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 over 250 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 as well as several more extensive specialist philatelic books, operates a magazine circuit, two thriving exchange packets and three postal Auctions a year. It is a friendly and informal group to which non-members are welcome to attend any of our meetings.
CAVENDISH PHILATELIC AUCTIONS LIMITED - SELLING THE STEVE ELLIS COLLECTION
On Wednesday 5 November at 11.00am in Derby, Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Limited will be selling the Steve Ellis collections of postal history. The material includes many rare and seldom seen items, and all of the best quality and condition possible
Steve was a very active member of the France & Colonies Philatelic Society (UK) serving as President for a number of years and as auction secretary for even longer. His main collecting interests included ambulance mail, from scarce early material of the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71 (lots 333-344), into WWI and beyond - and in the aftermath of the war with Prussia (there is a very strong section of dual-franking material from occupied Alsace-Lorraine; lots 345-86). His focus was usually on transport and routes, with strength in railways and shipping, entry and accountancy marks, plus underpaid mail and postage due material - all areas well represented in his collection. Steve’s collection included French Royal Packets 1784-93, (lots 109-115) extensive French maritime mails (lots 35-142), strength in Cuba (lots 6-34), some fine Boite Mobile covers (lots 427-36), North & West Africa packets, and a major Transatlantic collection (lots 108-142 & 281-88). Other highlights include a superb 1840 Waghorn oval cachet cover (lot 608), and 20th Century Hong Kong postal history (lots 551- 602) featuring strong sections of WWI & WWII POW mail (including “PROVOST MARSHAL” covers and Stanley Camp mails), WWII Airmail rates and censorship, etc The collections will be available for viewing at autumn Stampex in London from Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 October (see us at stand A3), and at our Derby offices from Tuesday 28 to Friday 31 October and Monday 3 & Tuesday 4 November. The catalogue can be viewed here.
LONDON GROUP MEETING DETAILS
The next meeting of France & Colonies Philatelic Society will be held on WEDNESDAY 21st JANUARY 2026 in the Stockholm Room in the Royal Philatelic Society premises, 15 Abchurch Lane, London, EC4N 7BW..
ANNUAL PHILATELIC WEEKEND - 5-7 March 2026
To be held at the Charlecote Pheasant Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV35 9EW, 01789 335960
Bookings should be made directly with the hotel on 01789 335960 quoting the reference FCPS EVENT 2026.
Further details will be placed in the December Journal. Please contact David Parmley either by telephone on 07464 926250 or
THE NORTHERN GROUP.
The next meeting is planned for 18 April 2026 the suggested theme:is Easter - at Ravenfield Parish Hall, Birch Wood Drive, Ravenfield, Rotherham S65 4PT Contact:by
Visitors most welcome
JOURNAL 308
Articles in the August 2025 Journal include:
– Usage of the Série Sites et Monuments/Série touristique d’usage courant (1938 - 1941) - Part 3 (Edwin Voerman)
– “What is Postal History?”
– Precursors of the French postal card Part 6: The dépêche-réponse cards (Frans Jorissen)
– Marianne de Muller Part 8: the 15 franc and 20 franc Algérie issues (YT 329 and 349) (Mick Bister)
– There’s No Business Like.Show Business – Connections on French Stamps - Part 10 (David Parmley)
– Maxi 3,70€ Cérès 1938 – How to distinguish? (Miles Cerny and Richard Broadhurst)
– Why I collect, and what I collect (Roger Niven)
Shorter Items - including Questions and Answers
• Spring fever at the Salon Philatélique de Printemps, 2025 (Ran van den Boom
• Algeria, a tempting offer (Michael Round)
• What’s in a date? (Roger Niven)
• The Paris Banlieue handstamp (David Huckett)
Reports of Meetings
• 49th Annual weekend 6-8 March 2025 (David Parmley / Peter Kelly)
• Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 7 March 2025 (Chris Hitchen)
• London Group Meeting of 21 May 2025 (Roger Niven)
• Wallis and Futuna (Michael Round)
• Northern Group Meeting of 12 July 2025 (John Morton)
Bookshelf (Compiled by Michael Round)
• Yvert & Tellier/A.C.E.P. ‘Entiers Postaux’ Catalogue 2025 (Reviewed by Michael Round)
New-issue listings from Gibbons Stamp Monthly: April - July 2025 (Michael Round)
List of Recently Published Articles (Maurice Tyler)
Society Notes
• Appeals for Journal Manager / Journal Editor / Website Manager
Advertisement - The Postage and Revenue Meter Stamps of Cameroun by Marty Bratzel Jr. and Dr. Marc Parren
A selection of images from Journal 308 are illustrated above in the slider.
THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to to Journal WE ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF ARTICLES, large or small, if you have something of interest please consider sending it for inclusion in a later edition. Let us know what YOU collect. If you are concerned about privacy - we won't publish your name. Type your text in Word or plain text, add any images, scanned at 300dpi as separate jpeg attachments and email them to
14 OCTOBER 2025
“Philately and Postal History of WW2” with Mick Bister and Chris Hitchen presenting the two respective parts
The next Zoom Meeting is envisaged for the New Year please contact Chris Hitchen if you are able to contribute. Zoom meetings are a convenient way by which we can meet face to face and share our interests so please join us in what will be an highly entertaining and informative occasion. Those without a webcam can of course still view the displays but will not be seen by others. If you have a display that you would like to give on Zoom or you would like to join in in any way please let Chris Hitchen know by email
All previous Zoom meetings are available to view here
Information on Zoom meetings will only be sent to those who express an interest, however the programme will be advertised on the website. Read more
Please consider using the FORUM - perhaps share your latest acquisitions or any query or comment you may have. If you have not registered as a member, please contact the
The Postage and Revenue Meter Stamps of Cameroun
Published by the authors with the support of the Stuart Rossiter Trust;
A4. 149 pages. Full colour. Soft back, Laminated card cover.
The France and Colonies Philatelic Society is pleased to promote the new addition to its Publications list.
Postage meter stamps, first introduced into Cameroun in 1953, comprise an integral part of the philatelic panoply of that country. However, meter stamps have been little studied and are often overlooked. Over 250 postage meter stamps are listed by town. Each stamp is illustrated, accompanied by the earliest and latest recorded dates of use. Also illustrated are more than 50 alterations made to specific meter stamps.
Full details are listed on the Publications page
JOIN OUR PHILATELIC FORUM
You can join our Forum without being a member of the Society - just contact the Website Manager with your name and preferred password and you will be supplied with a username - you don't have to be a member!.
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