More than twenty members gathered in the meeting room of the Royal Philatelic Society at 41, Devonshire Place, W.1. on January 27th last (the anniversary of our foundation) and we were very glad the weather permitted our President to make the journey up from Wiltshire to take the chair. Following a brief report of the CIRCLE's progress and its finances by the Hon. Secretary & Treasurer it was announced that Mr. J.B. Marriott had accepted an invitation to become a Vice-President and that Mr. J.J. Turner had been elected an additional member of the Committee. An interesting discussion then took place covering a number of topics. One suggestion which met with unanimous support was that at least one meeting might be arranged to take place in the autumn. The meeting ended at 7 p.m. and there followed an informal dinner at the "Devonshire Arms" nearby and the homely atmosphere contributed in no small measure to the very enjoyable evening. The toast to the CIRCLE was proposed by Mr.Wilfrid Haworth, Editor of the "Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly" in generous and encouraging terms to which our President gave an appreciative response. Commander Bridgmore-Brown, R.N.R. paid tribute to the guests to which Mr. L.J. Gilbert-Lodge, Hon. Secretary of the "Royal" replied in cordial terms. It was unanimously agreed that the function had been a great success and all hoped that it would become a permanent event in the CIRCLE's activities.
As most members are aware this is being held at NORWICH from 17th to 20th.May. Our Hon. Secretary and Mr. V.W. Smithson - a member of the Committee will be attending and acting as the CIRCLE's delegates. Although on this occasion it is being held in an inland city members can be assured that a most interesting programme has been arranged and it is hoped that as many at possible will endeavour to be there. As at Eastbourne in 1954 a meeting of the CIRCLE will take place on Thursday evening May 19th with our President in the chair. It will be greatly appreciated if all those who intend going will each bring a few pages from their collections to pass round.
This was given at the Bonnington Hotel, Southampton Row, W.C.1. on April 2nd. Some 200 pages were lent by 23 members covering the entire group with variety of rare and interesting material ranging from pre-adhesives to the present day. Lack of space renders it impossible to give a full description but is hoped that the following resume will indicate the wide field covered:
ANTIGUA: -Entires showing types of pre-adhesive hand struck stamps; selection of 1862-1903, (G.W. GROVES).
BAHAMAS: Perkins Bacon & De La Rue issues prefaced by plate proofs in black of 1d, 4d & 6d, (MISS R. TITFORD). Varieties on "Landfall" issue and modern postmarks, (L. A. COURTNEY).
BARBADOS: Cancellations, notably the "barred" types 1 - 11 lacking 4 & 11; "Crowned Circle" types used. provisionally during shortage of adhesives 1893 & 1896, (L.E.BRITNOR). K.G.VI, flaws,retouches and re-entries 1938/47 issues, (B. B.BENWELL).
BERMUDA: 1846 cover with IRELAND ISLE handstamp; 1848 HAMILTON both sans serif caps.;1876 1d & 6d CC on cover, 1865-1873,CC 1d. variety imperf., 2d on Soldier's letter; 1874, 3d on ls. provisionals, (Cmdr.BRIDGMORE-BROWN). K.G. VI, high values, all printings, (V.W. SMITHSON).
BRITISH GUIANA: An hitherto unrecorded type of DEMERARY in 6mm caps. dated 20 June 1821, many other scarce covers, "Arabian Coast" Cypher marks, each of the 5 types AC1 to AC5; GEORGETOWN postmark of, American type dated 6 Dec 1879, (E.S.FORSHAW).
BRITISH HONDURAS: Pre-adhesive entires; G.B. used in this colony; selection of adhesives - Q.V. to date; (F.H. THOMPSON).
CAYMAN ISLANDS: Jamaica, Q.V. 2d with 3rd GEORGETOWN cancellation, Type .A; entire of 1908 with Ms.'1/4' employed as temporary measure by Postmaster W.G.McCausland and initialled by him during short age of 4d stamps. Selection of adhesives Q.V. to date including high values, (P.T.SAUNDERS).
