ABPS news
Spring 2015
Official magazine of the Association of British Philatelic Societies
Volume 22 Number 1
£1.50
Sociable Philately
See p.31
See p.17
See p.40
The ABPS News is also available online
www.abps.org.uk
page 2
ABPS news, Spring 2015
ABPS News, for and about Societies
The Magazine of the Association of British Philatelic Societies, published four
times a year: spring, summer, autumn, winter.
ABPS is a company limited by guarantee (3326534), founded 1 January 1994.
Material from ABPS News may be freely reproduced, but acknowledgement of
the source would be appreciated. Copyright of images may belong to parties
other than ABPS, who must also be consulted.
Volume 22, Number 1, Spring 2015 (whole number 85)
Editor: Keith S Burton
(ISSN 1353 6869)
CONTENTS
4, 5
6, 7
Collectively Speaking; Editorial
Anniversaries: Leeds 125
Gibraltar Study Circle 40 years
8
Golden Jubilees & Blast from the
Past Michael Round
13
MIDPEX 2015
The Podger Presidents
14
Inter-Society Display Meeting
and Bourse David Rennie
15
Lost and Found Michael Round
A Fond Farewell David Rennie
16 to 47 On the Club Circuit
(p.28, 29 I-Spy)
31
Index to I-Spy
47
F.I.S.A. and BAMS
48, 49 Stamp Active
50
British Stamp News
51
London 2015
York Fair 2015
52, 53 Diary of Local and regional
events
53
National Exhibitions,
International Exhibitions
54
ABPS information
Cover pictures:
Oxford Philatelic Society’s Christmas Lunch Party
Don Brookfield’s 80th Birthday Party at Bexley PS
Warminster Philatelic Society’s 50th Anniversary Dinner
An electronic copy of the newsletter can be viewed on the ABPS webpage
www.abps.org.uk soon after publication.
Contact details for the ABPS are on page 54 by the inside rear cover.
Copy dates: please send your material as soon as ready; at present the
copy deadlines are 31 December, 31 March, 31 July, 14 October. We
cannot guarantee to include items in specific editions. Items may be
edited for publication. Email copy is preferred (unformatted).
Send copy to the editor: Keith S Burton (see p54)
Illustrations should not be assumed to be accurate as to size or colour.
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 3
to let my body settle down for a time. I
do not think that I have any major
displays to complete for the first three
months of the year but should be back
into my full role thereafter. I hope that
my treatment will be completed at the
A view from the Chair
end of 2015 and that the cancer will be
and stay in remission. I will be
We are now into 2015 with responding to invitations to as many
all the joys that it may
AGMs as I can. I must thank my fellow
bring. It is a time when our executive members for their help in
New Year resolutions
covering for me especially over the last
have probably tarnished
nine months. I was allowed, by my wife
so I ask you all “What can who drove me, to attend the Middlesex
you give back to philately in general
Federation Fair in October and it was
and the ABPS in particular?” The
nice to be welcomed and to meet old
Midland Federation recently completed friends.
a survey of their member societies
2015 is a challenging year for the
regarding the ABPS and whilst the
philatelist with an additional London
results were challenging to the status
exhibition in May. This will be well
quo the overall concept of the ABPS
worth a visit but do not forget both the
met with support. One of the
normal Stampex events. I do hope to
suggestions was that the Executive
see you there. I was pleased to open
should visit more societies in future to
an envelope which contained a
hear of the grass roots’ concerns in
certificate from FEPA congratulating
addition to attending Federation and
the ABPS for its extraordinary
Specialist Society meetings. In theory
this sounds good but is impractical for contribution on the 25th Anniversary of
both time and cost. The Executive are the Institution of FEPA.
unpaid volunteers and spend much
Finally we are intending a revamp of
time on the positions we hold and the
the website so any suggestions of
events that we are expected to attend. content will be appreciated. The new
I am involved with the Postal Advisory directory is well on the way to
Council and the project over the new
finalisation and if you are a philatelic
Museum. It is pleasing to note that
speaker please will you ensure that
most of the finance required is in place. John Walden has your details.
It is expected that over 100 000 visitors
As you may imagine it has been quiet
will be attracted to the museum in the
first year and that the Mail Rail feature philatelically for me lately so I have
will prove a particular draw for visitors. little to report beyond belatedly wishing
you all a prosperous New Year and
I am pleased to say that my daily
that philatelic bargains appear for you.
radiotherapy sessions (all 7 weeks)
Best Wishes
John Baron
have been completed and I now have
Collectively
Speaking
page 4
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Editorial
I was pleased to be able to go to the
Northwest Federation’s Fair in Bolton
since the last issue, especially as it
gave me the chance to find out what
people think of ABPS. Unfortunately
there were very few people willing to
say much—some clearly had little or no
idea of what ABPS is or does, others
were far too busy trying to find that
elusive missing stamp or cover
amongst the dealers’ stocks. As John
Baron found in the Midlands, there are
some that think that the committee
should be spending lots of time and
their own money visiting society
meetings to listen to the vox populi. It is
interesting that they do not see things
the other way round—that they should
be attending ABPS or Federation
Seminars and AGMs in order to make
their voices heard. However some
were more positive–recognising the
role that ABPS has in international
fields and in imparting information. Also
the leaflets on various fields of our
collective hobby were mentioned
positively. One interesting comment
from a dealer bewailed the multiplicity
of concurrent and adjacent Federation
events—each wanting dealers to
attend and bemoaning the number that
could not be at their event having
previously accepted an invitation to
another one in the next region. He
suggested that there should be some
cooperation over dates between
federations to enable both dealers and
society members to visit as many as
possible, citing three occurring on one
weekend with a whole month free of
ABPS news, Spring 2015
any just before these
clashes. His
suggestion was that
ABPS might be able
to coordinate or hold
a central calendar.
Whether practical or
not I don’t know, but it is certainly worth
some discussion. Another point raised
was about reports in the News. The
comment was that some societies
always had reports in, but others
(mainly their own) were never
mentioned. They didn’t know who was
responsible for sending them in—but it
wasn’t them. Perhaps they wanted me
to go to every meeting of every society
so that I could write the reports! Let me
assure you all that my aim is to include
something from every society or group
that sends material to me. The last four
News have included items from
between 45 and 61 federations and
societies—that leaves over 200 with no
reports. Does that mean that their
meetings are so uninteresting—surely
not? Short reports are very welcome as
I don‘t have to do as much pruning to fit
it all together. Photographs, preferably
not too formal and with some care over
the background, add colour to the read.
Interesting twists of any nature are
always welcome—especially if there is
a touch of humour. See the report from
Leamington via John Gledhill in this
issue to understand what I mean in that
respect. Most important of all: Tell me
what you think. I want to serve you but
I need your help—how about a
correspondence page? I hope to see
and talk to you at Stampex/London
2015 etc. I will be wearing my badge.
Keith Burton
page 5
Society anniversaries, 2015
According to the date of foundation shown in the societies’ information on our
records, significant anniversaries include those shown below. If you think we’ve
missed you out, please let the Editor know.
Heartiest congratulations to all involved in these milestones:
Leeds Philatelic Society – The First 125 Years, 1890-2015
In 1890 a group of collectors gathered together in Leeds to organise an
exhibition to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the first adhesive postage stamp. At
a meeting of the Leeds Philatelic Exhibition Committee on 31 May 1890, held at
the house of the Chairman, Mr Joseph Scott, at Chadhurst, Headingley, the
proposal was put and agreed that the Leeds Philatelic Society be founded. The
Exhibition Committee became the nucleus of the new society.
The subscription was initially 2/6 (12½p) a year, due in advance on 1 st January.
Membership was restricted to bona fide amateur collectors, and election of
members was by ballot, with one black ball in six being sufficient for exclusion.
Candidates were proposed at a previous meeting. Meetings were held at
7.30pm on the first Friday of each month. Joseph Scott was elected as President
with Rev T S Fleming as Vice President, Robert S Wigin as Treasurer and W
Dennison Roebuck and T K Skipwith as Secretaries. Early meetings were held
at the Leeds Mechanics Institute and Literary Society. The charge for the
meeting room was 2/6 per night. There were eighteen members in the first year.
Initial meetings were informal with no set syllabus. Members showed and
discussed items from their collections. Over the next few years the meetings
became more structured with a pre-arranged series of meetings, competitions
and exchange visits with other societies. A Library was established which now
has around 4000 items and is acknowledged as one of the major philatelic
libraries in the North of England. A Juniors’ Section was set up and ran
successfully for several years, but changing attitudes of children and parents
have seen the demise of the Juniors’ Section.
As the society has progressed there have been changes, though many of the
original Rules remain. We don’t restrict membership to amateur collectors any
more, and of course the subscription has gone up, but we still read the names of
prospective members at two meetings before they are elected as members.
There have been crises in the past which have tested our resourcefulness. The
most recent occurred when we were informed early in August 2014 that the
meeting room at Leeds General Infirmary was no longer available due to new
security measures. A small group of members scoured Leeds for a new venue
with only five weeks before the new session started in September, and
eventually found a suitable room at the Leeds College of Music.
The society has been hosting a two day Stamp Fair at Pudsey since 1990 which
is now established as one of the most popular Fairs in the North of England. The
page 6
ABPS news, Spring 2015
venue is easy to access with free admission, and the great attraction for many is
the special pie and mushy peas served in the restaurant.
An Annual Dinner is held around about March each year where we are
entertained by a guest speaker and competition awards are made. Over the
years the format and venue of the dinner has changed several times. Early ones
were formal with music and dancing. Now they are very informal and held at the
Leeds City College’s new building in Hunslet Road, formerly The Printworks.
For our 125th Anniversary we have a programme of meetings which celebrate
Leeds Philately, and are also hosting the 2015 Yorkshire Philatelic Association’s
Annual Convention jointly with the Bradford and Harrogate societies. We are
also putting on a small exhibition of Philatelic and Postal Material at the Abbey
House Museum, Leeds LS5 3EH from 1st May to 30th June 2015. Then of course
we will need to think of what we might do to celebrate our 150th Anniversary in
2040 – and that’s the 200th Anniversary of the Uniform Penny Post!
John Edwards
Gibraltar Study Circle – 40 years old.
The Society was formed in May 1975, the brainchild of the late Wally Jackson
of Leamington Spa, for the benefit of both advanced and novice collectors of the
Colony. Our newsletter “The Rock” is published quarterly, and bi-annual postal
auctions are held at the two weekend meetings. The Study Circle has over 100
members worldwide and offers a warm welcome to all new members immaterial
as to what their interest is in Gibraltar philately, stamps, postal history, postcards
or even ephemera. Many excellent publications have been produced as well as
over twenty Study Papers encompassing many subjects. To celebrate this 40 th
milestone it is hoped that a visit to Gibraltar will be made in April 2015. The
membership secretary is Eric Holmes – [email protected].
DAVID SHAW
FOR GB & WORLD POSTAL HISTORY
at realistic prices
www.davidshawpostalhistory.com
which will take you into our shop
DAVID SHAW’S OLD LETTERS
on eBay.co.uk
Telephone 01653 694953 or write to us at
QUARRY BANK, BROUGHTON, MALTON,
NORTH YORKSHIRE YO17 6QG
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 7
Golden Jubilees
Wimbledon and District PS have a double celebration with two members
having been involved for the last 50 years. Past President Phil Realff and
President Ray Downing joined 50 years ago last March. Phil joined first
having read about the society in Stamp Collecting. Ray was on holiday so Phil
went to the meeting, liked what he saw and joined. He took Ray to the next
meeting and he then joined too. In the following June, both were elected to
the committee, where Ray has remained ever since. Phil was Packet
Secretary for many years and also served as President before moving to
Brighton and leaving the committee. Three years after joining the committee,
Ray became Treasurer and served for 25 years, with one small break. He has
served three three-year stints as President but at the end of the last one in
2000 the constitution was altered to allow him to continue, as no one else was
prepared to take on the Presidency. That means that Ray has now given 22
presidential displays, plus one given by Mike Blackman, a colleague both
professionally and philatelically for many years. Congratulations Phil and Ray
– Come on Wimbledon, give the man a break!
