Going postal at age 14

Helenka Campbell, 44, and her son Patrick, 14, of High Point examine some rare stamps as Richard Canupp (standing) assists during a Stamp and Postcard Show Dec. 12-13 at Comfort Suites on Brevard Road in Asheville. Canupp, who organized the show, runs Richard’s Stamp Shop in South Forest Shopping Center on Hendersonville Road. Patrick, who is following in the footsteps of his Slovakian grandfather as an avid stamp collector, already has amassed about 500,000 stamps. His favorite stamp is a 1901 Pan-American Exposition 2-cent train invert. Patrick specializes in 18th century U.S. stamps, enjoying their history and artwork. He earns money to buy stamps by mowing lawns. About 75 to 100 people attended the show, which was hurt by projections of bad weather and a real economic recession, Canupp said. Daily Planet Staff Photo