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East Midlands
and East Anglian Philatelic Federation |
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FULL HISTORY OF THE FEDERATION
The Federation was formed as a result of a meeting
held at the Dujon Restaurant, Peterborough, on
Saturday 9th December 1949, with Mr Anthony Walkeer
(then Editor of “Stamp Collecting”) in the chair, And
supported by delegates from the Bedford, Boston, Huntingdonshire, Kings Lynn
and Peterborough Societies.
The name of the Federation was East Midlands
Federation of Stamp Clubs.
Capt. F.H.Lewin, R.N. (Ret)
of Huntingdonshire was elected President, with Ian T. Hamilton of Peterborough
as Hon. Secretary and E.T. Channon of Huntingdonshire
Hon. Treasurer.
The List of Club Affiliated in April 1951 were;-
Bedford & District P.S. Subscription was 7/6 and
the club had 38 members’.
Boston S.C. Subscription was 7/6 and the club had 12
members’. It is unknown when Boston S.C. left the Federation.
Huntingdonshire P.S. Subscription was 5/- and the club
had 53 members’.
Kings Lynn P.S. Subscription was 7/6 and the club had
53 members’.
Peterborough & District P.S. Subscription was 10/-
and the club had 56 members’.
The total membership of the Federation was 212
During 1951, the Northamptonshire P.S. became members,
and also held meetings at Kettering and Wellingborough at the time.
1953 Perkins Stamp Club were elected.
November 1956 an invite to North Hertfordshire Stamp
Club was made but it was not taken up.
1961 that the newly-formed Wisbech
& District P.S. were elected, in 1972 it changed it’s
name to Wisbech and March Stamp Club. the club closed in 1993.
1962 we elected the Rugby P.S. date of Rugby leaving
the Federation was 1987
1962 Midland G.B. Study Group.,
joined and was disbanded in 1970.
1964, the Spalding Club were welcomed as members.
1968 the Peterborough G.P.O. Philatelic &
Numismatic Society joined us. It is not known when they left the Federation.
1969 saw great success with Newmarket & District
P.S. and Cambridge P.S. and R.A.F. North Luffeenham
Stamp Club joining us. It is unknown when the R.A.F Left the Federation.
1970 we welcomed the British Timken (Duston) S. C. It is unknown when they left the Federation.
1971 the Westwood Works S.C. (later known as the Baker
Perkins S.C.) applied to join this they did in 1972. It is unknown when they
left the Federation.
1972 the Northampton Independent S.C., joined, the
club closed by 1976.
1973 Grantham S.C. joined
The List of Club Affiliated in 1973 were;-
Bedford & District P.S.
Boston S.C.
British Timken S.C.
Cambridge P.S.
Grantham S.C.
Huntingdonshire P.S.
Kings Lynn P.S.
Newmarket & District S.C.
Northamptonshire P.S.
Northampton Independent S.C.
Perkins S.C.
Peterborough & District P.S.
Peterborough GPO Philatelic &
Numismatic Society.
Rugby P.S.
Spalding & District S.C.
Westwood Works S.C.
Wisbech
& March S.
C.
.
So we now totalled 17 affiliated Societies.
In 1975 Rushden P. S. joined
(it was a section of Northamptonshire P. S.)
In 1976 we welcome the Luton & District P.S.
1978 East Anglian Philatelic
History Study Circle joined the Federation.
1977 Bury St. Edmonds & District P. S. was
welcome.
The List of Club Affiliated in 1980 were;-
Baker Perkins S.C.
Bedford & District P.S.
Boston S.C.
Bury St. Edmunds & District P.S.
Cambridge P.S.
Grantham S.C.
Huntingdonshire P.S.
Kings Lynn P.S.
Luton & District P.S.
Newmarket & District S.C.
Northamptonshire P.S.
Peterborough & District P.S.
Peterborough GPO Philatelic &
Numismatic Society.
Perkins S.C.
Rugby P.S.
Rutland P.S.
Spalding & District S.C.
Wisbech & March S. C.
.
1980 Thomas Cook P.C. joined and
had left the Federation by 1983.