DOMINICA: G.B. used in Dominica, "A07"; "Crowned Circle" type; Paquebot marks; a series of Leeward Is. adhesives used in Dominica with various postmarks, (Lt-Co1.G.H.LATHAM). K.G VI various printings, all values, (C. H. H.ROCHE).
GRENADA: First issue, plate proofs in colour, 1861, no wmk, rough perfs; 1863/71 small star, rough perfs; 1873/80 clean cut ms. "Postage" on 1d, used; POSTAGE overprints 1883 & 1886; mint pair 4d on 2s, left stamp variety upright "d", (N.CALNAN).
JAMAICA: "Street Letter Box" postmarks of Kingston on covers, 1890 & 1891; Pine wmk; SPECIMEN set (rare); penmarked blocks, 3d, 6d. & 1s (block of 10 one showing '$' variety)"Post Town" cancellations; Arms Type;1903-11, 1/2d. colour trials; K.G.V, 11/2d die proofs in black and in brown the latter being Dies l & II,(G:W.COLLETT). Study of 1935 Jubilee 1d, engravers marks and "STAKE" variety (L. P. VOLLER).
LEEWARD ISLANDS: 1890 mint blocks including 5s. 1d. misplaced value tablet; Mail boat obliterations; 1897 Jubilee overprinted issue with doubles of 1/2d., 1d, 21/2d & 5s. , (G.L. PILKINGTON). K.G. VI high values, all printings, (V. W. SMITHSON). various values mint (E. V. TOEG)
MONTSERRAT: 1876 & 1884,varieties,re-entries & bisects; inverted "S" variety 1d. CA.14 & CA 121/2 bisected 1d. with inverted "S"; 1880 21/2d. imprimatur imperf; die proofs, (C. HARDEMAN SMITH).
ST. CHRISTOPHER; Handstruck stamp on cover, 1855; mint & used adhesives with mint blocks of 4, 1d. CC: 121/2 & CC.14, (MISS R. TITFORD).
ST: LUCIA: "Crowned Circle" St. Lucia to Corsica, Aug 11 1855; St. Lucia to Caen with pair 4d. S.G.12 "Crowned Circle"; 1891 ld.on 4d. invert,S.G.55b; 1892 2d. on 3d.invert,(O.G.BOWLBY).
ST. VINCENT: entire 1810; ST. VINCENTS fleuron; "Crowned Circle" 1858; early adhesives on covers; ls. plate proof in black; unsevered pair 1881 2d. on half 6d, (J. J. TURNER).
TOBAGO: 1886-1889 surcharges, all varieties with 1/2d. on 6d',stone two settings & invert; 1/2d. on 21/2d double; varieties 1/2d. on 6d. orange-brown, ld. on 21/2d, 21/2d on 4d, (A. E. BEACH).
TRINIDAD: entires 1806 & 1820 - first issues with 1860-1, ld.mint pair imperf between; 1883 approved artist drawing & die proof numeral cancellations Type 9 on 1883 issue, (J. B.MARRIOTT).
TURKS ISLANDS: Pre-adhesive cover 1856; entires from Mr Cameron (later Sir Edward Cameron) when Governor of the Leewards; 1893, 1/2d. on 4d, covers, (G.R. BUTLER).
VIRGIN ISLANDS: 1899,set used TORTOLA; varieties HALFPFNNY & FOURPENCF; 1904 set used ROAD TOWN; later issues mint & used, (G.L. PILKINGTON ).
In moving the vote of thanks, Mr.F.A. Pester (Hon. Genl. Sec'y, J.P.S) voiced appreciation to those who had contributed to the display. Considering our- CIRCLE was only a year old he was amazed at the exhibition of such fine and varied material and he could not imagine that future displays could be excelled. Mr. C.G. May (Vice-Pres: J.P.S.) echoed these sentiments adding that he wished to see no better display of the stamps of the British West Indies.