The Newsletter of the Eastbourne & South Downs Philatelic Society

THE LIGHTHOUSE

The Newsletter of the Eastbourne & South Downs Philatelic Society

Editor: John Wright, 12 Milchester House, Staveley Road, Meads, Eastbourne, BN20 7JX.

No. 6 November 2005

THE A.S.P.S. AUTUMN CONVENTION, 8TH OCTOBER, 2005

It was particularly pleasing to see a good Eastbourne & SD attendance at this event in view of the fact that this Society is staging the Spring event in 2006 (Saturday 22nd April, at Willingdon, in case it is not yet in your diary). There is a great deal of work involved in putting on a show of this kind, and Bernie Harris (01323 849 108) and Jeff Jewson-Fleming (01323 729 334) are well-advanced with their plans, but they will need help both before, and even more importantly on, the day. What are you able to do to help?

Some Society success in the Competitions can be reported. Graham Little (55) and Mike Clark (60) received 115 marks in the Inter-Society Thematic, to finish 3rd of 6 (winners Bognor scored 120). Nigel Steer (79) and John Wright (64) had 143 in the Inter-Society Traditional to be placed 4th (of 6) to winners Worthing. In the Individual Open, judged by the public, Maurice Shorten was first (of 4) with "Victoria Falls - A World Heritage" while Angela Reilly was 2nd with "A guided tour of England, Scotland & Wales". Maurice also picked up a bronze medal, 59 marks, in the Individual Cinderella. John Wright was 3rd (of 11), 88 marks, gold medal, in the Individual Postal History.

The Convention included a "Silent" display of Social Philately from the collection of Pat Grimwood-Taylor of Cavendish. There was some fascinating material on view but it must be a real nightmare having to judge one superb entry of Social against another!

MEMBERS' "OUTSIDE" SUCCESSES

Many E&SDPS members also belong to other Societies, or take part in competitions not under E&SDPS aegis, but their results cannot be listed in The Lighthouse unless the Editor is informed! It is pleasant to convey congratulations to Angela Reilly, who celebrated her new membership of Heathfield & District PS by winning their Thematic Competiton; to Frank Blincow who scored a treble at Germania Posta (Germany & Colonies PS, Hinckley) with 64 (silver-bronze, postal history), 76 (vermeil, aero), and 85 (large vermeil, postal history); and to Mike Farrant who, in the same show, scored 88 (large vermeil, postal history and cup for the best postal history exhibit).

BATTLE SOCIETY SILVER JUBILEE

Founded on 7th October 1980, the anniversary fell neatly on a scheduled meeting day and Battle Society celebrated on 7th October 2005 with a display by Nigel Steer viewed by current members and some visiting friends who also enjoyed a splendid buffet (a "lapsed" founder-member rejoined!). President Angela Reilly (01424 423 202) has produced a souvenir cover which has a stiffener card giving the Society history. Angela has also produced a sheet giving the history of Battle Post Office from 1669 (when it was BATTEL) and this is obtainable from her for a most modest cost.

E&SDPS ANNUAL DINNER

The Annual Dinner, which had been scheduled for Saturday 17th September, was cancelled as there were insufficient bookings.

SINN FEIN CALLS LAST POST ON MAIL BOXES Adapted from Irish Philately

Member Florence McCarthy is also a member of the "Irish Philatelic Circle" - the following

is adapted from an article by Jon Myles in their quarterly journal.

Sinn Fein is demanding the replacement of more than 1000 British Post Boxes in Ireland which still carry the royal crown and insignia. Spokesman Sean Crowe said "It sends the wrong message for an independent state to have the crown on public post boxes. I know there are historical reasons why people would like them but they are a throwback to old imperial days and as a modern post service An Post shouldn't still be using them."

