President’s evening

IT WAS President’s Evening on June 8 for members of the Loughborough & District Philatelic Society.

This is where the president provides his or her display for the members. However, this time the president, Rowland Tatton, decided that there would be a slight change to the norm.

He informed members that when he was preparing his programme together, (during his year as vice-president), a certain member of the society volunteered to give a part of an evening’s display that was arranged for May 11 this year.

Unfortunately, that person, David Walker, passed away and therefore his display had to be cancelled.

It was at this point that the Rowland decided to present David’s display on his President’s Evening.

David’s display was titled “Flying High”. The display was part of his “Birds of Europe” collection. David had set out to provide sheets of stamps all showing the hundreds of birds that frequented the countries of Europe. T

he sheets provided all the information required. For example, the type, or family, the birds belonged to: Birds of Prey, Sea Birds, Owls, Finches, Ducks, etc., etc.

The stamps were then displayed, approximately six to eight on a page. At the bottom was a panel showing when the birds could be seen during a year, including a small map indicating the location where they could be found.

This theme continued on throughout the display of over 100 sheets. A really beautiful and well-designed display that every member appreciated.

It was fitting that his widow, Mary, (also a member of the society), was present to see her late husband’s work set out.

After a short break, Rowland then produced his display of “Poland”. He gave a brief introduction of how he decided to collect Poland, also as to its checkered history.

He said that historical Poland came into existence in 1795. Prior to this date it was part of the Prussian Empire. Its capital being Warsaw. Initially it was politically linked to Russia.

During WWI part of Poland was occupied by Germany. In the years 1916-17, overprinted provisionals appeared on German stamps with the wording (in Gothic characters), ‘Gen-Gouv. Warschau’.

A total of 11 stamps being produced of which Rowland had 7After the war, the Polish state was renewed as a Republic following the Treaty of Versailles. It became a full member of the UPU from 1st May 1919.

From 1918 Polish stamps appeared in both northern (previously Russian Poland) and Southern Poland (formerly the General Government). Provisionals of 1919 inscribed “Poczta Polska” were issued together with Postage Due stamps that Rowland displayed before moving onto his main collection.

In the years 1918-1939 over 359 stamps were printed in Warsaw. Most of the designs related to Polish history and Polish personalities of national importance. Some issues depicted Polish landscapes. Other designs consisted of famous battles, works of art and paintings.

Then came WWII. From 1939 most of the country was incorporated directly into Germany.

The rest was proclaimed a ‘General Government’. From 12 October 1939, everything Polish was eradicated, even the geographical term Poland was abolished. German stamps with the overprint “Deutsche Post Osten” were valid; from 1940, Polish stamps with the overprint “General Gouvernement” were issued. Definitive stamps issued in 1941, were overprinted “Deutsches Reich”, and from 1943 “GROSSDEUSCHES REICH”. They were printed in Vienna and consisted of propaganda subjects, portraits, symbols and landscapes. After the war in 1944, Polish stamps again appeared, first with the inscription ’Poczta Polska’ and later, just ‘Polska’.

The post-war issue designs were pictorial and covered a wide variety of topics. Present day annual output amounts to 40-60 stamps. Rowland’s display covered the majority of these topics with both used and mint stamps, set out in date order up to the year 2000. A total of some 120 sheets.

Garth Taylor (the vicepresident), then proposed a vote-of-thanks on behalf of the members present.

He thanked Rowland for providing a most interesting evening. First with the late David Walker’s beautiful collection, and secondly to Rowland for his collection (that took everyone by surprise!), saying that over the last two meetings, we had seen some wonderful displays of traditional stamp collecting.

The next meeting will be the AGM on Thursday, June 22. After the AGM business, members are invited to bring along anything they wish to display. Please note, this will be the last meeting before the summer break.

The 70th anniversary dinner will take place on Friday 30th June at the Longcliffe Golf Club. 7.00pm for 7.30pm.

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RFT.