Exhibitions and exhibits:
Single-page exhibits - an inspiring innovation in exhibit creation

Introducing the concept of single-page exhibits as an inspiring innovation in exhibit creation that can attract collectors of all generations.

Single-page/One-page exhibits

Recently, there have been attempts to attract collectors to create exhibition exhibits by reducing them to one page. Something that seemed unthinkable and initially had little chance of success is proving to be a viable innovation that can bring interesting results = many newcomers and exhibit creators.

Like any spontaneously emerging novelty, single-page exhibits have multiple concepts that are looking for a place under the philatelic sun.

OBSAH:

» Concept of the American Topical Association (ATA)

» Concept of the British Thematic Association (BTA)

» Concept of the Belgian thematic club Themafila-Wetteren

» Concept of the Slovak club FilaNotes

» Challenge for creation of one-page exhibits and a competition show

» References and sources used

Concept of the American Topical Association (ATA)

Probably the first concept of one-page or single-page exhibits was introduced by the American Topical Association (ATA) sometime in 2020, when it introduced rules for their creation and announced the first non-competitive virtual exhibition of such exhibits.

The rules for exhibits were very simple and included, in addition to ownership and display rights, only requirements for page size (8 ½ x 11 inches, 21 x 29 cm (A4) or 11 x 17 inches), digital PDF format, and the option to include electronically created images in addition to real materials. The latter was related to the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, when forms of support for collecting were sought through digitization and the emphasis was not placed on the inclusion of real materials.

The requirements for the page content were narrowed down to the condition that there was at least one philatelic material on the page. From the point of view of the texts, the rules defined only a few mandatory parts: the title of the exhibit (must be at the top of the page), the name of the exhibitor (must be below the title), and a short description explaining the topic of the page. As optional text parts, the following could be used: the author's email address, a link to a website with additional information, and in the case of using copies, the percentage of enlargement/reduction of the image compared to the actual one (see My One-Page Exhibit!).

Example of a sample one-page exhibit according to ATA: 1 - Exhibit title (required), 2 - Exhibitor name (required), 3 - Description or story that relates to the materials in the exhibit (required), 4 - Exhibitor's email address (optional), 5 - Relative image size expressed as a percentage of the actual size (optional).

Overview of ATA exhibits created in 2025:

» List of exhibits: List of 2025 My One-Page Exhibits

» Gallery of exhibits: Gallery of 2025 My One-Page Exhibits

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Concept of the British Thematic Association (BTA)

The concept of the British Thematic Association (BTA) is more recent, focusing on the creation of one-page exhibits aimed at competitive exhibition. Importantly, it emphasizes real exhibits with physical materials, not materials in the form of images. So far, four editions of virtual exhibitions have taken place in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025.

Overview of BTA exhibits created and exhibited so far:

» BTA One Page Virtual Competition 2021 (2022)

» BTA One Page Virtual competition 2022 (2023)

» BTA One Page Virtual Competition 2025

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Concept of the Belgian thematic club Themafila-Wetteren

The concept of thematic collectors led by Koenraad Braecke, associated in the thematic club Themafila-Wetteren is also focused on competitive exhibitions (judged by club members), but differs in the principle of creating single-page exhibits. After the trial year 2021 open to any exhibits, from 2023 there will be single-page exhibits dedicated to Belgian postage stamps, specifically postal novelties within the calendar year. The first such competition took place for the Belgian postage stamp issue plan of 2023 with exhibits, currently exhibits dedicated to the Belgian postage stamp issue plan of 2024 are being collected.

Overview of exhibits created and exhibited so far:

» THEMA1 Collection 2021

» THEME1 Collection 2023

» THEME1 Collection 2024

Samples of single-page exhibits based on Belgian postage stamps and stamp products issued in 2023:

Single-page exhibit, A3 landscape format (above)

Art Nouveau reflections (Secession reflexions)

based on the Belgian miniature sheet from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A4 portrait format (above)

Brussel, hoofdstad van de Art Nouveau (Brusel, capital fo Are Nouveau)

based on the Belgian miniature sheet (with its portion) from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A3 landscape format (above)

De europese avangradebeweging Cobra (European avant-garde movement Cobra)

based on the Belgian miniature sheet from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A3 landscape format (above)

Frietjestijd (Time for fries)

based on a special Belgian stamp puzzle from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A4 portrait format (above)

Historische lijnvlucht naar Congo (Historic regular flight to Congo)

based on a Belgian postage stamp from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A4 portrait format (above)

Insuline (Insulin)

based on the top part of the Belgian small stamp-sheet from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A4 portrait format (above)

Tien Jaar Koningschap Z. M. Koning Filip (Ten years of the reign of His Majesty King Philip)

based on a pair of Belgian postage stamps from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A4 portrait format (above)

Oorworm_versus_oorwurm (Earworm versus ear-pleasing music)

based on a Belgian postage stamp (from a minisheet) from 2023 (below).

