract existing and new customers, both in the run-up to the trade fair and during the trade fair itself.