1980 Spalding G.P.O. Society joined, it is unknown
what happened to Spalding G.P.O. Society.
1981 Leighton Buzzard P.S. joined the Federation.
1981 Leicester P.S. joined the Federation and resigned
in 1995.
1983 Isle of Ely P. S. joined the Federation.
1992 Derham and District P.
S. joined but left the Federation in 2006.
1993 Milton Keynes Coin and Stamp Club joined, in 1999
changed name to Milton Keynes P. S.
1993 North Herts Stamp Cub
also joined.
1995 Kettering Stamp and P. S. joined also Phoenix P.
S. joined but left the Federation in 1998.
1996 Great Yarmouth Stamp Club was next to join with
Lowestoft and District Stamp Club also joining.
1996 Fenland Stamp Club joined.
1998 Norfolk and Norwich P. S. joined but left in
2002.
1999 Lincoln P. S. joined.
2002 Hinckley and District P. S. joined.
2003 Market Rasen Philatelic
Group and Grimsby and District P. S. both joined.
2009 Mablethorpe and Sutton
P.S. joined.
2010 Sleaford U3A Stamp Club joined.
The Exchange Packet was started in 1956 with Ron Vinal (Peterborough) taking charge until 1967, when Mrs Dorothy Otter (Rugby) took over. After four years hard work and with the advent of decimal currency, Dorothy handed it over to Dianne Noon, with the help of husband Peter. 1981 Mrs S. Johns run it till 1986, then H.G.L. Hillard took over till 1993, when it was handed over to Mrs J.E. North who run it till 1997, in 1998 Mrs S. Cattermole took over for a year. There was a no packet till 2000 when I. Billing took over, in 2003 B. Allcock was in charge till the packet was closed down in 2009.
Early in 1951, Ian Hamilton produced the first
Bulletin for the Federation, an issue of 16 pages, and he carried on this work until
he left the district in 1954. When J.W. Munro took over, in 1957 it changed
hand again and H.M. Tozer and G.H. Powell continued
it in 1963 to 1967. 1967 to 1969 the Bulletin was issued by Colin Hepper, 1969
C.H. Paget run it till 1972, when Mr A. Mann was then in charge to 1984, at
this time Dr J. Mitton took over, in 1989 he pasted
it to Mr N. Haper-Scott till 1962.
1962 J. Gibbons-Partridge produced the Bulletin, then
in 1988, M. James took over till 2000, when it was taken over by Mrs M. Plumb,
after seven years it passed to Mrs C. Finn who then produced the Bulletin. In
2009 production of the Bulletin stopped and since then B. Needs the web master
has put it on the Federation web site.
A copy as typed, of
some of the pages from the first Bulletin of the Federation
BULLETIN No 1
1951
A small charge is made for this Bulletin.
Page 1
The small profit made by the sale of each copy of this
Bulleting will be devoted to the funds of the East Midland Federation of Stamp
Clubs.
The next number will appear when there is enough
material to make a publication worth wile. All members of the Federation are
cordially invited to send contributions. As this Bulletin is not protected by
copyright, authors may also submit their contributions to other magazines.
Page 2
AIMS AND OBJECTS
1 To promote the study of
Philately in the area covered by the Federation, and the study of local postal
History in particular.
2 To promote the idea that
Philately embraces the spirit of good followship, as
well as the study of stamps and Postal History.
3 To provide a means whereby lone collectors in the
area can be put in touch with the nearest Philatelic Society and other
collectors.
4 To exchange visits with other member-Societies.
5 To provide a panel of speakers who are willing to
visit other Societies in the Federation, and to assist thee smaller Philatelic
Societies who might otherwise be unable to complete their programmes.
6 To provide a panel of judges for competitions
organised by member-Societies.
7 To
organise an Annual Convention and joint display by all Societies
in the Federation. The display shall be open to the public.
8 To publish a Year Book.
Page 3
PANEL FOR DISPLAYS
BY MEMBERS
The collation of information relating to expenses, and
days when the lecturer is free,
has proved too difficult to reproduce in a concise form. Generally, it may be
assumed that all on this list will travel to any society in the Federation, and
only travelling expenses would be claimed.
