The Postal Stationery Commission
Exhibiting and Judging
Postal Stationery
Version 2 2013
By: Lars Engelbrecht
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, 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
Is It Postal Stationery?
• We see a number of exhibits – also
internationally – that is entered, but not qualified
to be judged in the postal stationery class,
because it primarily is about non-postal
stationery.
• If an exhibit is judged in the postal stationery
class once, it is difficult to reject it at a later
exhibition
• Therefore: Please consider if an exhibit really is
a postal stationery exhibit
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
Yes
Specific
prepaid
value?
Yes
Is it postal
stationery?
Yes
Comments:
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
Yes
Specific
prepaid
value?
Yes
Is it postal
stationery?
Yes
Comments: Registered
envelope with prepaid
registered rate. The letter
rate should be added.
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
Yes
Specific
prepaid
value?
Yes
Is it postal
stationery?
Yes
Comments:
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
Yes
Specific
prepaid
value?
Yes
Is it postal
stationery?
Yes
Comments:
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
No
Specific
prepaid
value?
No
Is it postal
stationery?
No
Comments: This kind of
stationery is not prepaid. The
sender prints the ”stamps”
themselves, and pays for the
delivery after they are
handed in to the post office
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
Yes
Specific
prepaid
value?
Is it postal
stationery?
Yes/No
It is accepted
Comments: Is accepted even
if the prepaid value is not
specific
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Official
stamp
preprinted?
Specific
prepaid
value?
Is it postal
stationery?
Yes
Not a stamp
but an
inscription
Only
”postage
paid”
Strictly not,
but accepted
Comments: Is accepted in
the postal stationery class
even though the ”stamp” is
missing, but the rate has
been prepaid.
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes & No - it
can not be
sent on it’s
own
Official
stamp
preprinted?
No – or yes,
if you see it
as one big
stamp
Specific
prepaid
value?
Is it postal
stationery?
Yes
Strictly not,
but accepted
Comments: Reply Coupons
are accepted in the postal
stationery class
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
No
Specific
prepaid
value?
No
Is it postal
stationery?
Strictly not,
but accepted
Comments: Formular cards
are accepted in the postal
stationery class if sold with
the stamp applied. Or as a
forerunner if similar items
were later issued with
preprinted stamp
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
No
Specific
prepaid
value?
No
Is it postal
stationery?
No
Comments: Not a forerunner. Bulgaria never issued
international AR postal
stationery
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Yes
Official
stamp
preprinted?
No
Specific
prepaid
value?
No
Is it postal
stationery?
No
Comments: Privately printed
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Is This Postal Stationery?
Entire?
Official
stamp
preprinted?
Specific
prepaid
value?
Is it postal
stationery?
Comments:
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Yes – it is a
postal matter,
but not for
sending
Yes
Yes, but not
a postage
rate
Yes, it is
accepted
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 &
Registration
Envelopes
• Postal Cards & Reply
Cards
• Letter Cards
• Wrappers
• Printed Forms
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Postal Stationery
The Availability
• Post Office Issues (sold by the national post
office for general distribution)
• Military Issues (for members of the armed
forces)
• Official Service (for use of government)
• Local Post (sold by private companies for local
use only)
• 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
The Use of Cut-Outs in Exhibits
• Usually postal stationery
exhibits consist of whole
items. If entires of a
specific type only exists as
a cut-out or is very rare in
whole form, then cut-outs
can be part of the exhibit
• In some countries cut-outs
could be used as adhesive
stamps. Cut-outs used in
this way on entires can
also be part of a postal
stationery exhibit
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Essays, Proofs and Specimens
Archival 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).
Sometimes items with
”Specimen” overprints
exist in larger numbers
than the same mint or
used items, particularly
after 1915.
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 usages of Fakeland 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 Fakeland wrappers
from the first issue in 1888 until the last
issue in 1907 before the great European
independence war. Stamped to Order
wrappers are not included in the exhibit"
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Purpose and Scope
"Traditional" vs. "Postal History" Postal Stationery Exhibits
• Primarily postal stationery exhibits should be
focused on the stationery itself (traditional
treatment)
• Secondly usages and additional franking should
be described (postal history 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 research
35 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
The Introduction Page
• A clear headline: The
title (and perhaps a
subtitle)
• The purpose and
scope of the exhibit
• The structure of the
exhibit
• A plan of the exhibit
• Literature used
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Treatment
Description of the Items in the Exhibit
As mentioned
earlier a postal
stationery exhibit
should be treated
with the focus
primarily on the
postal stationery
itself and secondly
with the postal
history aspects
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Example:
Good item description:
• "5 centimos postal card, dark
green, variety 6. Local rate 5c
with additional franking 25c for
registration"
Bad item description:
• "25 March 1877. Sent from
Nice to Venice. Postmark on
reverse"
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 compared 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 choice 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
condition
• Ordinary material without defects
• ”Difficult” items in the best possible condition
• Clear postmarks
Evaluate the condition of the items as if they were
stamps:
• No tears, No missing corners, No bends, No
stains, No missing perforations
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 philatelically produced material in the
exhibit?
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Rarity
Used message and
reply cards with the
reply half still attached
are generally scarce,
either used internally
or abroad.
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Presentation (5 points)
• Good balance in the frames
and in the individual pages
• Good use of the page
• Sufficient write up
• Not too much text or ’white
space’
• Illustrations do not dominate
the philatelic items
• Overall impression: Neat
and clean layout
• Variation in mounting is
preferred
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Variation in Mounting
It is easy to make variations in the layout
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Mounting Large Items
Mounting large items
can be a challenge.
Registration envelopes,
wrappers and other
forms can be found in
many oversize formats.
(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
Regulations
• Both exhibitors and jurors should read the
regulations and guidelines
• In 2013 the postal stationery guidelines
were updated.
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Revision of Guidelines
• The main changes are:
– More detailed description of which items can
be exhibited in the postal stationery class
– Description of one-frame postal stationery
exhibit requirements
– Description of what should be in a title page
– A more detailed description of how postal
stationery exhibits are evaluated regarding
treatment, importance, knowledge, condition,
rarity and presentation
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:
www.postalstationery.org
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 at:
www.postalstationery.org
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Websites
Postal Stationery Societies
Australia:
Spain:
US:
UK:
www.postalstationeryaustralia.com
www.enterospostales.es
www.upss.org
www.postalstationery.org.uk
See more links to postal stationery websites at:
www.postalstationery.org
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 consists of a Chairman, a
Secretary and 5 members
The annual commission newsletter can be found at:
www.postalstationery.org
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
The Bureau 2012-2016
Chairman: Lars Engelbrecht, Denmark
Secretary: Ian McMahon, Australia
FEPA member: Mike Smith, UK
FIAP member: Ajeet Singhee, India
FIAF member: César Jones, Uruguay
Member: Ross Towle, USA
Member: Malcolm Hammersley, Hong Kong
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Focus for the Commission
• We support the attraction of more
collectors and exhibitors into the world
of postal stationery
• We support the improvement of postal
stationery exhibits
• We support the training of jurors in order
to ensure precise and fair judging of
exhibits
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Commission plan 2012-2016
Project 1: Communication
Project 2: Is this postal stationery?
Project 3: Article Series: Attracting
collectors and exhibitors
Project 4: Cooperation with the
specialized PS societies
Project 5: Seminars & Presentations
Project 6: Exhibiting leaflet
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission
Questions?
This presentation:
www.postalstationery.dk/brasiliana.pdf
FIP - The Postal Stationery Commission