Michael Round via The Wimbledon & District PS Newsletter
Blast from the Past
Browsing through some old Philatelic Magazines, bought cheaply at a long-ago
joint auction (see what you miss, you absentees), I came across a story – new
to me – about Trinidad & Tobago’s 1962 Independence set, specifically the 5c
value (SG300). Firstly there were complaints from the Trinidad & Tobago
Philatelic Society that the caption Buccoo Reef made no mention of its being
part of Tobago rather than big brother Trinidad. Next there was the revelation
that the picture didn’t show Buccoo Reef at all, but had simply been taken from
a Port of Spain hotel-bar mural. The underwater scene shown there had been
copied by its Chinese artist from various National Geographic Magazine
pictures and its fish came from Japan not from the Caribbean! – Hence the
cautious description in the current Part One. An unassuming stamp with an
unexpectedly interesting background.
Michael Round via Wimbledon & District PS Newsletter
Something to look forward to
ABPS is at present working on three new leaflets.
It is hoped that they will be produced in time for London 2015.
They will give guidance on those three stalwart branches of our hobby
Traditional Philately
Post Card Collecting
Cinderella Collecting
page 8
ABPS news, Spring 2015
MIDPEX 2015
set to be the biggest and best yet
MIDPEX is the prestigious biennial exhibition first held in 1995 and attended by
stamp collectors from across the UK. In bringing together Specialist Societies
with local, national and international dealers covering all aspects of philately, it
provides a shop window for Specialist Societies to show off their sphere of
interest to other collectors, to recruit members and identify common ground
with members of other Societies. It also provides an opportunity for Societies to
promote their publications and research projects and for members to meet
informally, particularly those members who find it difficult to get to meetings in
London.
The event in 2015 will be the biggest and best yet with more space allowing the
introduction of postcard dealers as well as stamps, thematics and postal
history. Over 60 dealers and 40 Specialist Societies are expected to support
the Show with many holding their regional meetings at the event.
Bryan Jones, Chairman of the Midpex Committee, said “We are excited about
the improved facilities and are planning for our most ambitious event yet. It is a
showcase for all that is best in UK philately. We look forward to seeing you all
on July 4th.”
For further details see the Diary on page 53
The Podger Presidents
At a recent meeting of the Royal
Philatelic Society London, the
opportunity was taken to record a
unique moment in philatelic circles –
the meeting of three local society
presidents - all from the same
family. Christopher Podger and his
two sons had met together for the
RPSL Scottish Members displays.
Christopher commented on the
occasion; ‘This is special as it is
James (Farnham), Christopher
unusual that James and Francis are
(Chichester), Chris King (The Royal) & together with me at a philatelic
Francis (Dundee)
meeting but more extraordinary
today as we are currently all
presidents of local societies, something I am sure has not happened before’. A
photograph was taken to commemorate the occasion.
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 13
Inter-Society Display Meeting and Bourse
The fourth annual Inter-Society Display Meeting was held in early December,
hosted by Bromley & Beckenham PS. This year, teams came from Bexley,
Croydon, Lewisham, and Sidcup societies by invitation. The format has evolved
from the initial competitive meeting at Beckenham in 2011, and this article is
written to record the developments of this event and perhaps give other groups
of societies some suggestions. In late 2010/early 2011, Bromley and Croydon
secretaries were comparing notes about our Societies and their activities. I
wondered if Croydon would take up a challenge to a full competition evening
which Bromley would organise. The idea was to encourage new entrants with
less formal rules. The first event was held in December 2011, with a total of 14
guests from Bexley, Croydon and Lewisham Societies, and a national qualified
judge. As this was a new event, all present were asked to make comments,
suggestions etc. concerning the event, with a view to it continuing in future
years. All present seemed to want to continue the event as a social occasion for
the societies involved. Lewisham won with 249 points. The 2nd event was run by
Lewisham in 2012, the 3rd by Bexley in 2013 – each to their own format. After
three events, Croydon dropped out not liking the competitive element of marking
and preferring to make it a display evening only. The original aim of encouraging
new competitors/displayers seemed to have been entirely lost.
Bromley decided to host the 2014 event, and wrote to six societies as follows:
‘Your society is invited to bring up to three displays of up to 12 sheets each; they
may be from any of the usual categories. We hope that the person putting up a
display will talk about it for up to 5 minutes, but this is not mandatory. The
displays will be in no particular order, of clubs or categories. It will be a real mix,
and much less formal than normal. There will be NO competitive element, nor
judges; other than the audience, who will be asked at the end of the evening to
vote in a blind ballot, for their favourite display. The aim is to return to the
original idea of encouraging general club members to participate, even if they do
not normally represent their society on visits or enter competitions; all members
of your club are welcome to attend.’
As a result, Croydon returned, joined by Bexley, Lewisham and Sidcup. Each
society brought three 12-sheet displays. The frames were numbered 1-15, and
those displaying drew numbers as they arrived to determine their frame. After all
the displays were on show, the audience members nominated their personal
favourite by secret ballot. Christmas Fare was served during the interval and
there were numerous raffle prizes, a good number of which were won by visitors.
The general consensus afterwards was that this was the best yet, the format
worked well and everybody enjoyed themselves in a relaxed and friendly
atmosphere. Subsequently Bromley have agreed to host the 2015 event.
David Rennie
page 14
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Lost and Found
Being burgled is something that we all hope will never happen to us, but more
than one of us has suffered this way in the past. Malcom Norris’s own unhappy
experience last year had an extraordinary sequel. He was on the Northern Line,
heading up to town, when a glitch in the system forced all passengers out at
Kennington. He took the opportunity to look in a charity shop across the street
from the station, and there was what looked like one of his albums, offered
empty for 50p or £1. He opened it, and in the front cover were his initials: there
was also a double page that opened up to show a lot of Penny Reds that he had
been plating. As he says “What are the odds of that happening?”
Michael Round via Wimbledon & District PS Newsletter
A Fond Farewell
Bromley & Beckenham have said goodbye to Ian and Diana Nutley who have
moved to Wrexham. Clubs in the north-west have much to look forward to, once
they have settled in – Zeppelins and the Anschlüss being particular specialities
of Ian, who is
an excellent
and entertaining
speaker.
At the end of
November they
were honoured
and thanked by
the Committee
and
membership
who had voted
to create them
Honorary Life
Members in
recognition of
Ian Crees says thanks and farewell to Diana and Ian Nutley
their
contribution to the wellbeing and proceedings of the Society.
Ian joined in 1984, has been President on two occasions, 1991-2 and 1997-8,
was Programme Secretary from 2001-10, and has put up many displays during
his membership of the Society. Diana joined in 2007 and ran the raffles at our
regular meetings, the Tombola at our stamp fairs, and was always a willing
helper. The President presented a Certificate to this effect to Ian and Diana, and
a crystal vase for their new home as a memento of their time at Bromley and
Beckenham. Bromley & Beckenham’s and Kent’s loss is Wrexham’s and the
North Western Federation’s gain.
David Rennie
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 15
On the Club circuit
A roundup of events and speakers at local and
national societies.
Please send your reports direct to the Editor. We cannot undertake to include
every report sent to us, and reserve the right to edit the reports we receive in the
interests of space; short reports are best please. Full contact details for the
societies are in the ABPS handbook and website. Visitors are welcome at all
societies listed. When submitting photos please ensure that any people shown
(especially children) have agreed to their photo appearing in this national
newsletter (Data Protection and all that…). ”” Indicates contact information.
Alfreton PS
We are looking forward to our Fair on
Sunday 12th April and will welcome any
visitors. There will be over 20 dealers
to help you find that missing item and
then you will be able to compare notes
over refreshments, including from a bar
– assuming that you have any money
left. Further details in the Diary on p52.
Jim Hales
Amersham & District PS
Eighteen members attended our first
meeting of whom ten displayed on E
and F. Displays included Elephants in
Malaya, Clive Feigenbaum and
Extraordinary Envelopes. Later at our
auction the star items were a part set of
the Malaya/Borneo Exhibition overprint
stamps that fetched £280 and a 1R on
10k overprint on the Moscow-San
Francisco North Pole flight stamp that
fetched £100. The total was over
£4000. Newfoundland is Different was
Cliff Hurst’s theme in October. He
showed how Newfoundland ploughed
its own furrow with regard to stamp
issues – producing some delightful
page 16
issues on the way until, with state
bankruptcy looming, circumstances
forced it to join the Canadian
Confederation in 1948.
We also saw an absolutely brilliant
display of Jamaica from Steve Jarvis
covering the whole gamut of postal
material from pre-stamp covers to
airmails not forgetting the story of the
various stamp issues along the way.
It’s the sort of display and story that
stands repetition many times. Denis
Vandervelde concentrated on
European mail in the period of the
cholera pandemic of the 1830s. He
went through the various countries that
tried to ensure that cholera wasn’t
transmitted by mail items. He
highlighted that disinfection for
smallpox continued until that disease
was eradicated in the 1970s and
mentioned that it was resurrected,
albeit by irradiation rather than
chemical techniques, by the US
government for its mail after the
anthrax scare in the early 2000s. The
US may even still be doing it—but
you’d need to consult the FBI about
that!
From Middlesex PF Bulletin
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Airmails of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
ranged from first flight covers from
Throughout August and September
1920, changes in rates to the main
John Cowlin displayed a large
destinations, WWII Prisoner of War and
selection of his WWI propaganda
Internment Mail to the Central African
postcards and other items as part of an Airways air letter stamps. We finished
exhibition commemorating the start of
off 2014 with Len Stanway testing our
the war. It was held at the Eastgate
knowledge with 25 True or False
Gallery in Basildon. After the Auction in Questions. Dean Taylor won with 20
September and Stamp Collector’s
correct, so we all celebrated with
Question Time in October, we were
festive fare.
Len Stanway
visited by Bexley PS. John Corderoy
from The Basildon Philatelist
opened with a comprehensive
Bexley PS
collection of Gibraltar from Queen
Victoria to the early part of the reign of At the start of our 2014 season in
Queen Elizabeth II. Don Brookfield
September, we celebrated the 80th
followed with a fascinating King George birthday of our packet secretary and
VI Pot Pourri including varieties,
auctioneer Don Brookfield with a card,
booklets, proofs and fiscal usages. In
round of applause, and cake. He has
November Michael Thompson
also served as club president and Kent
Federation president in 2004-5. Len
Barnes started his display on Aviation
in the year of the Prussian siege of
Basildon PS
Michael Thompson and his Bits
and Pieces
brought his Bits and Pieces. This
began with Kent philatelic events and
then ranged far and wide, including
forgeries from Diss, the Isles of Jethou,
Canna and Shuna, England Winners
covers posted in Scotland and
Antarctica labels – pot pourri indeed.
Christopher Cooksey was more
focussed in December. His display on
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Len Barnes on Aviation
Paris. Some siege letters were shown.
The country continued to be the great
leader in the early days of powered
flight and he showed a range of
Cinderella and philatelic material from
this time. In the second part he showed
the development of international
page 17
commercial airlines, particularly in Latin
America and Asia. In October, we were
entertained by Cinque Ports PS. Barry
Knight showed classic railway scenes,
as interpreted by painter Terence
Cuneo (known for hiding a mouse in
his paintings). He then showed the Isle
of Man, independent since 5 July 1973.
Roger Dickinson presented stamps
from federated Canada (post-1867),
many of the earliest of which are of a
‘large queens’ format, which he
described as ‘a good engraving on bad
paper’. He also showed covers from
the extensive William Rennie
correspondence; the sea merchant
kept all his mail, including many
registered covers. Our Members’ Night
was for material from R, S and T in
early November. Our competition night
later that month was the largest for
some time. The 15 entries, for
traditional stamps to 1937 (8 pages)
and postal history (16 pages) were so
numerous that even with extra frames
we had to display some on trestle
tables. Double congratulations go to
Michael Thompson, President of the
National Philatelic Society, who won
both. The club thanks Mr & Mrs
Johnson from Gravesend for judging.
