Updated 16th June 2009  

Temporary closure of the Library to Visitors - Summer 2009
click here for details 

"The National Philatelic Society Library  and How to use it to best advantage"

                  - An Afternoon Philatelic Seminar on  Thursday 20th August 2009

The National Philatelic Society will be holding an afternoon seminar on Thursday, 20^th August 2009, when Michael Bramwell, Hon Librarian and Peter Mellor, Hon Secretary of the Society will describe some of the contents of the Library and how these can be accessed at the Library or from the comfort of one’s home. The meeting will then be opened for further discussion

Both Peter and Mike will be well known to those to those who attend the B.P.M.A. Search Room and the Society’s meetings on a regular basis.  This is an opportunity to learn more on how to use the Library Website and order books from the information displayed.

The venue is the Phoenix Centre, Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DL, commencing at 2pm.  This event has been organised through the British Postal Museum and Archive in the adjoining Phoenix Centre, where Royal Mail are kindly providing a meeting room.

The National Philatelic Society Library will be open to all attendees from 11am and until 6.45 pm on the day of the Seminar. 

There will be a charge of £3 (Free for members of the National Philatelic Society). Places are limited and the deadline for applications is Saturday, 15^th August 2008. Click here for a programme and booking form.

June 2009

• New United States Flag Definitives continues complex series -  Additional Flag definitives have followed the recent increase in US postal rates and Michael Goodman looks at some of the complexities of this series.
  
  
• Two London Castles on Postcards - Baynard's and Holloway are described by Dave Hill. 
  
  
• News Special - WestBex 2009 - a report on the Displays given at the succesful National Philatelic Society "country meeting" held at WestBex, Thatcham, Berkshire on 28 March 2009
  
  
• Recent Saturday Displays - comprehensive reports on the presentations given and material shown at recent meetings of the National PS - Michael L Goodman's reports on  

"Philatelic Congresses of Great Britain" given by Martin Robinson on 14 March 2009 
  
"Canada" by David Armitage FRPSL and "British Empire Exhibition" by Peter Denly given on 11 April.

• To-day's Definitives and Postal Rates - Namibia - Continuing our new series which aims to look at some of to-day's definitives - not just the stamps, but the issuing Post Office and its current postal rates. In this article, Peter Mellor looks at the recently reprinted Biodiversity issue from Namibia.
  
  
• Checklist of Articles in the British Philatelic Press - our twice yearly listing covers the period July - December 2008
  
  
• New Issues  - A look at some of topics chosen by a number of countries for special issues in 2009 

  - Louis Braille - born 200 year's ago this year 

  - Charles Darwin 1809-1882 

  - Astronomy - the theme chosen for this year's Europa stamps 

  - Railways - a regular theme. The Czech Republic marks the 150th Anniversary of the Pardubice-Liberec Railway - formerly known as the South-North German Junction line.

• PLUS -  Regular Features - 
  
  

  • Book Reviews
    

  • Letters to the Editor, The President's Piece, National PS News and other Philatelic News
    

  • Stamp Fairs Listing - June, July & August 2009.
    
    
    

New Editor for “STAMP LOVER”

The council of the National Philatelic Society has appointed Michael L. Goodman as the new editor of its bi-monthly magazine The Stamp Lover. The appointment to the honorary post became effective in January, in time to see the February edition to press, and Mr. Goodman also joins the National’s Council. 

Michael L. Goodman, 61, has been a member of the National for more than 20 years and   attends its monthly Saturday meetings regularly. In recent years he has reviewed and reported for the Stamp Lover the diverse displays which take place at these meetings. His main collecting interests are USA and Great Britain from early to modern and he is a packet secretary of the American Stamp Club of Great Britain. He is also hon. secretary of Twickenham and District, his local philatelic society, which this year celebrates its 60^th birthday.

 Mr. Goodman is a journalist by profession, working freelance as a writer on personal finance and business matters. His work appears regularly in The Weekly Telegraph, the overseas edition of the Daily Telegraph, and in Estate Agency News, the trade paper for residential estate agents. 

He said,” I am honoured to be following in the footsteps of our distinguished former editors and in particular that great philatelic writer Fred Melville, who founded Stamp Lover a century ago and whose articles on philately are written in a style that is still easy to read despite the passage of time. I also wish to thank the former editor David Alford and his team who successfully re-launched a re-designed magazine last year. With the London 2010 Festival of Stamps coming up, it’s going to be an exciting and busy time for the National and for the Stamp Lover.”

                                                                                                                                                                                 January 2009

Annual Competitions, December 2008 

In terms of quality as well as quality, the 2008 annual competition was one of the best in recent years. There were 16 entries altogether and every class attracted more than one entry.

The winner of the Traditional Philately class was Michael R Thompson, with The Crown Colony of Ceylon. In Joint Second Places were John Davis with Canada - The War Tax Stamps and Terry Harrison with St. Vincent - The Perkins Bacon Printings..  

The History of Archery won Michael R Thompson first place in the Thematic class, with David Hunter taking second place with Women of Achievement.

Ron Rakusen took first place in the Social/Open Philately Class with Detained in Hong Kong while Michael R Thompson came second with his entry Lundy - North Devon.

This year there were three entries in the In the Aerophilatelic Class, with first place going to David Alford for Fiji - External Airmail and second to Michael R Thompson for Airmails of Chile.

Rolvenden - Kent gave Michael R Thompson first place in In the Postal History Class, with second place going to David potter for his entry, Jubilee of the Uniform Penny Post at the Guildhall.

This year’s judges were Christine Earle and Sheila Foster, here seen taking a well earned rest

_____________________

“STAMP LOVER” Celebrates 100 years of enthusiasm

“The keynote of the STAMP LOVER will be enthusiasm” wrote Fred Melville founder of the Junior Philatelic Society in the very first edition of the journal in June 1908.  A century later, the Junior’s successor, the National Philatelic Society, celebrates the centenary of the Stamp Lover with a bumper edition. 

The special 100-page issue features a re-design, with full colour illustrations and articles which reflect the diversity of philatelic interests and which also review the development of philately during the past century.

The issue is prefaced with an extract from the very first issue, including the editorial where Fred Melville expresses his views about enthusiasm for stamps, stamp collecting and the Junior Philatelic Society. That enthusiasm has been reflected ever since in the pages of subsequent issues of the Stamp Lover. 

Articles by expert contributors not only mark the Centenary but also inform and educate on philatelic issues today. As will be seen below, subjects include research, social philately, aerophilately, Machins, thematics, postal stationery and computers in philately. There is also a look back to 1908 and the issues current then, as well as a philatelic history of the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition.   

Click here For full details of the contents of this special issue.

Accordingly, the British Philatelic Trust, has provided financial support for which we are grateful, to enable local philatelic societies in the UK to receive copies. This will allow their members to benefit from the research provided by our contributors.   

Copies of the Centenary issue may also be obtained from the Hon Secretary at National Philatelic Society, c/o The British Postal Museum & Archive, Freeling House, Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DL, for £3 each) including postage. Cheques should be payable to National Philatelic Society.