A combined display - the first attempted by the Circle was given to the London and Provincial Stamp Club at Weigh House Hall, Binney Street, London, W.1., on Saturday afternoon, September 4th, 1954.
Sixteen of the B.W.I. Colonies were covered and whilst these of necessity had to be concentrated into just over 90 pages - a very wide variety of interesting and important material was included. It showed much for the enthusiasm of our members that 30% of the Circles home membership supported this display by material from their collections.
Obviously it is impossible to report every individual item - fuller notes would entail a Bulletin devoted exclusively to this purpose but it is hoped that the following resume will serve to indicate the scope and at the same time, where it is considered relevant and helpful - details of unusual covers or cancellations have been included.
ANTIGUA - contributed by Dr. R.H. Urwick, Vice President: 1863, small star, rough perf. 14-16; shades of the 1d and 6d. in mint blocks and strips. A selection of covers with unusual postal markings.
BAHAMAS - contributed by Dr. N. Garrard: - 1859, 1d., no wmk., imperf., on thick paper, (S.G.1), used, and pairs pen-marked - being either specimens, or samples. The 1d. on thin or medium paper - mint singles and a block of four. The clean-cut and rough perf. issues, also the 1d., perf. 11 - 12, (S.G.7). The no watermark stamps of 1862 included all three values with compound perforation. The De la Rue prints, CC, 12½ and CC, 14 were shown for shades and included the anilines, mint. of the "FOURPENCE" on 6d. provisional of 1883, two mint and three used.
BAHAMAS - contributed by Mr. C. H. H. Roche The various printings of the King George VI issues, mint, including the rarer shades.
BARBADOS - contributed by Mr. L. E. Britnor: 1873, 5s. small star, (S.G.64), used. 1893, "PAID AT BARBADOES" (crowned circle type) used provisionally during a shortage of the 2d. adhesive stamp in February and March. The numeral cancellations "1" to "11" ("Bootheel" type) employed for the eleven parishes.
BERMUDA - contributed by Captain F. S. J. Norris Rare pre-adhesive covers included a Portsmouth "SHIP LRE" dated July 27, 1807. A cover bearing 'combination' of date and fleuron usually only found individually with the first and third fleuron types, dated 29 Jan, 1835. The rare "IRELAND ISLE" date-stamp of July 19, 1845 (the post office was opened in March 1845), at present one of two known copies; of the same type as the Hamilton 'Perot' date-stamp and sent out to the colony at the same time, i.e. Nov. 1st, 1841. On the example shown, the day of the month "19" is in ms. An example of the HAMILTON (Perot type). date-stamp on a cover dated MR. 8 1850. Another unusual entire with the Hamilton crowned circle and with the original HAMILTON postmark - Feb. 5, 1850, in addition.
BERMUDA - contributed by Mr. V. W. Smithson: Here the various printings of the K.G. V1 issues were fully set out with all the rarer shades.
BRITISH GUIANA - contributed by Mr. E. S. Forshaw: 1853, 4c. deep blue, (S.G.18) with clear "Berbice" cancellation. Entire, dated Sept. 2, 1825 with fleuron date-stamp, from Demerara to London. An example of one of the scarcest Georgetown postmarks with the words "British Guiana" in full; similar type to the first specific Village Posts introduced late in the year 1878 - the example shown was dated Dec. 6, 1879. A clear example of the first Essequibo postmark.
CAYMAN ISLANDS - contributed by Mr. E. E. Ainger: Rural post cancellations with two types of the boxed "GRAND CAYMAN" on covers - (a) "RURAL POST COLLECTION GRAND CAYMAN" and (b) "EAST END Grand Cayman RURAL Post Collection." 1908, K.E. VII, 3d., mint blocks of shade varieties including a block of 8 on buff paper (uncatalogued).
CAYMAN ISLANDS - contributed by Mr. P. T. Saunders: Jamaica: 1883-97, ½d. green, CA, 14 with the third Georgetown cancellation (Type A) showing part of the Cayman cancellation "GRAND CAYMAN CAYMAN ISLANDS." 1912-20, MCA, 14, mint- set with all shades of the 3d., 1s and 10s.
DOMINICA - contributed by Lieut.-Colonel G.H. LAG. B. 6d. , (S. G. 70) on cover cancelled with the "A07" obliterator of Dominica (addressed to L'pool). 9d., (S.G.87) with same obliteration. Dominica: 1883, -12d. olive-yellow (S. G.15) and 1886, 1d. lilac, (S.G.21) overprinted with R.L. Type D (Crowned Circle "PAID AT DOMINICA") used as an obliteration and a surcharge in 1885-86 owing to a shortage of sixpenny stamps; with this obliterati on ' the value of these stamps was raised to 6d. 1883-88, CA, 14, bisected 1d. lilac and 1d. rose, used on pieces. 4d. grey, malformed "CE", (S.G.22a), used. The 1s (S.G.26) unused.
DOMINICA - contributed by Mr. C. H. H. Roche: 1938, 2½d. 'Picking Limes? with lower margin imperforate, used.
GRENADA - contributed by Dr. R.H. Urwick: Die proofs in black of the 1d. and 6d., and of the 1875 (fiscal' type. Plate proofs, in the issued colours of 1d. and 6d., the latter value in a pair with experimental cancellation. Two covers - (a) an 1872 registered letter bearing a strip of three 1d. and pair of 6d. to London (unusual rate) and (b) to New York with a strip of five 1d. 1881, 2d., 2½d. and 4d. with varieties including a mint block of four ½d. mauve, one stamp "OSTAGE."