From 1899, Sudan was an AngloEgyptian condominium. Once the latter
achieved independence from the
Ottoman Empire in the 1920s, its
expansionist policies lead it up the Nile
into the ‘Equatorial Areas’, according to
the detailed display of Dr B Austen in
early December. He included two items
of correspondence from the famous
General Gordon, who had been active
in the area before being killed in
Khartoum by Mahdi's forces. Sudan
page 18
became important in aerophilately, as a
stop on the way for regular flights to
South Africa (1932).
Adrian Smith, 01322 559210 or
[email protected]
Will Dalrymple
Bromley & Beckenham PS
Carol Turner travelled from Somerset
to Kent to give us her display of British
Borneo 1883-1908 in early November.
After explaining how she and her late
husband, Alex, had merged their
collections, Carol gave a brief history of
Malcolm Roberts makes a point
Borneo and thereabouts from the
attempted early settlements in the mid1700s, James Brooke’s and Charles
Brooke’s activities and deals with the
Sultan of Brunei, leading to the
eventual establishment of the British
North Borneo (Chartered) Company,
and the first issues of stamps in 1883.
Further material included postal
stationery with a reply half card used
back from Warwick; picture postcards
and revenue items. In November
Malcolm Roberts gave his display
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Mail and the Steamships. He began by
giving a short résumé of the
development of the steamship, the
personalities involved during the early
19th Century from the routes as far as
Egypt. Later Malcolm concentrated on
the North Atlantic routes and the
problems associated with setting rates
to/from the USA. The quality of the
postmarks, ship-letter, cachets and
agent’s marks was much above
average, even for the scarcest of
marks. The whole was beautifully
presented with clear explanations of
the routes and rates, and additional
illustrations of the postal markings. At
our President’s Evening, the speaker
was John Shaw, President of Kent
Federation, showing us France. John
then made presentations individually to
Erica Banks and Grahame Boutle of
their salvers as part of the winning
KFPS team in the Thematica InterFederation Competition, and then
jointly of the main trophy for the
winning team, (Mike Thompson, the
other member being absent.)  David
on 020 8778 7009 or Chris on 020
8402 1263 or on www.beckenham.net/
leisure.asp
David Rennie
devoted more to conservation issues.
Three frames were devoted to extinct
birds with another on birds’ eggs on
stamps. Then other frames were on
areas where birds are threatened such
as the main migration routes and the
impact of climate change. The display
concluded with birds in a natural
habitat such as the Falkland Islands
and Lundy Island. 
[email protected]
Peter Morton
Chelmsford & District PS
In late October Nick Kerridge
explained The History and Postal
Facilities in the Treaty Port of Wei-HaiWei. Wei-Hai-Wei was a garrison town
and port in North China near Port
Arthur. The Japanese invaded in 1894
and although repelled three times they
overran the area which surrendered on
February 2nd 1895. They set up Post
Boxes for troops, and items of
Japanese mail in the period 1895-8
were shown. The British paid an
indemnity for the Japanese to leave,
and leased the area from May 1898 to
1930, although the Navy could still use
the port till 1950. When the Post Office
was set up Hong Kong stamps were
Cambridge PS
used, and the various cancellations
In October we were visited by David
were shown. In 1917 a China overprint
Evans, a former Anglican Bishop of
was introduced. Nick also showed a
Peru, with a display on Birds of the
number of forgeries and bogus
Bible. Throughout he gave both
cancellations as well as items of
specific and general Biblical texts to
genuine military mail. In early
illustrate the theme of his display. In the November, member Nick Harris
first half he showed a very large range showed us Mail from Pioneer Flights to
of different birds on stamps from many and within Africa starting with the 1931
countries including eagles, vultures,
Christmas experimental flight from
owls and kingfishers. He also included Croydon to Cape Town, together with
the nineteen species of birds which
numerous covers flown on the various
Jews cannot eat. The second half was legs of the journey, many signed by the
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 19
pilot. Much scarcer are covers to
destinations beyond the route. In 1927
Captain Gladstone was authorised to
make survey flights from Khartoum to
Kisumu in Kenya. Although, officially,
no mail was carried on the first flight,
Nick showed us a very rare cover
carried by Gladstone, and signed by
him. In 1931 Wilson Airways, a local
company, started to carry mail in British
East Africa. Covers from some of the
first flights were shown. The
Tanganyika Government operated a
similar service. Both services were
used for internal mail, and also to
connect with the Imperial Airways
flights. The remainder of his display
was of censored airmail from Bermuda
during WWII, in many cases bearing
the two-colour high value key-plate
issues. We also saw transit mail
between Germany and USA censored
in Bermuda before the USA joined the
war. Later in the month two members
of the Essex Numismatic Society
visited us. David Jones gave his
illustrated talk on Token and Note
Issuers of Chelmsford and District
starting with a short overview of coins
and banknotes connected with the
town. By 1610 there was a serious
shortage of small coins and many
traders issued tokens for a penny or
halfpenny, which circulated locally.
They would usually bear the issuer’s
name or place of business, and we saw
illustrations of many of them. We also
saw examples of early cheques and
notes issued by local banks. Many of
the banks failed, or were taken over,
and some later became part of
Barclays Bank. Notes were often
forged although the penalty for
ABPS news, Spring 2015
possessing or passing one was death.
There were 140 such executions in the
first part of the nineteenth century.
Roger Barrett’s talk was on Forgers,
Essex Banks and a Lucky Escape,
starting with a trial involving a forged
cheque drawn on the Chelmsford bank,
Crickett, Merish & Crickett. The judge
was about to put on his black cap
before passing the death sentence
when a visiting barrister noted a
discrepancy and saved the prisoner.
There were many cases of innocent
people being executed for having
forged notes in their possession and
the penalty was eventually reduced to
transportation for 14 years. The
celebrated caricaturist George
Cruickshank (1792-1878) produced an
imitation banknote incorporating a
hangman’s noose as a £ sign, and a
gallows of hanged men, women and
children. 01245420196 or
[email protected]
John Rawlins
Croydon PS
We have had five excellent meetings in
the last few months. We started with
Max Smith showing The Indian Mutiny
1857-59. The material listed the riots
and battles throughout the two years,
with pictures from current sources,
recording
the
massacres
that took
place, and
letters from
the
individuals
participant
military
A Mutinous Max Smith personnel
and some
page 21
civilian witnesses and refugees. The
fascinating range of material all in near
perfect condition was an education and
a pleasure to examine, plus Max
presented it with a lucid and
entertaining description in detail. The
evening was too brief to do justice to
such a collection, which was greatly
enjoyed. Early in October we
welcomed Malcolm Green and John
Terry from East Grinstead Stamp &
Postcard Club. Malcolm brought his
embryo collection The Development of
Stamp Collecting being items from
1840 to current issues. He also showed
Gibraltar 1903-1936 loaned by David
Sumpter. John’s display was of DDR
1949-67. From this we went to The
American Civil War with Derek Mauri.
Having set the scene, Derek showed
us a thematic display of the major
battles and activities. Then we saw
letters from soldiers and civilians from
the Confederate States. At the next
meeting Cliff Hurst went further north
to Newfoundland. The material was
dated from 1857 to 1949 when
Newfoundland joined Canada, and
included stamps, stationery, airmails
and proofs – a very colourful and
interesting display. November started
with nine members showing from their
collections – a very varied and
fascinating mixture.
Graham Harker
Ferndown & West Moors
PPC
Our members were educated and
entertained by Spence Coaker on
Hong Kong. He is clearly a great
authority with a magnificent collection
and great knowledge of the history.
Both were used in full. Spence wove a
page 22
Spence Coaker with Bob Small
most informative path through
numerous developments and setbacks, including opium trading, wars,
blockades and eventually the 1841
‘Nanking Treaty’…with 5 trading ports
forced to be opened. 1862 saw the
colony’s first stamp issue which formed
part of a most interesting display
through six reigns, complete with a
considerable study of cancellations.
Besides stamps, covers,
correspondence, maps and photos,
postcards were well represented. A
particularly fine one from 1901 depicted
in colour the Hong Kong Naval Basin
under construction. A strong emphasis
was placed on WWII Japanese
occupation covers and cancels. Also
displayed were superb examples of
mail relating to both shipping and
airline companies which began to be
significant players in the colony’s rapid
success. The prize for the ‘unexpected’
must surely go to an item of
‘disinfected mail’!! This 1881 postcard
posted Shanghai to Frederica,
Denmark, had disinfection slots cut into
it, the result of a fearful cholera
epidemic in Egypt at that time. The
evening concluded with a section on
ABPS news, Spring 2015
the 30th June 1997 ‘Handover’. Here
was included a handsome limited issue
cover to commemorate the departure
of British Forces, signed by
Commodore P. J. Melson and the Rt.
Hon. Chris Patten – the last Governor.
It was noted that within a year, China
printed her first definitive set.
Paul Barry
month the attractions of Harrogate
enticed Brian Dow down from
Scotland to talk about somewhere even
further North – Norway. He started with
the first stamps including an 1851
cover from Oslo to Dunfermline and
showed some 1878 definitives which
he pointed out were still going today as
the longest running design (posthorn),
more recently including bi-colours and
Harrogate PS
tricolours. His predominant system was
In October, Jeremy Piercy came
however more thematic, featuring
across from York to give us a display
designs of flowers, wild animals,
on GB Returned Mail. He showed
lighthouses and rally cars. The second
almost unbelievable material which had half featured some fascinating material
started out with the Dead Letter Office on Norwegian First Flights (many by
back in 1784. At that time there was a seaplane), local posts and Norwegian
system of post roads centred around
stamp designers. Near Christmas we
the hubs of London, Dublin and
put on a display in the main Library,
Edinburgh, and the receiving town
based on Christmas stamps, covers,
would deliver and collect monies
airmails and so on from around the
against letter bills. Postage was
expensive and the addressee often
refused to pay. The letter would be
sent to the Dead Letter Office who
would make out a receipt to the Post
Office to cover the cost. In 1813 the
Dead Letter Office became the
Returned Letter Office. In 1839 there
were 60 million items of mail posted
with 1 million being returned to the
Returned Letter Office. With the Penny
Post, items posted increased sevenfold
but those returned only doubled,
Christmas Display at Harrogate Library
reflecting people’s greater willingness
to pay the cheaper postage. The
world. It seems to have been wellsecond half included the First World
received so we hope for a few more
War at a time when postal services had visitors or members.
Brian Coop
been suspended. This included items
Hertford & District PS
from different theatres of the War
We started the season with an excellent
including one letter which had been
thrown out of a plane over enemy lines display of Canada given by Charles
addressed to a pilot who was believed Murkin. This was followed by a visit from
Rickmansworth in October giving two
to have been shot down. Later that
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 23
displays – Italy by Andy Harris and GB
Overland and Maritime mail of Carl
Barnes. Both displays gave us sight of
first class material and wide ranging
information.
From Middlesex PF Bulletin
The Isle of Ely PS
Our first get-together in September was
an addition to the planned programme.
We visited the British Postal Museum
Store in Debden, Essex where we
found many fascinating items from
letter boxes to vehicles. Coincidentally,
at our first club meeting on the
following day, two members gave
displays on Post Boxes and G.B.
Postal History. In October, Mr
Swindells set up a static display on
Barley to Bottle & Hops to Hand Pumps
and gave a talk and display on The
Ijzer Pilgrimage. Railways by K.
Dowling, was the popular subject for
November's meeting. The TPO
material displayed tied in well with our
visit to the BPMS. In December,
partners were invited and members
presented short displays on a
Christmas theme. A Christmas buffet
was then enjoyed by everybody.
