On December 7-8, 1996, the first full weekend in December, was reserved again for the 23rdPENPEX Stamp Show. The show was chaired by Henry A. Washauer, Vice-chair: Stuart J. Phillips, Secretary: Kenneth C. Kunz, and Treasurer: William E. Dutcher.
1996 PENPEX postcard
This year, PENPEX honored the anniversary of the 49ers’ first game in two ways; a special souvenir two-color cachet and a souvenir postcard. Prior to moving to Santa Clara, the 49ers practiced at Red Morton Park located just behind the building where the PENPEX show is held. Known as the greatest 20th century athlete, football player Jim Thorpe was fittingly immortalized on a U.S. postage stamp.
The show had 17 dealers along with the USPS. The dealers were (listed in alphabetical order) A & D Stamps, Ashley’s World of Stamps, CarDan Company, Greg Caron Stamps, Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Harvey Cohen, Esoteric Stamp Company, Fairbanks Stamps & Postcards, Doug Gary, Giles Gibson, Girouard’s Stamps, North Bay Philatelics, Pacific Midwest Company, Peninsula Stamps, PENPEX Cachets, Philatelic Mart International, and Wulff’s Stamps.
There were 62 exhibit frames of 12 pages each. The jury consisted of Garvin F. Lohman, Clell E. McElroy, Jr., and Wayne E. Menuz. An awards banquet was held at Hideaway Restaurant at 739 Chestnut Street, Redwood City. Ticket could be purchased for $15/person or $25 for a couple.