Our President has stated that this was a most successful meeting which was attended by 24 members and 5 visitors. A resume of the interesting pages that were passed round is as follows:- G. W. COLLETT (President): JAMAICA: some newly acquired covers including G.B. used in Jamaica of the first period (8. 5. 1858). Embossed die proofs included one for a 2d. registered envelope. Blocks of the first 3d., 6d. and 1s. adhesives cancelled with pen and ink lines (probably specimen stamps). A. E. BEACH: ST. KITTS: Early pre-adhesive covers including a " ST. KITTS PAID " (no date) - circa 1860 s. TOBAGO: Pre-adhesive covers with the 35mm. fleuron type (dated 30 April, 1806) and a Crowned Circle 'PAID AT TOBAGO', also a fine study of the 1 PENNY and 1 PENNY surcharges and their settings. L. E. BRITNOR : ANTIGUA Pre-adhesive dated 1754, and the handstruck type (PD11) dated 24. 10. 1796 (latest recorded date.), G. W. GROVES: A 'pot pourri' including: ANTIGUA: K.G.V. shade varieties. BARBADOS, public notice dated 19 Jan. 1765 'By the KING'S AUTHORITY'. P. W. HOSKING: BRITISH GUIANA: a most interesting study and display of the obliterations, complete from 1884 to 1902. LT.-COLONEL G. H. LATHAM: A Selection of ANTIGUA, LEEWARD ISLANDS, NEVIS (postal fiscals), ST. KITTS and TRINIDAD cancellations. MAJOR F. S. J. NORRIS: BERMUDA. St. Georges, scarce early handstruck markings; British mail boat cancelltion "A95 " on G.B. 1865, 6d., and a study of the shades in the printings of the K.G.V. high values. P. T. SAUNDERS: CAYMAN ISLANDS: Photograph of pre-adhesive dated 3 Oct., 1842 (one of eight known), no example is known privately owned. A selection of first-flight air mail covers. Mrs. M. W, TAYLOR
GRENADA: An example of the "Royal Grenada Gazette" Vol. 1, No. 12, March 30. 1765, and another dated April 13, 1765, with a notice from the G.P.O. of letters remaining in the post office and lists of shipping. A Ship Letter, May 8. 1815, with "Ship Letter" over a crown and "GRENADA" below in oval (only two of these Ship Letters are at present recorded.) A fine series of 'Carriacou' covers. Miss R. TITFORD: ST. CHRISTOPHER: including a clear 'ST. KITTS PAID' in red (May 29, 1855), and a selection of the early adhesives, mint and used, with covers. J. J. TURNER: ST. VINCENT: The first fleuron mark 'ST. VINCENTS'; a red Crowned Circle, followed by a fine selection of the adhesives.
Owing to illness and other reasons only our Hon. Secretary and Mr. C. H. Elkan were able to attend. The following members contributed selected pages from their collections:
Mr. C. H. Elkan (BARBADOS). Mr. A. A. Hershman (JAMAICA), Mr. C. H. H. Roche (DOMINICA & ST. LUCIA), Mr P. T. Saunders (CAYMAN ISLANDS), Mr. V. W. Smithson (BERMUDA & LEEWARD ISLANDS). Miss Rose Titford (BAHAMAS & ST. CHRISTOPHER).
Our Hon. Secretary accompanied by Mr. W. H. H. Crow; Mr. H. E. Kimber and Miss Rose Titford spent a most enjoyable evening and selected pages were shown as follows:
Mr. Crow (JAMAICA varieties), Mr. Kimber (ST. VINCENT early issues with provisional surcharges of 1880 & 1881), Mr. Saunders (CAYMAN ISLANDS -out of the way items), Miss. Titford (BAHAMAS & ST. CHRISTOPHER - first issues): Mr. L. Britnor sent pages of ANTIGUA & BARBADOS and Mr. N. Calnan BAHAMAS - early rarities, which were shown by Miss Titford on their behalf.
We would remind you that this will be held on Friday, the 27th January next in the meeting room of The Royal Philatelic Society, London, at 41, Devonshire Place, W.1. at 5.30 p.m. Should you wish to attend the informal Dinner which follows at Lord's Tavern. St. John's Wood Road, N.W.8. (7.15 for 7.45 p.m.) please advise the Hon. Secretary without delay the number of tickets you require for yourself and guests. Tickets are 15/- each (excluding wine but including gratuities) and the appropriate remittance should accompany your application.
In response to a number of requests a meeting has been arranged to take place also at 41, Devonshire Place, W.I. on Saturday the 21st April at 2.30 p.m. Please make a note in your diary, and if you are able to attend, please remember to bring along a few pages and, of course, a note of any interesting point for discussion.
We are glad to announce that our CIRCLE has been invited to provide an exhibit which will be found in Frames 38 and 39. For the benefit of those members who may not be able to attend we append a brief description :
Frame No. 38 ST. LUCIA. Perkins Bacon & De La Rue printings 1860 - 1882/4; a selection of various Fiscal stamps which were allowed to be postally used. The Die I printings of 1882/86, 1886/7, and Die II printings of 1891/98, 1891/92 Dies I & II issues surcharged. K.E. VII issues of 1902/3, 1904/10 and 1907/09. All stamps shown mainly mint.
Frame No 39 TRINIDAD. Pre-adhesive, and Ship Letter (1848). Type 2 numeral obliterations on imperforate issues. 1859, pin-perf. 131/4-14, mint; 1860, cleancut perf., including 1d. imperf. between pair; 1863/75, CC. Perf. 121/2 shades. 1883, Artist's sketch and die proof with value label blank. 1883, set surcharged 9d. 1896/1909 die proofs.
In addition there are independent exhibits by some of our members as follows
Frame. No. 40. BERMUDA. A study of the retouches to the printing plates of the "Ship" type 3d, 6d and 1/- values on Script watermarked paper.
Frame No. 42. CAYMAN ISLANDS. Photographs of a recently discovered pre-adhesive entire (unknown in any private collection) dated 3/10/1842.
An example of the Jamaica Queen Victoria 1d green bearing the third Georgetown cancellation; example of First Rural Post cancellation 1909-17; cover showing use of local stamps as 'Postage Dues'; examples of postal stationery, "Specimens" and a selection of high values from K.E. VII to Q.E. II.
Frame. No. 43. JAMAICA. Early examples of the attractive temporary rubber date-stamps on the Queen Victoria issues mainly on covers.
Frame. No. 44. JAMAICA. A fine selection of Die Proofs and colour trials.