 01354 659358
Valerie Roberts
Kendal & District PS
Our 2014-15 programme opened in
September with a Recent Acquisitions
evening. A diverse range of material
was shown by Society members who
had clearly been active purchasers. In
October, Graham Chadwick, a
member of the Lytham St. Anne’s
Society, visited us. Prior to the evening,
many members knew Lundy as an
island somewhere in the Bristol
Channel: not much else. By the time
Graham had taken us through his two
part display, our knowledge about the
island’s postal system, stamps and
cancellations, together with its
inhabitants and owners, had increased
significantly. Our November meeting
was a members’ evening – the letter F.
Three of the displaying members
presented a diverse range of relevant
materials. The chairman showed one
stamp which featured a fruit he vividly
remembered from the days he spent
working in Singapore. The fruit was the
durian better known locally as the king
of fruits. He pointed out that this fruit
gave off a foetid odour which was
detectable from some distance away
and, if he had brought one into the
meeting room, the smell would, in a
very short period of time, have emptied
not just the room members were using
but adjoining rooms as well. Our next
meeting was a social gathering which
incorporated a single page competition.
The competition was won by Dave
Rothery with a display which focussed
on a special Red Cross label, printed in
1914 in Trinidad. The proceeds of sale
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page 24
ABPS news, Spring 2015
of the label were to be placed into a
Wounded Soldiers and Sailors Fund.
Additionally, and for one day only, the
labels were permitted to be used as
official postage stamps on mail sent to
some 900 addresses in Trinidad and
Tobago. The labels qualified as
substitutes for official postage stamps
provided the letters inside the envelope
contained a request for donations to
the abovementioned Fund.
01539 823503
Philip Gerrard
King’s Lynn PS
The season started back in September
with a Burst of Brazilian sunshine laid
on by Janet and Nick Nelson which
included national costume and
Brazilian drinks. Two weeks later we
were enthralled by Graham Mark’s
wide ranging display of material
relating to the First World War
Campaigns in the Western Desert and
up into Palestine and Syria. In early
October we were entertained by
members from Spalding who showed
Chinese Air Posts in the 1920s and
1930s, followed by Austria and its
Olympics. The first of our two
competition evenings came next, with
our judge, Richard Husband
(Cambridge) showing some of his
excellent collection of GB perfins.
November 14th saw a superb display
by David Stirrups of Gibraltar with
stamps and postal history from the
early 18th century to 1900, followed by
a selection of modern stamps including
preliminary sketches, accepted and
unaccepted essays, proofs, the issued
stamps, flaws and colour errors. Two
weeks later a members’ night,
displaying letters ‘O’ and ‘P’, produced
ABPS news, Spring 2015
the best range of material seen on
such an evening. In November also,
four of our members took part in an
ABPS judges’ training seminar held
over two days in Hitchin with the
intention of taking part in phase two at
Stampex in February. The December
meeting was our usual seasonal affair
with our old friend, John Shaw, doing
the honours with a display of
Telegrams, home and abroad proving
to be most entertaining and of course
all related to the year 1937. The display
was followed by the usual festive social
gathering. [email protected]
Mike Kentzer
Kingston & District PS
We were treated to two themed
meetings and a society auction, at the
start of the new season. These were
well attended as was the meeting in
October, when we were entertained by
Professor Derek Diamond FRPSL.
Derek has produced a book on the
design, printing and use of the 1898
pictorial of New Zealand. His display
Derek Diamond with his research on
the 1898 NZ pictorials
page 25
was on this pictorial issue and his
original researches in New Zealand
and in this country. The whole
presentation was entertaining and
informative in showing how research
and development of the study can hold
an audience enthralled. Then Nigel
Gooch visited us with his display of
Persia. He has been collecting Persia
since the age of 13 when his father had
business contacts with the country. The
display began with an overview of
Persia in early days. Some pre-stamp
covers of the Ottoman period were
shown but more modern uses of the
post came about in 1868 when stamps
had been introduced and Nasr-ed-Din
had assumed leadership as Shah. The
portrait of the Shah appears on the
higher values of these stamps and the
Persian lion on lower values. Initially
stamps were not cancelled but peeled
off for reuse by the post-office clerks.
Consequently only a few used values
of the early stamps are known. At a
Social Evening, in December, awards
were presented for the competitions
held earlier in the year and a one-page
competition was held. 01932220677
[email protected]
Brian Sole FRPSL
James McInnes, Jennifer McInnes
(Grandson and greatgranddaughter of
Henry May VC), Anne Holmes
(President of LPS) , Major Ian
Farquharson (Cameronians [Scottish
Rifles]) and Jack Murray
postcards, Jack gave a wonderful
display. He began with the institution of
the VC during the Crimean War, by
Queen Victoria – to be awarded for
feats of outstanding bravery. In Hyde
Park on 26th June 1856, the Queen
invested 62 (of the 111) Crimean War
recipients with the medal. He continued
with illustrations of many who, through
the reigns of 6 British monarchs, have
been awarded the medal. This included
Lieutenant Henry May, born in
Bridgeton, Glasgow. He joined the
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and, as
Lanarkshire PS
a Private rescued a badly wounded
What an amazing evening we had in
soldier by dragging him some 300
early October. Our speaker was Jack
yards while under fire. His VC medal is
Murray of Glasgow PS giving a display now held in the Cameronian Museum
Victoria Cross. Distinguished visitors
in Hamilton. Others illustrated included
were welcomed to the meeting – Major Private Robert Downie from
Ian Farquharson of the Cameronians;
Springburn, Glasgow, Lance Corporal
Mr James McInnes & Ms Jennifer
William Angus and Lieutenant Donald
McInnes, Grandson and GreatCameron, two of three Carluke VC
granddaughter of Henry May VC; and
winners. Jack ended his display with
Mr William Brockie. Using many
postcards etc. outlining the emotive
stamps, covers, postmarks and
page 26
ABPS news, Spring 2015
account of how the ‘Unknown Soldier’
was chosen from British servicemen
exhumed from four battle areas in
France.
Elsie Miller
Launceston SC
After the experience of the Cornwall
Federation AGM in October we
returned to normality in November. We
were entertained by Diane Lawer with
her collection of Postcards Seaside
Memories. The PowerPoint
presentation started with an
explanation of how seaside holidays
became popular with the advent of the
railways making it possible for
everyone to visit the traditional seaside
towns. The railways were represented
with posters from the “Golden Age” of
steam travel including a postcard of a
train steaming along the South Devon
coast near Dawlish, where the line was
severely damaged earlier this year. We
were then amused by a number of
traditional “saucy” holiday cards
enriched with some of the comments
Diane had received from her previous
audiences! The display continued with
a study of the various aspects of the
seaside town including Blackpool with
its tower and donkey rides,
Scarborough and local beaches
including Whitsand Bay, Torquay and
Paignton. There were cards of
bandstands, piers and promenades
and, of course, the holiday favourites Punch & Judy. We were treated to
Diane donning a pierrot outfit - pierrots
were of Italian origin. In December was
Chairman’s Evening. Jim Sowden
gave his presentation An Act of Union,
which Jim explained related to the
uniting of the former states, provinces
and colonial territories of Australia,
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Canada and South Africa as selfgoverning nations within the British
Empire. The presentation was of
annotated displays of stamps from the
individual states or colonies of each of
the three countries, generally from the
Victorian era prior to union, followed by
the initial issues of each Dominion. Jim
prefaced each country’s display with a
brief history of the process by which
the various colonies or states
effectively achieved their union and
subsequent independence.
Howard Hamblin
Leamington & Warwick PS
Pies and more pies: At our meeting in
mid-November we were enthralled by
Terry Hare Walker’s magnificent
display of India. The very first issues
were shown in blocks, with varieties
and die combinations, but even earlier
than that was a cover dating from as
far back as 1691! Of particular
historical interest were covers from
servicemen during the Indian Mutiny.
One fascinating
error arose when
provisional
overprints were
issued in 1921,
reading “NINE
PIES”. Inevitably
on a couple of
stamps in the
sheet one of the
words was put on
A light snack for the the wrong stamp,
football match?
leading to the two
famous errors
reading “NINE NINE” and “PIES PIES”.
Nick Bridgwater 01926-423685 or via
sites.google.com/site/warwickshireps
John Gledhill
page 27
I Spy…
A selection of images sent from clubs and
societies. No prizes for spotting yourself …
6
1
8
2
9
5
11
12
15
16
page 28
ABPS news, Spring 2015
3
4
7
10
14
13
17
18
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 29
Maidstone & Mid Kent PS
Our 93rd season kicked off with a
magnificent display by Nigel Chandler
MBE FRPSL of Tobago which covered
the short period that Tobago issued
their own stamps, before becoming
part of Trinidad & Tobago issues. This
was followed by David Luckhurst’s
display of Germany - History of the 3rd
Reich. October’s first meeting was a
display by Mike Slamo on St. Pierre et
Miquelon. This group of islands off the
SE tip of Newfoundland were offered to
the French fisherman rather than have
them living on Newfoundland. Next
came John Terry displaying German
WW II material, consisting of
everything philatelic imaginable, and
giving an interesting insight into
Germany throughout the war period.
Bob Deakin FRPSL showed us
Morocco. Postal services were difficult
in the beginning due to a lack of roads,
but Bob provided a map showing the
routes that mail had to take. Roger
Dickinson started December for us
with a fantastic display of Canada from
1867 through to the early part of Queen
Elizabeth. The display consisted of
stamps and covers which covered
advertising, registered, censured,
patriotic, airmails and rail. Our morning
meeting in November was a tribute to
our Vice President Martin Lynes who
died in 2013. His wife, Wendy, brought
along his War Material and our
member Tony Davis gave a
fascinating talk. On a sad note we have
to report that one of senior members,
Nigella Kent, died in early November.
She had been a life member for over
45 years and had been Secretary and
Treasurer and was also the Packet
page 30
Secretary, the latter for 25 years.
Nigella also became our first female
President, a post she held for 5 years.
She will be sadly missed.
Brian Stonestreet
Mid-Sussex PS
Following the success of two
experimental day-time meetings in
2013-14 we are continuing to hold our
normal fortnightly meetings between
September and May, but alternating
between evenings and afternoons. We
have continued to hold evening
meetings at our usual venue in
Burgess Hill, while our day-time
meetings are being held in Lindfield.
Possibly because our membership is
drawn from a wide area of mid-Sussex
our day-time meetings have attracted a
number of members who have not
previously attended evening meetings.
We have also been able to book new
speakers who are prepared to travel a
little bit further if it is done during the
day.
Jim Etherington
Oxford PS
We gained six new members over the
last few months, bringing total
membership close to 70. As Oxford
looks forward to its 125th anniversary
coming up in 2015, all the membership
received a note of appreciation and a
badge, courtesy of the Ursula Golding
Bequest. Oxford also administers the
Stan Taylor Fund aimed at young
stamp collectors, and was happy to
transfer a third £1000 to Stamp Active
and be acknowledged in the latest
Stamp Fun – All at Sea album. The
season started with a brisk Silent
Auction. Well-attended morning
meetings were held on the
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Mediterranean and Flags and Heraldry.
Malcolm Barton and Kim Stuckey of
Bath and Falkland Islands Philatelic
Study Group provided a superb
evening on The Falkland Islands. The
diverse collecting interests of our
membership made sure the Letter S
meeting produced a variety of displays
from Sardinia, Shanghai, and
Singapore, to Snakes, Spitfires, and
Specimens, and lots more in between.
Now a regular and welcome fixture in
our programme, the Christmas lunch
was enjoyed by all. We have a new
website:
www.oxfordphilatelicsociety.wordpress.
com/
Simon Heap
Petersfield & District PS
Autumn has been a busy time for us.
Keith Lloyd entertained the
September meeting with the complex
Postal History of China. The first
modern Chinese postal service was
opened in 1865, but an imperial
messenger service had existed for
thousands of years. In 1897 the
Chinese Imperial Post was established
followed by admission to the U.P.U. in
1914.