JAMAICA - contributed by Mr. G. W. Collett, President: Some fine pre-adhesive covers, e.g. "IAMAICA" dated 10 June 1774 with Bishop mark. "LACOVIA" (1793). Ship Letters of 1816. Adhesives on covers included an immaculate strip of six 1d. , pine watermark with "A73" (St. Ann's Bay) postmark. The 1s. yellow-brown and 1s. purple-brown pine on covers. 1870-83, CC, 14, pair of 2d. on newspaper "The Jamaica Churchman." Post Town markings on covers included "A28" (Type M) Annotto Bay, on pairs of the 4d. and 6d. CC.
JAMAICA - contributed by Mr. V.N.F. Surtees: 1949, 3d. and £1 mint marginal and plate number blocks. 1952, Scout Jamboree issue, 2d. and 6d., marginal and imprint blocks.
LEEWARD ISLANDS - contributed by Mr. V. W. Smithson: All the various printings of the King George VI issues.
ST. CHRISTOPHER - contributed by Dr. R. H. Urwick: he provisional surcharges of 1885 and 1886 in mint blocks, e.g. - 1885, "Halfpenny" on half of 1d., mint block of 40 (unsevered), and a used pair with inverted surcharge. "FOUR PENCE" on 6d. used on cover with 1d. rose-carmine pen-cancelled to prepay local postage to Basse Terre. 1886, 4d. on 6d. variety, no stop, a mint block of ten, and a single on cover.
ST. KITTS - contributed by Mr. L.E. Britnor: Two interesting postcards addressed to St. Kitts, one bearing a Montserrat 1883, 1d. bisected, the other, Nevis, bisected 1d. both addressed to W.P. Pearce, Postmaster at Basse Terre: both items showing interesting correspondence between two B.W.I. postmasters.
ST. LUCIA - contributed by Mr. O. G. Bowlby: 1863, CC, 12½. (1d.), (4d. ) and (6d. ), - (S G.5/7). The unissued provisional surcharges, (S.G.8a and 8b). A cover from St. Lucia to Caen dated Mr.12. 66, franked by a pair of. 4d. chrome-yellow (S.G.12) with crowned circle "PAID AT ST. LUCIA" in red and other interesting transit markings. The major re-entry No. 205 on the sheet showing complete doubling of the words "ST. LUCIA" and "POSTAGE" and, line across lower portion of engine-turned design.
ST. VINCENT - contributed by :Mr. J. J. Turner: A superb selection of all the issues from 1861 onwards with all the known rarities - a 5s. rose-red of 1880 (S.G.28),: mint was exceptionally fine. The earliest known postmark of St. Vincent - the fleuron type with "S" in "ST. VINCENTS" (Sept.10, 1810).
TOBAGO - contributed by Mr. A.E. Beach: IBM, The 1d. ms. surcharge on half 6d. , used, (three, one on small piece). 1881, examples of various bisects employed to meet the 2½d. postage rate, when the island joined the U. P. U. : included. among these was a cover addressed to Trinidad bearing six bisected 1d. Venetian-red of 1880, and a bisected 1883, 4d. yellow-green used on large dated piece. A study of the varieties in the "2 PENNY" surcharges of 1886-89 showing the characteristic features of the settings.
TRINIDAD - contributed by Mr. J. B. Marriott: a fine group of postmarks included the numeral types: Type 1 - circular marks and Type 2 - boxed. The first type of crowned circle on cover dated Nov. 9, 1858. Adhesives: 1863, CC, 12½, shades with the 6d. deep green, (S.G.78), unused, and the 1d. rose, variety imperf., (S.G.70a), used. 1898, 'handing of Columbus' issue: die proofs of central vignette and-of frame, in black; the former in early and finished states; completed die proof also colour trials, probably from the die, on unwatermarked paper.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS - contributed by Mr. W.A. Townsend: 1900, mint, shades including the 2s., (S.G.108) and 3s. (S.G.109). Sept., 1909, MCA, mint set, and similarly of the 1921 MCA issue.
No greater encouragement could be given to any newly-formed Study Circle, than the generous remarks made by Mr. A.P. Fawthrop - Chairman at this meeting, when he said that it was a marvellous accomplishment for a society, formed as recently as last January, to produce a display of this kind. He added that the members of the London and Provincial Stamp Club would benefit greatly by seeing this display and they were exceedingly grateful to the B.W.I. Study Circle for presenting such a fine exhibition.
The Circle's thanks are recorded to those who supported the display and not least of all to the Honorary Secretary for assembling the material and presenting it on behalf of country members who were unable to attend the meeting and for those who were present.
Whilst we ventured to suggest in the July issue that we might be invited to give another display -we did not, for one moment anticipate that such would materialise before our first one had taken place. It is, therefore, with pleasure that we. announce that an invitation t o give a joint display to the Junior Philatelic Society has been accepted. This will take place at the Bonnington Hotel, Southampton Row, W. C.2. , on Saturday, 2nd April, 1955 at 3 p.m. We know that we can rely on the continued support of those whose contributions made our first display such a success, but the help of others will be required since w e understand some 200 pages are normally exhibited.
Our first A.G.M. will be held on Thursday, January 27th, 1955 (the anniversary of our foundation) in the Meeting Room of the Royal Philatelic Society, London, at 41 Devonshire Place, W.1. from 5.30 to 7.p.m. This will be followed by-an informal dinner elsewhere and as it is essential that arrangements for accommodation be made well in advance it will be appreciated if those members who hope to attend will advise the Hon. Secretary as soon as possible: We would add that tickets will be approximately 12/6d. (excluding wine) and members may bring guests should they so desire.