New President for the National

At the 125th Annual General Meeting of the National Philatelic Society, held at 15 Abchurch Lane, London on Saturday 12 July 2025. the Society was pleased to elect Michael L Goodman as its new President. Michael is currently editor of Stamp Lover and succeeds Peter Mellor who took office in 2022.

 As the Society's new President, Michael Goodman (left) makes a presentation to his
predecessor at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Readers have voted for their favourite feature article publishedReaders have voted for their favourite feature article published  in Stamp Lover during 2024 and Mchael L Goodman was the winner with "It all started over a shop in Clapham", a history of the National Philatelic Society published in the December 2024 issue of Stamp Lover. The runners up were David P. Williams with "Combining a passion for Steam and Stamps" (published April 2024) and "Mobile Marks used in the Channel Islands" by Nicholas Stuart (published in December 2024).

As is now the custom, the traditional writing set was presented to Michael Goodman at the end of the Annual General Meeting on 12 July 2025.

The current issue of Stamp Lover - August 2025.

• An Alphabetical postmark tour of Madagascar by Chris Oliver

• Non - PC Philately again - Michael Round examines the 1932 issue of Gabon which features tribes and villages and what philatelic writers commented at the time.

• Meeting reports - German  Occupation of the Channel Islands, presented by Alan Moorcroft at the Online Meeting on 9 June 2025. Not only stamps but memorabilia shed light on a grim period of British wartime history. Members Displays given after the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 12 July 2025, that included Swaziland by Michael Round, Birds by Julia Todd and Abu Dhabi by Richard West, whilst Paul Leonard spoke about the forensic analysis of stamp colours and the meeting was also shown a selection of Photographs from the Society’s Archives including the 1999 Centenary Din

  The issue also includes the Reports and Accounts presented at the 2025 Annual General Meeting. 

• Book Reviews – Detailed reviews are a feature of the magazine. Included in this issue are St Helena – The Philately of the Anglo Boer War Years by B.J. Mabbett and W.P. Vevers, The Madman's Guide to Stamp Collecting by Robert Irwin, and Stanley Gibbons Catalogue – Hong Kong 7^th ed. 2025.

• Proof Reader’s Corner – Reflections and observations by Michael Round.

• News Coverage includes The new Post Office Kiosks, the line-up for the 2025 Stuart Rossiter seminar, the opportunity to design a postcard for Autumn Stampex and an Obituary for Alan Huggins, RDP. In his column, the Editor criticises the recent exhibition at The Postal Museum and wonders whether written bar codes on covers are a threat to the use of stamps.

• Regular Features include

• The President's Piece
• Editor's column
  
• National PS News
• Letters to the Editor
   
• Stamp Fairs Listing -  late May, June & July 2025.

MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY RECEIVE SIX ISSUES OF "STAMP LOVER" A YEAR

 
London & Provincial Stamp Club

As  from 1 September 2023, members of the London & Provincial Stamp Club (L &P) have been welcomed to the National philatelic Society (NPS). As a result the NPS has  gained 79 new members. A further 25 L & P members were already members of the NPS. This transfer followed a vote by L & P members after the Club found itself unable to find new officers.

NPS President, Peter Mellor comments  “ As always, I am delighted to welcome new members, but in the case  of those from the L & P, I appreciate that it is always a sad moment when any club or society – philatelic or otherwise – feels that circumstances  mean it has to close its doors. Nevertheless I hope and believe that the National can add to these members’ enjoyment of the hobby in the way that the L &P did and certainly we will be the better and stronger as a result of this influx of new blood. Indeed it is good to know that Andrew Horn of the L & P is already becoming a valued member of our Packet Team., while Julia Toddhas been co-opted onto the NPS Council”.. 

The London & Provincial Stamp Club’s origins go back to 1946. In November of that year, 18 members of an international philatelic body called the International Stamp Collectors’ Association (ISCA) met together at a church hall in Paddington and agreed to form a London club.  The first meeting was held on 25th November 1946, with Robson Lowe, the eminent philatelist, as the guest speaker. His subject was "organised Philately".This small group prospered and attracted more members until in 1950 – upon the demise of the ISCA – it renamed itself and became the London & Provincial Stamp Club.

The club always had as its motto “The Friendly Club for the Average Collector”.  It welcomed all collectors, and set out to create a friendly atmosphere, foster their interests and carry out meetings in a happy and informal manner. As the name implies, the L & P drew members from across the country and for many years held Saturday bourses and auctions at the Victory Services Club.                                                      October 2023