If Secretaries care to write to me, suggesting the
subjects they require, I shall be in a position to tell them how far their
needs can be met, and to whom to apply.
HON. GUEST SPEAKER ………..Major
Antony Walker, D.S.O., F.R.P.S., L. requires plenty of notice as he has as many
as 100 other philatelic engagements during the year. His subjects can be
adapted (specialised, General, or elementary) to suit the needs of the
audience. 1. AIR LETTERS-SOMETHING NEW. 2. COVERING THE WORLD. 3. AN EDITOR’S
FANIES. 4. A HISTORY OF GREECE (About 12 parts).
COUNTRIES
BRUNEI……………………………………………W..J.
Green
CANADA…………………………………………..W.B.C. Gray
CANADA…………………………………………..G.A. Powell
DENMARK………………………………………..W.E. Lee
FRANCE (EARLY)………………………………Capt. F.H.L. Lewin
FRANCE Gen……………………………………..R.A. Harris
GERMAN STATES……………………………….Capt.F.H.L. Lewin
GREAT BRITAIN…………………………………N.M. Bligh
JAMAICA…………………………………………..L.P. Voller
MOROCCO AGENIES…………………………….W.M. Hendry
NAPLES……………………………………………. Capt.F.H.L.
Lewin
NEW ZEALAND………………………………….. Capt.F.H.L.
Lewin
SARAWAK………………………………………….E.T. Brown
SICILY……………………………………………… Capt.F.H.L.
Lewin
UNITED STATES…………………………………..G.A. Powell
W. AUSTRALIA…………………………………… Capt.F.H.L.
Lewin
GENERAL AND THEMATIC
AIRMAILS……………………………………………H.M. Tozer
BRITISH COLONIALS……………………………...E.T. Brown
FORGERIES………………………………………….I.T. Hamilton
FREAKS & ODDITIES……………………………...I.T. Hamilton
GERMANY & UNITED NATIONS………………..G. Dixon
METHODS OF STAMP PRINTING……………….I.T. Hamilton
MEDICAL SCIENCE & PHILATELY……………H.M. Tozer
PHILATELIC MIDWIFERY……………………….I.T. Hamilton
YOU WON’T FIND THIS IN GIBBONS…………...I.T. Hamilton
HALF-LENGTH DISPLAYS
ISABEL THE CATHOLIC
A
STUDY IN LITHOGRAPHHIC PROCESSES
MUSIC
ON STAMPS…………………………………All by I.T. Hamilton
Page 4
FEDERATION NEWS
The Committee has held two meetings, one on January 13th
at Peterborough, and one on April 28th at Huntingdon. On the first
occasion the Rules and Constitution were formally drawn up, and circulated to represtatives. They are now appearing in this Bulletin. On
the second occasion, they worked so hard that the tea
that had been ordered was cancelled. That, surely, is a sign they are getting
things moving?
PETERBOROUGH Had a special
meeting on March 13th consisting of a tour of the local newspaper works.
Although the process of line-engraving was not seen, the members who attended
felt that they would at least understand their typographed
stamps in future. On April 4th the mysteries of “Philatelic
Midwifery” were explained, and a fort-night later a fine display of
“Transatlantic Mails” was given by Mr f. Cook from
Stamford. The President’s Prize was eagerly competed for, and the winner only
just managed to stretch his (already long) neck ahead of Mr George Dixon whose
exhibit showed that Peterborough, Northants, wasn’t the only Peterborough in
the world.
What about it Boston (Mass.), Huntingdon (Penn., Que.,
and Tonn.), Bedford (Ind., Que., and Penn.), and Lynn
(Mass.).
Bedford (Cape of Good Hope and Queensland) obviously
didn’t hit it off with the men of the Mayflower (S.G 786) in those days. Would anyone object to the
Pilgrim Fathers Federation? PFF! to you.
