Short Trip to Munich: between the two May shows...

My plan after deciding to participate in the London Photograph Fair was to make a stop in Munich at the shop of Detlef Hilmer on my way to Verona. The shop, known the world over for its abundant and eclectic mix of postcards, postal history, advertising poster stamps and paper currency is a necessary stop on European buying trips.   

Above the arrival area in the main Munich train station, 45 minutes from the airport, totally convenient to Mr.Hilmer's shop which is in the train station complex.

The main viewing area where Mr.Hilmer's helpful employees present material to clients. This "public" space includes postal history, paper currency and postcards. 

Client at the viewing table with Fado one of the shop's resident experts.

Detlef Hilmer, a collegaue and friend for over 20 years, in his back room office. Buying trips to Europe are not complete without a stop in Munich every 12/18 months.

 Storage and work area just off the street entrance. Clients often share this space with employees to review material as it comes out from the back rooms.

 Boxes of postcards, postal history, philatelica and albums of postcards and "luxuspaper" (finely printed paper ephemera) including "notgelt".

One of the back rooms, all the material categorized in boxes.

 The back stock of erotik material.

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May Shows: from the Verona Fair

The Veronafil Fair in Verona, Italy a stamp, postal history, postcard, numismatic and paper currency collectibles show just celebrated it's 116th installation. Created by the Scaligera Philately & Numismatics Society of Verona in 1933, the fair takes place twice a year at the Veronafiere center just outside Verona. It was my second year participating as a stand holder in the postcard (cartolina) section. The next show is in October.

Above is the main entrance to both the philatelic and numistmatic halls.

To the left philitelica and cartolina, across the entrance gallery to the numismatic hall.

Entrance to the the philatelic/postcard hall. Square footage of both the halls is 11,000 square meters (approx. 118,000 square feet).

Looking from my stand down one of the two aisles of postcard stands. My colleagues from Denmark, Paille Petersen and Kirsten Andersen in the foreground.

 Stand of one of my neighbors. Digging into the boxes at the opening of a fair looks the same in every country.

My corner stand looking down and across the postcard section.

 "Tuscana, OK. City views or small towns?"

 The fair organizers estimates the crowd at well over 10,000 for the run of the fair.

The self-service, Bar & Paninoteca, just outside the fair entrance also served excellent meals in a cafeteria setting. 

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Final Note: After traveling to Verona on Monday I had two free days. Prior to succumbing to the uncontrollable urge to sleep, Tuesday morning I took the train to Venice and spent the day walking the route between the train station and the Piazza St.Marco. It was simultaneously wonderful and surreal to be there as well as a total tourist flame-out. What were thousands of people doing in the Piazza St.Marco on my day off! Venice, summed up in one photo for one day in May.....

.... cool bubbles, strawberries and the "Doges Sandwich" of porchetta ham.

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May Shows: from the London Photo Fair

The London Photo Fair was a wonderful one-day event, held at the Bloomsbury Holiday Inn, just a few blocks away from Russell Square. A great space was secured for the show and very nicely laid out for the displays of photographs by English, European and North American dealers. Huge thanks goes to James Kerr and his wife for producing and promoting a very professional event! Looking forward to seeing you at one of the future fairs.

Entrance foyer.

Partial view of my stand (on the left) and my neighbor for the day, from the Netherlands, Jan van der Val of Eastern Window.

Frido Troost from Haarlem, the Netherlands, showing an excellent selection of stereos and cartes de visite.

The show promoter, James Kerr's booth with Charleton Watkin's photographs in the center of his display.

 Two photos above of marvelous photograms.

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