KINGSTON AND DISTRICT PHILATELIC SOCIETY
"STAY SAFE AND WELL, AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY COLLECTING!"
A "Philatelic Society" or "Stamp Club" for collectors of postage stamps, postal history, thematic philately, aerophilately, postcards and ephemera: in Kingston-upon-Thames, Claygate, East & West Molesey, Esher, Ham, Hersham, Surbiton, and Thames Ditton.
Our experiment with "ZOOM" on-line meetings for meetings for Members continues. We held our first meeting on 23 February and our SECOND MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY 9 MARCH IN THE AFTERNOON. Any members interested in joining should contact Roger Niven (rogerniven@aol.com) to receive further details.
Given the current Government Regulations, and "road map" out of the pandemic, it seems unlikely that we will be able to meet in the flesh before the start of next season in September.
However, we are now planning a full programme of two Zoom meetings a month from March. This will include guest speakers and opportunities for all Members to share their material and most importantly chat together.
We will publish brief summaries of our on-line meetings (see below) and continue to add "philatelic snippets" (also further down this page) and other philatelic material on our other pages ( see index at top).
Members should now have received the latest copy of our Journal with some interesting articles by Michael-Pitt-Payne and Chris Oliver amongst others.
Meanwhile the number of packets is increasing as Members employ the time available to review their collections and look to trim or vary their collecting interests. Circulation of these continues with members taking appropriate protective measures during the lockdown. If you are interested in joining our circuits then please contact Ian Amy (ianamy@btinternet.com or 01372 466337)
WHO WE ARE AND OUR WEB-SITE
We meet twice a month in Surbiton during the "philatelic season" from September to June.
At each meeting either an invited visitor, or members who so wish, display some stamps, covers, or other philatelic material, and provide brief details about (and insights into) their material.
We embrace a wide variety of interests amongst our members. These include classical philately; postal history; thematic collecting; postcards: and, as our hobby adapts to changing times, collectors who are interested in stamps illustrating social history and the collecting of other paper and digital based ephemera.
THIS DEVELOPING WEB-SITE CURRENTLY HAS 15 PAGES.
From the top Menu
* This page: an outline of the Society and what we offer Members, Guests and Visitors
Our intention to resume meetings once restrictions imposed by the Coiv-19 Pandemic permit these to be safe
Our initial plan to reinstate meetings postponed from last season
Some philatelic 'tit-bits' in the meantime
* Our future programme (currently under review)
* Useful links
* Our Annual Competitions
* About Stamp Collecting (a miscellany)
* Other Philatelic Events (that may be of interest)
From the button at the right of the menu:
* Selected Articles on philately (over the last hundred years and up to the present )
* Further details on membership of our society
* A brief history of our Society
* Extracts from modern novels which feature stamp collectors, and stamp collecting.
* Some historical tit-bits about stamps from around the world
* Philatelic Journals
* Notes on our meetings in the 2018/19 Season
* Some famous people who collect (or collected) stamps.
* Kid's Stuff; for the smaller and bigger kids who collect stamps
SPRING STAMPEX
Spring Stampex has been cancelled but a "VIRTUAL STAMPEX" will be held between March 25 and March 27 - organised by the P.T.S
At the moment the A.B.P.S. Harrogate Congress 2021 is still in the diary for September 23-26. Let us hope that this event will be possible!
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2021
In view of the ongoing emergency and restrictions on travel and meetings we are proposing to hold an emergency general Meeting by post or e-mail in which Members are asked to approve one proposal:
"That the AGM should be deferred for one year until March 2022."
Would any members who wish to object to this procedure please advise the Hon. Secretary by 12 March 2021. (brian.sole@btinternet.com or by phone).
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together"
Vincent van Gogh
OUR MOST RECENT MEETING
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TUESDAY 23 FEBRUARY
BRIAN LIVINGSTONE
We had a good ‘attendance’ at our first experiment with an on-line meeting. It was nice to see so many familiar faces, and a bonus was the ability to welcome some Members who because of distance or other challenges find attending our regular meetings difficult.
We were treated to an outstanding presentation by Brian Livingstone titled “Edward VIII, Straits Settlements, from the Bradbury and Wilkinson Essays”.
