Exhibiting and Judging Postal Stationery The Postal Stationery Commission Version By: Lars Engelbrecht

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Agenda The Definition of Postal Stationery –The Material in Postal Stationery Exhibits Postal Stationery Exhibits –Defining the Exhibit Purpose and Scope Judging Postal Stationery Exhibits –The Judging Criteria How to get more information about Postal Stationery?

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Agenda The Definition of Postal Stationery –The Material in Postal Stationery Exhibits Postal Stationery Exhibits –Defining the Exhibit Purpose and Scope Judging Postal Stationery Exhibits –The Judging Criteria How to get more information about Postal Stationery?

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission The Definition of Postal Stationery “Postal Stationery comprises postal matter which either bears an officially authorized pre-printed stamp or device or inscription indicating that a specific face value of postage or related service has been prepaid” Defined by FIP Postal Stationery Commission in the regulations for judging postal stationery exhibits

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Postal Stationery can be divided by The Physical Form The Availability The Function This is important when defining the scope of the postal stationery exhibit

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Postal Stationery The Physical Form Letter Sheets & Aerogrammes Envelopes & Registered Envelopes Postal Cards & Reply Cards Letter Cards Wrappers Printed Forms

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Postal Stationery The Availability Post Office Issues (for public use) Military Issues (for members of the armed forces) Official Service (for use of government) Local Post (for public use locally) Stamped to Order (ordered by private individuals or organizations)

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Postal Stationery The Function Postal (surface): Local, inland or foreign Airmail: Inland or foreign Registered: Inland or foreign Telegraph: Inland or foreign Parcel Cards Money Orders Etc.

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Can be Exhibited as Postal Stationery Formular Cards International Reply Coupons

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission The Use of Cut-Outs in Exhibits Usually postal stationery exhibits consist of whole items. If whole items of a specific type only exits as a cut-out or is very rare in whole form, the cut-outs can be part of the exhibit In some countries cut-outs could be used similar to stamps. Cut-outs used in this way on whole items can also be part of a postal stationery exhibit

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Essays, Proofs and Specimens Arcival material: Essays, proofs and specimens can be included in postal stationery exhibits Also relevant postal documents can be shown

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Specimens Do not get too impressed by exhibits with lots of specimens (especially from the British Colonies). Often items with ”Specimen” overprints exist in larger numbers than the same used items.

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Used and/or Unused? Is it ok to mix used and unused material in an exhibit? Yes!

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Agenda The Definition of Postal Stationery –The Material in Postal Stationery Exhibits Postal Stationery Exhibits –Defining the Exhibit Purpose and Scope Judging Postal Stationery Exhibits –The Judging Criteria How to get additional information about Postal Stationery?

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Defining the Exhibit Purpose The exhibit purpose identifies the reason for showing this exhibit: "The purpose of this exhibit is to show the varieties and use of Bongoland wrappers" A postal stationery exhibit should have a clear purpose often defining it by: Country, Period and/or Issue together with Physical Form, Availability, Function etc.

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Defining the Exhibit Scope The exhibit scope sets the boundaries for the exhibit: "The exhibit shows the Bongoland wrappers from the first issue in 1888 until the last issue in 1907 before the great African independence war. Stamped to Order wrappers are not included in the exhibit"

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Purpose and Scope Purpose and Scope "Traditional" vs. "Postal Historic" Postal Stationery Exhibits Postal Stationery exhibits should primarily be focusing on the stationery itself (traditional treatment) Secondly usages and additional franking should be described (postal historic treatment) We see postal stationery exhibits only focusing on the use: "The use of Canadian postal cards" without any description of the postal stationery itself. This will have a negative impact on the evaluation of the treatment of the exhibit

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Agenda The Definition of Postal Stationery –The Material in Postal Stationery Exhibits Postal Stationery Exhibits –Defining the Exhibit Purpose and Scope Judging Postal Stationery Exhibits –The Judging Criteria How to get additional information about Postal Stationery?

