1. Judges and exhibitors should understand that higher level awards - particularly gold - would ordinarily be expected to meet one of two primary guidelines as part of its requirements.

a. Is this exhibit a display of philatelically significant material that (without reference to expense) is difficult to assemble and rarely seen?

b. Is this the rare exhibit that presents philatelically significant and fundamentally important new information on its subject, or offers important new theories or interpretations of it?

2. Two secondary but important judging guidelines apply to all exhibits.

a. The exhibit should demonstrate to the judges that the exhibitor has a clear understanding of the material shown.

b. The condition of material in the exhibit should be as good as is available in the field shown.

4. However, it should be equally clear that exhibits of contemporary or recent material, of narrow conceptual scope, or of (in the jury's opinion) less philatelic significance, will be substantially less competitive.

5. Beyond this, judging will be at the discretion of the judges - except, of course, for specific awards with defined criteria.

6. Two exhibits cannot be grouped and judged as one, because of the disadvantage it places on other exhibitors. Each exhibit must be judged independently.

7. Jurors, on their own initiative, may seek advice on any exhibit, but are never obligated to do so. Advice, if sought, must come from a non-exhibitor at that BNAPEX, and may be from anyone at the show recognized by the juror as highly knowledgeable in the field in question. Those who advise jury members, as a courtesy, should be given anonymity if desired.

8. Award level ribbons will be posted with exhibits immediately after the judges have finished their deliberations. Specific major awards and special awards will not be announced prior to the Banquet at the closing of the show.

9. All exhibitors should understand that BNAPEX is a specialized, sophisticated, and competitive venue. Exhibits that may have fared well at the national level may fare less well with BNAPS judges - and conversely, exhibits may fare better at a BNAPEX than they have (or will) at the national level.

10. The judging guidelines should be distributed to all accredited judges. Additional copies should be sent by the Judging Committee to jurors (and apprentices, if any) for the upcoming BNAPEX, and by the Exhibit Chairman to all exhibitors along with exhibit acceptance.

1. At every BNAPEX, an open meeting will be held in which exhibitors and non-exhibitors can question the judges about exhibits and their award rationales.

2. All members of the jury are expected to be in attendance, unless advance arrangements are made otherwise.

3. Scheduling and advance announcement are the responsibility of the Exhibit Chairman.