Brian showed us rare material from the Bradbury and Wilkinson archives and other sources of that period - including from the Royal Philatelic Society.
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PICTURES COURTESY OF GEORGE VI SOCIETY
Brian shared with us material from the printers’ archives. The pictures shown are from the 'scrapbooks' kept by the printers - hence the low resolution. He explained the discussions that surrounded the desire of the uncrowned King Edward VIII to have a degree of uniformity in the stamp issues for the British Colonies; with single colours and simple designs featuring the monarch.
Several of the colonial administrations, however, would have preferred to issue their own designs, in colour, and showcasing their territories – and may also have hoped that such issues would generate additional revenue.
He then explained the philatelic complications consequent upon the abdication and accession of King George VI, not least the speed required to replace the portrait of Edward VIII in the proofs, and the sleight of hand used in some in terms of the uniform apparently worn by the king.
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CHRIS OLIVER
Chris Oliver then gave a short presentation on the South African antelope stamps, with examples of the rejected designs and explanation of the final selection of new designs by the artist Denis Murphy. (Pictures not shown here).
Finally, we had a discussion chaired by our President on Member’s reactions to this on-line format of meeting. There was general agreement that we should continue with the experiment, with the next meeting planned for Tuesday 9th March.
“We're all stumbling in the dark and that makes for some very interesting collisions.”
Marty Rubin (1930 - 1994)
OUR NEXT ON-LINE MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY 9 MARCH AT 2;30 pm
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"LA PLANÈTE EST SENS DESSUS DESSOUS"
"the world is upside down"
Writes Sophie Bastide-Bernardin in the editorial of the September issue of 'L'Echo de Timbrologie'.
A sentiment echoed by Tony Bard FRPSL in the September editorial of "The London Philatelist"; when he reminds us that six months ago "we could be as sociable as we liked, visit local stamp shows, society meetings, and occasional international shows".
However, despite current warnings of renewed 'Covid Spikes' there are signs that the Harry Potter's of the stamp world are looking to try and return us to a 'new normal'.
'Zoom' meetings will continue but the Royal Philatelic Society plans to resume carefully safeguarded meetings in London October. We at the Kingston and District Philatelic Society hope to follow this lead and announce our new Season's programme by the end of the month.
We may not have Hermione Grainger's 'Time Turner' but we hope to be able to meet together again, and welcome our new members in person, in October. Please keep looking at this web-site for further updates.
OUR 2020 ANNUAL COMPETITION AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
A Number of Very High Quality Displays
PRESIDENT PETER WOOD PRESENTS THE AWARDS AFTER THE JUDGING BY BARBARA PRIDDY (FROM THE WIMBLEDON P.S.)
Chris Oliver was awarded the Harmer Bowl for traditional philately; and Russell Hill the Kay Horowitz Shield for picture postcard philately.
THE COMPETITION
Eddie Weeks was awarded The Thames Trophy for the Open Class Philately; and Roger Niven the Millenium Trophy for Postal History. In addition to the four winners four other entries were Highly Commended
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
A highlight of the meeting was the award of Honorary Life Membership to Alan Tyler for his services to the Society. Christopher Oliver will become President from September, with Susan Oliver as Vice-President.
OUR ACTIVITIES
Exploration, Research, Discussion, Enjoyment, Companionship.
"I conceive of a stamp being a fragment of history, a word in the annals of human experience, a picture of an ideal fresh from the human heart. The design impressed upon it signifies what the nation may be at the moment."
(Harold LeClair Ickes; United States Secretary of the Interior, 1937-1946)
REGULAR MEETINGS
Guest Speakers
Members Evenings
Annual Competition
A regular journal
Visits
AS OF MID-OCTOBER WE ARE STILL UNABLE TO MEET DUE TO THE 'RULE OF SIX', AND NOW WITH OUR AREA BEING PLACED IN TIER 2: BUT WE WILL RESUME MEETINGS WHEN SAFE SO PLEASE KEEP WATCHING THIS SPACE!
AUCTIONS
Joint auctions with other societies
Information on local and national auctions and events
The planned Auction at Kingston
on Friday 20 March, 2020 was cancelled.
We are now awaiting clearance for the use of a local hall (and what Covid -19 precautions we need to implement) before we re-arrange this auction.
