Reports on Club Meetings

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Monday 14 January 2019

6 in 2 - The Americas (Members)

(Report to follow)

1925 Airship Mail	1875 USA issue on yellowish wove paper	Germany Buildings stamp on cover to America
1778 letter from USA to Edinburgh	1915 censored letter from Poland to Canada via Berlin	Canal Zone before the Canal - "His Last Prayer" postcard

First International Exhibition, New York in 1913 - Three Labels	First International Exhibition, New York in 1913 - Two Labels from a se-tenant strip of four

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Monday 17 December 2018
Christmas Events, wine, mince pies quizzes, raffle, etc- Members

(Report and Images to follow)

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Monday 10 December 2018
Three Sheets from everybody (no excuses!) - Members

(Report to follow)

Thirty members put up three-page displays this evening, covering a very wide spectrum of philatelic topics - there was something from everyone for everyone.

1840 2d blue pair JK-KK, SG6 Plate 1, well cancelled, hence rare	Overseas entire to Lyons with 4d rose and red oval PD (Paid to Destination), 1859	George Gundersen's USA-Canada Friendship stamp, 1948
Thailand miniature sheet of widest stamps produced, 7 inches	Tonga banana stamps on cover	Postcard of the Kaiser at Highcliffe Castle
1899 Court Card from Bournemouth	Christmas Novels - 1993 cancellation	WWI Christmas Postcard, 1916

Monday 26 November 2018
"Tristan da Cunha & 'Various'" - Chris Rainey FRPSL

Chris began his talk with a short history of the island.
1506 - Discovered by the Portuguese AND a captain of one of the ships was called Tristo da Cunha but they did not land.
1785 - Colonised by the Austrians.
1810 - 1st serious settlement by 3 Americans one called Lambert.
1813 - British ship arrives and it’s thought Lambert had been eaten by one of his Compatriots.
1815 - British naval forces arrive from St. Helena.

He then went on to show circular and boxed cachets we are more familiar with. Very few early letters survive, those that do are in institutions. By the 1890s more correspondence available to philatelists. In 1894 two to four people were living on the island.

1910—1st cachet used on the island.
Mail always and ONLY ever arrived by ship and only 1 OR 2 a year.
There is no Post Office and has not been for years and years.
1920 - British Government decided to send a naval ship to the island regularly—ONCE a year !!
             Thus began the various cachets used on Tristan.

Chris showed these cachets in all their various formats and types as well as in combinations to various destinations around the world, most with intriguing stories behind them. Of particular interest were the overprints and underprints (only 2 known - both on show here), both produced on Pooley’s (man in charge of running the island ) typewriter----ALL ILLEGAL. This display was one of the most fascinating and absorbing that we have seen at the club. It was told in a light hearted and humorous way with many anecdotes to enhance what was a fantastic display of Tristan da Cunha material, which most of us will not see again in a long, long time.

Chris receiving his certificate from Chairman, Bob Small	The Tristan Times, 18 September 1943, with the price 3 cigarettes, 2 potatoes or ½d	1936 cover carried by S.S. Harmala en-route from South America to Japan, onward to England
1921 cover carried by the whaler Truis to Cape Town and onward to UK	1931 cover carried by the whaler Seringa en-route to South Georgia, onward to UK	1938 Registered cover, carried by the M.V. Innesmoor en-route to Chile, onward to UK

(Bob Small)

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Monday 12 November 2018
6 in 2 - The Mail in Wartime - Members

Coming just a day after the WWI Armistice Centenary, this evening's topic was very appropriate and was reflected in 16 members putting up displays covering a wide range of military postal history. In summary:

Wendy Buckle - The Occupation of Latvia by Germany, especially the seizure of the port they named Libau, with many Feldpost items from there. Rob Greer - Postcards, showing both sides, illustrating the camps used by the various Ulster Divisions, and the Memorial near Bangor. Chris Wheeler - a selection of military mail and officially approved stationery, with the rules accompanying their use. Spence Coaker - A 1938 cover from Manchuria to Hong Kong at the time China was preparing for war, a cover with the "OFI" label (Open For Inspection), closing with family correspondence to his father serving on the "Prince of Wales" dated 2 December, but forwarded to his new ship following the sinking of the "Prince of Wales" on 10 December. Jeff Hood - WWII stationery specially prepared for POWs in Germany and Japan, and covers and airgraphs from Malaya. John Duckworth - WWII in Australia where 25,000 POWs were detained, witrh examples of mail sent by both land (free) and air to the UK via Lisbon; also mail from New Zealand. Terry Kirkman - Mail from the Far East, one marked "no stamps available", but delivered, and ship mail with the "tombstone" cancellation. John Garrett - Twelve uinique and colourful postcards being the "Warbond Campaign" series, including the rarest one of women making munitions. Jeff Bradford - A selection of mail from POWs in Italy. Graham Judd - started with a blank form designed for sending letters to soldiers, then examples of green cross labels on covers for discounted return mail, and Italian POW mail to USA. Brian Quist - POW mail from the Royal Service Corps, WWI; and WWII mail from Chagi which was limited to 25 words and sent via the Japanese Red Cross. Hugh Jefferies - War time correspondence from his father, the first being a forwarded letter to the War Office in 1939, a 1940 Christmas card, and an airgraph letter from one of his battalion membrs. Don Seaby - Stamps used in South Africa during the Boer War, and war time cards from the Transvaal. - David Parsons -Channel Islands, starting with a range of war time mail to Europe, mail sent to Switzerland but returned to Jersey by the Censor; and a cover with a vertical bisect. Charles Leonard - WWII censored civil mail from Gambia introduced the day before War started, and from February 1942 mail with the official MM coding system on mail going abroad. Albert Jackson - Undercover mail sent from Poland via units set up in various neutral countries. Finally, Bob Small with an amazing selection of Napoleonic mail, with an original letter sent durng the blockade of Spain, a French letter from Bruge in 1798 and a letter from a POW in Odiham written on 1806 San Domingo letter paper.

Latvia Feldpost	1938 Cover from Manchuria	Cover redirected to the Bramham
Binner Camp, Donegal	Women making Munitions	Returned POW Mail
Boer War Cover	Undercover Mail to Box 506	1810 Cover from Fowey

(chris wheeler)

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Monday 22nd October
"Burma, Christmas Island & Tokelau" - Rufus Barnes

Rufus Barnes’ collecting interests are considerable, and within this evening’s meeting he covered a wide geographic area. He traced the production of Abu Dhabi stamps from the first issue up to the 1970s and a small emphasis was made of aerograms, including FDC, designs, sizes and ‘undercover’ ones. Burma took centre stage, not surprisingly since Rufus chairs the International Study Circle. He proceeded to share much information, including insights into the postal history of Burma. TPOs featured, making it clear that numerous routes exist. Christmas Island took to the stage in the second half of the presentation. Much scarce material was shared, for example, an incoming 1908 cover, an outgoing one of 1910 and scarce ones from the 1940s. Aerograms, registered envelopes, including commercially used and a study of postmarks were much enjoyed. 1988 saw Rufus on his first island visit and had a most privileged insight into postal archives when he was presented with scarce archival material. Some years later when civil unrest caused the destruction of remaining stock, Rufus found himself in possession of unique philatelic material!! Examples of this were displayed, which included artist’s drawings. The entire presentation was underpinned by excellent exposition, write-up, varieties, worn plates, overprints, handstamps, covers, postage dues and Christmas miniature sheets. This was an evening of excellence indeed.

(Paul Barry)

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Monday 8 October
9 in 4 - Your Choice - Members;

Eleven members took to the floor this evening covering a wide range of interesting topics covering:-
the stamps, postmarks and overprints of the Straits Settlements
early stamp issues from Singapore, Malacca and Penang
Official Paid Mail and their origins
Postcards showing activities carried out by the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea
the 1952 series of postcards engraved by the Bank of Finland
philatelic War Fund labels
Forces registered postage covers from the Boer War, WWI and WWII
early unwatermarked issues from 1862 Hong Kong
postal coverage of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
GB 1700s postal history including mail from Lymington

Indian Stamp used in the Straits Settlements, with Malacca "B/109"	Malaya airmail cover, censored	Official Paid cover
6 November 1791 cover from Lymington to London	Finland postcard	Manchester Philatelic Society War Fund cover with seal on reverse

(chris wheeler)

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Monday 24 September, 2018
"Sudan, The Camel Postman" - Richard Stock FRPSL

