This will be held in the meeting room of the Royal Philatelic Society, London (by courtesy of the Hon. Secretary), at 41, Devonshire Place, London, W.1. The date is Saturday, October 25th, and the time 2.30 p.m. As usual, members attending are requested to bring along a few sheets for display and a note of any problems for discussion.
Members are requested to make a note that this meeting will take place on Saturday, April 4th, 1959. A reminder will appear in the October Bulletin and full details will be given in the January 1959 issue.
Our Committee member - Mr. G. W. Groves acted as leader and was accompanied by Cdr. G. Bridgmore Brown and Dr. B de Burca. Mr. Groves showed a selection of St. Vincent including the fleurons with and without the final 'S'; a PAID AT ST. VINCENT cover and the range of Perkins Bacon issues from 1861 to 1881. Dr. de Burca displayed St. Lucia covers from 1803 to modern times showing various postage rates; French Paquebots; U.S.A. Forces in St. Lucia and the German Propaganda issue 'Dissolution of the Empire'. A Bermuda miscellany was chosen by Cdr. Bridgmore Brown which included impressions on early letters of the HAMILTON-BERMUDA datestamp used (without month and day plugs) by William B. Perot to make his Postmaster's stamp of 1848; the 1d. rose of 1865 imperforate; a letter of 1876 illustrating the 7d. rate to England via New York and U.S. packet; varieties of the 3d. on l/- provisional of 1874: die proofs in black of the Dock type, 1902; the damaged Crown variety on the key plate of K.G.V. high values; maritime mails and concluded with the first air mails from Bermuda by airship (1925) and by aeroplane (1937).
In the report of the display to The Herts Philatelic Society (Bulletin No. 17. p. 14) it was erroneously stated that Mr. Groves showed Antigua and Cdr. G. Bridgemore Brown Bermuda. Mr. Groves in fact showed St. Vincent and Mrs. M. W. Taylor was the third member present (not Cdr. Bridgemore Brown) her subject being Grenada.
Over 200 members and delegates attended this event held under the auspices of the Cinque Ports Philatelic Society. The proceedings which followed the customary pattern were most ably conducted by the Chairman, Mr. W. E. Tinsley, and the Hon. Organising Secretary, Miss B. G. de la Mare, merits the highest praise for the immense amount of work she carried out resulting in everything possible being done for our comfort and enjoyment. Much also was done by 'back room boys' and mention must also be made of Mr. J. Fosbery for the splendid way he staged the exhibition which was very fine.
The usual meeting of our Circle was held on the Thursday evening which was attended by 13 members and 4 visitors. Our President was in the chair and in welcoming those present said how delighted he was to be able to preside. The following contributed to the display:
Mr. B. B. Benwell (shown on his behalf by Mr. G. W. Groves): Barbados; an exceedingly fine group of very early pre-adhesives, the contents of which were almost as interesting as the covers themselves. A Macau reply paid postcard of 1892 bearing S.G.45 sent from Barbados to Macau, China; the Barbados c.d.s. appeared on the front and on the reverse the date stamps which were applied on the onward journey from Macau via France and New York; the card also bore transit c.d.s. and the oval Barbados Ship Letter. Varieties on the 1906 Nelson centenary issue 1d. black and red and 2d. black and yellow. A cover dated in 1923 posted on board a Dutch liner bearing three G.B. ½d.'s (S.G.352) cancelled by Dutch c.d.s. the cover bearing the Barbados c.d.s. and framed 'POSTED ON BOARD' handstruck stamp.
Mr. Groves also brought along a display on behalf of Mr. B. E. Johnson: Grenada; a pre-adhesive of 1820 with 'GRENADA' in serifed caps with month and day in one line below but no year. G.B. 6d. used in Grenada with 'A15' obliterator; 1861, plate proofs of the 6d. in issued colour; 1881, l/- 'OSTAGE' error in pair with normal, S.G.21b (No. 100 on sheet); the 1886 1d. POSTAGE provisionals and the 1888, 1d. POSTAGE overprints with varieties, 1906, 1908 and 1908-11 'SPECIMEN' stamps.
Mr. P. T. Saunders: Cayman Islands; Jamaica cover bearing pair of Q.V. ½d. cancelled with the first Georgetown oval obliteration dated 22 Dec. 1891; another cover with Q.V. ½d. and 1d. in singles and block of four addressed to London - a rare item - and another cover addressed to England bearing K.E. VII l/- with the third 'GRAND CAYMAN' (Type B) cancellation (with thin inner line) which was only in use for a month.
Mr. F. Myers: Bahamas, Landfall issue of 1942 first printing; Dominica, 1954, ½c, brown, Plate 1, a variety occurring on row 10, stamp 2 showing a V shaped coloured flaw on the 4th emblem of the tiara from the right and other constant varieties in Dominica and Leeward Islands.
Mr. K. J. Manning: A selection of early pre-adhesives of Antigua, one of the most interesting being the straight-line 'ANTIGUA' on a letter from Barbados dated 1.4.1786, the only recorded example of the fifth type (38½mm x 3mm); covers from the well known Codrington correspondence including the 'ANTIGUA SHIP LE. R' dated in 1789 and another from Antigua to London, endorsed 'FALKNER PACKET' dated 1762. A letter from Willoughby Bay to Nevis, 17 July, 1861, the only known letter bearing the 'ENGLISH HARBOUR' Crowned Circle. G.B. adhesives used in Antigua with the 'A02' and 'A18' obliterations.
Mr. E. H. Thompson showed an example of Jamaica 3d. perf 13 on a 1945 air letter produced specially for the Royal visit with special cancellation. Jamaica 1d. with first 'GRAND CAYMAN' cancellation and the 1d red (S.G. 31) with third 'GEORGETOWN' cancellation. An interesting cover was one showing the 'STREET LETTER BOX JAMAICA' in diamond cancellation and another with the very scarce 'TOO LATE' marking. A 1d. Soldier's letter of 1874; l/- Postal Fiscal used on cover and used postal stationery. The very rare 'JAMAICA on a Grenada cover and also on a TRANSIT' Turks Islands stamp used on piece. These two examples of this marking so far known dates the use of it between February, 1882, and May 1st, 1894.
Mr. G. W. Groves: St. Vincent; a pre-adhesive with fleuron of 1808 (Feb. 7). 1830 cover with 'S' of 'ST. VINCENT (s)' removed (Dec. 3). Letters from St. Vincent without Colonial postal markings (1823 and 1824). A fine Crowned circle dated 1862 and G.B. adhesives used in St. Vincent. Mr. Groves followed these by a fine range of the adhesives of 1861 and 1862 and examples of the 1863/67 imperforate varieties. A small selection of the elusive village postmarks ended this most interesting display.
Our Circle has been invited to collaborate with a Convention being organised by The British Philatelic Association which is to take place at the Imperial Hotel, Birmingham on Saturday, October 18th at 2.30 p.m. Some interesting material will be on display and a warm welcome is extended to any members and their friends who are able to attend.