Meanwhile, Huntingdon (Hunts) combined their
Exhibition (to which the public was invited) with their competition for the Lewin Cup, on Feb 24th. Peterborough supplied
the judges, (Mr K. Giles assisted by Mr A.S. Crawshaw).Mr
A.C. Cowling (of Hunts not Peterborough) was awarded the cup, and his son
walked home with the junior prize. There is NO truth in the rumour that the
judges had lunch beforehand with the C……s.
We hear that BEDFORD (Beds.) is putting on a Festival
of Britain show next door to a collection of Match Box Labels. It will be hard
luck on the luminologists (that the word?) if the
public thinks that Bedford entirely specialises in Pitcairns.
On the other hand, we know of some really fine collections in Bedford, and
their show should be worth a visit. And don’t let’s be too hard on the
m-b-label fiends: like ourselves, they’re only crazy.
News from KING’S LYNN consists of a postcard, reading,
“What’s happening to the Federation? We haven’t heard from you for a
fort-night” That’s the sort of spirit we hope you will all show very shortly.
You expect the Federation to do something, and we have made a start. “By
your wish this Society is now a Member of the East Midlands Federation of Stamp
Clubs. This is a most important step to have taken, and, although the benefits
are many there are obligations to be met.
OVERHEARD AT G.B. DISPLAYS. “What’s the difference between the 1924 and 1925
Wembley’s?........” “The Mulberry envelope was issued
at the same time………..”
AN INVITATION From the Hon.
Secretary of the Peterborough P.S.
Dear Mr Hamilton,
Our Society hope to have a
film display on Wednesday 19th September, at 7.0pm. We hope to show
two films on the printing of Swiss Stamps, and would like this information
included on the Federation programme which I understand you circulate at
interval.
We shall be pleased to see any members of other
(Federation) Societies that are able to come along, and in view of seating
accommodation perhaps Secretaries of Societies can let me have an idea of how
many may come along.
Yours sincerely,
A. Crawshaw.
16.5.51
ST. PETERSBURG AND THE ANTARCTIC.
We are pleased to note that a Peterborough member
(R.A. Bagshawe) in conjunction with Mr John Goldup, has written a short, but
authoritative, work on the “Postal History of Antarctica “ from 1904-49. We
have read this with considerable interest and feel that it is a worthy
companion to Richard Bagshawe’s previous work on the
“Postal History of the Falkland Islands Dependencies”. Those two works give a
complete picture of the whole of the Antarctic region.
This latest work contains nearly 50 line blocks of
cancellations, together with 8 photo-plates; in these days, this is a very
lavish proportion of a work to be given up to illustrations.
Reprints may be obtained from, The Scott Polar Research
Institute, Cambridge, at the small price of three shillings and ninepence, post free.
Page 5
Whilst on
the subject of publications, we would draw the attention of all members of the
Federation to work that is about to be published by the Philatelic Congress of
Great Britain. It is a Glossary of Philatelic Terms, and is the sort of thing
that most serious collectors will require. A previous Glossary had been
produced in 1933, but was a comparatively unknown work. This revised edition
will receive better advertisement, and will be obtainable from a larger number
of sources. The writer has seen the proofs of this Glossary and feels that at
six shillings, it is good value for money. (A Library Edition is also available
at 8/6.) Orders can be accepted by the Hon. Sec. of the Federation.
DATES FOR THE FUTURE
25 May Huntingdonshire P.S. E.T. Channon
on Modern Germany.
29 June Huntingdonshire P.S. Open Meeting.
6th-7th
July Huntingdonshire P.S. Festival of Britain
Celebrations Exhibition.
27 July Huntindonshire
P.S. G.A. Powell (P’boro’) Canada.
19 Sept. Peterborough P.S. Films. The Printing of Swiss Stamps.
28 Sept Huntingdonshire P.S. Major
Antony Walker D.S.O., “Editor’s Fancies”
3 Oct Peterborough P.S. Dr.
Donald Patton. Disinfected Mail.
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SUPPORT FOR THE BULLETIN. It may be taken as a sign that members of
our Federation Societies, have ordered 80 copies of
this Bulletin. They may be disappointed when it arrives, but they can console
themselves that there will be a margin of profit which will help to swell the
Federation’s coffers. Had the subscription list been small, this Bulletin would
have been run at a loss. Thank you, all of you who have ordered copies.
