Saint-Cannat All Collections Fair

Saint-Cannat, a Provençal village at the foot of the Trévaresse

Saint-Cannat is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône region nestled at the foot of the Trévaresse mountain range, about twelve kilometers north of Aix-en-Provence. This typically Provençal village, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, is known for its architectural heritage—including the Saint-Cannat church rebuilt after the 1909 earthquake—and for Suffren, the illustrious navigator born here in 1729. The village also houses the Suffren and Old Saint-Cannat Museum, a testament to local history.

It is in the Salle du 4 Septembre, a multi-purpose hall located on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle in the heart of the village, that the All Collections Fair is held annually, organized by the Philatelic Association of the Pays d'Aix (APPA), an association affiliated with the FFAP.

A fair open to all collections

The unique feature of this fair is its openness to all forms of collecting. Far from being limited to philately, the event welcomes a very wide range of specialties:

• Philately and marcophily: French and foreign postage stamps, old letters, cancellations, postal stationery
• Old postcards: views of Provence, genre scenes, vintage illustrated cards
• Numismatics: coins, medals, collectible banknotes
• Old papers: historical documents, posters, old menus, chromolithographs
• Old books and collectible comic books
• Vintage toys and collectible dolls
• Phone cards (telecartes)
• Minerals and fossils
• Vinyl records and old records

Each exhibitor, whether professional or passionate amateur, brings their expertise and items, creating a rich and diverse offering that satisfies both seasoned collectors and novices looking for a first item.

A friendly event with an accessible format

With around thirty exhibitors spread throughout the hall, the Saint-Cannat All Collections Fair maintains a human-scale format that encourages personalized exchanges. Collectors take the time to chat, share their knowledge, and explain the history of the items presented. This human dimension is one of the strengths of the event, which prioritizes the quality of encounters over the quantity of stands.

Free entry and free parking make the event accessible to all audiences. From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, visitors can browse all the stands at their own pace, return to chat with an exhibitor, compare offers, and make great finds at often very reasonable prices.

The Philatelic Association of the Pays d'Aix

The organizer of this fair is the APPA (Association Philatélique du Pays d'Aix), an association founded and based in Aix-en-Provence, affiliated with the French Federation of Philatelic Associations (FFAP). The APPA organizes regular activities for its members—weekly meetings, exchange fairs—and contributes to the promotion of philately and collecting in the Pays d'Aix through public events like this annual fair in Saint-Cannat.

The choice of Saint-Cannat to host this event is not insignificant: the village, easily accessible from Aix-en-Provence, Salon-de-Provence, and the entire Pays d'Aix region, offers a pleasant setting and a suitable hall for this type of event.