Philatelic displays

ON MARCH 9, members of the Loughborough & District Philatelic Society met to see displays given by two of its members.

The first half began with Christine Harris presenting her display entitled “Archipelago of the North Isles”.

Christine explained that she, and her husband Trevor, also a member of the Society, had always been interested in the islands around the north of Scotland and in fact taken a holiday there.

Her first sheet contained a map of the islands, of which she said there were 70. However, only 20 were now inhabited.

Christine then took us through the history of the islands right back to the Mesolithic age, the Neolithic age right through from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, the Picts, the Vikings to the late 17th century.

These different periods were illustrated by photographs of ‘finds’ and artefacts, unearthed over the years plus postcards and prints.

There were larger structures including, carvings in the walls of some of the underground tunnels and caves.

Also, a group of large rocks called the “Standing Stones”, plus some churches (kirks), the largest of which was St. Magnus’s Cathedral. The largest of the islands complex is called the “Mainland “.

The largest town in the area is Kirkwall, situated on the Mainland, then Stromness and Finston. Christine then moved onto the Postal arrangements. She said that mail had been delivered by boat between the islands since 1741 and to a larger extent, still is.

All the mail being initially dealt with by the main Post Office in Kirkwall, then distributed to the numerous sub-post offices.

She said that even though there was only a small number of inhabitants on some island, there was always a post office, maybe situated in house or cottage.

Each sub-post office having its own handstamp meant that there are numerous cancellations for the collector to seek.

Several postcards were then displayed showing various views, including a lighthouse. Postcards of vessels used to convey the mail from Scotland and in and around the isles were also displayed as were some airmail covers.

Other items shown were cards and photographs of other lighthouses, including a map of their location.

An RNLI First Day Cover showing the Lifeboat. A Hovercraft and a WWII cover. An item showing the battle fought during WWII, against the German battleship the “Scharnhorst”.

Christine ended her display by showing a few postcards of the inside of the Crofts with people working on everyday things and producing many useful implements.

Derek Whitmore then put up his display that consisted of material relating to the Philatelic Congresses of Great Britain; several British Philatelic Exhibitions; Postal History and some Miscellaneous GB items.

His first sheets consisted of sheets of souvenir labels from the 1910 Congress, printed by Perkins, Bacon which depicted the young Queen Victoria’s head in profile, like the one used on the stamps but facing the opposite way.

Then the 1912 Congress, held in a hotel in Margate with the 5 labels produced advertising the hotel, a picture on a postcard also displayed.

Apart from the rectangular labels, Derek showed some triangular shaped ones, plus the Congress cancellation mark.

He then went onto display numerous other Congresses. 1920, held in Newcastle. 5 labels showing the Church of ST. Nicholas; 1932 – Brighton that produced some imperforated labels’ the 1935 Congress that had 12 labels in a small sheet format, in green, blue, brown and red colours; The 1936 Congress held in Paignton, in which Derek produced the programme of events; 1958 Congress saw overprints of the 1937 issue of labels and the 1959 Congress produced all the six regional stamps.

Derek then moved onto exhibitions. The first one being the British Exhibition that showed the 1d and 1½d stamps. Then labels from the APEX International Exhibition, plus some covers with the different coloured cachet marks used on different days.

Then the 2nd London Stamp Exhibition where covers were displayed going to many destinations with special labels attached. The 3rd London Exhibition where the labels depicted various ships.

Postal History came next with some advertising covers relating to the” Hearts of Oak”, “Everards” and “Antiquarian Booksellers”, “Stamp Active Programme” for young collectors and the “National Thanksgiving Fund”. Finally, Derek ended with a “Smiley” sheet of stamps, a “Test Sheet” from the Royal Mail. Some “Yorkshire Moors Railway” labels and a sheet of De la Rue “Christmas” labels.

The president thanked both for their displays. Each one beautifully displayed and set out.

Also, for the untold hours of research each one had given to provide members with a very interesting evening.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 23, when Brian Williams will present “Near & Far”

https://sites.google.com/site/loughboroughphilatelicRFT.