When Ireland's new administration took over after independence the red post boxes with their crowns and insignias like VR, EviiR, and GvR. were all painted green. On a small number the door was replaced with one saying SE (for Saorstat Eireann) but in most cases the crown remained on the box. A spokesman for An Post said they had no plans to make any changes to the old boxes which were, he said,"... part of our history, were bequeathed as part of the postal services and are part of our culture and heritage. We have no plans to make changes on the basis of any pseudo-Republican clap-trap. You might as well say that the fine building that is the GPO in O'Connell Street should be demolished to make way for some modern Republican building." Over a fifth of about 4,675 post boxes still in use throughout Ireland are pre-1922.

Left: Edward VII wall box, unadapted Right Victorian wall box with replacement door monogram added

ROYAL MAIL VANDALISM

(Adapted from an article by David Sapsted in The Daily Telegraph of Aug 25th 2005)

East Grinstead council received dozens of complaints after contractors repainting 10 of the town's post boxes put 15 inch high spray-painted "wet paint" warning signs and arrows, circles and squiggles on surrounding pavement.

Council's facilities manager Bob Broadway said that the Council was trying to combat graffiti, and the action by the Royal Mail's contractors did not send out a very good message to youngsters.

Royal Mail acted speedily to get its contractors to clean up the mess, and asked them to fully investigate the incident.

NAPOSTA '05 by MIKE FARRANT, FRPSL

In Germany a National Exhibition (Naposta) is held every three years, unlike the UK where Stampex is staged twice a year. Naposta '05 was a 4-day event from 2-5 June at the Hannover Congress Centrum, a magnificent complex of halls.

The competitive exhibition was immense with 325 entries housed in 2350 frames (each of 12 pages) and these were divided into Traditional (552 frames), Postal History (1022 frames), Airmails (132 frames), Postal Stationery (130 frames), Revenues (34 frames) and Thematic (480 frames). A Jury of 40 eminent European philatelists dealt with the judging of these entries and 128 were awarded Gold or Large Gold medals. There were also 57 Single Frame Exhibits and 45 Literature entries.

If this was not enough there was a Meisterklasse of 133 frames of invited non-competitive material and an Open Class of 113 frames also of non-competitive material. There were other exhibits including a selection from the Royal Philatelic Collection which was housed in a special area and which drew many visitors all anxious to see something from Her Majesty's collection.

The Briefmarken Club Hannover (BCH), who were the organisers, had made a special point of inviting British philatelists to Naposta. '05 and this recognised the close connection between Hannover and Great Britain (the Elector of Hannover became George I). In addition the Germany & Colonies Philatelic Society (G&CPS) has had a very close association with BCH since 1979 and members cross the Channel regularly in both directions to participate in events.

This year the G&CPS was offered 50 frames and 16 members showed a small selection from their collections. From Eastbourne, Frank Blincow showed 3 frames of Memel and I showed 3 frames of German Posts from Zanzibar as part of the G&CPS display. Similarly the Royal Philatelic Society and the Association of British Philatelic Societies shared a further 50 frames. All these invited exhibitors received a commemorative medal and a certificate. (Mike enclosed with this article a photocopy of the very handsome, A4, certificate which is too large to repoduce here.)

There were many dealers present and the crowds certainly turned out. On occasions the main halls were packed and any suggestion that philately was in decline was swiftly abused. The attendance ran into many thousands and I was delighted to meet many old friends and make new ones too from many parts of Europe.

It took a day and a half to mount the exhibits in the frames but dismounting was achieved in about 2 hours! Personally I was heavily involved from the beginning as I had taken a quantity of RPS publications for sale and had an area in the main Naposta '05 BCH stand for this. As I have been a member of BCH since 1987 and know the President and Secretary well, I was also involved with many of the arrangements on behalf of the British entrants and attendees. British visitors to the exhibition numbered about 50, most of whom were members of the G&CPS.

On the Saturday evening there was a special event when we enjoyed a substantial supper and some really excellent entertainment. This included a compere who was a ventriloquist of enormous talent and who apparently appears regularly on German TV and a dance troupe who happen to be the North German Dance champions.

If this note sounds enthusiastic with too many superlatives, it is because even after the passing of more than 3 months, I look back on a quite fantastic exhibition. I have attended Internationals in 9 European capitals or major cities and feel that this "National" exhibition was equal to anything I had previously seen.

