Dear Member,
In presenting to you our first Bulletin we feel sure that you will agree that the message from our President is a most welcome and appropriate introduction and it is with pleasure we announce that a "President's Paragraph" will be a regular feature in succeeding issues.
The formati on of a British West Indies Study Circle is no new idea. Our President has mentioned that both the late L.C.C.Nicholson and he had often discussed the matter. Some weeks ago a well-known philatelist in the North concluded his letter to me with these words;
"we tried one at Congress some years ago and as those present collected fifteen Islands it was a flop."
Quite frankly I cannot understand why this should have been so. I find that the majority of our members confine their collecting to one or two colonies but this fact does not seem to detract their interest in the Circle to the slightest degree. Mr. Gilbert-Lodge writing in "The London Philatelist" says:- "..it may be a matter of surprise that a Study Circle has not been previously formed" and I would say that it is an even greater surprise to find that it should fall to me, a comparative newcomer to the ranks of B.W.I. collectors, to be its Founder. All I can say is that it will give me the greatest pleasure to do all in my power to see that our circle is firmly established before the time comes for someone else to take over my duties. Our President has made an earnest appeal to all members to submit their problems and contribute articles for publication. When I say that the continued existence of our Circle depends almost solely on the regular f low of such material I know every member will respond. It should not be thought that some item may be regarded as somewhat elementary for remember there are others who will follow who will be, like myself, beginners. One or two members have asked whether an Exchange Packet is going to be organised. This matter has been considered by your Committee and it has been decided that it would not be practicable having regard to our very scattered membership. For the benefit of members who may be unaware of its existence I would refer to the WEST INDIES STAMP EXCHANGE CLUB conducted by Mr. A. V. York of 1 Church Road, ERITH, Kent which I understand is a good medium for disposing of those duplicates which we all accumulate. Reference has been made to the forthcoming Congress and I would like to mention here that it will be very much appreciated if any member attending will bring say six sheets from his collecti on for exhibition at our Study Circle. -This seems an appropriate time for me to express my thanks to our President, my friends on the Committee and many members for their encouragement and the valuable assistance they have given me without which the compiling of this Bulletin would scarcely have been possible. It remains for me to invite you to favour me with your comments and criticisms and so enable me to endeavour, to the best of my ability, to give you the Bulletin you want.
Thank you.
Up to the time of going to press our number totals 42 and in view of the fact that our inaugural meeting was held barely two months ago this figure may be regarded as very satisfactory indeed. It is most interesting note that members are drawn from all parts of the country as shown by the following details:
LONDON (7 )
| Cornwall (2) | Kent (1) | Surrey (1) |
| Derbyshire (3) | Lancs (1) | Sussex (1) |
| Devon (2) | Lincs (1) | Wilts (3) |
| Durham (2) | Middlesex (2) | Yorks (1) |
| Essex (1) | Northants (1) | Northern Ireland (1) |
| Herts (3) | Shropshire (2) | Scotland (2) |
In addition we have members in B. W.I. (1) Canada (1) Eire (1) France (1) and U.S.A. (1) and it would seem that our decision t o make membership WORLD-WIDE in scope will prove, as time goes on, to have been a wise step take. We are particularly proud of the fact that Mr. C. V. Adams, R. D. P. , F. R. P. S. L. , whose eminence in the world of philately is so well known, has joined us. Having regard to his advancing years and indifferent health (which we sincerely trust will improve) we are indeed grateful for his support which cannot but give added importance to the Circle. Also he has promised to let-us have a few notes on the stamps of St. Vincent in due course which we know will be read with interest by all members. We also have pleasure in announcing that Dr. R. H. Urwick, F. R. P. S. L. , President of the Shropshire Philatelic Society, has accepted our invitation to become a Vice President.
You may have wondered why we have given up page 2 to giving details of the Circle of which you are already aware. Our purpose is deliberate as we regard it as our 'shop window'. We hope that if you have a friend who may be interested you will lend him (or her) the Bulletin (we say LEND as we would like to think that you will not wish to part with it).
We would like to take this opportunity to tender our thanks to the Editors of the following journals for a number of notices in the past few weeks:- "The Philatelic Magazine," "Stamp Collecting" and "The Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly." We have also observed references in the Bulletins of The Australian Commonwealth Specialists Society of Great Britain and London & Provincial Stamp Club respectively for which we are very grateful. Our thanks are also due to the Honorary Secretary of The Royal Philatelic Society, London for his generous notice in the March issue of "The London Philatelist" which was entirely unsolicited. Our President has received intimation from Mr. E. F. Aguilar of Kingston, Jamaica that he is reserving a page of his magazine "British West Indian Philatelist" to our Circle. Since his subscribers number around 500 we are indeed grateful for such
BERMUDA.
S.G. 24 & 24a with numeral postmarks other than "1"
ENTIRES carried by early R. M. S. P. Co. ships.
BRITISH GUIANA.
SHIP types: S.G. 126,127,193,233/5,240/1,252/3 and 258
(NOTE: in quantities of not less than 10)
CAYMAN ISLANDS.
Pre-adhesive entires.
S.G. 3,4,6,7,35,36,51,52,52a & 52b (MINT only)
JAMAICA.
S.G. 38 in MINT Plate No. Block 2 x 4 from top of upper left pane.
S.G. 53b and 54a WITH CERTIFICATES.
Covers or pieces with or without U.S.A. stamps used by U.S.A. Forces in Jamaica with postmarks:
- "A.P.O.804" between 17th November 1941 and early 1942.
- "A.P.O.861" between 5th Nay 1942 and 6th December 1949
and "MAR DET PORTLAND BIGHT"
Covers or pieces with paqubot cancellations and bearing one or other of the "Lady" boat cachet.
ST. KITTS.
1903 Colour trials.
TRINIDAD.
Pre-adhesives before 1910. Entires up to 1903 with town and numeral cancellations.
NOTE:
Any member who is able to supply any of the 'wants? mentioned should send them to the Secretary, stating price asked, for onward transmission. If the member who requires them decides to purchase a remittance should be sent to the Secretary drawn in favour of "B.W.I. Study Circle." The Secretary will then remit the amount (less 5% commission and postage) to the original owner.