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Ssingle-page exhibit, A4 portrait format (above)

Spinnenkriebels (Spinning yarn)

based on a Belgian postage stamp from 2023 (below).

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Single-page exhibit, A4 portrait format (above)

Tijger -en wespinnen (Tiger and wasp spider)

based on a Belgian postage stamp from 2023 (below).

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Concept of the Slovak club FilaNotes

The examples given indicate that one-page/single-page exhibits are an interesting way of creating small exhibits, which is accessible to both beginner and advanced collectors of all ages. Therefore, we at the FilaNotes club decided to formulate our own rules for our collectors derived from those mentioned above and to address all interested parties in Slovakia and the Czech Republic with the Challenge for creating single-page exhibits below.

If our callenge is successful and the concept of single-page exhibits is accepted (possibly with minor changes), we plan to approach the Slovak Philatelists' Association (ZSF) and the Slovak Post, or the Czech Philatelists' Association (SČF) and the Czech Post for cooperation, so that we can jointly announce a competition for the best/most attractive/most unusual Single-page exhibit. The preliminary deadline for such a competition is November 30, 2025, to allow enough time to prepare the exhibits and subsequently evaluate them by the end of 2025.

Samples of the first Slovak one-page exhibits

Thanks to two "pioneers", members of the FilaNotes club, the first two Slovak one-page exhibits have already appeared - even before the official formulation of the challenge. Their authors are Zoltan Kovacs from Senec and Peter Oslanec from Ziar nad Hronom. Thank you! And congratulations!

Both exhibits are based on the Slovak postage stamp Personalities: Monk Cyprian (1724 - 1775) from 2024, which was issued in a miniature sheet form and which both exhibits use. We bring them in their full glory for your inspiration and assessment.

Single-page exhibit Frantisšek Ignac Jaschke aka Flying Monk Cyprian, author Zoltan Kovacs, A3 portrait format.
Base: Slovak postage stamp in miniature sheet form from 2024 (Cat. No. 824) - Personalities: Monk Cyprian (1724 - 1775) - 300th anniversary of birth

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Single-page exhibit Monk Cyprian (1724-1775), author Peter Oslanec, A3 landscape format.
Base: Slovak postage stamp in miniature sheet form from 2024 (Cat. No. 824) - Personalities: Monk Cyprian (1724 - 1775) - 300th anniversary of birth

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Samples of other Slovak and Czech one-page exhibits

Based on the callenge, additional exhibits appeared, dedicated to both Slovak and Czech stamps. Thank you!

Single-page exhibit Cardináls Jan Chrystostom Korec and Jan Tomko, author Jan Vallo, A3 portrait format.
Base: Slovak postage stamp from 2024 (Cat. No. 810) - Personalities: Jan Chryzostom Korec (1924 – 2015) and Jozef Tomko (1924 – 2022) - 100th anniversary of birth.

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Single-page exhibit Presidents of the Slovak Republic, author Peter Oslanec, A3 landscape format.
Base: Slovak postage stamp from 2024 (Cat. No. 821) - President of the Slovak Republic - Peter Pellegrini.

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Single-page exhibit Vladimir Tesar - 100th anniversary of birth, author Petr Fencl, A3 landscape format.
Base: Czech postage stamp from 2024 (Cat. No. 1292) - Artwork on stamps: Vladimir Tesar (1924 - 2008) - Evening arrival.

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Who will be next? Or another one?

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Challenge for creation of one-page exhibits and a competition show

We invite all interested parties to create single-page exhibits that will be built on postage stamps from the issue plan of Slovak or Czech stamps issued in 2024.

The exact wording of the call, including simple rules and deadlines, can be found in a separate announcement: Call for the creation of one-page exhibits and participation in the competition show

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References and sources used

© American Topical Association (ATA)

© British Thematic Association (BTA)

© Belgian thematic club Themafila-Wetteren

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Contact the author of the article: Vojtech Jankovič.