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NEWS has just reached us that Mr W. Osborne
(Peterborough) has been compelled to resign from the Federation Committee owing
to pressure of work. Peterborough’s new representative is Mr G.T. Chew.
Mr Chew has repeatedly urged that a Federation be
formed, and we hope that he is suitably impressed with the six months old baby
that is now going to howl its head off until someone listens to it. Those of us
who know Mr Osborne will regret his absence, for he had that happy gift of
putting his finger on the spot in a very tactful manner.
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CONTRIBUTIONS for the Bulletin are always wanted, and
ideas are also needed. But please see that your ideas can be adapted to the
process of typing, stencil cutting, and rotary duplicating.
APOLOGIES. Owing to the letters “A” and “W” having been
transposed on our typewriter, we had inadvertently referred to “R.A. Bagshaw” on the previous page (which has gone to Press). We
apologise to “Sunshine” for the error, and would point out that we meant to
write Richard W. Bagshawe. (But you ought to have
known that!)
Page 6
YOUR GUEST SPEAKER
As a result of a conversation with several people who
spend a good deal of their free time entertaining other philatelists by
bringing their treasures from one end of England to the other, I felt that some
summary off this conversation should be expressed before members of the East
Midlands Federation.
Oh, yes, I know it doesn’t happen in your Society, but
it does happen in others, and so you can begin to feel superior when you
realise that there ARE societies worse than your own.
For the sake of brevity (“the soul of wit”), this will
be presented in the form of DO and DON’T.
1 DO NOT let your speaker have to find his way from
the station. He will probably appreciate a ride in your car.
2 DO NOT let your guest speaker talk on an empty
stomach. (It will only render him inaubible).
3 DO offer him a drink before he starts. He may refuse
it if you’re lucky.
4 Do, yes, DO dust your tables before you ask him to put
out his sheets. You at least owe this to him.
5 DO advise your guest in advance how many sheets can
be displayed at once. HIS whole show can be spoilt by having to crowd his sheets together.
6 DO NOT talk while he is talking.(Why
not go to the pictures if you want to do that)). And when you are looking at
his sheets, Do stop dropping tobacco ash over the stamps..
7 DO NOT pick up sheets off the table. In the first
place they are arranged by the speaker, and also your hands are probably dirty.
The time he has spent on the write-up is worth as much to the owner as many of
his stamps. Or do you prefer to see displays on dirty sheets of paper?
8 DO arrange your tables so that the maximum number of
people can see the sheets, and DO see that the light
is not placed so that the audience is standing in its own light. Give the
speaker the best chance of display (and I mean display) possible.
9 DO go and ask questions of the speaker, but DO NOT
tell him that he’s wrong. He might be, but on the other hand, if you are right,
then why aren’t you giving the display?
10 If the sheets are passed round, do not put them on
the floor if you are at the end of the round. You won’t be visited again.(A private register of such societies is kept by the
writer!)
11 DON’T forget that drink when it is all over. He’s
been talking hard, and his throat WILL be VERY dry. (And don’t ask his to pay
for it even though he can afford it.)
12 DON’T forget that travelling expenses should be
offered.
13 DON’T begrudge having to pay a fee for a display.
You’ve all seen a d…god show, and even you may miss your pay if you’re away
from the office for a day.
(Most people charge expenses according to the size of
the Society. If you only have 3 members, you’ll probably be charged nothing.)
14 DON’T ask a man to travel tow hundred miles to
address a society of 80 members if you can only muster an attendance of three. (Black list again!)
15 When he’s had his drink, try not to throw him out
into a cheerless, empty hotel for the rest of the night. Try to find him some
company: better still, take him home with you.
16 DON’T deliver your guest to the wrong hotel.
17 If your guest comes from the town, and you are in
the country, DON’T forget his wife will enjoy a few eggs, or other country
product. (We know of one person who returns, like a homing pigeon, every year
to a certain society, just to collect eggs.)
