Telling stories at stamps, coins and postcard expo in Palmerston North

Collectors are telling stories with their stamps, coins and postcards.

They will be gathering from around New Zealand at the 58th stamps, coins and postacrds expo to be held in Palmerston North on April 13.

Formerly the Manawatū Philatelic Convention, it's now known as the Central Districts stamps, coins and postcard expo.

The stamp collecting of the past has changed and Feilding member Colin Dyer says this expo is about telling stories.

Dyer's interest is history and he's been collecting for 65 years.

His first collection was stamps.

Over the years Dyer has added to his stamps and amassed an extensive range of coins and postcards, each with a fascinating history.

A postcard written with a quill and sealed with wax dates from the time of Napoleon.

A Roman coin more than 2000 years old and other coins from ancient times. Large Russian banknotes dating from 1909 are works of art, and there's weight in a Judaen coin from the first Century and a coin from 1797 that bears the head of George III.

Dyer says there will be postcard displays of pre-1956 passenger ships, gold field mail, postal section of Australia, Guernsey, the Russian Civil War, Salvation Army, marine artists, stamp booklets, Isle of Man railways, penguins and picture postcards of Bhutan.

The decades of telegrams that date back to 1887 will be on display when they were sent by morse code.

There will be guest displays, dealer stands, collection appraisals, guest speakers, spot prizes and a cafeteria.

The Central Districts Expo, April 13, 9.30am-4pm, Community Leisure Centre, 569 Ferguson St. Enquiries and dealer table bookings to colin.dyer@xtra.co.nz