Following my remarks in our July issue, I am glad to say that only three subscriptions remain unpaid and the names of the offending members have accordingly been deleted from our register. A Banker's Order Form is included with this issue, and it is hoped that as many of our home members will complete them and return to me as soon as possible although they will not, of course, take effect until 1st February 1958. On a number of occasions during the past season I heard remarks to the effect that the growth of Study Circles had affected in some measure the membership of many Societies, but in my view such is not the case. On the contrary, there is ample evidence that many Societies are allocating at least one date in their respective programmes for a visit by a Study Circle. Our Circle has received invitations to visit four Societies in the 1957/58 season, and I have little doubt that the displays which we shall give will receive the same enthusiastic reception that they have enjoyed in the past. I would like to take this opportunity once again to enjoin many more members to find a little time to put pen to paper and let me have a few lines on any aspect of B.W.I. philately that they have found of especial interest, including any problems which remain unsolved.
DEAR MEMBER,
Once again it is our hope that you have enjoyed a pleasant holiday despite the fact that the weather has not been as good as we all would have wished. By the time this bulletin reaches you many societies will have held their first meetings, and we are glad to announce that we start the new season with an increased membership which now totals 196. It is also noteworthy that our representation overseas approaches the half century, and a warm welcome is extended to two new members resident in U.S.A. - Mr. A. Babcock of New Jersey and the Rev. H. H. Heins of New York. We are also glad to include another county - Buckinghamshire - in our table of distribution.
Geographical distribution of membership.
LONDON (36)
PROVINCIAL (111 )
| Buckinghamshire 1 | ||
| Cheshire 2 | Kent 6 | Shropshire 2 |
| Cornwall 1 | Lancashire 6 | Somerset 1 |
| Derbyshire 4 | Lincolnshire 1 | Staffordshire 1 |
| Devon 5 | Middlesex 4 | Suffolk 2 |
| Dorset 1 | Norfolk 2 | Surrey 14 |
| Essex 5 | Northants 1 | Sussex 7 |
| Gloucestershire 5 | Northumberland 2 | Warwickshire 4 |
| Hampshire 6 | Nottinghamshire 1 | Wiltshire 3 |
| Hertfordshire 4 | Oxfordshire 1 | Yorkshire 4 |
| N. Ireland 1 | Scotland 8 | Wales 1 |
OVERSEAS (49)
| Australia 6 | B.W.I. 4 | Canada 7 | |
| France 1 | New Guinea 1 | South Africa 3 | Lebanon 1 |
| Sudan 1 | Tasmania 1 | U.S.A. 25 |
It is with feelings of great personal loss that we record the passing of our member Mr. Curtis H. Elkan, which occurred on July 15th. Mr. Elkan's philatelic tastes were catholic - covering Great Britain, the colonies and many European countries; his chief love being the stamps of Denmark. His interest in B.W.I. was mainly concentrated on Barbados and he had made a special study of the 'ONE PENNY' on 2d. provisional of 1947 working out the settings of the surcharge. His last appearance at a philatelic function was at the Annual Convention of the Federation of Middlesex Societies held last May, when he was presented with the Bishop Cup for his display of Danish cancellations entered on behalf of his local society at Pinner. He was of a most unassuming and retiring disposition and never sought the limelight. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his widow and family.
With the beginning of the new season now well upon us it is hoped that all members who have surplus material for disposal, through the medium of the Sales Circuit, will send it in to me as soon as possible. Circuits C. and D. are still weak and it is my wish to strengthen these groups for the benefit of those members who are keenly interested in British Guiana and British Honduras (C), and Antigua, Leeward Islands, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Virgin Islands (D). Members are again reminded that sheets must be the same size as the Bulletin page with sufficient margin on the left side to enable me to bind the pages in their appropriate covers. It is also important that the member's reference number appears in the top right corner of all pages which should be cast and the total written at the lower right corner. The majority of contributors observe these simple 'rules', but those who do not create a lot of extra work. As many will be aware, being an Hon. Secretary of any Packet or Circuit is a thankless task, and strict observance of this request will assist me considerably. Finally, in the case of those members wishing to receive the Circuits: I have endeavored as far as possible to include their names on the Circuits which they have selected, hut owing to the fact that each Circuit has to be limited to 20 names (in order to comply with insurance requirements) some members may have been omitted from one or other of the Circuits - but all will receive a Packet eventually. If, however, any member has not seen any Circuit since the Sales Circuit commenced to operate, will he please let me know. Obviously, only those who have expressed the wish to be placed on the receiving list are on my register.
Members who can supply any of these should send them, quoting price asked, to the Hon. Secretary for onward transmission. If the member requiring them decides to purchase a cheque or P.O. drawn in favour of B.W.I. STUDY CIRCLE should be sent to the Hon. Secretary and the amount (less 10% and postage) will be remitted to the owner.
(Note: S.G.Nos. except where otherwise stated.
C.W.= Commonwealth. M = Mint. U= Used)
Bahamas: Example of Cat on Key cancellation on piece or entire. Jamaica: 30 (M or U), lst Setting No. 3 and 2nd Setting Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7 & 12. Leeward Islands: 11 (C.W.) with damaged value tablet and letters VE. Trinidad: 27 (U) in connected pieces; 98/9 U. Postal Stationery 1879-1913, 106 to 139a inclusive in blocks (M) also material with plate numbers.
(Bulletins Nos. 12-15.)
Antigua: p.5 Bahamas: p.5/6. 17/18, 39/40, 50/52. Barbados: p.6, 18/19, 52/53. Bermuda: p.l9/21/54, 40/41, 54. British Guiana: p.7. 21/22, 54. British Honduras: p.7/8. Cayman Islands: p.41/42. Grenada: p.42. Jamaica: p.8/9, 22/23, 42/45, 54/55. St. Christopher: p.24/29, 55/56. St. Kitts-Nevis: p.56 Tobago: p.9/10. Trinidad: p.l0, 56/57. Virgin Islands: p.29.
ADVERTISERS: When communicating with any of our advertisers. Members arc requested to make a point of mentioning our Bulletin.