Post offices were established in treaty
ports – there were twelve British
offices. Chinese provinces had their
own postal services and postage
stamps, and Keith illustrated these with
Captions for pages 28 and 29
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Brian Asquith with stamps for the
Turkish Aviation Fund
Mike Roberts presents Rick
Rickwood with his Competition
Trophy at the Leeds 125th
Anniversary Dinner
St Austell take the Quiz Cup in
the Cornish Federation
Alan Holverson leads on Austria
Chris Board on South Africa at
Croydon
Nigel Gooch with a display of
Persia at Kingston
Christopher Cooksey at Basildon
Richard Stock with the Chilton
Memorial Trophy at Kingston
Phil Harriman, Andrew Stoves
and Barry Burns receive the
winners’ plaque from David
Newstead (behind) at Redcar
South African Collectors’ Society
at their London meeting
ABPS news, Spring 2015
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
David Milsted with covers from
the Tower of London
Alan Tyler with his certificate,
after his display of Israel at
Kingston
The Sarawak Specialists’
Society AGM at Bournemouth
Jeffrey Stone at The Royal
David Hobden at the Canadian
PS of Great Britain explaining
about a letter relating to an
American Sergeant taken
prisoner during the 1812 war
between GB & US
Paul Percival with Aitutaki and
Ajman
Jean Alexander, Brian Sole,
Anne Stammers, Margaret
Morris, Erica Banks - oh and the
cake!
West London PS enjoy their
Christmas dinner
page 31
page 32
ABPS news, Spring 2015
an impressive collection. He completed
his displays with underpaid mail,
postage due, misdirected, posted out of
course, express mail and bi-lingual
postmarks (Chinese - Tibetan).
An impressive display of early covers
and related material of Imperial Russia
was presented in November. Nigel
Chandler, a well-travelled linguist, had
a humorous side to his talk, including
personal anecdotes. Prepaid
envelopes appeared in Russia twelve
years before adhesive stamps came
into use. They were first used in
Finland until 1845, then later in St
Petersburg and Moscow and two years
later adopted nationally. Early stamps,
from about 1860, prepaid the postage
to the border of the country but eight
years later met the charge to overseas
destinations. There were low printings
and literacy was scarce so entires of
these issues are hard to find.
Chairman’s Night in December brought
a real surprise – Great Britain Revenue
Stamps. These were tax stamps
printed by De La Rue to impose a
charge on the sale of boxes of matches
manufactured by Bryant and May. The
government of the day introduced this
tax in March 1871 and youngsters were
employed to charge ½d per box of 100
sold. The sellers became known as
‘Lucifers’ and a comment often
repeated was “From light comes profit”.
Malcolm Givans displayed the stamps
as singles, blocks and even a complete
sheet. Petitions were made to
Parliament about this iniquitous tax
with questions regarding the cost of
implementation, and a protest went to
the Queen. In April of that year the
practice was discontinued. Tony New
ABPS news, Spring 2015
continued with a mixed display entitled
Ideas What Not to Collect. It was
chosen to add further help and advice
to members of the club in search of
some guidance in stamp collecting. He
began with stamps of Finland
(serpentine roulettes of the first issue)
and then Norway (various printing
methods), Sweden, Denmark, Estonia,
Andorra (bearing either French or
Spanish inscriptions), Botswana
(praised for its restricted issues),
French Colonies and Costa Rica. He
continued with subjects one might
collect as a sideline for their designs or
good engraving, and concluded with
countries or issues not recommended
to collect because of oddities of design,
dubious issues or a proliferation of
issues that had no association with the
country issuing.
David Allen
Poole & District P&PC
Bob Small began his talk on The
History of the Royal Navy by saying
that he had started preparing the
display five years ago and it had taken
three years to complete. This was its
first outing. He also explained that
Bob Small in expansive mood
none of the pages had cost more than
£5, which was very encouraging for
page 33
many. The story started with Alfred the
Great who set up the first Navy with a
fleet of longboats with thirty oarsmen
and archers to defend against the
Vikings. He is the “Father of The Navy”.
(The Navy only became The Royal
Navy in 1660 on the return of Charles II
from exile). The fascinating history of
the Navy’s technical development as
illustrated through stamps, postcards
and pictures was illustrated by well
written-up pages. Many of the great
sea battles were described in detail,
with illustrations of the famous people,
ships and exploits of those concerned.
We heard how the Navy used
inventions from gunpowder to the latest
aircraft carriers, which already feature
on a Djibouti miniature sheet. The last
frame concentrated on stamps showing
the Auxiliary Naval Services, supply,
hospital, survey, etc. without which the
fighting ships would be unable to
operate.
Chris Wheeler
Terry Harrison introduces us to St
Vincent
with a display of the stamps of St
Vincent, the volcanic island 100 miles
west of Barbados. He began by
showing some of the early nineteenth
century mail from the island, when the
price of sending a letter was 2/2 (11p),
a prohibitive cost at that time. In 1861
Perkins Bacon printed the first stamps
for the island; Terry showed a proof, a
die proof and plate proofs of the 1d, 4d
and 1/- values. Later, when some
Redcar & Cleveland PS
values of stamp ran out, they began
At our last meeting of the year our
overprinting unpopular stocks of
President’s Quiz Night & Christmas
stamps with a new value, sometimes
Party was swamped with hilarity and
more than once. Terry showed a
fun. Awash with wine, cheese and
comprehensive display of the Queen
crackers good humour filled the room. Victoria ’key plates’ which were
Because of the banter between the
introduced in 1899, followed by the
teams of three to four people along
1907 issue which moved away from
with the bouts of uncontrolled laughter, monarch’s heads to the island’s coat of
it took longer than usual to field the
arms with the motto “Pax ex Justitia”.
forty plus questions set by our
Finally, Terry explained that there had
president David Newstead.
been some sixty Post Offices on St
Martin Snowdon Vincent – a large number considering
the island is only eleven miles by eight
Redditch PS
miles. He then showed pictures of
A Caribbean Flavour: Our October
sixteen sub-offices matched to items
speaker was Terry Harrison of
Leamington Spa, who entertained us
page 34
ABPS news, Spring 2015
bearing the appropriate cancellation.  both London and provincial airways –
www.redditch-philatelic.org.uk
letters and stamps, first day covers,
Alan Godfrey including flying boat, helicopter and
railway air services, (even rocket mail!),
Ringwood PS
brochures of routes and fares, with
Our October meeting was hugely
newspaper cuttings further enhancing
popular with most interesting
the display. Christine Earle with The
presentations from members of the
Post Office Went to War was our
Poole Philatelic Society. Transatlantic
display in November. She provided a
Mail was Brian Cropp’s contribution - unique display of scarce and
a 45 sheet display covering the period fascinating philatelic material which
from early 1840s onwards. This was a highlighted the work and influence of
well written-up in-depth study,
the Post Office (the largest UK
highlighting different postal rates
applied by both GB and USA postal
administrations, surcharges, including
‘Late Fees’ (posting after official
deadline) and ‘Unpaid’ where no, or
insufficient, postage was paid.
Fabulous Victorian and USA covers
were presented covering numerous
sailing routes. Bob Small examined
fascinating postal material relating to
WWII. Via stamps, covers, photos and
pictures he traced the chronological
progress from the invasion of Poland,
Air-raid burnt post via Christine Earle
Russian convoys, Battle of Britain,
Dam Busters and the Atomic Bomb
employer), in this desperate period.
through to V-J Day. Philately can lend The sections covered Mobilisation and
great insight into any theme and the
Evacuation, Air Raid Precaution, the
third display provided just that.
Blitz and the Blackout. The display
Railways and Lakes was indeed well
emphasised that despite this turmoil,
covered by Barry Hobbs giving us a
the mail usually got through without
lesson in South American history,
excessive delay. Censorship, Salvage
geography and politics. This display
and Savings, Repatriation and
examined postal services across land
Reconstruction and Victory followed
and water, maps, the railway routes
and finally a section which highlighted
taken, the Travelling Post Offices,
Peace & Reconstruction.
trains, steamers, covers and
This report cannot do justice to the
postmarks. Airmails of the British Isles material and presentation. Paul Barry
from 1911 through to the present was
Southampton & District PS
the final theme, presented by David
Lockwood. There was a considerable South African Airmails was the subject
array of supporting material relating to for Nicholas Arrow when he came to
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 35
us in May. His collection began from a
chance purchase at an auction but has
clearly developed since then. The
display was in three parts: Pioneer,
Internal and International. It was a
fascinating development and included
the story of the competition for the
fastest flight from England to South
Africa. There were nine entries of
which eight flew, one was killed en
route and only one finished – a clear
winner then! In June Mark Bailey
brought us The Channel Islands 19th
Century Postal History. This began with
horse and sail but ended with steam
and railways. We saw the full range of
marks and modes of transport, with
assorted charges for mileage, paquet
boat and ship letter carriage and taxes.
The later years included duplex and
squared circle cancellations. We had
interesting snippets from history with
links between Victor Hugo, France and
Jersey and between French fishermen
who had emigrated to Quebec and
their relatives back home and in the
islands. The final two out of twelve
frames related to three sets of
correspondence: William Arthur Topliss
of Sark – an artist and keen philatelist;
the Mousell father and son who were
both officers in the Royal Navy; and
George Patrick Campbell who wrote
letters to and received replies from a
succession of British Prime Ministers.
Then in July Barry Hobbs took us
Through Swamp and Mountains –
Railway TPOs in South and Central
America. The story of TPOs on Bolivian
Rail, lake steamers and Peruvian rail
was entertaining and fraught with
problems. Central America’s terrain
produced its own difficulties for TPO
page 36
services. Barry covered five countries
and showed that his passion for
stamps, trains and a challenge had all
been met by this excellent display.
Paul Arnold via Postmark
St Albans, Harpenden &
District PS
Keith Downing opened our season
with an evening on Railways. Keith
began with material from the days
when Travelling Post Offices ran during
the day as well as at night. TPOs in
France and on American trams in the
USA followed and we then moved on to
problems, accidents and crash mail
before concluding with a thematic
display on signalling. October saw the
return of Mike Facey to display Pitcairn
and Lundy – two small islands on
opposite sides of the world. Although
he has never visited the island, our
speaker had lived in a house once
occupied by the brother of Fletcher
Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame
- a tenuous link but closer to Pitcairn
than most of his audience are ever
likely to get. Nearer to home, Lundy in
the Bristol Channel brought us the
“puffin stamps” used to convey mail to
the mainland where Royal Mail took
over. Alistair Kennedy then brought
us Aden and the Aden states in
November. We were given a feast of
fine material and information from this
often turbulent region. The display
concluded with a brief look at what has
followed the British withdrawal in 1967
including mail relating to two
evacuations of Europeans from Aden,
one of which involved the Royal Yacht
Britannia. 2014 concluded with the
Christmas Social on 10th December.
ABPS news, Spring 2015
The winner by popular vote was Joe
Neumann with The Beginning of the
Transport of Mail by Rail. Then came a
testing quiz after which a rewarding
raffle and a tasty buffet brought an
enjoyable and well-attended evening to
a close.
Peter Mellor
contemporary photographs of many of
these. Paul Woodness 01564776879
or www.solihullphilatelicsociety.org.uk
John Barker
Prussian War. He started with a brief
background to the conflict. The
Germans mobilised their troops quicker
than the French and rapidly invaded
north east France leading to the sieges
of Metz and Strasbourg and the siege
of Paris which capitulated in January
1871. Following this there was an
uprising in Paris of the Paris Commune
which seized power for two months.
The postal material included items from
the Balloon Post at the sieges of Metz
and Paris; a French military telegram;
French propaganda items such as
newspaper articles, cards and covers;
German Feldpost items from the siege
of Paris; German VIP Officer’s printed
postal stationery and a German
soldier’s registered money packet. The
final item in the first half of the display
was a cover from Le Boules de Moulins
post where small zinc balls containing
letters were launched into the River
Seine to south east of Paris and floated
just below the surface to be caught in
nets in Paris. After a break Philip
continued with Paris balloon post
printed stationery; letters and covers
from the Times newspaper
correspondent in the siege of Paris; a
cover from the longest balloon flight
from the siege of Paris which landed in
Norway; censored post from after the
armistice; tax marks where double tax
had to be paid on letters after the
armistice and commune mail from the
second siege of Paris. The display
ended with stamps from the period and
a last day cover from Nancy to
Commeray.
