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Summer 2017 Newsetter
LEEWARD ISLAND COLLECTION formed by the late Ken Benham
IAN JAKES
I first met Ken Benham, a Notts Philatelic Society stalwart in 1975, when I accidentally saw him in a solicitor’s office in Conisborough, South Yorkshire. He had been rummaging through the solicitor’s storeroom, which had not been entered since Victorian times. He had clearly been looking for stamps. I asked him whether he had found anything interesting. He showed me two covers, each bearing penny black stamps, a strip of three used 2d blues on piece and a plethora of 1d reds. I told him that I was a collector of British West Indies stamps. Ken then told me that he had a specialist Leeward Islands collection, which he had built up over many years. Thereafter, I regularly visited Ken’s stamp shop in Hockley and later the stamp fair which he organised at Nottingham YMCA. He regularly gave me verbal updates on this collection. Alas, Ken died a few years ago and I assumed that I would never again see this elusive philatelic masterpiece. Then, a few weeks ago, I unexpectedly received an e-mail from Ken’s son, asking for my advice concerning the Leeward Islands collection! My first step was to inspect it. What an amazing treasure! The best book on Leeward Islands philately is ‘The Leeward Islands Notes for Philatelists- Second Edition’ by M N Oliver, FRPSL, published by the British West Indies Study Circle (Oliver). Oliver was first published in 2000 and was extended to 324 pages in 2011.
I checked Ken’s collection against the Oliver book. I will limit this article to the stamp varieties caused by constant errors on the key forme produced from the die (the original engraved piece of metal from which reproductions are taken to form the plate from which stamps are printed) and flaws, which are not constant and occurred during the print run to the head plate or, more often, on the duty plate (the country name/value in money). Ken’s notes on his stamp exhibition pages show that he was referring to authorities in use by philatelists in the 1960s/1970s. There is not a mention of Oliver anywhere! Amazingly, stamp varieties reported by Ken in the 20th century are very similar to varieties reported in Oliver in the 21st. Oliver has a few varieties not shown in Ken’s collection, but there is an equal number of varieties in Ken’s collection not reported in Oliver. I will report the new discoveries in the British West Indies Study Circle Bulletin in due course.
It is only now that I have fully appreciated the history of the stamp variety, which is as follows:
1. A philatelist discovers a new variety and possibly displays it at a stamp show.
2. The discovery is reported in a philatelic journal or directly to an author specialising in the subject. A public, rather than a private, report is preferable. This ensures that the philatelic world has a record of the discovery.
3. A specialist book is printed to include the new variety.
4. Catalogue editors, who have absolute discretion, consider whether or not to include the variety in their catalogue.
Ken’s collection includes plate blocks of four showing the ‘loop’ variety at row 2, stamp2 of each of the 1954 QE2 Leeward Islands set; an example is shown in Fig1. This variety was included in Oliver in 2011. It has only now appeared for the first time as the ‘loop flaw’ in the 2017 Stanley Gibbons Catalogue (SG 126a/SG138a.) Ken’s collection includes most of the Leeward Islands King George VI varieties which have first appeared in the SG catalogue in recent years, as well as some which have not appeared in SG or even in Oliver!
Fig 2 shows some of Ken’s notes including, in the top row, the ‘Broken E’ variety (SG 112a) and the ‘Broken Tower right scroll’ variety (SG 114ae) and on the bottom row, three varieties, which do not appear in Gibbons or Oliver.
PORTUGUESE KIOSKS
SANDRA POOLE
Most NPS members will have seen a selection of my Danish telephone kiosk collection and items related to them. Unfortunately, the Portuguese kiosks have absolutely nothing to do with philately, except for the fact that they featured on a set of four stamps issued se-tenant in 1985. They sold mainly refreshments and actually predate those in Denmark, not surprisingly as refreshments predate the telephone! They are just as quirky- probably more so- and definitely more flamboyant and diverse.
They first appeared on the scene in the 19th century, providing tables and chairs and snacks and drinks and a place to meet and chat. In their heyday, there were over 100 kiosks in Lisbon, but their popularity had waned by the beginning of the 20th century. Under the Salazar regime (1930s to 1974), the café culture, public gatherings and intellectual debate were actively discouraged. Then in the 1980s, Portugal joined the European Union and embraced modernisation and urban renewal, welcoming fast food restaurants and global brands. So, over the years, kiosks closed and became dilapidated. Some were moved into storage. But at the beginning of the 21st century, thanks to a rethink by a proactive council and the enthusiasm and zeal of entrepreneurs, kiosks were restored to their former glory. Many are refreshment kiosks, but magazines, cigarettes, lottery tickets or serve, like the one on the left, as a tourist office.
