at Central Hall, Westminster, S.W.1. March 16th-23rd
As announced in our last issue our Circle was invited to provide an exhibit for which three frames were allocated. For the benefit of those who were unable to attend the following is a brief account of the material displayed:
ANTIGUA: S.G.8., unused, and used including pairs also the re-entry used on cover.
ST. CHRISTOPHER: Die proofs on card. ST. LUCIA: Selection of covers including Great Britain 1d. red and 6d. lilac used at ST. Lucia on cover; the 'Castries' provisional postmark and an example of the first air mail on cover.
ST. VINCENT: Copies of S.G. 6, 16 and 17 each on cover and S.G. 8 and 10 on one cover; the 'BAR' obliteration on S.G. 22 on cover and examples of the various abbreviated and extended types; the 'G' (Georgetown) on S.G.22 also on cover.
(Loaned by H. Douglas Bessemer. F.R.P.S.L,).
DOMINICA: A selection of the handstruck stamps and cancellations, including the early handstruck stamps on preadhesives with one of the two known examples of the early 'DOMINICO' stamp; examples of the 'A07' cancellations on G.B. stamps and of the unusual manuscript cancellations including one on cover; a selection of cancellations on adhesives including a number of small village marks.
(Loaned by F. J. N. Nabarro, F.R.P.S.L.).
TOBAGO: Examples of G.B. used in Tobago 1856-8; first issue of Tobago (1879) with die proof; copies of the provisional ½d. on 6d. stone (1886) 1st and 2nd settings also of the ½d. on 2½d. blue with varieties and double surcharges; cover (1890) showing pair of Tobago 4d. stamps used as postage dues; Canadian Patriotic cover of 1898 used in Tobago; examples of the first postcards with die proof.
(Loaned by A. E. Beach).
Among the individual displays we were glad to see material covering Bermuda and Virgin Islands loaned by Lt.-Col. F. S. J. Norris and Mr. W. Frazer respectively. The pages of Bermuda comprised a study of postmarks which the exhibitor states 'should and should not have appeared on adhesives between 1865 and 1889'. Mr. Frazer's fine assembly of Virgin Islands included the following items of especial interest: The earliest recorded cover dated 2nd March 1796; 1866, die proofs of the ld" 4d. and 6d. in various colours and other proof material; part sheet of 22, 6d. imperforate, unissued setting; 1d. perf. 12, mint marginal block of 15. Essay of the 1s. without figure of Virgin, 1867/8, examples of the 1s. rose-carmine on billed paper including a mint block of 4; 4d. lithographed, block of 15 imperforate proofs. 1867, 4d. lake-red, complete sheets of 25, one on buff paper; a single 4d. used on cover to London. 1867/8, 1s. on white and on toned papers, complete sheets. 1868, 1s. single-line frame, imperforate proof in the issued colour; the 1s. on white paper, mint block of 8. 1879, 1d. complete sheet of 24 (sideways wmk.). 1887, complete mint sheets of the 6d. deep violet and 1s. sepia. 1888. "4D" on 1s. complete mint sheet of 20, also horizontal marginal pair the right stamp with double surcharge.
As many members will be aware, the "Stampex" Trophy for 1957 was awarded to our member, Mr. R. W. Wells of Devizes, and we take this opportunity of extending to him our hearty congratulations on his success.
The Annual General Meeting of the British Philatelic Association is to be held on Tuesday, May 7th, at the Kingsley Hotel, Bloomsbury Way. W.C.1. Following the normal practice it will be followed by a display, and our Circle has been invited to provide the material. A selection of the following colonies will be on view: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Christopher and St. Vincent. The B.P.A. extends a warm welcome to any of our members who wish to see the display.
As members will have seen in the philatelic press this is being held at the Old Swan Hotel, HARROGATE from 14th to 17th May. All being well our Hon. Secretary hopes to attend, also Miss Rose Titford and Mr. G. W. Groves who have been appointed the Circle's Delegates. Following the success which attended the staging of an Exhibition as part of the programme at Brighton last year the Leeds Philatelic Society, who are the hosts, have decided to follow suit and our Circle has been invited to provide twelve frames. The following Members have kindly consented to loan pages of the colonies indicated and a detailed description will be included in our July issue for the benefit of those who are unable to be there : C. W. Meredith, F.R.P.S.L. (Antigua); Miss Titford. (Bahamas)-, Lieut-Colonel F. S. J. Norris, (Bermuda): P. T. Saunders, (Cayman Islands); F. J. N. Nabarro, F.R.P.S.L., (Dominica): C. L. Pilkington. F.R.P.S.L., (Grenada); G. V Collett, R.D.P., F.R.P.S.L., (Jamaica); Dr. R. H. Urwick F.R.P.S.L., (St. Christopher); Lieut-Colonel H. C. Masol F.R.P.S.L., (St. Lucia); A. E. Beach, (Tobago); and J. B. Marriott. (Trinidad).
Our President will take the chair at the meeting of our Circle which is scheduled for Thursday, 16th May. at 9 p.m. and all those who hope to attend are enjoined to bring along a few pages to pass round and a note of any queries they wish to raise.