Albert Smith
Streetly PS
Swindon PS
Solihull S & PC
Over thirty people attended our
inaugural meeting to enjoy two
displays. The first display was given by
Gerald Marriner on Jersey Hotel
Postcards. Amongst the cards on
display were many showing hotels
which no longer exist or which have
undergone extensive changes over the
years. The second display was given
by Bryan Jones on Solihull &
Warwickshire Postal History. Bryan’s
display included items with postmarks
from some of the smaller village post
offices in the area together with
Members viewing Bryan Jones' display
In our October morning meeting, Philip The Autumn season opened with From
Mackey brought us The FrancoABPS news, Spring 2015
page 37
my Collection. We had a superb array
of subjects displayed, a most
entertaining evening. This was followed
by another bumper Auction, then
Malcolm Watts returned with another
stirring display of Wiltshire Moonraker;
nobody knows the subject better than
Malcolm. We then held our 16-page
Competition with the winners going
forward to the Wiltshire & District
Federation’s own Competition where
we were fortunate to have two of our
entries amongst the prizes. A most
interesting evening was when Gerald
Mariner gave a display of The Falkland
Islands 1982 Conflict. Another Auction
combined with a mini-bourse was most
successful before we were visited by
Colin Mount who displayed part of his
vast collection of Australian KGV
Penny Reds. It really is amazing what
you can do with one stamp. The last
meeting of the year was the President’s
Evening. This year’s theme was Naval
and it produced some very interesting
displays and even more interesting
fancy dresses! The ‘Swinpex’
Committee has begun the long haul
towards the organising of the ‘Swinpex
2015’ event which will be held in June
(see page 52). There will be 48 Dealers
and a lot more in store and on show. If
any Specialist Society would like to
attend, we will provide facilities, please
contact the organiser. It is a fantastic
venue, light and airy and plenty of free
parking.
David Gibbon 01793-813484 or
[email protected]
David Gibbon
Taunton Stamp Club
Our annual fair at the beginning of
November attracted a record number of
visitors. Thirteen stall holders from all
over the southwest enjoyed steady
trade all day, and the stalwart
volunteers in the snack bar were
almost overcome by the demands for
tea! This event was followed by a club
meeting at which twelve members
showed stamps and other items on the
subject of Transport. At the last
meeting we were privileged to receive
a visit from Val Beeken who travelled
from Durham to give her presentation
entitled Law and Order. She started her
display with a cover signed by Sir
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page 38
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Robert Peel, and continued with some
Victorian postal history items. The
theme continued with more modern
items, notably a first day cover
autographed by George Baker who
played Inspector Wexford and another
signed by Ronald Gregory, who, as
Chief Constable of West Yorkshire,
presided over the disastrous hunt for
the Yorkshire Ripper. The display
concluded with a collection of stamps,
postcards etc. from countries all around
the world.
Chris Catley
Colin Searle was unable to come as
arranged, Phillip Cant stepped into the
gap magnificently with material on
World War II. He covered every part of
the war in every field of conflict. This
was a very informative and interesting
talk with some deep insight into what
had happened and all illustrated with
lovely sets of stamps and material.
Members always manage to approach
the theme for the Monday meetings
very creatively and November`s theme
of Literary Authors and Characters was
no exception. The topics ranged from
cave paintings to Churchill. In
Thatcham & District PS
December the day theme was British
In October, the theme was Transport.
Inventions followed by some snacks
Nine members spoke and displayed
and a “Sneaky Christmas Quiz”
their items, covering just about every
devised by Bob Paterson and won by
method possible including helicopters
Pauline Badger with 16 correct
and donkeys. Malcolm Hoskins
answers – well done. We are hosting
started the second half by talking about WESTBEX on March 28th – see page
and showing many items about the
52. Besides Free parking and
social history of transport – driving
admission, Grosvenor Auctioneers will
authority – licences both full and
be in attendance to value your stamps
provisional (he had some very early
and collections. Also the National
ones from 1916 – tax discs (now things Philatelic Society will be holding a
of the past) – log books and highway
regional meeting - a chance to find out
code editions – a different twist. As
what they offer?
Martin Farr
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ALL other Collectables
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£5,000 cover - £31 p.a.*
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*plus Insurance Premium Tax
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29 Bowhay Lane, EXETER EX4 1PE
tel: 01392 433 949 fax: 01392 427 632
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Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Services Authority
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 39
two members attending the AGM. The
AGM was followed by the final of the
The first three meetings of Warminster Quiz, the competing Clubs from the
Philatelic Society’s new season were
qualifying round were: Falmouth,
displays of Switzerland by Bob
Newquay and St. Austell. As one of the
Medland, Aspects of GB by John Roe teams of finalists was unable to attend
and Anschluss (the German take-over the Quizmaster invited an ad hoc entry
of Austria) by Tony Hicky. On 28th
and three members of the Launceston
September we held our annual stamp
Club formed a team and joined the
fair and hosted the Wiltshire Federation competition. The Quiz was organised
9-page competition, both events
and run by Quizmaster Neil assisted by
proving very popular with local
his scorer David James. The
philatelists and the public.
questions were all on philately with,
But our biggest celebration by far was perhaps, a slight bias toward ‘GB’. At
th
our 50 anniversary dinner held on
half time Falmouth were narrowly in the
Thursday 16th October 2014, exactly 50 lead but were overtaken by St Austell.
years to the day of the inaugural
The winning team members were
meeting in 1964. Members and their
Martin Hopkinson, Roger Keys and
guests dined at the local Golf Club, and Brenda Howell. Well done St Austell.
this turned out to be a very successful
Howard Hamblin
social event.Colin Baker
Mid Anglia PF
[email protected] or 01985
840033
Colin Baker
At Federation Stamp Day at
Tempsford, Michael Pitt-Payne gave
West London PS
three excellent and different displays:
We visited Kodak and Harrow Stamp
UK mail to France - 1727-1900,
Club in November when Maurice
Postage Due Mail and Social. The first
Buxton and Melvyn Green, our
showed the complexity of the postal
President, entertained that society. Our rates in the 18th and 19th Centuries.
annual dinner was held, in
The international meeting at Berne in
Hammersmith, on 2nd December and
proved enjoyable once again.
Christopher Oliver, 020 8940 9833 or
[email protected] Chris Oliver
Warminster PS
Federations
Cornish PF
In lieu of their regular monthly meeting
Launceston SC hosted our AGM and
the Stamp Quiz Final in early October.
Club Chairman Jim Sowden
welcomed the CPF Chairman Neil
Sargent and was pleased to see thirtypage 40
Michael Pitt-Payne enthralling the
audience
ABPS news, Spring 2015
1874 reached agreement on new,
simpler charges for international mail,
particularly for transit mail. Taxe marks
were introduced along with regulations
for foreign post card rates, printed
paper rates and letter cards. In
Postage Due we were taken through
the changes in procedures and stamps
from the earliest days through to the
increase in the handling charge to £1 in
2004, including the fact that now we
have to go to collect the mail and pay
for the privilege. The afternoon display
related to (1) Reginald Bray, known as
the man who posted himself, (2) a
letter displayed that had been sent
‘Free’ from Lord Clifford who was the
first Catholic member in the House of
Lords with research providing his life
story, that of the recipient a Mr
Ambrose, and details of the Manor he
was living in at the time, (3) a 1783
letter from a John Campbell who
worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland
and in 1745 was a cashier at the Bank
when ‘notes’ were produced to the
value of £3 000 requiring that they be
honoured in gold, to pay for Bonny
Prince Charlie’s uprising and (4) an
example of a Queen Anne’s Bounty
letter. These showed just what can be
derived from a letter and its cover and
served as an example of producing
superb philately at a modest financial
cost. We have also held our first AGM,
which commented positively on the
launch of the website www.mapf.com.
The Judging Seminar – sponsored by
Grosvenor Auctions – was thoughtprovoking and interesting, spent with
19 course members and a top quality
team of trainers in the persons of Chris
King, Birthe King, Francis Kiddle
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Chris King, Francis Kiddle, Birthe King,
Brian Trotter, and David Alford (MAPF)
at the Judges Seminar
and Brian Trotter. All were then invited
to attend Part 2 of the training, which
could lead to accreditation to judging at
Federation level. The message from
the seminar was that: exhibitors should
help to lead the judges through the
story of their material, and that the
judges should seek to encourage
exhibitors by their assessments and,
particularly, through their feedback.
Mike Kentzer
Middlesex PF
Our STAMP DAY held in October was
a great success thanks to the Watford,
Kodak and Harrow, and Pinner
societies’ efforts in putting on the show.
Six dealers were in attendance; with a
lot of material on offer. We estimate the
day’s attendance to be around 100150. A number of societies took
advantage of the opportunity to display
a frame about themselves to advertise
their societies to non-members. ABPS
Chairman John Baron formally
opened the event and we appreciated
his coming all the way from
Northampton. In the afternoon Vicechairman Richard Akers presented
page 41
the trophies and certificates to the
Competition winners. For the first time
we displayed the entries as colour
facsimiles of the originals. Many
praised the quality of the reproduction
and one or two people didn't even
realise that they were not the originals.
Doing it this way made a lot less work
for us – no secure frames to collect and
return or to erect and dismantle, and no
need to provide security stewards or to
insure the entries. Finally another
STAMP DAY in 2016? Is any society
willing to step up to the plate and host
it?
From Middlesex PF Bulletin
display on Chalon Heads and in the
afternoon John Wilton will introduce a
display of post cards entitled The Real
Donald McGill including McGill’s War.
Stamp and post card dealers will be in
attendance throughout the day. 
www.sussexphilately.org.uk
Jim Etherington
National and specialist
societies
British Thematic
Association
We held a residential weekend in
Oxford in October as part of the BTA’s
ASPS is introducing a new venture in
30th anniversary celebrations. The
the Spring of 2015 in addition to the
emphasis was on the fun of collecting.
annual South of England Stamps Fair
Mike Blackman was the first speaker
and Convention held at Ardingly on the and showed Umbrellas. Besides the
second Saturday of October. On
usual stamps he included some actual
Saturday 28th March at the Burgess Hill lacquered Japanese parasols and
School for Girls the Association will be umbrella memorabilia. Margaret
holding its first Stamp and Post Card
Morris showed a small part of her
Day. In the morning Chris Harman
wonderful astronomy collection,
RDP HonFRPSL will be speaking to a including some of the howlers that can
creep in such as errors in stamp design
– a stamp showing Columbus with a
telescope (over a hundred years before
its invention); errors in special cancels
–Halley’s Comet shooting straight up in
the air like a rocket; or the unfortunate
Royal Mail publicity which took four
printings before all the spelling errors
were eliminated. Finally Jean
Alexander gave a worldwide tour of
large and not so large Waterfalls.
Postal stationery, stamps, covers and
booklets all contributed to a very
attractive display. We included four
sessions of short displays by
Mike Blackman with a lacquered
attendees, resulting in a huge range of
Japanese parasol at Oxford BTA
subjects being shown. The Secretary
Association of Sussex PS
page 42
ABPS news, Spring 2015
kindly supplied a
birthday cake, which
was enjoyed by all,
and especially by the
five founder members
present. The BTA is
not about rules and competitions, it’s
about enjoying collecting. Peter
Denly, 9 Oaklands Park, Bishops
Stortford, Herts, CM23 2BY. or
[email protected]
Foreign Exchange Control, a POW
cover from the War of 1812 and much
more. In addition to the usual room
auction, the Convention this year
featured a bourse for the first time
which proved a popular late evening
diversion - though not so popular that it
drew us away from the famous
‘philaholic’ study group meetings. The
hotel did us proud with excellent
facilities, some good food and friendly
staff. Our 2015 Convention will be in
Canadian PS of GB
Carlisle from 28th September to 2nd
Our 2014 Convention in Edinburgh
October www.canadianpsgb.org.uk
proved to have something of a Royal
The London group when it met in
theme with visits to the Palace of
October congratulated Colin Banfield
Holyroodhouse (in the rain) and the
on winning gold medals at BNAPS and
Royal Yacht Britannia (in the
BALPEEX in Baltimore. Displays of the
sunshine). In between there was plenty 1938 Airmail Stamp, of Special
of time for some super philatelic
Delivery stamps, Revenues and WWI
displays on things as diverse as Large picture postcards were given by those
and Small Queens, War Savings
present followed by all repairing to a
Stamps, Censored Mail from WWI,
local hostelry for a late lunch.