18 DO see that the EAST MIDLANDS FEDERATION gets a
good reputation for hospitality. It will mean an awful lot to your future
programmes.
19 When one of your own members is giving a show, DO
treat him as a guest also.
FINALLY, don’t forget that most philatelists have a
sense of humour. DON’T always look as though a life and death struggle was
taking place. It’s depressing.
“If we shadows have
offended,
Think but this, and
all is mended,”
You treat your guest
just as you ought,
Perhaps you’re better
than I thought.
I.T.H.
Page 7
UNOFFICIAL
NATTERINGS
EXCHANGE PACKETS. Already the cry has gone up, “Why not
a Federation Exchange Packet” and “Why not pass your old packets on to another
Society?” Well, there are at least two snags at this stage of our Federation
life, (1) We have no one willing to take on the duties of Exchange Packet
Superintendent, and it is not always realised what a job this is. It isn’t just
putting a lot of names in order: the E.P.S. has to check off the sales, and
keep an eye on everyone receiving the packet. (212 persons> “Allow two days
per person. Now work out the answer.”
Still, if you think you can do it, let’s hear from you
now. The Office is vacant, and will be filled when we have a chance of getting
going.
DON’T WORRY about this typing and duplicating. It
doesn’t cost the Federation a penny, and all profits go to the Federation. It
all has to be done in spare time, and until you’ve tried typing on a stencil,
you just don’t know what it’s like.
ANY IDEAS about where the first Convention should be
held? (You mustn’t vote for yourself.) Saturday and Sunday seem to be the best
days, or did I overhear wrongly?
King’s lynn
P.S. HAVE REMAINED VERY SHY, SO FAR. As they belong to Congress, they should look out for
the Peterborough contingent, Messrs Crawshaw and
Osborne. Perhaps the K.L. representatives would care to give a Congress report
to the P.PP.S. (just to see if their story tallies
with the one they will be told!) Anyhow, it’s an idea.
F.O.B. COMMEMORATIVES. Has anyone been lucky enough to find the new Festival
(4d. only) dated 1851-1651? It’s a variety worth looking for. And anyway, why
are these stamps not inscribed “POSTAGE”?
INFLATION? I’ve just picked up an orange stamp off the floor.
Yesterday it was worth 2d, but to-day it’s only worth a halfpenny. And some
people say British Colonials aare
a good investment. You have been warned.
LONE COLLECTORS. There are
heaps of people who collect stamps but won’t join a society because “they don’t
know enough about it.” Does anyone know how to convince these people that their
attitude is all wrong? It’s a pity the Federation cannot get hold of some of
these chaps and make them see sense.
LIBRARY. How many collectors insist upon their Society
starting a library and then never use it? Personally, I suggest you buy your
own book of reference, and then you will read it. If, for every ten pounds
you spent on stamps you had bought one book at 20 shillings, you would now
possess a useful library of your own. Such an investment pays hand over fist,
every time. (And I don’t mean catalogues).
Page 8
TROUBLE IN OVER
WALLOP
How often does one find something of this sort inside
a first day cover off a new Ceylon (Constitution) issue.
Extract from letter addressed to the Revd. Henry Wake,
of Over Wallop, Hants, near Salisbury Wilts, dated 25th
Apriil 1823.
Revd. Sir,
I received your Letter dated 20 of April in which you
desires to know what steps I have taken in Respect of the arrears of the Tithes
(Viz) I have summonsed ten of them and they Appeared
Last Session. Five of them have paid and the other five hav
Not……………………………..
Edward Ford is very Obstinate on his Potatoe Tithe and Laff at them
that have PAID THEIIR Potatoes tithe and tell them that thoay
ar all fools for he had not paid any at all alltho he had been served with a La(w)yers
letter which he makes but a jest of it. There is Farmer Scamell stands on the same princable
as Ford. He will Not pay his Nodus
for his cows……
Ever obedient Humble servant,
R.A. Brine.
The Reverend gentleman evidently had a lot of
troubles, for in the same bundle of correspondence we find him enclosing an
anonymous letter to his solicitor, in which he was threatened to be turned out
of his parish on account of his unpopularity in the village. (Unfortunately
this letter has been mislaid.)
