Macclesfield and Prestbury Philatelic Society Do you collect postage stamps?
By
Jan 12, 2012, 19:30
JANUARY MEETING
Switzerland has always been an interesting and popular country to collect and this year began with a display by one of our members of their “Pro Patria” issues.
The Pro Patria organisation was founded in 1909 as a patriotic and charitable organisation to give meaning to the Swiss national holiday (August 1st) and support suitable causes. In the first year 29,000 Swiss francs were raised and used to support flood victims.The Organisation has always received the support of the Swiss Post Office, initially through the sale of postcards and, since 1938, by special issues of postage stamps.
All the issued stamps are attractive and very collectable. Our speaker’s display, which included the issues up to 1960, was beautifully written up and every item was shown on a cover that was genuinely used at the correct postage rate and not specially contrived purely for philatelic purposes. Some of the items were commercially used on special stationery whereby both the letter and its postal address (including a carbon copy) could be typed with just a single pass of the paper through a typewriter.This unusual arrangement was often used in Switzerland but never became popular in Britain.
Another striking feature of the display was the clarity of postmarking done by the Swiss Post Office – a feature that continues to the present day.
ABOUT OUR SOCIETY
The Macclesfield and Prestbury Philatelic Society was formed in 1966 to promote stamp collecting in the Macclesfield area of East Cheshire.
The Society is very friendly and informal, with a varied programme of speakers, displays and society evenings.
Anybody may join. The annual subscription is currently £10 (payable in September) which includes the cost of coffee and biscuits at meetings.
The Society runs its own internal packet scheme and also participates in the packet scheme of the North Western Federation of Philatelic Societies, allowing members to look at a wide choice of stamps and philatelic items in their own homes.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of age and from beginner to expert, as all members benefit from the experiences of fellow collectors.
The Macclesfield and Prestbury Philatelic Society is affiliated to the North Western Federation of Philatelic Societies (NWF) and the Association of British Philatelic Societies (ABPS). Society details are on the following web pages: www.nwfedps.org and www.ukphilately.co.uk/abps.
MEETING PLACE: The Heritage Centre, Roe Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Meetings are held upstairs (first floor) but a lift is available. The Heritage Centre has a strictly no smoking policy.
TIME OF MEETINGS: 7.30pm.
DATES OF MEETINGS: Mainly the first Monday of each month from September to June.
6th February:Annual General Meeting, followed by entries for the Nine-sheet Competition (for the North Western Federation Rose Bowl) and the Sixteen-sheet Competition.
16th February (Thursday): A visit to the Bolton Philatelic Society.
5th March: A Society Evening. Members are invited to display two frames (i.e. 18 sheets).
2nd April: A visit from the Bolton Philatelic Society.
14th May:A display by one of our own members on Fiji.
June (date to be confirmed):Guest speaker who will present a display on G.B. Airmails 1930-1950.
Stamp Fairs
Sale Grammar School: Fairs will be held between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on 14th January 2012 (NW Fed AGM), 14th April 2012 and 6th October 2012.There is an admission charge but members of the Macclesfield and Prestbury Philatelic Society may obtain free entry by showing their printed programme card.
Stockport Masonic Guild Hall: These are held on the last Tuesday of each month between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm.Admission is free.Dates are 31st January 2012, 27th March 2012, 24th April 2012, 29th May 2012, 26th June 2012 and 31st July 2012.