Newfoundland stamp Booklets, the
The Scottish and North of England
recent Canada Post Vending Machine group met in Moffat in late October.
Stamps, the Role of Canada Post in
Displays were as varied as ever and
included; Admiral covers and cards,
Squared circle postmarks, Queen
Victoria postal stationery cards, early
precancels, Flag cancels, Transatlantic
mail from 1898 to 1948 including the
early airmail services, the new 2014
postal rates and stamps, George VI
stamp booklets and some early
Canadian Postal History from 1763 to
1800. Definitely something for
everyone!
John Hillson
Channel Is SS
Eldon Godfrey showing his display
on Canadian Foreign Exchange
Control during WWII
ABPS news, Spring 2015
In September we held a regional day
meeting in Wakefield organised by
local member David Horner. 24
members were present including many
who do not normally attend society
page 43
meetings in London. The theme for the
day was the letters C and D. John
Hirst opened with Channel Islands
churches and the Durrell Wildlife Park
(formerly Jersey Zoo). Moira Edwards
continued with a fine collection of Cat
and Dog postcards.
Gerald Marriner gave a two-frame
display of Jersey hotels including C or
D in their names. Gerald also showed
some fine Occupation material based
on the communication between Vivian
Mylne, her family, and friend Patience
Webb, whilst Vivian was a prisoner,
first in Gloucester Street Prison, Jersey
and later whilst held at Troyes Prison in
France. Bob MacDonald showed mail
between Jersey and the French post of
Carteret including postcards showing
two of the ships that sailed during the
summer – the Torbay Belle and the
Cygne. Items included GB stamps that
were cancelled with the Carteret
datestamp and Paquetbot handstamp.
Bob also showed a very interesting
Occupation item – a letter from the
German Military Authorities to the
Constable of St Brelade requesting
information as to whether a certain
Alfred Gordon was a Jew or not.
Fortunately, as it turned out, the
answer was “No”. Richard Flemming
followed with 20 sheets including
entires bearing the COLONIES
handstamps and then Duplex
Datestamps of both Jersey and
Guernsey. Gavin Wood showed two
frames of Ian Griggs’ The 1942 Jersey
½d Arms Stamp: A Plating Study and
finally David Horner showed four
frames of material, all having the letter
‘C’ or ‘D’ within the addressee’s name,
the item’s destination or the duplex
page 44
handstamp applied. Items included
mail from the Cape of Good Hope and
Canada. 01903-501415 Steve Wells
Gibraltar SC
We held our annual competition
weekend in Gillingham, Kent over the
weekend 21-23 November 2014.
Despite attendance being slightly
down, it was a very successful event.
The competition winners were: Premier
Class (32 sheets) – Geoff Chivers The
1967 Ship definitive issue varieties;
Postal History class – Chris Moore
WWI Prisoner of War mail and
Adhesives Class – Eric Holmes
Edward VII Essays & die proofs. There
were no entries in the QEII, GB used in
Gibraltar or Miscellaneous classes.
After viewing the entries on Saturday
afternoon, the main display of the
weekend was GB Used in Gibraltar by
Bob Neville. We saw a superb display
of stamps on cover, registered covers,
and stamps on piece, mint and used
plus varieties. We hope that the next
meeting of the Study Circle will be held
in Gibraltar during April 2015.
Bert Burton
Malaya Study Group
The first meeting of the season was the
regional gathering in Worthing in
September, where each attendee
displayed material which covered from
pre-WWII material to 21st century
Malaysia. The displays included:
stamps, including perforations from
behind and miniature sheets, postal
dues, Siamese Post Office markings
and censor marks. We were able to
discuss the material, to question the
speakers and to exchange opinions.
There was plenty of friendly banter
ABPS news, Spring 2015
through the afternoon. The autumn
auction consisted of 467 lots of postal
stationery and revenues. The auction
was a great event, especially from a
seller’s perspective, with substantial
prices astonishing the Room. Postal
bidders were prominent on some lots,
but Room bidders were also very
successful. The November meeting
started with a bourse, which was very
busy, and most people managed to
pick up a lot of interesting items. This
was followed by the displays when nine
members displayed items showing
WWl material in three rounds. Covers
were shown illustrating censorship,
delays because of war, postage dues
and the registration label shortage.
Stamps from Trengganu and Straits
Settlements with Red Cross surcharge
and North Borneo Stamps with Maltese
Cross overprint were shown. Other
items displayed showed transit routes,
ship postcards, quelling local unrest,
welfare fund labels and the story of the
German ship SMS Emden. Our
Christmas meeting started with drinks
and nibbles. Then came a variety of
displays on the interpretation of
Cinderella: cigarette cards, charity
labels, an illustration of each letter of
Cinderella and stamps from
unrecognised countries.
www.malayastudygroup.com
Martin Roper
The Royal Philatelic Society
London
Our November meetings have marked
the 60th anniversary of the British West
Indies Study Circle and examined the
occupation of Iceland during the
Second World War. On the 6th
ABPS news, Spring 2015
members of the BWI Study Circle
presented no fewer than 52 displays,
which, as always with such society
visits, provided a wide diversity of
material, ensuring all present found
something of interest. Introducing the
displays was Charles Freeland, their
President. During WWII, Iceland, an
independent country sharing the
Danish monarchy, was neutral. Thus,
even after the Nazi invasion of
Denmark and Norway during the night
of 9 April 1940, Iceland declined the
offer of protection from Britain.
Consequently it was decided by the
British Cabinet to occupy Iceland,
forces landing on 5th May 1940. Later
the British forces were replaced by
American protection from 7th July 1941.
Later Dr David Kindley gave a
presentation and display of mail sent to
and from Iceland during this period of
occupation. In December the theme
was The Stamp Dealers. Shown were
items relating to collecting in the 19th
century, as produced by a range of
stamp dealers from around the world.
Included were price lists, mail sent to
and from (many using their own postal
stationery), and ephemera such as
poster stamps. It was notable how
many of the dealers were involved in
the publishing of philatelic literature.
The displays were the work of six
collectors: Edward Caesley, Charles
Kiddle, Francis Kiddle, Chris King,
Wolfgang Maassen and Vincent
Schouberechts.  Administrative
Office on 020 7486 1044
Richard West
Sarawak SS
We had a change of venue for our
AGM weekend held last October. The
page 45
Menzies East Cliffe Court Hotel in
Bournemouth was well situated. It was
attended by just over 20 members
including a transatlantic visitor from
Florida, Jack Harwood. Friday
afternoon started off with mini displays
of recent acquisitions by many
members. A wide variety of items from
our territories of Brunei, Labuan, North
Borneo and Sarawak were shared as
well as queries and information
requested. We then had our first major
display of the meeting with Graham
Woodhouse showing a very detailed
impressive study of The Sarawak 1895
issue. Saturday morning’s auction had
more than 600 items. This was
organised by our very able team of Ivor
Moore and Carol Turner. A very
satisfactory result was obtained. The
afternoon contained Claire Scott's
large display of some of her extensive
collection of Brunei showing many
desirable items. Saturday night was our
very enjoyable formal annual dinner
with good food and wine and the usual
speeches, toast and jokes. The AGM
on Sunday was chaired by Roger
Johnson our president, and Jeremy
Dickson our treasurer proposed
changes to ensure that our society
continues on a sound financial footing.
Afterwards Brian Trotter showed
aspects of Labuan and North Borneo.
This was only from his first three years
of collecting and the result was
extremely impressive. We all agreed
that it had been a very good weekend,
mainly due to the hard work of our
outgoing social secretary, Peter
Halmkin. britborneostamps.org.uk/
FahOnn Liau
page 46
South African Collectors’ S
On the 7th, 8th and 9th November we
joined the other Southern Africa
Philatelic Societies at our annual
weekend at Leamington Spa. About
forty members attended this lively and
enjoyable event with many good
displays, several dealers present and
the popular auction to finish the
proceedings.
Christopher Oliver 020 8940 9833 or
[email protected] or view
www.southafricacollector.com/
Chris Oliver
Sudan Study Group
We held our half yearly meeting in
October at Spink, Southampton Row,
London. The committee meeting dealt
with business, including the decision to
move to the next step in re-invigorating
the website and the arrangements for
the biennial Conference, which will be
held next April near Derby. Richard
Stock was congratulated on his
success in steering into the latest SG
Catalogue a good number of Sudan
varieties. There then followed a very
spirited auction which saw a few items
romp away from a £40 estimate to a
hammer price of several hundreds of
pounds. Quality will always shine! In
the afternoon, Andy Neal showed
recent material from South Sudan
including postally-used items—very
scarce. Peter Halmkin followed with
Overprint varieties and an early airmail
quandary. Richard Stock treated us to
a number of items including an
unclaimed item with 29 backstamps,
some scarce early campaign covers
and a range of instructional marks.
Paul Grigg displayed Early Sudan
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Postal Service postmarks and Derek
Barker had unrecorded censored
material from the first Indian troop foray
into the Sudan in 1940 as well as
Airmail overprints with an unrecorded
“broken lam” variety. Brian Jones
ended with an amazing letter from one
Captain Hobbs of the Royal Marines to
his General explaining why he was
absent from his post when the General
arrived to inspect. The General was
mollified!
Niklas Eriksson
Jack Davies studying auction lots
FISA and BAMS
The 47th Federation International Societies Aerophilatelic/Astrophilatelic
Congress (FISA) will take place on Tuesday 12th May, 2015 from 10 am until
5pm, with the Protocol at 2 pm – all at the premises of the Royal Philatelic
Society, London, one day ahead of the opening of LONDON 2015
EUROPHILEX (May 13th-16th, 2015). Delegates from around the World are
expected to attend, from 28 major Aero- and Astrophilatelic societies. The
whole day will be devoted exclusively to Aerophilately. It is hosted by BAMS
(British Air Mail Society) in conjunction with the "Pillage Trophy" – the joint
competition held bi-annually between BAMS and AAMS (American Air Mail
Society), alternately in each country. This year, 2015, teams of five will
compete.
FISA was evolved to separate Aerophilately and/or Astrophilately from basic
"Postal History" in the competitive class arena; a task which it has successfully
achieved. Aerophilately and/or Astrophilately, today, are recognised in their
own class internationally.
ABPS Handbook & Directory: updates
These notes only show changes most useful for contacting a society, it is not
intended to be a comprehensive list of all society changes.
Barnet & District PS has a new secretary:
Alan Harris 13 Potter's Road, New Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 5HS
Dundee & District PS has a new secretary:
Charles Lloyd [email protected]
Leicester PS: Secretary, Mrs S Roulston, has a new number 07766 084297
If you see anything else that needs updating in the Handbook & Directory, or in
the Philatelic Lecturers & Displays List, please inform The Reverend John
Walden at [email protected]
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 47
Stamp Active Network
Isle of Man Stamps and Coins to
sponsor youth competition
Stamp Active Network’s annual one page competition
on the theme of “Our Living World” is to be sponsored in
2015 by Isle of Man Stamps and Coins. The one page
competition is based on the philately of the living world
which could include animals, birds, insects, the
environment and much more.
Maxine Cannon, General Manager Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said “We
welcomed the opportunity to support the terrific work which Stamp Active
undertakes to encourage and support young people in the pursuit of Philately.
