Updated 13 April 2006

• London 2010 Festival of Stamps - Our editor attended the Press Launch for this event and explains what ids planned for 2010.
  
  

• The Famous Lundy Registered Cover by Michael R Thompson - On the 17th August 1911 a registered item was sent from the Island to Penarth in South Wales with two KGV 1d stamps paying the registration fee and a QV 1d revenue stamp paying the postage rate, both being cancelled in Instow, North Devon on the 18th August....
  
  

• Historical Aspects of Finland's Stamps - The early stamps of Finland, illustrating an important and interesting stage in the history of Finland are examined in this article by the late Eric Glasgow.
  
  

• Homoeopathy and the Stamp Collector - The principle on which homoeopathy is based had been known to the ancients. Tom Wilson looks at some stamps associated with the subject.
  
  

• Make that Official - Michael Chamberlain looks at Official stamps—stamps intended for use on government mail are or were used in many countries. A short survey is provided.
  
  

• How to Look after your Collection - Based on a paper given by David R Beech FRPSL, Curator and Head of Philatelic Collections at the British Library, this article  looks at the things needed to ensure the preservation of philatelic items
  
  

• Fifty-nine years ago - On 21st April 2006 Queen Elizabeth will complete her 80th year. She has been our Queen since 6th February 1952 but prior to that she was subject to the commands and ordeals of the State. In 1947. Princess Elizabeth with her father, mother and sister undertook a journey to South Africa. Christopher Oliver looks back at these events.
  
  

• A Daniel O’Connell ‘Free’ Frank - NOT! - An article on the facsimile signature. Peter Wood asks a few questions.

Plus News from Far & Near, National PS Meeting Reports, Auction News, Letters to the editor etc.

106th Annual General Meeting of the National Philatelic Society 9th July 2005 

SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS

Chairing the Annual General meeting in the absence of the President, Richard Pratt, due to illness, Vice-president Dane Garrod advised the well attended meeting of a past year marked by some setbacks on the one hand, and solid achievements on the other. The former included the loss of our Packet Secretary, Brian Sylvester who sadly died in January 2005 and the fact that despite an encouraging start, many of last season's evening Meetings had unfortunately not attracted enough members to justify their continuation in 2005/06. 

Against this, the Postal History Packet had been launched successfully, the steps taken to develop the Postal History in 2004 were progressing and the new Seminars are being introduced, with four now arranged to take place between August 2004 and April 2006. With the Literature Sales also now well-established, the Society now has more than ever to offer members, wherever they live.

The President, Richard Pratt, was re-appointed, as were the Vice-presidents and the Officers.

As is now customary, the AGM was followed by the usual monthly Auction and then Members Displays. The latter proved particularly successful with a wide -range of interesting material on offer.

July 2005

Keen Interest in New Postal History Circuit 

The new postal history circuit of the National Philatelic Society's exchange packet has already attracted interest from 60 members although it was only launched in December last year, according to Rod Thompson, Postal History Packet Secretary. He said, " We have already sold material, and so far postal history from Great Britain has been the most popular."

The circuit sets a minimum price of £2 per item, although sets of covers can be included in the price. For reasons of security, and cost of postage, only photocopies are sent to members of the circuit on approval. If a member wishes to buy, then they send in their payment and then receive the original. Members wishing to sell send the secretary their material and which is then photocopied for circulation at the National PS.

The circuit is divided into three sections, Great Britain, General Foreign and Commonwealth.
and is an addition to the Society's stamp circuits and its monthly auction sales.

Collectors wishing to join the postal history circuit either as buyers or vendors, please contact the National PS or visit the Society’s website for membership application forms and an information pack.

January 2005

Triple for Davis - Annual Competitions December 2004 

December traditionally means competitions and seasonal refreshments for the monthly Saturday Meeting of the National Philatelic Society and December 11, 2004 was no exception.  

In the Competitions, War Tax issues expert John Davis not only won the Traditional Philately class for the second year running, but also beat off other entrants to take runner up place as well. His winning entry was “ Turks and Caicos Islands – First Two Settings of the War tax Overprint” and his runner up entry was   “Ceylon, the War Stamps and their uses “  

The Thematic Class was won by Maurice Shorten with “Victoria Falls – a World Heritage” while the runner up was Peter Wood with “Aspects of Ireland”. 

The Aerophilately award was won by John Grant with “Japan Airmails, 1919-35” and the runner up was Rodney Knight with “Spanish Guinea – Early airmails”. 

The Johnson Award for philatelic writing was presented to Allan Boyce for his article “Postage Stamps from Crete” which appeared in the National’s magazine “The Stamp Lover “ in October 2003. The award is presented annually to the author the most popular original article in the publication. 

The presentations were preceded by a well-attended auction and seasonal refreshment.

Allan Boyce is presented with the Johnson Award by Michael Furnell, Editor of Stamp Lover

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