Postal Historians have surely missed a lot owing to
the invention of the envelope. Thanks to the fact that two sheets of paper
would double the charge on a letter, we find letters preserved with all the
postal markings attached. With the invention of the envelope, and extra charges
for weight only, we find from 1840 onwards, an increasing number
oof envelopes without their contents, or else
letters which give no indication of their postal travels.
*************************************************************************************************************************************
MARKET HARBORO
83
We illustrate a mark of
local interest on a cover (undated) from Market Harborough to Brampton
(Huntingdon, or less likely Norwich.)
The mileage mark “83”
indicates that Market Harborough was 83 miles from London.
This type of mark belongs
to the 1801-40 period.
Page 9
A letter Mr Tom Huetson has and on the cover is a
stamp cancel with 588 on for Okehampton dated 30 Jan, a cancel London King
William St.31 Jan and Launceston 1 Feb.
“Why did this letter go to London before delivery in
Launceston?”
Although the original letter is missing, (which would
give, for certain, the place and date of origin) it is fairly evident that the
letter was posted at Okehampton, as is shown by the
cancellation 588 on the penny imperf. Adhesive in the top corner.
For those who do not know the West Country (Bless
it!), Launceston is 18 miles to the south-west of Okehampton,
a main road connecting the two places. On consulting aa
modern railway map, we find these two towns on the same line, and it would seem
reasonable to assume that if the letter was sent in the opposite direction for
primary sorting, it would go to Exeter, and not to London.
Can it have been mis-sorted?
Mr Huetson thinks not.
Can anyone suggest a reason for the cumbersome route
this letter followed?
This letter is of interest in so far that the ordinary
postage was prepaid by adhesive, the registration fee not being paid in this
manner. This wwas probably a common enough practice
at the time, but someone might like to coin a name for this sort of
“combination”.
The registration fee of 6d. is correct for the period.
But let us not forget that letter from Banff to
Aberdeen that was salvaged from the wreck of the Tay Bridge disaster, in 1879.
Page 10
STOP PRESS
On Saturday, May 19th, our tame reporter
was looking around for Federation news, and had the good
fortune to be picked up by a coach hired by the Peterborough P.S. who
were on their way to Coventry.
It will not be the custom of this Bulletin to report
on Societies outside the Federation, but on this occasion certain things
happened with which we think our readers should be acquainted. Mr J. Lea of
Manchester was giving a display of Great Britain at Coventry, and besides the
Peterborough Society, those of Birmingham and Wolverhampton were invited also.
Should any of us still think that we have any G.B.
worth looking at, then ours must be a fine collection
indeed. And this is not judging Mr Lee’s show by its rarity value. The
condition of his stamps was something to be envied by all, and it would be
invidious to select any particular items for comment.
We tried to sell our good to certain members of the
Coventry Society, and one member remarked, “East Midlands Federation: never
heard of it”. Where upon he was told politely, but firmly, that that all went
to show he read the wrong Philatelic magazines.(We are
afraid to quote the words used, in case the other ones sued us for libel.)
Federation notices will be found in the BEST
magazines, and we would like tto thank the following
for having given us publicity in prominent places in their magazines:-
Major Antony Walker:
STAMP COLLECTING
Mr Robson Lowe: THE
PHILATELIST
Mr Kenneth Chapman:
PHILATELY
The Editor: STAMP
MIRROR
Mr Arnold Strange:
WEST END PHILATELIST
On reaching the centre of the City, the bus driver, who
did not know the whereabouts of the rendezvous, was somewhat shaken when a
voice suddenly shrieked out in his ear,
“FIND LADY GODIVA AND
YOU’RE ALL RIGHT.”
And in case you didn’t know it, Lady Godiva was the
person who rode through Coventry in a mint state.
Her statue contains an error: both her steed’s front
legs are off the ground and are pointing forwards. But still, any horse might
be forgiven under the circumstances.
Thank you, Coventry, but have you really never heard
of the East Midlands Federation?