We certainly have plenty of lots already prepared for the next auction!
PACKET EXCHANGES
Between Local Members.
Material from our own Members and from Members of other societies.
We have now restarted the circulation of packets, with Members takin appropriate measures to transfer these safely.
18 packets are currently in circulation.
If you wish to join one of the circulation lists please contact our secretary : e mail
MEETINGS POSTPONED BY THE PANDEMIC
- Fri, Apr 17Location is TBD
- Thu, Apr 02Surbiton Library
- Fri, Mar 20Surbiton Library
WHILST WE AWAIT NEXT SEASONS MEETINGS
We will post occasional philatelic snippets that may interest people
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POSTPONEMENT OF TOKYO OLYMPIAD
Baron de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games in 1896 and with them the spirit of friendship between nations based upon sport. With the exception of the Two World Wars the games have been held every four years since 1906: until Covid 19 caused the postponement of the Tokyo Olympiad.
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THE 1924 OLYMPIAD IN PARIS
It was in this second 'olympic games' in Paris that the games started to resemble the format with which we are now familiar. Including the issue of special commemorative stamps. Olympic Games commemorative stamps are now issued by many countries and are not restricted to the host nation.
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THE 1900 'GAMES'
The 1900 games in Paris were rather overshadowed by the World Exhibition for which they were something of a side-show. These games saw the experimentation with sports that have never been staged again in the Olympics. These included cricket, fire-fighting and kite flying. None of these have continued as Olympic sports, and nor have ballooning, and a swimming obstacle race.
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THE CRICKET MATCH
Only a single match was played between a British team largely drawn from local clubs in Devon and Somerset. The 'French' team depended very heavily on expatriate workers engaged on the construction of the Eiffel Tower! The match was rather a one-sided affair but the hospitality afterwards was apparently of Olympian proportions!
NOTES ON OUR MEETINGS DURING 2019/2020 THE SEASON
(until they came to an abrupt end in March 2020!)
Friday 21st February - The Faroe Islands - A display by Susan Oliver
Susan treated us to a fascinating display of philatelic material from these isolated islands in the North Atlantic. Not an easy place to visit as her tales of storms, fog, shortage of landing places and circuitous steamer routes illustrated. Also not a straightforward country to collect: requiring a knowledge of geography and postmarks to identify usage when the only stamps were those issued by Denmark.
DETECTIVE WORK
Spotting cancellations, addresses, and ship names
COMPLEX ROUTINGS
An 1852 cover from Robenhaven to Lerwick via Hamburg, Ostend, and Aberdeen
SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH OF MR ANDERSON
The assistant postmaster in Robenhaven who created the 1919 provisional issues
BRITISH FORCES STATIONED ON THE ISLANDS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Personnel from all pars of the Commonwealth found themselves in a very different topography and climate.
PETER WOOD: THE PRESIDENT'S DISPLAY
Peter treated us to an astonishing display of philatelic material and ephemera charting the "Road to Irish Independence". He showed us material from 1656 through to the present day and took us through the often complicated strands of pro-union and pro-independence groupings.
Thursday 6 February
THE ACT OF ATTAINDER
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PETER IN FULL FLOW
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SINN FEIN LABELS
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FRIDAY 17 JANUARY
Some Philatelic aspects of France: Roger Niven
MAPS, CHANGING BORDERS, HISTORIC CONFLICTS, AND RIVER BASINS.
FROM COURIERS AND MAIL COACHES, TO PNEUMATIC MAIL AND SELF-ADHESIVES.
THE POSTAL SERVICE IS A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT IN FRENCH LIFE, BUSINESS, AND CULTURE
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THURSDAY 2 JANUARY
King George VI.
We saw several fascinating displays. In addition to those briefly described below we read some fascinating correspondence from a British Army Captain as he travelled from East Africa to Ceylon and then Burma in WWII, and some of Bob Holmes favourite definitives from Ascension, Barbados, Ceylon and the Sudan.
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A CZECH ENGRAVER
Brian Livingstone set us a puzzle! Could we find Bohumil Heinz's signature "H" in the hair of Kinge George VI?
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POSTCARDS AND MACHINE CANCELLATIONS
Russel Hill took us on a trip to the Sussex Coast, exploring postcard cancellations.