(Source: sites on the internet. To see a panoply of kiosks, google ‘Portuguese Kiosks’ and click on ‘Images of Portuguese Kiosks’. You will also see a couple of red imported English telephone boxes! It’s definitely worth a visit.)
A MINOR PHILATELIC MYSTERY
ALAN SQUIRES
There are a number of clues that point to a cover being philatelic rather than commercially used. 1) Is it a First Day Cover? This is usually a good indication of philatelic mail. 2) Does it bear a complete set of stamps? A really good pointer. 3) Does it bear the incorrect postage? Too high is a giveaway and too low is asking for postage dues. 4) Is there a return address? These are usually sent to a non-existent post restante address. 5) Has the addressee bothered to open the letter? These often contain a piece of card or folded paper to bulk up the cover. 6) Is the addressee a known philatelist with a large amount of covers having their name and address? 7) Any combination of the above.
The scan shows a cover from my collection. It is a FDC, over franked and was not opened and the addressee was a known philatelist. Obviously philatelic, but I was intrigued by its bulk. Looking through the flap I could see the piece of card and a folded piece of paper. My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to carefully open the envelope. It is illegal to open mail which is not addressed to you, but I had bought this sometime ago on eBay and decided that it was now my property, both the envelope and its contents. It was also at least 42 years old. (I hope I am right!)
From the scan, it can be seen that this cover is a registered first day of issue. It bears four 3d SG194 and three 6d SG195, making 2/6d, overprinted stamps issued on 4 January 1965 to commemorate the ‘First Local Post’. The correct rate of postage at this time was 3d up to 1oz within the Commonwealth and 1/9d for the registration
Inside the envelope was an invoice from the Postmaster, Mr Lawrence. As can be seen, the addressee, J Treloar, had requested stamps from the ‘First Local Post’ issue of 1965. A glance at the cover shows that the stamps have been cancelled on the day of issue, 4 January 1965, but the invoice is dated 2 September 1965. The full order could not be fulfilled as the other two values were no longer available, that would have been on the day of issue.
The cover kept its secret for 42 years until my curiosity got the better of me. Certainly, a better item with the invoice than without.
Registered FDC with 2 of the ‘First Local Post’ overprints cancelled on the day of issue and the inserted invoice.
UNUSUAL ADDRESS
ALAN SQUIRES
This cover was sent from St. Helena to Castries, the capital and largest city in St. Lucia. It has no name of the recipient or street name. According to Wikipedia: St. Lucia’s main post office is in CASTRIES. Because most parts of the country do not use standard street addresses, mail is largely sent to P.O. boxes. Any mail sent without a town name ends up in the Castries post office.
This cover has a ½d franking tied with a cds and a framed 'T/C' handstamp with the manuscript ‘30’ charge for underpayment. Within the Empire, the postage up to 1oz was 1½d.
The Postage Dues have been applied and cancelled in Castries.
MISCELLANY
From Sandra Poole:
An Unusual Place for an English Pillar Box.
Bill Whitaker submitted this photo of a King George VI letterbox taken on 8 September 2016 in Portsmouth. So what’s unusual about that?
Well, it’s actually in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA! The box is situated outside a post office on Daniel Street’ If you are really curious, you can go on Google Earth and see it in its new surroundings. It’s obviously not in service (a metal plate is blocking the aperture) but it is unusual to see in an outside area that the collection plate is still in situ. It would be interesting to know why this very English letterbox is now standing on a street in the United States of America.
A new letter Box for Nottingham.
I took this photo on 30 April, within the 6 possible days of this box appearing. As you can see, it was not yet ready for service- there is no collection plate and the aperture is blocked Its location number is painted where the collection plate would soon be. The box is situated on Gregory Street, Lenton and replaces a Victorian pillar box, which had been outside a sub-post office about 150 yards away on Abbey St. The sub-post office was demolished to make way for the new tram; the former letterbox was last seen lying on its back on the demolition site. The two boxes share the same number as it refers to the location, not to the box. The new box became operative on 16 May 2017 and the hand-painted number is now covered by the collection plate. This a rare photo.
