I have a friend that is submitting a quilt to the Historical Quilt Society, she was told that if she put a label on it now it would not be a historical quilt, because (the last stitch in it) is when it is considered finished quilt. So she has made a label that will be set next to the quilt instead of stitched on the quilt. Thinking about your question, I would check to see what they consider a finished quilt, if it needs a label then your quilt is not finished, thus it would meet the requirements. Call them and see what they have to say, and by all means you must tell them that it has never been shown before...good luck __^..^__