This meeting was indeed most memorable.  Club had the benefit of a great speaker, presenting not only a little known area of philately, but with superb material, the like of which would not be seen elsewhere.  The write-up was first rate, as was the detailed information imparted. Richard’s historical journey mapped out the development of this famous issue, whereby a designer by the name of Stanton was ordered by Kitchener to produce within a week an acceptable drawing. A local tribesman was required to pose in full ‘war kit’, and this, together with the most pleasing subsequent De la Rue printings in wonderful dual colour combinations, completed the task. The result was iconic! Richard provided a highly detailed and complex backdrop to the issue, which he illuminated with numerous examples of essays, proofs, stamps as singles and in blocks, some of which were very scarce limited printings.  He discussed different inks used, both in GB and abroad production, particularly Egyptian.  ‘Late Fees’, official hand stamps, telegrams, TPO use, registered, crash and campaign covers were all in the mix. A section dealt with papers, watermarks and overprint varieties.  The coffee break barely provided Members with enough time to peruse. This was a major and unique study…exquisite!!

Captain Edward Stanton and the preliminary design for his stamp
                                 

Richard Stock FRPSL	The Camel set

         (Paul Barry)

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Monday 10 September - "6 in 2" - Postcards Only - Members

Chris Wheeler started the evening with a set of postcards illustrating the breadth of art produced by Joseph Wright of Derby, being one of the initiators of the "Age of Enlightenment". Spence Coaker followed with six postcards illustrating the lives of those living in or visiting some of the Chinese ports, and the postmarks used to cancel the stamps. John Duckworth also featured a pioneering artist, Raphael Kirchner from Vienna, this time a leader in the art nouveau movement, who produced colourful Japanese style paintings and then glamour pictures, very popular with the troops in WWI. John Garrett was next with examples of the earliest postcards issued featuring sights of Bournemouth, printed in Germany from the 1890s, his earliest being from 1893 - a postcard showing Bournemouth scenes posted from Brockenhurst to Berlin. He also showed examples of the first divided-back cards which came into use in 1902. A set of very early pull-out cards featuring Bournemouth, and ending with a glitter card formed Julian White's display. Don Seaby also featured Bournemouth with postcards from 1893 to 1899. Terry Kirkman displayed some early Australian cards, and ones featuring Lily Langtree and Freddie Mills. Finally David Parsons displayed some postcards with the outline design of Trinidad stamps, closing with the crab card from Guernsey and two view-shaped cards, one in the shape of a suitcase containing a camera.

1911 postcard from Wei-Hai-Wei to Kent showing a village scene in Lui Tung Tau	Kirchner Japanese-style postcard "Geisha being carried in a litter"	Two art nouveau Glamour postcards by Kirchner	A colourful early local postcard

Another colourful early Bournemouth postcard	South Terrace, Freemantle in the late 1800s	Jersey "camera views in a suitcase" sent to Winton

chris wheeler

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Monday 13 August 2018, "9 in 4" - Stamps only - Members

Hugh Jefferies started the evening with a comprehensive display of the first few issues of Jamaica, starting with the British Used in Jamaica, then to their first issue in 1860, and subsequent issues up to Independence. Examples of the CC and CA were shown, as were the stamps bearing the allocated cancellations A01 and from A27 to A78 as used by the different post offices in the country. Don Seaby concentrated on the Malayan Federated States elephant and tiger stamp designs, mint and used examples; a range of postmarks, and then some revenues and postage dues. Third was David Parsons a most colourful range revenue stamps from Jersey, starting in 1901, including a triangular set. Spence Coaker put up some stamps from his collection of Canada War Issue to 1972 pictorials, all neatly written-up. Chris Wheeler displayed a set of covers received through his letter box during the last two weeks with a range of "stamps" on them, mainly pre-printed in a variety of formats, including a Retured to Sender Freepost cover that had not been collected by the addressee. John Garrett, displayed some rare issues from the various German New Guinea issuing Agencies. Bob Small continued with his superb presentation of King George V War Time issues showing the many shades of the 1½d brown Cyper, and the 2d orange Cypher, all from 1912 to 1924. Finally Bill Laird also displayed some George V stamps, but his were the Downey heads, which he interspersed with pictures of the Downey family. Various dies and perforations were included.

