Vol

Vol. 46 No. 1 February 2007

1 February Meeting

Please note that the Library will be open for members from 7.00pm to 7.25pm on meeting nights.

The next meeting of the Society will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday February 13, 2007 in the first floor rooms of Turnbull House, Bowen Street, Wellington.

Programme:      Business
                            Items of Interest
                            Speaker - William (Bill) Main - author, teacher and collector

Bill Main has been collecting things for most of his life. From a schoolboy interested in stamps in the late 1940's to what has developed to be an enduring passion for 78rpm gramophone recordings of famous singers from the past.

In 1956 he sold his stamp collection to McNaughts in Featherston Street and bought a German 35mm camera. Thus began his involvement with photography which he taught for many years at the Wellington Polytechnic.

When he stepped down from teaching in 1984 he opened a gallery in Ghuznee Street called Exposures. Six years later he closed this and took up a position as Director of the NZ Centre for photography.

In 2000 at the age of 65 he retired from this position and to keep his hand in, volunteered himself to the position of Editor for The Postcard Pillar, the quarterly journal of the NZ Postcard Society. How he drifted into collecting postcards and why he considers this the best of all his collecting activities will be the subject of his illustrated talk this month.

2 December Meeting

Twenty one members turned out for the Christmas meeting, including a visitor from Auckland, Frank Claridge. Our President, Brian Vincent, welcomed those present and the evening commenced with items of interest.

The scribe for the evening, Adam Miller, noted not all details of some items were captured.

Items of Interest

Jenny Banfield had an Italian proclamation of 1783 noting a city was now free of plague, plus a letter from Cape of Good Hope in 1812 regarding smallpox and vaccinations.

Des Hurley showed a Post Office Savings Bank mailed notice of deposit, and a Boer War Christmas card. Herb Cowley had some View Cards (multiple folded postcards under a cover), an Egyptian Parcel card of the 1950's and a UK 1971 Strike cover.

Geoff Rickards had an intriguing booklet made up for PO staff training, with 10x24c Map stamps perfinned PAID, plus 10x1c Mineral stamps. This was apparently to assist staff in making up the new 25c rate whilst using up supplies of the 24c Map, due to the shortage of the 25cQEII stamps. There was much discussion, especially of perfs and trying to understand what really occurred. Seems like an article for the Journal, Geoff.

Stephen Jones had an assortment of covers, including the 1938 Health FDC with the Warkworth relief, a bijou PC of the Id Univeral, a FDR Death cover and a 1966 Christmas stamp essay by De La Rue. Adam Miller had several early 1930's Durium records (flexible, two tracks on one side only, card based) with copyright royalty stamps on the reverse. Doug Tennant showed some current Canadian $1.49 stamp shades on cover, and noting the cancellations were timed down to the minute.

After members had viewed the items, the four entries for the Marcel Stanley Trophy were then put up on display and the judge, Norman Banfield, talked us through each one. The results were as follows:

Tony Thackery, New Zealand First Day Cover Bloopers - Emerald and the Trophy Winner Robert Odenweller, New Zealand First Postage Dues & First Express Stamp - Emerald Adam Miller, Creative 45c New Zealand Domestic Rate Covers - Sapphire Brian Vincent, 1991 Rugby World Cup - Topaz

N.B. All four exhibits, or colour copies, are now in the library, along with previous years entries.

Brian then called the meeting to a close and members enjoyed some nibbles, a drink or two and a good natter prior to wishing each other a very merry Christmas.

3 New Australian Publication

John Leah is the Editor of a new publication (working title 'Australasian Stamps') to be launched early in 2007 and who is seeking philatelic writers to contribute to the magazine. The publication primarily will relate to Australia with Commonwealth about 15%, Pacific including New Zealand 15% and rest of world about 20%. It is intended the magazine contain some 'colourful' editorial on history or background to various stamps as well as a range of serious philatelic articles. John is asking for any New Zealand philatelists who have written or wish to write regular or occasional articles to contact him for further information. Email address is: smpa@ozemail.com.au

4 New Publication from the Stuart Rossiter Trust

This is the Rossiter Postal History Journal Volume 7, 2006. It contains The West India & Pacific Steam-Ship Company - The Mail Contracts 1865-1888 by Colin Tabeart and The Pneumatic Post of Paris including some extraordinary usages by Bernard Lucas.

Available from Allan Berry, 238 Waikiekie Road, Thames 3500, New Zealand. Phone 07 868 3065 or email: apberry@wave.co.nz Price is £12.50 plus postage £7.50 Printed Paper by Air or £4.12 by surface mail. Cheques should be made payable to Allan Berry for the equivalent in New Zealand or Australian currency and sent to the above address.

5 Website

With the changeover to a new provider and a lot more space to play with, the site is to undergo a complete update. Our Webmaster, Richard Bloxham, says whilst this will be a gradual event obviously there will be a need for new material. If members feel they may have items that would be ideal then please either send these to the office or contact Sue for further details.

6 May Postal Sale

A reminder that items for the May 7th sale need to be in by 28 February.

To keep members up to date, there will be a small delay in delivery. Some late corrections were needed just prior to Christmas and final proof reading was then done early in January with the book now being printed and bound. Despatch from Hong Kong will be mid February and expected arrival is about the second week in March, a little later than was originally intended. However, the wait will be well worth it!

Two members have passed away recently, Brian Meachen a member since 1994 and Rita Stanley, wife of the late Marcel Stanley. Rita was an Honorary Member and a great supporter of the Society.

Has any member own or has access to a quarter inch reel to reel tape recorder. Librarian, Adam Miller has discovered some old tapes whilst disposing of unwanted material and needs to listen to them to ascertain if they are worth keeping. The request is probably a long shot but you never now what some people keep!! Please contact the office.

The newsletter is always happy to publish any items of interest you may have so please either fax material to the Editor on 04 971 8537 or email to the Society's office. As usual, we reserve the right to publish.