Cards from New Zealand Post.
I recently received the cards below sent by John Waller of the Waikato PS and kindly donated by a fellow member, who had heard of my interest in private mailboxes. The card immediately below, showing a wide range of these boxes, is a ‘postage paid’, NZ Post change of address notification card with spaces on the back for name, new address, signature, subscription/customer reference number, telephone no., old address and a suggestion that you send the card in an envelope if including confidential information.
The card below (2 December 2002) is a Christmas card that the postman sent customers- in the hope or expectation of a Christmas tip no doubt! You also had the chance to enter a New Zealand Post prize draw competition and win a $10,000 holiday by sending in a NZ Post used stamp booklet. The top card measures 20 x 9.8cm; the lower card, 11 x 17cm.
Horizon Label.
The horizon label now has a data matrix and I expect you all want to know what information this one holds. Here you go then:
JGB 422
2A PRN021636A10357A1D24072010000150100120270217122 !!!
Well, not much help there for the layman. This next line (edited) had my house name and number, post code and ‘GBR’ The second line up to ‘A1D2’ appears on the label. Look at the other numbers and you’ll see the weight ‘00150’-150g (00.150kg), the price-120 (£1.20), followed by the date-27.02.17. The 407201 is probably the branch number. But that still leaves a lot of numbers to decipher. Solution in the next newsletter- if anyone sends it in.
Anniversary of the Machin. The Machin definitive stamp, designed by Arnold Machin, made its first appearance on 5 June 1967 and Royal Mail marked the 50th Anniversary with a special slogan postmark. On my copy- see below- it is ‘double printed’. The ‘Definitive’ is also missing the third ‘i’ and the final ‘e’.
Next year marks another golden anniversary- that of the two-tier postal system, ie first and second class, that was introduced on 16 September 1968. The new first class standard letter rate was 5d, compared with 4d for the slower service.
'The Mail Passing Double Loop, D.H.Railway’.
The Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway was built between 1879 and 1881. It was the first hill railway in India. It ran between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal, a distance of 55 miles.
According to Wikipedia, in the mid-19th century, the British had set up a sanatorium and military depot in Darjeeling, which also became a trading point for tea. The existing cart road could not cope, hence the need for a railway. I am assuming that 'The Mail' on the post card the Darjeeling Mail, which connected to the DHR. I believe the card dates from the 1920s, when my grandmother, whose card it was, was living in India, (My grandfather was in the army and had been posted there.)
Availability or Non-Availability of GB Pictorial Stamps.
Not so long ago, Douglas Harvey notified me that the main post office in Nottingham was no longer selling pictorial stamps apart from the Christmas issues and that this was the case in other Post Offices. Whether this was some, most or all was not clear, so I made a few enquiries. Mike Vokes (Barton Seagrave, Kettering) stated that his sub-P.O. takes standing orders for commemoratives and sells them from issue day onwards. Steve Speak said the Holmes Chapel, Crewe, sub-PO just sells presentation packs and a friend in Sibley Hedingham, Essex said the P.O.in a nearby town sold them the last time he was there. Allen Wood told me that they were freely available at his post office in Ruddington. So why the problem at Nottingham Post Office? I asked to see someone senior when I went there. She was on my side, but said sales stopped because of a lack in demand (only c.6, with a regular order). She couldn’t tell me whether it was a branch or company directive. I said people were largely unaware of their existence and that they could be sold alongside the others. She seemed to agree.
From Alan Squires:
Self- adhesive Stamps are Bad News for Philatelists.
When I first started collecting stamps it was my intention to obtain both mint and used copies for each of the stamps I purchased. Shortly after starting my Commonwealth collection I came across a stamp I already had, but this was a pair of mint stamps. A block of two, well that was different, so I bought them. I was soon buying blocks of four or six to add to the singles I already owned. Then came the marginal pair, and the double marginal pair, and the marginal block of four. There was something about blocks of stamps that, I felt, always added to my collection. They were not duplicates, they were an addition to an ever-growing collection. Recently, as I stuck a number of second class stamps on to envelopes ready for posting, a thought occurred to me. Philatelists of the future will not know the pleasure of collecting stamps in blocks or with margins as they are now individual stamps stuck separately to a backing sheet, ready to be peeled off and used.
