This will be held in the meeting room of The Royal Philatelic Society, London (by courtesy of the Hon. Secretary) at 41, Devonshire Place, W.l. The date is October 26th and the time 2.30 p.m. Will those members who hope to attend please advise Mr. P. T. Saunders a few days beforehand. As usual, members are requested to bring along a few sheets for display and a note of any problems for discussion.
Our member Mr. A. J. Branston received an invitation to give a display of Bahamas to the above Society and it was a kindly thought on his part to suggest that pages of other colonies might be included and the display be given in the name of our Circle. In consequence, selected pages were taken by him of the following: Cayman Islands (loaned by Mr. P. T. Saunders), Jamaica (loaned by Mr. A. A. Hershman) and St. Christopher (loaned by Miss Rose Titford). The latter contribution, which included one of the earliest known pre-adhesives dated 8th January 1812 and a study of the 1d. values of 1870 and 1875, aroused great interest. Mr. Branston's high magnification photographs of various Bahamas K.G. VI varieties also evoked favourable comment. A report of the display and of our Circle's activities appeared in the 'Dublin Evening Mail' and we are most grateful for the publicity thus gained by Mr. Branston's unselfish action.
It is the usual practice at the Annual General Meeting of this Association for a display of material to be on view, and on this occasion our Circle had the honour of being invited to fill the frames. Selected pages of the following colonies were kindly loaned by members whose names are given in brackets: Antigua (Mr. G. W. Groves), Bahamas (Miss R. Titford), Barbados (Mr. L. E. Britnor), Cayman Islands (Mr. P. T. Saunders), Jamaica (Mr. A. A. Hershman) and St. Vincent (Mr. J. J. Turner). Mr. Groves' selection of Antigua included a number of interesting pre-adhesives and Miss Titford's first issues of Bahamas were much admired. The examples of some of the rare T.R.D.'s of Jamaica belonging to Mr. Hershman attracted close attention and the condition of the early issues of St. Vincent shown by Mr. Turner evoked much comment.
Twenty-five members and three visitors foregathered in the meeting room of the Royal Philatelic Society, London, at 41, Devonshire Place, London, W.1. on 6th April last, our President taking the chair. Following a brief report of the events of the past year by our Hon. Secretary the accounts were presented and adopted. A number of matters were discussed including a proposal to initiate and publish handbooks on the various colonies and it was decided to appoint a sub-committee to go into the matter and report their recommendations at the autumn meeting. A number of pages were passed round which led to some interesting discussions but space does not permit a full report being given.
The following items taken at random will, however, give some idea of the variety of the material exhibited: Mr. A. E. Beach : Items of postal stationery including a Barbados ½d. surcharge on 1d. brown, not catalogued. (It was suggested this was a colour changling).
Mr. B. B. Benwell: Re-entries and varieties on the Nelson Centenary issues of Barbados including a partly reconstructed sheet of the 1d.
Mr. A. J. Branston: Two covers from Winnipeg, Canada, to Bahamas bearing Canadian stamps to both of which a Bahamas Special Delivery stamp cancelled by the Nassau c.d.s. had been added. (Doubts were expressed as to their genuineness - see note by Mr. Sternfels, Bulletin No. 13. p. 17).
Mr. W. H. H. Crow: Two covers bearing G.B. stamps posted in Jamaica, one of which had been taxed and the other accepted; two covers showing Jamaica Registration labels printed for one office and altered in ms. for use in another.
Mr. J. L. Messenger: St. Vincent, 1877, 1s (S.G.22) perforated 15 all round certified as genuine. (It was suggested that it might have come from a later printing and should be catalogued 23a).
Mr. P. T. Saunders: Block of six Cayman Islands Centenary 1½d. with one stamp having the letter "A" missing from the watermark. (It was staled that the letter "A" had been broken off the Dandy Roll and that similar instances are known in other stamps of B.W.I.). Cover bearing Jamaica Red Cross label (but not cancelled) together with Cayman Islands stamps. (It was suggested that a small consignment of the labels had been sent to Georgetown and used there).
Mrs. M. W. Taylor: A British Guiana cover with postmark containing "E.5.C.". (This was identified as " E(ast) 5.C(oast) Railway").
(Correction supplied in Bulletin No. 15 - Bulletin No. 14. page 36: Our member - Mrs. M. W. Taylor - states that the marking "E.5.C." is that used by the village Post Office at MAHAICA which fact is confirmed by another member - Mr. P. W. Hosking.).
