Aberdeen Philatelic Society
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January 2008 Newsletter
To download the current newsletter in RTF format : January 2008 I begin this newsletter with an update on preparations for the Centenary celebrations. After a long period when our expression of interest in hosting the 2010 Philatelic Congress of GB elicited no response, we learned that our offer was to be considered at a meeting of the Executive Committee of ABPS in early December. Since then, there has been an exchange of emails with the Chairman of the Congress Committee and in consequence, your Congress sub-committee which was appointed at our meeting last March, will investigate possible venues in Aberdeen, including the University. The accommodation requirement is 25 double and 25 single rooms for 3 nights, Thursday to Saturday, and adequate meeting rooms and banqueting facilities. Suggestions will be gratefully received. Thanks to all of you who responded to the request in the September Newsletter for an indication of willingness to participate in the Host Society Display at Scottish Congress in 2010. The response was very encouraging. It is clear that we will be able to mount a good show, although a few more volunteers would be welcome. What would be helpful at this stage is not so much offers to fill several frames, but offers to fill a single frame (16 sheets), thereby increasing the variety of subjects and countries on display. I have therefore repeated the tear-off slip overleaf and invite those who have not yet responded to do so. It is not essential to commit yourself in respect of the subject of your contribution at this stage. Feel free to change your mind at a later date, but more offers of at least a single frame will ensure that a wide range of subjects is on display. The Treasurer thanks members who have paid their subscriptions for the current session and asks those who haven't to do so soonest. They are reminded that subscriptions for town members are £10, or £5 for those living at least 25 miles from Aberdeen. Members are reminded that they can make donations to the Centenary Fund. The Society welcomes the 4 new members and hopes that they will have a long and happy association with us. The first will be known to Members who attend Congress, SCOTEX and other fairs as a sociable and friendly dealer. The second lives in Kirkcaldy but work brings him to Aberdeen frequently. He collects the Europa sign on stamps and covers. The third is a Junior member from Pitmedden who is our first Junior member for some years and collects wild animals and ships on stamps. Lastly a new member from Aberdeen who collects Scandinavia and the Far East, especially Singapore and Malaysia. Those of you who attended the December auction may recall several large cartons at one end of the table, whose contents was not revealed. They contained the last remnants of the J J Waterman library and collection, but there was not time that evening to offer them to members, as was the intention. Since then, the contents of the boxes have been sorted out and they will be offered at the start of our AGM auction on 24 April, with all proceeds to the Society. To give you some idea of what will be on offer, there will be some 10 lots in useful document storage boxes, each containing hundreds of modern GB commercial covers from the 1970s on, sorted by cancellation under the headings of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Paisley, Stirling & Falkirk and Edinburgh. They include machine cancels, slogan cancels, meter marks, etc. In the case of Aberdeen and Glasgow, they are arranged by sorting offices." There are also about six cartons of literature, including long runs of PO Bulletins, altogether a remarkable opportunity for anyone interested in modern postal history to acquire large accumulations of collectable/research material plus associated literature. A few books will be on offer at our meeting on 17 January. The 79th annual Scottish Congress organised by ASPS will be held in the Dewars Centre, Perth, on 18th and 19th April. The host Society is the Ayrshire PS and the theme will be airmails. Displays will be available for viewing on the Friday afternoon and at 1800 the Tom Rielly Memorial Display and talk will be delivered by Richard Beith, prolific writer and researcher on Scottish airmails. There is usually a civic reception prior to the Congress dinner when the speaker will be Mr Dougal Mackintyre, son of the founder of Prestwick airport who is also renowned for a flight over Mount Everest. Presentation of the awards in the national competitions takes place following the dinner, including the signing ceremony for the Book of Scottish Philatelists, if there is a signatory this year. The Ayrshire PS is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its foundation and a commemorative cover or card will be available together with a Congress cancellation. On Saturday 19th, Congress will be open from 1000 until 1700 with some 50 or so dealers in attendance. The Friday evening of Congress is always a very pleasant social occasion and well attended. There is plenty of bed and breakfast accommodation in Perth but special rates have been negotiated with the Ramada Jarvis Hotel. Please contact the Secretary or the Newsletter Editor for details. The block booking will be reviewed on 1 February and after that date, reserved rooms may no longer be available. Now for some news of the National Exhibition which is an integral part of Scottish Congress. The newly instituted open competition attracts several entries and will continue in 2008. Entry forms should be available shortly. Guide-lines are being prepared for a postcard competition and it is hoped to hold the first competition at Congress in 2009. A seminar for potential exhibitors in the national exhibition is proposed for the second day of SCOTEX in October, to assist and advise anyone contemplating a competitive exhibit. Further details in due course. Edinburgh Zoo is hosting another Wildlife Stamp Weekend in conjunction with ASPS on 9th and 10th February at the Zoo. Some 32 frames of wildlife philately will be on display. Further details in Scottish Philately 39. Does anyone have a used SG Commonwealth catalogue which is only a few years out of date and which they would like to dispose of for a modest sum? It is sought on behalf of a foreign correspondent of your Editor. No answer yet to the question posed in the last Newsletter. On what stamp does a representation of an Aberdeen steamer appear? It was anticipated in 1923 that Junior members of the Society would be able to provide the answer but it seems to have defeated us all! The draft of a history of Aberdeen PS is well advanced, as part of our centennial celebrations and suggestions are sought by your Editor for the design of the front cover. A grand prize may well be awarded for the selected design so get to work! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I offer .... frames, each of 16 sheets, for the Host Society Display at the 2010 ASPS Congress in Perth. The provisional subject(s) of the frame(s) will be ....................................................................................................................................................... .............................................. (name) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