"A01" cancellation, Kingston Jamaica	1/- Triangular Revenue stamp from Jersey	Court Revenue stamp from Jersey

Freepost Cover, Undelivered, Surcharged and Returned to Sender in a covering envelope, with fee unpaid	King George V with Downey heads, and complementary 10/- note

(chris wheeler)

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Monday 23 July - "Royalty" - Ian Shapiro

Frequently collecting interests have their origins in childhood and for Ian Shapiro this was certainly true. Having grown up in Cape Town and had experience of Royal Visits, he developed a growing interest in ‘Royal’ themed stamp issues and indeed, all matters ‘royal’. Members were absolutely riveted to this presentation. Ian had amassed over many years a superb collection and within this evening’s display the finest elements were to be seen. The story featured began in 1837, through to near the end of the 20th Century. Early signed correspondence from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert was displayed, as were mourning envelopes, rare royal cancellations, including postal items from Windsor, Balmoral and Osbourne House.  An interesting study was made of royal handwriting.  Into King Edward VII’s reign, the in-depth appraisal continued, with such rare (unique?) items such as a royal cover blessed with a ‘postage due’ stamp! and later royal telegrams sent around the time of ‘the Abdication’. Such was the volume of material and its sheer scarcity, together with the considerable knowledge displayed, both through write-up and exposition, that Members could hardly draw breath. For the writer, as for many no doubt, were the most amazing philatelic items relating to the very last days of the Russian Royal Family.  These included envelopes with their letters and a Christmas postcard sent by Anastasia, one of the princesses, just weeks prior to execution, together with photographs and documents!

Indeed… a ‘Night to Remember’

Letter from Queen Victoria, signed "The Queen" on the front, sent to Queen Adelaide in 1837	Letter signed "The Queen" on the front, with 2d blue, sent to Lady Caroline Barrington in Osborne, IOW, from Balmoral, 1852	Letter with stamp sideways, sent by Queen Victoria, also to Lady Caroline in Osborne, IOW, arriving the next day

Letter from "Osborne", 1897, showing front and back and contents, and cancellations	Postcard from the Royal Yacht, with Cowes cancellation (Official Paid) when Victoria and Albert were aboard	Postcard from Highcliffe Castle, with its own cancellation

Private "Frogmore" cancellation on piece	Railway parcel label from Sandringham to the Savoy Hotel, attached to game shot on the estate	The Railway Stamps used on the Parcel label

(Paul Barry)

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Monday 9 July 2018 - Members - "A is for ......."

The evening started with an extraordinary display by John Davis using the letter "A" to represent both Aqua and the Letter Sheets from Venice known as the Venetian “AQ” letter sheet, best described by postal historian Bernard Quaritch Ltd: "In 1608 the Venetian authorities began issuing these prepaid printed letter sheets, which are considered to be the first postal stationary sold officially – predating the British Mulready letter sheets of 1840 by more than two centuries. The letters “AQ”, a contraction of acque, were printed at the top of each sheet – they were issued to generate revenue for the repair and upkeep of waterworks in the city by the Collegio alle Acque. The text printed on the sheets reproduced the statute of 1608 under which the system operated, with a surcharge of 4 soldi on the cost of posting a letter. Each sheet has an identification number printed at the top left and the system remained in operation until the end of 1797". This was followed by Spence Coaker with postal material linked to the towns in Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports beginning with the letter "A". John Duckworth displayed some very rare UK airmail covers, including an example of one from the first official flight in 1911, a small plane with an on-board sorting office; and a postcard of Graf Zeppelin, air post pioneer. John Garrett showed us Australian Air Force Mail from World War 2, with censor marks. Wendy Buckle displayed a highly colourful presentation of stamps depicting the origin and development of the Alphabet from its invention in the 11th century BC by the Phoenicians, when it comprised just consonants, with examples of the five principle Alphabets in use today.

Charles Leonard displayed six sheets of Airmails to and from Siera Leone, all using different air transport routings. Davis Parsons concentrated on Alderney with a mix of postcards showing many aspects of life on the island. Chris Wheeler chose Anti-Aircraft as his theme with examples on postcards, souvenir sheets and stamps. Don Seaby went back to his home town of Amersham with some nostalgic postcards of old Amersham, and later when the Metropolitan Railway had arrived, new Amersham. Hugh Jefferies surprised us all again with his choice of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, showing many varieties, and explaining their causes, finally advising the letter A was for Adhesive!

An example of the A Q lettersheet that was used by those sending letters to Venetian Government Agencies, with a fee to help stop the city from sinking	Graf Zeppelin on a postcard	Teo stamps depicting the Phoenician alphabet, the first world alphabet

First UK Air letter, postmarked 1911	Military Camp in Alderney	Amersham Village

(chris wheeler)

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