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the President who in turn expressed on behalf of us all appreciation to the Royal Philatelic Society for the use of the room. Some fifty-five members and guests attended the dinner held afterwards at Lord's Tavern, St. John's Wood Road, N.W.8. Following an excellent meal Mr. Cyril H. C. Harmer (Director H. R. Harmer Ltd) spoke eloquently of our Circle, to which the President responded. The toast to the guests was proposed by Miss Rose Titford, to which Mr. G. Leslie Newman (Company Archivist, Thomas De La Rue & Co, Ltd) replied, emphasizing that whilst he was always ready to help collectors he found that a great deal of his time was taken up in an endeavour to answer all the queries he received. Once again it proved to be a most enjoyable evening and all went home looking forward to the next occasion.
HELD AT HARROGATE. 14th-17th MAY, 1957
Upwards of 150 members and delegates attended this event held under the auspices of the Leeds Philatelic Society which was founded as far back as 1890. It is noteworthy that it was at the 8th Philatelic Congress, also held at Harrogate in 1921, that the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists was inaugurated. The proceedings were ably conducted by the Chairman - Mr. T. E. Field, F.R.P.S.L. - and full praise is due to the energetic Hon. Organising Secretary - Mr. Fred Myers - (who is incidentally a member of our Circle) and his team of helpers for the arrangements made for our comfort and enjoyment. The Business Sessions followed the traditional pattern and although the Papers presented were interesting they were, to some of us, somewhat disappointing in that they evoked little of the 'fireworks' to which we have become accustomed. Mention must also be made of the prominent part taken by Mr. W. Ewart Gerrish, O.B.E., President of The Royal Philatelic Society, London, who besides giving a Paper, sponsored Dr. Georg M. Menzinsky one of the new signatories to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and concluded his active participation by proposing the toast to the Inviting Society at the banquet which brought yet another successful Congress to a close.
The Exhibition was one of the principal features and for the benefit of those of our members who were unable to be there the following is a resume of the material which comprised our Circle's contribution. The names of those members who kindly loaned pages from their respective collections are given in brackets:
Antigua : 1863-67, Examples showing 'A 18' cancellation at English Harbour; 1885, 6d. Crown CA with flaw across nose of Queen's head (No. 24, last stamp in row 2); Malburin flaw showing spot of colour on top margin over the 'N' (No. 87, second stamp in row 3) and Morton-Evans' re-entry (No. 26. second stamp in row 3). 1882 & 1884-86, examples of the slanting foot varieties of '2' in '2½'. Map of Antigua indicating positions of P.O.'s and a number of covers showing various cancellations. (C. W. Meredith, F.R.P.S.L.).
Bahamas: First issue, plate proofs in black; 1859. S.G.1. 1d. on thick paper used; 1862, examples of the no wmk. P.11½, 12 and P.13; 1d. compound and S.G.19a 6d. lilac; 1863-80, CC. P. 12½ & 14 including S.G. 28a, 6d. lilac, and 4d. (P. 12½) on 'Advertised' cover. (Miss R. Titford).
Bermuda: Examples of two types of early hand-stamp 'REGISTERED'. Handstamps used for early Parcel Post, and mailboat cancellations; Hamilton & St. Georges 'local' datestamps thought to have been used principally as backstamps on local mail as the word 'BERMUDA' is not included in the stamp. Examples of Duplex cancellations - First issue 1.6. 1879 - 31. 12. 1888 and Second issue 1. 1. 1891 - 31. 12. 1895. (Lt. Col. F. S. J. Norris).
Cayman Islands: Examples of Jamaica S.G. 16a and 31 used in Cayman Islands. The rare Third Georgetown cancellation Type B on S.G. 12 - the only known example on cover. A franked cover with 'Postage Paid G.A.P.' in ms. addressed to U.S.A..; the postage rate was 2½d. and copies of this denomination were shown proving that these stamps were available. It must be assumed to have been franked in error and is the only example known. (P. T. Saunders).
Dominica: One of the two known examples of the first handstruck stamp 'DOMINICO' on entire - Dominica to London (via Falmouth) dated May 1778. An entire cancelled (Type PC) 1795 and another cancelled 'DOMINICA' straight line (Type PA) 1797. Large Fleuron handstruck stamp on entires dated March 8th and August 5th 1856 respectively. Stamps of G.B. used on cover with local cancellation 'A07' including the only known cover bearing 4d. and two 1d. stamps. Manuscript cancellations applied to local letters principally from small villages. Examples of 'Crown Circle' stamps on adhesives only known to have been used in Dominica and Nevis. (F. J. N. Nabarro, F.R.P.S.L.).