We see our sponsorship of the Living World Competition as a natural fit with
some of our issue topics due for release in 2015. We wish all of the entrants
every success.”
Young people in Primary School, up to the age of 12 (on 1st September 2015 –
the closing date), are invited to create a one page mini-exhibit. Stamps, covers
and other philatelic items can be used. The page must have a title, and either
captions or a short write up that tells the story.
There will be three age groups – Up to 7; 8-9; 10-12 – with prizes being awarded
(for First, Second, Third ) in each age group, sponsored by Isle of Man Stamps
& Coins. Winners can select philatelic gifts from the Isle of Man Stamps and
Coins website to the value of £25 (1st), £20 (2nd) and £15 (3rd). The best overall
entry will receive a prize of £40. The entries will be judged on knowledge of the
subject, originality and presentation. Only one entry per person is allowed. UK
entrants only. The best entries will be on display at Autumn Stampex at the
Business and Design Centre (near the Angel tube station in Islington, London).
For more information and examples of past winning entries, have a look at the
Stamp Active website www.stampactive.co.uk
David Rossall
page 48
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Bring a child to Spring Stampex 2015 and enjoy Stamp
Active!
Stamp Active want to encourage visitors to bring a child to Stampex to share in
the wonderful world of philately. A free prize draw will again take place after the
children’s auction on Saturday for all adults who visit the Kids Corner with a child
at any time during the week. Prizes include a framed 1840 Penny Black and
much more. This is now a regular feature of this event, sponsored by the PTS,
Stanley Gibbons and Mulready Philatelics, so PLEASE BRING A CHILD TO
STAMPEX. As the Show is taking place during half term this year, it is hoped
many parents and grandparents will be encouraged to bring their family along to
experience the fun world of stamp collecting.
Stamp Active is a voluntary organisation which promotes stamp collecting for
young people in the UK. The KIDS CORNER, sponsored by The Philatelic
Traders’ Society, takes place at both Spring and Autumn Stampex. They can be
found in gallery bays 14 and 15. There are plenty of fun activities to keep young
collectors busy. They can collect points for these activities which will allow you to
take part in the free children’s auction at 1.30pm on Saturday. This is always
very popular. Once again there will be a free draw at the end of the auction for a
classic stamp. An 1840 Penny Black has been generously donated by Mulready
Philatelics and My Penny Blacks for the children's free draw.
The theme of this year’s activities will be “BRILLIANT BRITAIN” with fun games
and a range of interesting displays. Stamp Active will launch a new activity book
at the Show which will be given free to all young collectors. The entries in the
2014 Stamp Active Competition will also be on display.
For more information visit the Stamp Active website www.stampactive.co.uk
Kidstamps reveal Top Ten for Young Collectors
Kidstamps is a free postal club for young stamp collectors aged between 5 and
18. They receive a starter pack containing a selection of items. Then children
receive vouchers which they return with a stamp-addressed envelope, in
exchange for more stamps, First Day Covers etc. Members advise their
collecting interests so that Stamp Active can try to send suitable items.
Worldwide stamps remain the top choice but the top ten thematic collecting
interests for young collectors are currently:
Animals
Space
Sport including
Birds
Cars
The Olympics
Transport
Flowers
Dogs
Football
Planes
No report of your society? Why not send one to the editor?
It could get you new members, and also gives hints on good
speakers to other societies.
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 49
British Stamp news
Now I know that I have reached the
stage of being elderly. When I see
from the list of 2015 stamps one of
people who are very much part of
my memory bank, such as the The
Two Ronnies and the Fork Handles
sketch, it is clear that my life has
become a part of history. I was
taken even further back by the
Alice in Wonderland set—this was
a book that I read many times in
my earlier years, only later finding
out that Lewis Carroll was a
Mathematics don at Oxford—my
subject, my University. Then along
came a mosaic of 50 years of
commemoratives. This last couple
of months have certainly given me
the chance to wallow in nostalgia. It
has also given me the opportunity to
see how the styles of stamp design
have changed. How many can you
recognise and how many are in your
collection? I know
that we often say
that design has
gone down, but
there were some
older designs that
do not stir me at all
and there are some
new ones that
make me stop and
think, so perhaps it
is time for me to
acknowledge that
all of them are
better than
anything that I
could have managed. The Editor’s views are not necessarily those of the ABPS
page 50
ABPS news, Spring 2015
Tickets available for opening day
LONDON 2015 EUROPHILEX will be the biggest philatelic event in Europe next
year. It commemorates 175 years of postage stamps, 150 years of Stanley
Gibbons Catalogues, 125 years of international exhibitions in London, not to
mention 800 years since Magna Carta was signed.
The first day is for ticket holders only and tickets, at £10 each, are now available
by visiting the website www.london2015.net
Alternatively send a sterling cheque payable to ‘SWE London 2015’ to Mrs
Deborah Gooch, London 2015 Europhilex, Greystones, Green Lane,
Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 2BX, England or from the London 2015 stand
at Spring Stampex.
Any questions: email Deborah [email protected]
York Fair 2015 – A New Venture
16 July - 18 July 2015 at York Race Course
A pilot exhibition with only 100 faces, confined to postal history. If this is
successful it will become an annual, non-London exhibition thanks to
support from Chris Rainey.
The application pack will be on the ABPS website in due course.
Closing date is likely to be 15th June 2015.
ABPS accredited judges
The current list of ABPS accredited exhibition/competition judges can be found
on the ABPS web site www.abps.org.uk Click on the “Exhibiting” tab, then the
“Judges” tab that is on the 2nd line of tabs.
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 51
Diary for the next few months
Local and regional events by ABPS members
March

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


7 Streetly PS 2015 Fair, 10-4.30, The Collingwood Centre, Collingwood Drive,
Pheasey, Birmingham B43 7NFBrian Hyner 0121 357 5340
[email protected]
14 Petersfield & District PS Auction, View 10-1.30, Sale 2-4, Petersfield
Community Centre, Love Lane, Petersfield GU31 4BW For catalogue D
Snowden 02392 591413
28 Kent Federation Spring Rally, hosted by Malling SC, 10-4, East Malling
Village Hall, New Road, East Malling ME19 6DD Tony Bosworth 01622
762577 [email protected]
28 Norwich & Norfolk PS Fair, Hewett School, Gate 1, Cecil Road, Norwich
NR1 2PL www.norphil.co.uk/nnps-fair.htm
28 Association of Sussex PS Stamp and Post Card Day, Burgess Hill School
for Girls, Keymer Road, Burgess Hill RH15 0EG  Jim Etherington 01273
471897 [email protected]
28 WESTBEX hosted by Thatcham & District PS, 10-4, The Kennet School,
Stoney Lane, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4LL Graeme Stewart 01635
866942 or www.tdps.org.uk
April
12 Alfreton PS Stamp, Postal History & Postcard Fair, 10.15-4, Genesis
Centre, Main Hall, Church St., Alfreton, Derbyshire
May

9 Worpex 2015 Fair, Worcester Academy, Bilford Road, Worcester WR3 8HN
18 Basingstoke & District PS Club Auction
 23 Spring StampEssex 2015, Thomas Gainsborough School, Head Lane,
Great Cornard, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 0JU. It marks Sudbury club’s Golden
Jubilee
June
 6 YPA Annual convention & Fair– LBH 2015, 10-4, Pudsey Civic Hall,
Dawson’s Corner, Pudsey LS28 5TA01977 793566
 13 Swinpex 2015, 10-4.30, St Joseph’s School, Ocotal Way, Swindon SN3
3LR David Gibbon 01793 813484
July


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4 Addlestone C A PS Fair & Federation of Surrey PS AGM & Competitions,
Community Association Hall, Garfield Road, Addlestone KT15 2AJ Mrs
Shirley Kemp [email protected]
page 52
ABPS news, Spring 2015
12 Kent Federation Day & AGM, 10-4, Great Danes Hotel (Mercure Group),
Ashford Road (A20), Hollingbourne, Maidstone ME17 1RE Colin Tobitt 020
8265 4251 [email protected]
August
 1 Norwich & Norfolk PS Fair, Hewett School, Gate 1, Cecil Road, Norwich NR1
2PL www.norphil.co.uk/nnps-fair.htm

When sending the Editor details of events please give the postcode of your
venues – it helps people with satnavs.
National & International Events for the next
two years
National Exhibitions 2015-2016
Held at Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 0QH
unless otherwise stated
 18-20 February 2015, Spring Stampex 2015, GBPS Limited exhibition 200
Frames Diamond Jubilee of the Great Britain Philatelic Society
 13-16 May 2015, London 2015 FIP and FEPA Exhibition
 4 July MIDPEX 2015 10-4, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa
CV31 1XN www.midpex.wordpress.com
 16-19 September 2015, Autumn Stampex 2015: Full National Exhibition: With
all classes - Key Participant: GB Overprints Society 45 Years
 Spring Stampex 2016: Pictorial Classes Thematic, Open and Postcards
International Exhibitions 2015


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13-15 March 2015: Swedish National Exhibition at Värnamo
11-16 August 2015: Singapore World Stamp Exhibition—50 years of
Independence — Sands Expo® & Convention Center, Singapore
3-6 September 2015 Gotha Bilateral German/GB Exhibition—celebrating the
175th Anniversary of the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert: GB
Commissioner Graham Winters, 110 Oakenshaw Lane, Walton, Wakefield
WF2 6NL 01924 259713 [email protected]
23-25 October 2015, The Capital Stamp Show 2015TSB Bank Arena, 4
Queens Wharf, Wellington, New Zealand www.nzpf.org.nz/exhibitions/
capital-stamp-show-2015
Web information
Further information on exhibiting and forthcoming exhibitions can be found on
the ABPS website www.abps.org.uk on the “Exhibiting” tab.
Francis Kiddle, Chairman ABPS International & Exhibitions Committee
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 53
ABPS General Information
Honorary Life Vice Presidents
Brian Asquith, Tony Bosworth, Mike Brindle, Peter Chantry, Michael Elliott,
Hugh Feldman, Cliff Garside, John Hammonds, Phil Kenton, Margaret Morris, Tom
Poynton, Pat Rothnie, Neil Russell, Frank Soutar, Professor John C West, Richard
West, Alan Wood.
Executive Committee
Chair: John Baron [email protected] 01933 650093
- also deals with the ABPS website
Vice Chair & Advertising: Paul Gaywood [email protected]
Vice Chair & Editor (Directory, Speakers List): Rev John Walden
[email protected]
General Secretary: Willie King [email protected]
Company Secretary and Treasurer: Nigel RN Gooch [email protected]
Awards Committee Chair: Susan M Oliver [email protected]
Communications Director: Chris Oliver [email protected]
- Contact for further copies of ABPS leaflets, Handbook/Directory, Speakers List
International & Exhibitions Chair: Francis E Kiddle [email protected]
PR and Youth: John A Davies [email protected]
Other Officers
Congress Committee Chair: Gerald Marriner [email protected]
Dealers Representative: Brian Moorhouse [email protected]
Distribution: John Woodson [email protected]
Editor (Newsletter): Keith S Burton [email protected] 01423 569907
Federations: John Dickenson [email protected]
Membership: Alan D Godfrey [email protected] 01789 765385
Small Grants Coordinator: Peter O’Keeffe 8, Stainer Road, Tonbridge,
TN10 4DR, 01732 357 065
Specialist Societies: Dane Garrod [email protected]
Postal addresses
ABPS, c/o RPSL, 41 Devonshire Place, London W1G 6JY
Please use this RPSL address for all correspondence apart from the following:
Membership Secretary: 8 Gerard Road, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 6QG
Society reports (if not emailed to the editor) for the ABPS News:
Editor ABPS, 6 Old Trough Way, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 3DE
To contact the Stamp Active Network, please write to:
SAN, c/o John Davies, 3 Longfellow Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9LB
ABPS News is published by the Association of British Philatelic Societies.
Website www.abps.org.uk This also holds further information on Committees.
page 54
ABPS news, Spring 2015
page 56
ABPS news, Spring 2015