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission The Judging Criteria Treatment (20) and philatelic importance (10) 30 points Philatelic and related knowledge, personal study and research35 points Condition (10) and rarity (20) 30 points Presentation: 5 points

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Treatment (20 points) Title page has clear purpose, scope and plan The content reflects the title, purpose, scope and plan A logical flow in the exhibit The headlines of each page support the understanding of the treatment No duplicated material Good balance between the different parts of the exhibit Natural start and ending point of the exhibit Treatment of primarily the postal stationery - secondly the use, rates and additional franking

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Treatment Treatment The Introduction Page A clear headline: The title The purpose and scope of the exhibit The structure of the exhibit A plan of the exhibit Literature used We also recommend using a synopsis page

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Treatment Treatment Description of the Items in the Exhibit As mentioned earlier a postal stationery exhibit should be treated with focus primarily on the postal stationery ifself and secondly with the postal historic aspects Example: Good item description: "5 Centimos Dark Green, Variety printed. Additional franking for domestic use" Bad item description: "25 March Sent from Nice to Venice. Postmark on reverse"

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Philatelic Importance (10 points) How difficult is the selected area? What is the significance of the selected area compared to the national philately of the country? What is the significance of the selected area compated to world philately? What is the significance of the shown material compared to the selected area?

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Knowledge, Personal Study and Research (35 points) Correct description of the postal stationery type Use of literature within the area Earliest recorded use & numbers printed Watermarks, perforations, paper etc described Description of printings and varieties Research (lack of research in areas previously well-described is ok) The choise of items reflects knowledge Correct descriptions of rates and usage The ”not-obvious” is described

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Condition (10 points) The postal stationery is in the best possible quality Ordinary material without defects ”Difficult” items in the best possible quality Clear postmarks Evaluate the condition of the items as if they were stamps: No tears, No missing corners, No bends, No stains, No missing perforation

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Rarity (20 points) Are the best items (postal stationery types) within the area in this exhibit? Essays and proofs, approved and rejected Used at intended rate and with additional franking (express, registered etc) How difficult are the items to find? How easy will it be to duplicate the exhibit? Is there philatelic produced material in the exhibit?

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Rarity Usually reply cards used both ways are generally scarce In many cases especially both used locally and abroad

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Presentation (5 points) Good balance in the frames and the individual pages Good use of the page Sufficient write up Not too much text Illustrations not too dominating Overall impression: Not sloppy Variation in mounting is preferred

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Variation in Mounting It is easy to make variation in the mounting

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Mounting Large Items Mounting large items can be a challenge Especially registered covers and wrappers can be oversized (Size K envelope)

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Agenda The Definition of Postal Stationery –The Material in Postal Stationery Exhibits Postal Stationery Exhibits –Defining the Exhibit Purpose and Scope Judging Postal Stationery Exhibits –The Judging Criteria How to get additional information about Postal Stationery?

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Literature General Catalogues: –Higgins & Gage. Worldwide Catalog of Postal Stationery. Up to around 1980 –Michel. Western and Eastern Europe catalogs Specialized literature exists for many countries. See list of literature at:

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Postal Stationery Societies Around the World The Postal Stationery Society (UK) United Postal Stationery Society (US) Berliner Ganzsachen Sammler Verein l’Association des Collectionneus d’Entires Postaux Postal Stationery Society of Australia Schweizerischer Ganzsachen Sammler Verein See the complete list with links to their websites at:

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Websites Websites Postal Stationery Collectors Hawaii: Denmark: Portugal: US: See more links to postal stationery websites at:

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission The Postal Stationery Commission The Purpose of the Commission: To develop and promote interest in Postal Stationery To establish rules and procedures in Postal Stationery exhibiting Members of the Commission: One representative from each FIP member (today 57 delegates) The Commission Bureau consist of a Chairman, a Secretary and 5 members The annual commission newsletter can be found at:

FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission Questions?