Stamp of approval at meeting

Members of the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society enjoyed a display on‘the Baltic Country of Lithuania’at their meeting last Friday.

Ray Baldock presented an interesting and informative display following the troubled history of the country.

He began by outlining its history, including how it was able to issue its first definitive stamps in Berlin in 1911, followed by stamps for use on the Kaunsa-konigsberg Air Service and the first Air Mail stamps in 1921.

In 1940, the country lost its independence to the Soviet Union and stamps overprinted with‘ltsr’ were issued until German Occupation in 1940 when German stamps were overprinted with‘ostland’.

In March 1990, Lithuania once more regained its independence and in October the first issue of stamps commemorated signatories of the first declaration in 1918.

Lithuania now issues many lovely commemorative stamps – including the Olympics, Scout jamborees, lighthouses, Christmas, animals, Struves Geodetic Arc and costumes.

All this varied history was wonderfully illustrated by the stamps and covers displayed.

Member David Haig led everyone in giving warm thanks to Raymond Baldock who, with his display, had presented such an interesting history outlining the changes and developments that happened to this country.

The group’s next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday, February 1, at 7.30pm, when members look forward to welcoming Robert Murray of Edinburgh who will present his display of‘philatelic Vexillology’.

More details of the society’s programme can be found at www. lanarkshireps.co.uk.