The Handbook for the exhibition runs to 170 pages, much of it in colour, and the Jury report runs to a further 34 pages. Even the philatelic press in Germany has acknowledged that Naposta'05 was the finest National exhibition ever staged in Germany and I feel few would quarrel with that. Frank and I were privileged to exhibit some of our material and I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a week in Germany so that I could truly participate in the whole exhibition.

AUTUMN STAMPEX 2005 Chris Dadswell

(A member of Hastings & East Sussex as well as of E&SDPS, Chris is an avid collector of "Special" FDC, GB Machin

booklets and Malta)

My twice-yearly trip to The Angel on the tube seems to regularly coincide with a night shift, though the thought of the hunt for philatelic bargains keeps one alert.

Stampex Thursdays are generally stamp issue day as well. First stop, then, the Information Stand, purchase some blank Stampex envelopes, pick up the show catalogue (there's a free Trafalgar themed card inside - that will come in handy on October 18th). Next stop, Royal Mail and the ITV stamps, not forgetting a presentation pack. I will put the covers together on the way home, if I can keep my eyes open that long! A quick look at the exhibits (had I known in advance I was going to write this I would have spent longer), then upstairs to the dealers where the bargain boxes always yield a few gems. "British Forces P. O." have their own stand - an attractive series was produced for the Crimean War set, so I have to purchase one of those.

Time to meet an old friend, Anthony, who in addition to helping to run the Malta stand is also part of Malta Post's Stamp Advisory Board. Anthony is very fond of the Machin series and I have a few booklets for him. We talk of stamps, covers and family. I walk away with their Stampex show card, and also a "hot-off-the-press" J. B. Malta Catalogue.

Then a talk with the "Bletchley Park" people who messed up the last order I placed with them: a bonus to sort that matter out. Some lunch follows - a pleasing variety is served on the second floor balcony overlooking the Hall - it's quite a splendid building, The Design Centre. More covers and cards on this upper floor, a few more finds and then back to the Northern Line. Now, at which station did I leave the car last night?

ON THE MEND

Some while ago, Margery Wharton had an operation to remove her gall bladder, and complications arose as a result of which she was extremely ill (7 weeks in hospital). Her many friends will be glad to know that she is now starting to get around Bexhill (without the stick) although she gets tired quickly - feeling positive, she is making steady progress. Margery thanks all those people who sent cards and good wishes and hopes to be at an E&SDPS meeting soon,

REVIEW . . . .

July 28th The Meeting opened with a warm "welcome back" to Ron Carter, who has been in hospital with a suspected heart attack, and then moved to member John Tiltman who, at short notice, was displaying India. & States. John does not collect in a "purist" way, but includes items that do not fit into the catalogue: he started with forgeries of the original India stamps (the Scind Issues of 1852, issued on sealing wax and later embossed on white paper - difficult to find in any condition). Next came the even rarer embossed on blue paper, followed by the 1854 lithographed issue, some on cover, some cut-to-shape, some forgeries (one with Jamaica pmk) and some reprints. De la Rue took over the printing in 1855: John showed a set of these, with the PS of the time, including army and navy concession rates. Then more sets of surcharged stamps, the "Empress of India" set (including colour trials), UPU, Edward VII. to 25R, and later GV sets with surcharges as postage rates fell. Then we saw some cards: advertising, reply paid, book club and an item from the Royal Bombay Yacht Club.

In 1925, Indian printers produced stamps with excellent results: John showed a specimen essay, then some very nice airmails, GV Silver Jubilee, GVI pigeon posts, Victory, and Independence issues, and the first half was brought to a close with Indian military posts from China, France, Egypt and Africa. Then came fiscals, with stamps optd "Service" for duty payments - normals as well as surcharges and varieties. Then court fee stamps, mostly impressed on the court documents (surely the best way to collect these) with the whole page displayed - some with the litigants fingerprints in lieu of signature! Then receipt stamps, share transfer stamps, fiscals in plate no. blocks (or even sheets). Pleasing designs and sometimes about 3" x 5", with some designed by Charles Whiting.