Just a reminder that this will take place in the meeting room of The Royal Philatelic Society, London (by courtesy of the Hon. Secretary), at 41, Devonshire Place, London, W.1 on the 25th October at 2.30 p.m. It is hoped that many members (and their friends) will attend and afternoon tea (2/-) will be available to those who advise Mr. Saunders accordingly not later than the 20th instant. Finally do not forget to bring along a few sheets for display and a note of any queries to be discussed.
Our Circle has been invited to collaborate with a Convention being organised by the British Philatelic Association which is to take place at the Imperial Hotel, Birmingham, on Saturday, October 18th, at 2.30 p.m. Some interesting material will be displayed by six affiliated study circles and a brief comment will be made on the sheets comprising our contribution by our Committee member Miss Rose Titford.
Please make a note that this will take place on Saturday, April 4th, 1959, at the usual venue - Lords Tavern, St. John's Wood Road, N.W.8. Full details will appear in the January 1959 Bulletin.
In my note in the July Bulletin I stated that I hoped to effect settlement in respect of the outstanding packets in six to eight weeks and I am glad to say that cheques were posted on September 1st. The total sales exceeded £100 which I regard as very satisfactory. I cannot, however, be at all enthusiastic at the result of my urgent plea for more material which, so far, has brought little response. Now that the holiday season is over I do urge all members to send along all the surplus material they can as soon as possible. For the benefit of members who have joined since the inauguration of the Sales Circuit in January 1957 please note the following requirements:
All stamps (or covers) should be mounted on loose sheets the same size as this Bulletin page.
Good quality mounts should be used to avoid the necessity for re-mounting.
All amounts to be cast and the total given at the foot of each sheet.
Details of each booklet reference from which purchases have been made and the number of items taken must be stated on the advice slip.
A member contributing material for the first time will be given a reference number and advised accordingly.
Our Committee member, Mr. G. W. Groves, acted as leader for this display and was accompanied by Messrs. A. E. Beach, E. Shields Forshaw and J. J. Turner. Mr. Beach showed a selection of TOBAGO, including pre-adhesive covers with the straight-line TOBAGO, examples of the 1880 bisects and the later provisionals with many of the varieties. Mr. Forshaw's display of BRITISH GUIANA included pre-adhesive covers, notably a two-lined DEMERARY and date 20 June 1821, with letters 6 mm high, which is thought to be the only recorded example, and an early New Amsterdam strike on cover; examples of the code cancellations and a complete pane of 12 of the 1882 1 cent local printing. Mr. Turner showed a number of very choice items of the Perkins Bacon issues of ST. VINCENT, including an outstanding mint copy of the 1880 five shillings; a defaced die proof in black of that stamp; a die proof and a plate proof of the 1881 halfpenny S.G.33 and the 1880-81 provisionals. Mr. Groves displayed ANTIGUA, including a number of examples of the handstamps used from 1790-1850; the range of adhesives from 1862-1903, with a complete sheet of the 1884 one penny showing the position of the re-entries and a block of 12 of the sixpenny value showing the position of the "Morton Evans" re-entry (No. 26); and a page of the A.18 (English Harbour) cancellations. The display was well received by a good attendance of members who showed their keen interest by the number of questions put to the team.
This publication which is still the only one of its kind in the world includes a variety of interesting features including Cachets and Cancellations; Survey of the years designs; some early Postmarks explained; Market Notes and the usual Guide to the World Philatelic Press. Despite rising costs the price is being kept at 3/9 post free and orders can now be placed either with the publishers - Harris Publications Ltd., 27, Maiden Lane, Strand, London, W.C.2. - or with the Hon. Secretary accompanied by the appropriate remittance. If the latter course is taken a small discount will accrue to the Circle's funds.