Valentine link to displays...

THE Loughborough & District Philatelic Society held a members’ night on Thursday 14th February 2019, when members’ were asked to produce short displays on a very apt subject of, “is your Heart in Philately?”.

First to display was Ruth Percival, who produced 15 sheets on “The Pigeon Post”. These consisted of stamps relating to carrier pigeons that were used extensively by the military during WWI, in which to convey messages, in small cylinders strapped to their legs (each one weighing up to 2.5 ozs.). They were originally used in 1870, during the Franco/ Prussian War. Being released from manned balloons. She produced a large medal given by the French Ministry of War, to the “Pigeon Fanciers Club of Paris”, for their help during that war.

It was noted that Britain also had a Pigeon Service during WWI. Ruth also produced items from New Zealand, who still have a regular Mail Service delivered by pigeons. Also some of the more remote Indian States used pigeon services that were only closed in 2005.

The Channel Islands too had a service during WWII which was disbanded in 1949. Ruth said that the reason for her display, was that she was passionate in her Red Cross interests and that the pigeon service, was used to assist them over many different conflicts in which the Red Cross was used. Mary Setchfield came next with a short display titled “Will you leave me?” that had stamps from a variety of countries with ‘love’ or ‘hearts’ in their designs.

Her son Frank followed with an unusual collection of badges showing cartoon characters of a boy and girl’ in endearing poses drawn by Marilyn Casali (nee Grove), but better known by her pen-name ‘Kim’.

They were produced in eight colours of 12 designs in 2 round sizes (38mm and 50mm). Colin Butler then produced a handmade Valentine card with an insert of ‘Love’ stamps, mainly from the USA. Brian Buck came next with some beautifully designed and colourful Valentine cards depicting numerous cartoon characters and their postage stamps. Each one had a ‘heart’ or ‘love’ in their designs.

Christine Harris then presented her display, commencing with a Lithographed full page of the London Illustrated News, of the late 1800s, showing a little girl looking up at the postman saying “Please give me a Valentine”. She then produced some ‘sentimental’ postcards from the Queen Victoria and George IV reigns, all hand coloured, with the QV cards delicately designed and produced. Some of them being the original “Tuck” designs.

Derek Whitmore then displayed some 1934/35 “Greetings Cards”, as they were known then. Plus the first Post Office Valentine card produced by the Post Office in 1936. These were produced up to the beginning of WWII. He then went onto display a series of Valentine sheets from 1951 – 62 together with some of the illustrated envelopes that contained them.

He was followed by Chas Ford, who showed fifteen sheets of a variety of covers, together with their postmarks and stamps from the USA, Greece, Germany and Great Britain. Each one showing a different aspect of cancelling. One with no stamps cancelled at all, another with pre-cancelled stamps, (Germany). One from Greece with ‘Postage pre-paid’. One with a “Happy Valentine” cachet (Great Britain). The USA having a set of “For Ever” stamps affixed, plus of course, the stupid and un-necessary marker pen cancellations of British stamps made by the postman on un-franked stamps.

After a short break, the President, Brian Phipps then produced a display of “Always a Dream”. His first sheet was a poem by Amanda Bradley titled “Love of a Different Kind”. This was followed by postcards that had a ‘romantic’ connection, all hand-painted. These were followed by three paintings by Titian. They portrayed the moment in which the goddess Diana discovers that her maid Callisto has become pregnant by Jupiter. All in the name of Love! These were followed by a number of humorous ‘sea-side’ type postcards relating to Love and ?? Some Welsh “Love Spoons and a stamp showing the portrait of Grace Kelly.

Finally came Rowland Tatton, the secretary, who presented a small display of stamps that were ‘heart shaped’ and some showing a variety of designs with hearts in them. The President then thanked everyone for attending, especially those who had provided the displays. He said it never ceases to amaze him as to the diversity and variety, members of the Society produced their displays. The next meeting will also be a member’s evening when the President’s Cup and ‘Single-sheet’ competitions will be held on Thursday, February 28. RFT.