Hello folks! Well summer has gone once more, although I doubt anyone noticed its presence this year. Silver polish will not be included in Somerset C.C.’s expenditure once again although £210,000 and runner up in the County Championship is to be applauded. Hampshire once again was their Nemesis in the 20/20 much to Mike T's delight. On the gardening front? Well suffice to know officially there had not been a wetter summer since 1912.
Sadly Adrian Almond died earlier this year. Adrian a keen cartographer and collector of Devon postal history had graced our meetings for a long time, but not recently due to ill health. We are most grateful to Graham Mark who represented the Group at Adrian’s funeral. The Group donated £25.00 to Rowcraft Hospice in tribute to Adrian.
John Dickson’s resignation has been received. On the brighter side, thanks to Nick Bridgwater’ s efforts with our new website three collectors have been tempted to join our ranks. They are Robin Cassell of Shaftesbury, Nigel Borlase-Hendry (Swindon) and Jeremy Griffiths (Wincanton).
I have a voracious appetite for reading all things philatelic and Stanley Gibbon's Monthly recently produced a couple of items which caught my eye. The first was an article by a Mr Douglas Muir who had studied "undelivered for Reasons stated" mail for some 30 years. He only recently discovered that on items in this category from abroad in 1887, the various reasons for non-delivery, were presented on white paper labels and not by hand stamp impression. Apparently many countries used the label system but in London the application of labels was found to be too time consuming so they were in use from April - August 1887 only. Certainly worth looking out for examples. However the article I particularly relished was one by Gavin Littaur entitled ”The Most Important Item in British Postal History?" I found it to be one of the finest pieces of original postal history research I have ever read. I think it is a lesson to us all and something that we should all aspire to. It is reproduced here in full for you all to read. We are extremely grateful to Gavin and Stanley Gibbons Monthly for granting permission to us to reprint this fascinating item. [hardopy only]
Also enclosed a copy of a flyer advertising a new book on Krag cancelling machines. I have found my copy a real mine of information.
Dates for your Diary 2012:
9th October. Axe Vale S.C. 40m Anniversary open evening. Mr. W.Vevers on "South Georgia" 7pm United Reform Church Hall, Chard St., Axminster.
13th October Yeovil P.S. Annual Stamp Fair. Methodist Church Hall, Preston Road Yeovil.
3rd November. Taunton S.C.Annual Stamp Fair St James Church Hall, St James St., Taunton
One Day Meeting. Hornsbury Mill, Chard. Sunday 11th March 2012:
Tony Osmond bade a warm welcome to 20 members and friends and to John Loraine, our guest speaker.
Apologies were received from: the Dibble family, John Forbes-Nixon, John Harding, David & Mary Eastman, Elizabeth Higgins and Adrian Almond. Tony also made a point in thanking Bill and Nick respectively for their work on the Journal and Website. Thanks was also extended to Mike for continuous good work on the accounts.
Tony introduced John Loraine and his chauffeur whose name l failed to record which was most remiss of me because without him John would not have made our meeting. Just a few days previously John had been suddenly stricken with almost a complete deprivation of sight. We were very fortunate he kept the appointment and it was most apparent he was severely hampered but struggled on manfully and showed lots of his famous collection of Devon, mostly maritime. These included the sole recorded examples of a Bideford Ship Letter mark and a unique. so far, llfracombe lndia Letter mark. He showed Ship Letter and India Letter marks of Exeter. On view too was a manuscript Exmouth Ship Letter together with hand stamp marks of Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Sidmouth Ship Letters. There was a bi·coloured Torquay Ship Letter in black and blue. Perhaps the most eminent mark of the show was a 1814 Postpaid Dartmouth withdrawn Ship Letter .We also saw a Kingsbridge item with the added 1/2d and the unique, to date, Kingsbridge Ship Letter together with the only recorded Plymouth Ship Letter to the Channel Islands. The display closed with numererous modern commercial Paquebot Mail items including one of Brixham to U.S.A. in May 1956.
Applause was loud and sustained after John’s performance under extreme duress.
Members 9 and 18 sheet displays were as follows. Always entertaining but this précis can never do them their deserved justice.
Brian Purcell A Bristol miscellany including 40th Anniversary of Concorde.
Graham Warren A Somerset miscellany with a Timberscombe U.D.C.
Mike Welch Minehead 1791-1909 with diagram of proposed Minehead Penny Post route
Nick Bridgwater Manuscript No.1 for Lynton on a Sampford (Nynehead) Free Frank
John Millener A Yeovil miscellany with a No.4 Hazelbury Plucknett and a No.5 Preston R.H. marks.
Ken Gane His family delivering groceries in an Essex Tourer.
Alan Cotton McDowaI Steven London E.C. stationery cards advertising baths & urinals
Graham Mark. Railway Letters.
Bill Pipe Recent Dorset acquisitions inc., a Missent to Poole
Roger Martin A Bristol miscellany inc., an 1841 1d Black on cover.
Peter Basterfield A Bath miscellany inc., destination mail of the 1820’s to U.S.A.and Australia
Tea and Notice board.
lncluded those huge biscuits again! Thanks were expressed to Taunton S.C. and City of Wells P.S. for the loan of display boards. To Roger & Dave for the supplementary lighting, To Bill for the Silent Auction and Barbara for organising our dietary requirements.
Speakers for October meeting will be "In House".