Society Links
In 1949, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first French postage stamp, a group of British philatelists set up a pioneering specialist philatelic society devoted to the study of the stamps of France and the then French Empire. From small beginnings, the France and Colonies Philatelic Society now unites nearly 400 collectors in Britain and overseas in the many and varied delights of the stamps and postal history of la Francophonie.
The Society provides an extensive programme of meetings in several locations, holds an annual Philatelic Weekend, publishes a well regarded and authoritative Journal and series of monographs, and operates two thriving exchange packets and an Auction. It is a friendly and informal group to which new members are always made most welcome.
Contact
The Society is affiliated to the ABPS, and its affairs are managed by a Committee comprising
President, Officers and Committee members, elected annually.
Click here to see the full Committee; the main Officers are as follows:
Membership Secretary: J P Maybury, 18 Courtneys, Wheldrake, York YO19 6BR -
President: J C West -
Treasurer: C J Hitchen -
Journal Editor: M S Tyler -
Auction Secretary: M L Bister -
2011 and 2012 Annual Subscription Rates
United Kingdom: £13.00Click here to access an application form.
Europe £17.00
Rest of World £20.00
Then print this out and send it to the Membership Secretary as requested.
Journal
The Society's Journal is published in March, June, September and December.
The price is included in members' subscriptions.
The Journal contains articles of interest to both the general and specialist collector, and covers all aspects of French philately.
It also gives details of the Society's activities, book reviews, lists of articles published in the French philatelic magazines, and philatelic news items.
Click here to see titles of articles published over the last 10 years.
Annual Philatelic Weekend
The Philatelic Weekend is becoming increasingly popular.
London meetings are normally held at 6.30pm on Wednesdays (usually once a month) at the Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1; although two take place at 3.00pm on Saturdays during Philatex, at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Greycoat Street, Westminster, London SW1.
Two or three auctions are held each year.
The Society's library encompasses a wide range of French philately, with more titles added each year.
Club packets are circulated to UK members who request them.
Members wishing either to purchase items from the circulated books, or to offer material for sale, should contact the relevant Secretary: FRANCE: Bob Wood COLONIES: John West The secretaries' addresses are available from the quarterly Journal that is delivered regularly to all paid up members. Members who are interested in joining either circulation list should contact the Organiser: David Pashby whose address is given in the quarterly Journal delivered to all paid up members. Trophies have traditionally been awarded annually in four categories, but in 2008 the competition was reorganised.
However, these arrangements have (in 2011) been temporarily suspended until a better way of judging the competitions has been devised.
The Literature Award for the best article by a member published in the Journal during the previous year will however continue to be judged by a small panel of members invited by the organiser.
Publications are produced from time to time in the form of specialised studies or handbooks.
The titles currently available are listed here.
It provides the opportunity for members to display and view collections in a relaxed and cordial atmosphere.
The most recent event took place at the Charlecote Pheasant Hotel, Charlecote, near Stratford-upon-Avon, from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 March 2011.
It is intended that the next one will be at the same venue from 16 to 18 March 2012.
Click here for the latest details.
Meetings
Northern Group meetings are held in Leeds on Saturdays (with an occasional one elsewhere in the region).
Southern Group meetings are held in Worthing, also on Saturdays.
The Wessex Group meetings take place near Salisbury, also on Saturdays.
Click here for full details of all these.Auctions
One is a room auction held in May, to which postal bids are also invited.
The other auction(s), held as appropriate at 3 or 6 monthly intervals, is/are usually postal only.
Click here for further details of these .
Library
A full list of titles available is distributed to members from time to time, and the list is updated periodically in the Journal.
Items are loaned to members by post, but owing to insurance requirements this service is available to UK residents only.
However, photocopies of a limited number of pages from magazines or books can now be made available at cost to all members. The Librarian's address is given in all issues of the Journal.
The latest Library List (2004) is now available from this link.
Club Packets
There are two circuits, one for France and one for the French Colonies.Magazine Circuit
The Society subscribes to two French philatelic magazines, L'Echo de la Timbrologie and Timbres magazine.
Circuits are organised for those who wish to read them, and copies are sent through the post for a moderate annual fee (in 2012 £10 per title).
Each magazine received has then to be sent on within a few days to the next member on the list.
Register of Interests
A register has been compiled of members' collecting interests.
Inclusion is voluntary, and the register is updated each year.
The purpose is to enable members to contact each other on topics of mutual interest, for information and assistance.
A copy of the current register is made available to all members at the beginning of each year.Competitions
The competitions for displays have recently been held at the Annual Weekend and judged by members attending.
Trophies were awarded in the following three categories only:
The Jubilee Salver for the best postal history display
The Filmer Shield for the best display of stamps
The Levett Trophy for the best display by a debutant
(i.e. someone who has not won a trophy before)
Back numbers of the Journal are also available. Contact the
:
R N Broadhurst, PO Box 448, Teddington TW11 1AZ.