So, as well as the problem of how to mount them in our albums, we have now lost the magic of blocks and marginals.
DISPLAY REPORTS BY DOUGLAS HARVEY
Dodecanese Islands, Postal History- Paul Woodness, 19 May 2017
The first part of the display concentrated on the Island of Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese Islands, and featured postal items which illustrated the island’s history. In the early period, post offices of Austria, France, Egypt, Turkey and Russia all operated there, but after the Italian invasion in 1912, foreign post offices gradually closed. The Dodecanese Islands continued under Italian administration until 1943, and Rhodes had its own stamps in addition to overprinted Italian ones. The Germans took possession of the islands and after the liberation of 1944, the British administration used GB stamps with ‘MEF’ overprints. The islands have been under Greek administration since 1917.
Items from the smaller islands were on display in the second part of the evening. As some islands had very little postal activity, items are scarce and Paul Woodness had assembled a remarkably complete collection.
Members’ Evening: North and South America, 2 June 2017
As usual, the displays had an interesting variety of items. The contributors were: Bryan Button, (Brazil, a Family Connection); Minou Button, (Postcards from the USA, 1902-1911); Andrew Pearson, (British Honduras Stamps from Victoria to George VI); Bill Whitaker, (GB Second Class Stamps posted in America and American Maps on Stamps); George Kirkham, (The 1765 Stamp Act, USA- a card of replica stamps); Mick Inger, oddities in USA Postal Items); Douglas Harvey, (The Millennium Issues of Canada); David Shipstone, (The North West Passage) and Allen Wood, (Caribbean Postmarks).
Reflections on a Former Member (Derrick Avery)- Allen Wood, 7 July 2017
This meeting was a tribute to the late Derrick Avery (1916-2012), who held the office of President four times and who was greatly admired by members of the Society.
Allen wood assembled the display, as he now has most of the more interesting items from Derrick’s collection. In the first part, ‘unusual mail cancellations’ was the main theme. Some very unlikely destinations for letters and postcards had been identified, whilst other mail had travelling post office or paquebot cachets. show. Most philatelists throw away this type of mail, which included postal machine payments, postage paid envelopes and licensed reply mail. But Derrick kept these items. When a particular reply-paid licence had expired and subsequently a reply-paid envelope was used. It incurred postage due stamps. No other stamps were on display.
In the third and final part of the display, we saw examples of incomplete collections that Derrick had started. These included ‘Post and Go’ labels from several countries.
SOCIETY AND OTHER NEWS
Apologies- somehow, Past-President Oswaldo Ponce’s name was inadvertently left off the Officers page on the new programme cards. As members know, past-presidents traditionally become a member of the committee automatically at the end of their presidency and this was again agreed at the AGM. So please add his name on your cards and, again, apologies to Ossi.
The Phoenix Trophy Competition- this was poorly attended by our members, unfortunately, with just three of us taking part. Brian Clayton and Sandra Poole had hurriedly cobbled together a last-minute exhibit and Alan Squires came along as support. The evening had been organised by Chesterfield and, as usual, it was a pleasant evening, the food was good, the exhibits were of a high standard and the judges gave interesting and useful critiques rather than just announcing the winners. There were 20 exhibits in total and NPS did surprisingly well, despite our small numbers:
Sandra Poole was 1st in the Social Philately Class (Open), 3rd overall and just 4 marks behind the outright winner of the competition. Brian Clayton was 2nd in the Social Philately Class and joint 4th overall. The overall first and second placed entries came from the ‘Traditional’ and Postal History classes respectively.
Packets: We need more booklets for the packet circuit. Please hand them to Mick Inger or send them to him and Barbara at their home address.
Sad news- Ron Stammers, a president of Alfreton PS for many years, passed away on 20 July. Many of you will have known him from our visits to Alfreton and his displays to us in Nottingham. He also organised the Alfreton Stamp Fair for many years.
Visit to Alfreton PS- Friday 15 Sep. This is always a convivial evening, with a refreshment break at the halfway mark and plenty of time to discuss the displays or just chat. We are always made most welcome by the home team and it would be good to keep up this tradition of meeting up each year- it was one that Ron held most dear. Please bring a short display (9-18sheets as a guideline) or just come along as support- both Societies try to outdo the other by providing the most attenders! Please let Allen Wood, President, know in advance if you intend to attend.