Grenada: 1861-62. No wmk. Rough perf. 14-16, S.G.2. mint block of 8 and single copies mint and used, also of 6d. S.G.3; 1863-71. wmk. Small Star, Rough perf. 14 to 16 S.G.7, 8 and 9 mint; 1881, wmk. Large Star, perf. 14-14½, S.G. 21, ½d. mauve with all varieties including S.G.21a imperf. mint strip of three, one with long hyphen and S.G.21d, surcharge double, S.G.22. 2½d rose-lake with all varieties including S.G.22a in mint block of four; S.G.23, mint marginal corner block of 18; 1881. wmk. Broad-pointed Star, S.G.25. mint block of 4 and examples of S.G.25 a & b. 1883, 'POSTAGE' overprints, S.G.28 & 29 including S.G.28 with inverted overprint, pairs of S.G.29a mint and used also used block of four; 1886, 1d. POSTAGE' overprint, S.G.37 including all varieties with S.G.37f used on small piece with whole stamp; 1891, 'POSTAGE AND REVENUE 1d.' overprint with examples of all varieties including mint block of 16 showing inverted 'S' in 'SHILLINGS'. (G. L. Pilkington, F.R.P.S.L.).
Jamaica: 'SPECIMEN' Die proofs on thick glazed card, ½d., 1d., 2d.., 3d.. 4d., 6d., & l/-. Die proofs of all Q.V. values; the die proof of the ½d. being from the same die as was used for the ½d. postcard. Two states of the die for the 1d. and l/-: the two states were shown of the 2d, 3d. and 6d. Die proofs of the 1d.. and 3d. postcard which differ from the dies employed for the postage stamps. (G. W. Collett. R.D.P., F.R.P.S.L. - President).
St. Christopher: Examples of G.B. stamps with 'A12' cancellation used at Basseterre including 6d. on cover; 'Specimens' of various values of 1870, 1879 and 1882-90 issues; 1870, S.G. 1, 2 & 3 mint and used including a mint copy of S.G.1. with wmk. sideways; cover with two copies of S.G.4., used to Holland (1/- rate) with year date inverted, 1875-6, cover to Nova Scotia (6d. rate) with handstruck '3' and another to British Guiana having in addition to S.G.8. a copy of S.G.6, cancelled '15/9/79' in ms. to prepay rate to Basseterre; two covers dated 25th and 27th February 1890 respectively bearing stamps of Antigua used in St. Christopher. (Dr. R. H. Urwick, F.R.P.S.L.).
St. Lucia; 1860. S.G.1, 2, 3 & 4. mint. 1863, S.G.5, 6, 7 & 8, mint, S.G.8a & 8b which were prepared for use and not issued; 1864, mint copies of all values of both P.12½ & 14; 1882-84, mint copies of all values including S.G.30.; 1882-86, & 1886-87, Die I, mint copies of all values of both P.12½ & 14; 1882-84, mint copies of were allowed to be used for postage. (Col. H. C. Mason, F.R.P.S.L.).
Tobago: Pre-adhesives bearing Large and Small Fleuron handstruck stamps dated April 25th 1820 and 19th March 1839 respectively; example of Crowned Circle (RL type PL,) 'PAID AT TOBAGO' on entire dated October 9th. 1852; 1856-58, selection of G.B. used in Tobago with cancellation 'A14'; 1879, Plate proof, and examples of all values of Fiscal stamps which were valid for postage purposes until 31st December 1880; 1880, selection of the manuscript provisionals on bisects (S.G.7.), all values of first issue mint, with examples of plate proofs, specimens and bogus proofs signed by Jean de Sperati; 1881, examples of bisected provisionals to meet need of a 2½d rate; 1883, and 1886-9, selection of surcharged provisionals with examples of many varieties including S.G. 26b & S.G. 27b. (A. E. Beach).
Trinidad: Pre-adhesive with earliest recorded date - May 30th 1806. Samples of Large and Small Fleuron handstruck stamps on pre-adhesives dated February 7th 1820 and October 8th 1826 respectively; 1851-53, selection of numeral cancellations (Type II); 1859, Die Proofs of all three values; cover bearing S.G. 11 and S.G. 25 addressed to Barbados dated 9th May 1859 with Crowned Circle 'PAID AT TRINIDAD' in red; examples of the 'D22' cancellation which was used at the British Postal Agency at CIUDAD BOLIVAR, Venezuela; 1883, Queen's head issue, approved artist's drawing and Die Proof 'after hardening'; 1891, one of the four existing sets of the current issue that were surcharged '9d.' to commemorate the visit to Trinidad of H.R.H. the Duke of York (afterwards H.M. K.G. V); selection of town date cancellations of Post Offices opened before 1913. (J. B. Marriott).