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THE CORO
Chris Oliver helped us to celebrate the Coronation and the start of "all-up" air services
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THE 1948 OLYMPICS AND THE FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN
Brian Sole confessed to steaming stamps from a first day cover and showed us poster stamps.
20 December 2019
"Great Britain"
A very good meeting with several Members entertaining us with some superb displays:
Stan Challis displayed examples of the short-lived Swift Air Royal Mail service: Chris Oliver showed Postal History of Swanage, beginning with the earliest markings from the 1800s: Russell Hill provided us with examples of all the shades of GB mint definitive stamps from the Silver Jubilee of King George V to modern QE II stamps: Eddie Weeks produced a display of 2d blues all chosen with the letters “AA” from the top left hand corner of Queen Victoria sheets of stamps. Brian Sole showed items for Stamp Exhibitions in GB, commencing with a label for an Exhibition at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Piccadilly, 1897: and Peter Wood began with a Royal Mail newspaper announcement that imitations of GB stamps would not be allowed through the post and then showed examples of illustrations of GB stamps, including the 1d lilac, 1d black and £5 orange in magazines and elsewhere!
THURSDAY DECEMBER 5 - OUR "CHRISTMAS SOCIAL"
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WINNER OF THE SINGLE SHEET COMPETITION
Russell Hill with Brian Sole: a sheet showing some modern GB varieties
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CERTIFICATES AND REVIEW OF LAST YEAR
Our President, Peter Wood, addressing the large gathering.
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A QUIZ, RAFFLE, DELICIOUS FOOD, AND CONVERSATION
The Quiz was light-hearted, and there were displays of Cinderella's and local postcards.
FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER: THE LETTER "T".
members presented a variety of displays with some examples shown below.
TRAIN "POSTER" STAMPS
And associated postmarks and ephemera
STAMPS FROM TURKEY ("THEN KNOWN AS THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE")
A bewildering display of minor variations and colours
THE PENNY BLACK
The plates of this iconic stamp - and the story of the toy van that went through the post!
TRANSVAAL
The Thanksgiving Cavalcade and Fair: and postage of the Western Defence Force
THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER - BOOKLETS AND MINI-SHEETS
This meeting attracted a large attendance, despite some notable absentees due to seasonal colds and coughs. Three of the displays are illustrated below. In addition we saw booklets and mini-sheets from Guernsey, The Crown Agents, and Great Britain.
LUNAR ECLIPSE IN THE FAROE ISLANDS
STAMP BOOKLETS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
GB BOOKLETS CELEBRATING THE 1953 CORONATION.
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SURREY FEDERATION EXHIBITION AND STAMP FAIR: SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER
Our Society hosted the 2019 event in the Claygate Village Hall on 26 October.
The Fair was graciously opened the mayor of Elmbridge, and, despite competition from the rugby world cup and some travel obstacles presented by road works and railway engineering, attracted a steady flow of visitors throughout the day.
The exhibition displayed individual and society entries on a range of topics, with the Mason Cup being awarded for the entry by the Woking and District Philatelic Society whose three displays comprised : GB KGV 4d issue of 1913-1923; London Late Fee Mail; and Recovered Mail, from USA air disasters 1921-1938. An outstanding entry.
Kingston and District achieved a creditable second place for thweir entry of British Levant PO's in the Turkish Empire 1857-1914; A Glimpse at the World of Insurance: and French Cross-border mail during the Second Empire.
Eight other prizes were awarded; the raffle was drawn, and, despite the increasing rain outside, Claygate Village Hall provided a warm and welcoming atmosphere for this successful event.
OUR MOST RECENT MEETING
Brian Warwick: Cinderellas and the Postal History of Wimbledon and Raynes Park
Brian provided us with two magnificent displays. The first an all encompassing introduction to the incredibly varied world of 'Cinderellas'. The second a treat of mixed postal history, photographs and ephemera relating to postal services in Wimbledon and Raynes Park.
MECCA STEALING A MARCH ON ADVERTISING
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MICHAEL WARWICK WITH THE FIRST PART OF HIS STUNNING 180 SHEET DISPLAY
EPSOM MAINTAINS POSTAGE DURING THE POSTAL STRIKE!
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OCTOBER 3: ALAN TYLER
Reflections and Material from a lifetime of collecting.
