The current issue of Stamp Lover - June 2025.

• EuroPhilex 2025 Report - The editor writes a personal view of his experiences at EuroPhilex, where he helped set up and staff the NPS table, bought the special issues at the Royal Mail counter, viewed the Court of Honour and the exhibits, and attended the ceremony where the Hon Treasurer of the National Philatelic Society (NPS), Simon Richards signed the  prestigious Roll of Distinguished Philatelists. The names of NPS members who exhibited and competed in this international exhibition are given elsewhere in this issue.

• New Collectibles in prospect for GB postage label enthusiasts – Michael L Goodman describes the new generation of self-service kiosks due to be rolled out across UK post offices. These will handle parcels as well as letters and wonders what these will have to offer to philatelists.

• Yoga, A journey to health - Briti Deb highlights an Indian miniature sheet featuring Yoga.

• More non-PC philately - Michael Round treads a tightrope with a Zambian stamp.

• Checklist of Articles in the British Philatelic Press, July to December 2024 – the Index compiled by Rodney Knight

• Meeting reports – New Zealand Airways displayed by John Biddlecombe at the Online meeting of 14 April 2025 when the scheduled speaker was unavailable, and The President’s Display, The UPU Colour Code Scheme, given by Peter Mellor at the London Meeting on Saturday 17 May.

• Book Reviews – Reviewed this issue are Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue - Falkland Islands & Dependencies, 9^th ed. 2024 and  the Yvert et Tellier Catalogue of  French Colonies postal stationery (trans).

• News coverage includes issues for the 80^th Anniversary of VE Day, the 2025 Stuart Rossiter Seminar, the Trump tariff war, whilst the editor comments how philatelists can be “vandals” too.

• The President's Piece
• Editor's column
  
• National PS News
• Letters to the Editor
   
• Stamp Fairs Listing -  late May, June & July 2025.

MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY RECEIVE SIX ISSUES OF "STAMP LOVER" A YEAR

 
London & Provincial Stamp Club

As  from 1 September 2023, members of the London & Provincial Stamp Club (L &P) have been welcomed to the National philatelic Society (NPS). As a result the NPS has  gained 79 new members. A further 25 L & P members were already members of the NPS. This transfer followed a vote by L & P members after the Club found itself unable to find new officers.

NPS President, Peter Mellor comments  “ As always, I am delighted to welcome new members, but in the case  of those from the L & P, I appreciate that it is always a sad moment when any club or society – philatelic or otherwise – feels that circumstances  mean it has to close its doors. Nevertheless I hope and believe that the National can add to these members’ enjoyment of the hobby in the way that the L &P did and certainly we will be the better and stronger as a result of this influx of new blood. Indeed it is good to know that Andrew Horn of the L & P is already becoming a valued member of our Packet Team., while Julia Todd has been co-opted onto the NPS Council”. 

The London & Provincial Stamp Club’s origins go back to 1946. In November of that year, 18 members of an international philatelic body called the International Stamp Collectors’ Association (ISCA) met together at a church hall in Paddington and agreed to form a London club.  The first meeting was held on 25th November 1946, with Robson Lowe, the eminent philatelist, as the guest speaker. His subject was "organised Philately".This small group prospered and attracted more members until in 1950 – upon the demise of the ISCA – it renamed itself and became the London & Provincial Stamp Club.

                                                                                                                                                                             October 2023