The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Papermania show back at XL
HARTFORD — The longest-running paper and ephemera collectibles exhibition in Connecticut will celebrate 75 consecutive shows at the XL Center, when Papermania Plus returns to Hartford Jan. 5-6
“It’s amazing to think we’re gearing up for our 75th show,” said show promoter Gary Gipstein. “What started as an extension of my family’s antiques shop in downtown Hartford over 40 years ago has withstood the test of time and continues to bring fans of these treasures together.”
Papermania Plus offers serious collectors and the merely curious a treasure trove of vintage items, including postcards, movie posters, photographs, rare books, fine art prints, baseball cards, antique maps, sheet music, autographs, and much more.
Then there’s the “Plus” part: pins, tintypes, vintage bottles, metal and wooden sign, and advertising samples of all kinds.
“[Papermania Plus] showcases the importance of printed material before the Internet,” Gipstein said. “The breadth and depth of material on display here is staggering. Just the availability of books and historical material alone is remarkable. Not to mention posters, comics and postcards. It’s amazing. And that’s only a start.”
The show is one of the largest on the circuit. Vendors from across the country will bring items to sell, share, and display. The public is encouraged to bring in their own treasures for an appraisal from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday.
Papermania Plus at the XL Center in Hartford runs Saturday, Jan. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $9. Seniors and students with a valid ID card can get half-price admission.
Complete information can be found at www.papermaniaplus.com, or by joining the PaperMania Plus community on Facebook. Follow @PapermaniaPlus on Twitter and Instagram.