Auction List- Douglas Harvey has kindly taken over the role of typing out our Annual Auction List, which means that our auction will now take place as advertised. But members must take note that the last date for listings is the 2nd meeting in November. No auction lots are to be given to Douglas; they are to be presented on the morning of the auction, unless the vendor makes other arrangements with the auctioneer in advance. (This item by Allen Wood)
Thanks to Douglas and also to Alan Squires for his past services.
Availability or Non-Availability of GB Pictorial Stamps
Not so long ago, Douglas Harvey notified me that the main P.O. in Nottingham was no longer selling pictorial stamps apart from the Christmas issues and that this was the case in other Post Offices. Whether this was some, most or all was not clear, so I made a few enquiries. Mike Vokes (Barton Seagrave, Kettering) stated that his sub-P.O. takes standing orders for commemoratives and sells them from issue day onwards. Steve Speak said the Holmes Chapel, Crewe, sub-PO just sells presentation packs and a friend in Sibley Hedingham, Essex said the P.O.in a nearby town sold them the last time he was there. Allen Wood told me that they were freely available at his P.O. in Ruddington.
So why the problem at Nottingham P.O.? I asked to see someone senior when I went there. She was on my side, but said sales stopped because of a lack in demand (only c.6, with a regular order). She couldn’t tell me whether it was a branch or company directive. I said people were largely unaware of their existence and that they could be sold alongside the others. She seemed to agree. (S.P.)
Verbosity-from an old, unidentified newspaper cutting:
“In another small blast of the trumpet against bureaucratic verbosity, this list, issued without comment, is circulating around Government departments in Washington…
Lord’s prayer: 56 words; 23rd Psalm:118 words; Gettysburg address: 226 words; Ten Commandments: 297 words; ‘this copy of the Notts Philatelic Society Newsletter: 4049 words’; Department of Agriculture Order on the price of cabbage: 15,629 words.
Forthcoming meetings at our Society (7 for 7.15pm)
4 Aug Overseas for ½d Peter Mellor
1 Sep European Pot Pourri Tony Sibley
15 Sep Visit to Alfreton PS at Pentrich Village Hall, DE5 3RE
22 Sep New Acquisitions & Recently Mounted Members
20 Oct GB used in Malta Martin Lloyd
3 Nov Visit it from Leicester PS
Meetings at the Greater Nottingham Co-Operative Society (7pm)
9 Aug Ascension and St. Helena Alan Squires
13 Sep Display-no subject Brian Ward
11 Oct Display- no subject Bob Hill
8 Nov Hungary- The First Inflation Ken Dyke
Meetings at Radcliffe-on Trent PS (7.30pm)
10 Aug Anything but Stamps Members
Meetings at Derby PS (7.30pm)
10 Aug AGM and Bring and Buy
14 Sep President’s Evening
Stamp Fairs at Nuthall Temple Centre-Nottingham Rd, NG16 1DP
9 August, 11 October, 6 December- 9.30am to 3.30pm.
Autumn Stampex- 13-16 September 2017 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.
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John Holman, FRPSL, RNCP, 4.2.50 - 10.6.17
You may not have known John Holman personally, but many of you will have seen his articles in Gibbons Stamp Monthly and elsewhere. He was a renowned Cinderella Philatelist and a signatory of the Maurice Williams Roll of Notable Cinderella Philatelists. He collected British Private Posts including postal stationery, postal labels and postmarks and was a long-standing member of The British Private Posts Study Circle. He also edited the British Philatelic Bulletin from 1988-2010.
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THE NEWSLETTER- the next newsletter is due out at the end of October, so please send any articles, news, photos or anything else of philatelic interest by the end of September.
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Want a change from philately?
Tyrosemiophilia- cheese labels
Sucrology- sugar packets
Tegestology- beermats
Phillumeny- matchboxes, matchbooks and matches
Deltiology- postcards
Brandophilia- cigar bands
Velology- tax discs
Fusilately- phone cards
Cartophilia-cigarette cards
Scutelliphilia- badges and patches
DISCLAIMER: While every care is taken during the production of the reports, neither the editor or Society Officers can accept any liability for views or unintentional publication errors that may occur.