Alan Tyler was born in 1924 and his initial interest in stamps was further developed when he inherited his father-in-laws collection - from which he displayed numerous examples of George V British and Commonwealth stamps - including the Beautiful 1929 UPU £1, and the similarly attractive issues from Cyprus.
His naval career took him to the Far East and the Mediterranean where he collected fascinating examples of stamps from Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma and Malayan States - including overprints from wartime occupations and military administrations.
With his son and grandson in attendance he reminded us that stamp collecting is a lifetime hobby.
SEPTEMBER 22: A POT-POURRI OF VARIOUS ITEMS SOURCED FROM DEALERS, FELLOW COLLECTORS, STAMPEX, AND FRIENDS.
20 September 2019. A pot-pourri of various items sourced from dealers, fellow collectors, Stampex, and friends. Here is a sample of the richness and variety of the acquisitions and finds; not shown are some old French postcards; Butlin's Holiday Camps ephemera; covers showing the language of stamps' and Irish soldiers under the UN in Somalia; and Channel Islands stamp designs. A meeting that had to be attended to appreciate the material.
THE BOTSHABELO MUSEUM IN MIDDLEBURG
A mission station founded by Alexander Merensky of the Berlin Missionary Society in 1865: with the cover showing the original station and Fort Merensky.
USA SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS
Often with fascinating postmarks such as this cover with a "steamboat" cancellation
PROMOTIONAL PACK
the 1948 London Olympic Games Issue, printed by Harrison's.
AUTUMN STAMPEX 2019
Several of the Kingston and District Society Members exhibited at the Autumn Stampex.
Brian Livingstone displayed a study of the George VI 'heads' designs.
Chris Oliver showed his collection of mobile post offices in South Africa - which served the rapidly expanding townships until permanent offices could be established.
Brian Sole displayed a collection of ephemera about Mrs Dibben - a legendary stamp dealer whose shop was in Kingston upon Thames. He also showed a one frame study of the Welsh regional issues from 1958 - 1970.
Peter Wood entered in the open class with a display about the Irish Sweepstake and the postal and other material that supported this operation - which was legal in some countries, and illegal in others.
5 SEPTEMBER 2019: MICHAEL PITT-PAYNE "ASPECTS OF POSTAL HISTORY"
MICHAEL GAVE US A SIMPLY STUNNING DISPLAY OF POSTAL HISTORY.
"Aspects" included postage due: pre-stamp, stamp, and machine label examples: the surcharging of early postcards when they failed to conform to regulations: and research into social history associated with specific letters.
A LOCAL CONNECTION
Michael showed us his first letter applying to join the Kingston & District Philatelic Society (in 1963) as this was 'returned to sender' because of an incorrect address. He also reminded us that some early meetings were held in the Surbiton Assembly Rooms.
HISTORICAL INSIGHT
Early mail to Australia was difficult. In 1850 one ship took 112 days, and the service was frequently disrupted as shipping lines went bankrupt, or their ships were commandeered by the Government in times of war. A more recent war is with the Royal Mail in their 'cancellation' of stamps with pen or labels - and in one case 22 stamps being hand-stamped with 44 cancellations!
For notes on our meetings in our 2018/2019 Season see "Previous Meetings" under "More" in main menu.
ABOUT US
Visitors and New Members Welcome
Our Members share an interest in philately in all its aspects.
New members constantly add new perspectives and areas of interest, and our guest speakers show insight and depth of knowledge on topics we are often unfamiliar with.
Current Members are interested in stamps, postal history, postcards, and social history across a wide range of countries. For example, Great Britain and Commonwealth, Ireland, France, Germany, Island States, Palestine, Romania, South Africa and the USA. Also across a range of thematic topics from cycling to social and local history.
New Members will be warmly welcomed whether they be experienced philatelists, collectors returning to an earlier hobby, or novices entering the field for the first time.
PLEASE CONTACT US:
Please get in touch with us to learn more about our activities, and to arrange a visit. Either use the form on the right or send us an E mail with your name and contact details. Adding a "Subject" or a "Message" are optional.
Honorary Secretary
F. Brian Sole. FRPSL
49 Westcar Lane, Hersham.
Walton-on-Thames. KT12 SER