REPORTS ON NATIONAL ACTIVITIES
[Note: for ease of reference these are in alphabetical country order.]
Argentina: Philatelic literature was very "developed" - TEMEX'03 had more than 400 entries including many magazines/journals from clubs. An important agreement had been made with Argentina Post for all philatelic literature to be sent worldwide free of charge.
Australia: The biggest publisher was Brusden-White with its detailed Australian Commonwealth Specialist Catalogues. The Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria published reference books - a link was provided through the Australian Philatelic Federation (APF) website www.apf.org.au . An ongoing project was Australian States postal stationery catalogues - one had been produced and others were close to "draft" stage. The APF had a programme to publish for reference purposes Australian exhibits with high awards.
Canada: The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) Foundation promoted literature with an award for a publication on any British North America (BNA) subject and an award to a Canadian on any subject. The last literature exhibition in 2005 had entries from 25 countries; the next exhibition will be in 2008, probably May. There was a project to scan 25,000 pages of Weill Harrison topics and to copy exhibits of BNA material - aim to do 10-20 titles a year. The RPSC was scanning 30,000 pages of The Canadian Philatelist - target to have these on its website by end 2006 and with a search facility. The Vincent Greene Foundation was looking for manuscripts and had decided to enlarge its publication criteria and publish some non-philatelic titles during the next few years.
Chile: The Philatelic Society of Chile has published the Specialized Catalogue of the Stamps of Chile 2006 which was awarded a Gold Medal at ESPAÑA'06. The Society also has a website www.sociedadfilatelica.cl
China: The All China Philatelic Federation was holding a national literature exhibition on 20 October 2006 but only for literature in Chinese. A request was made for a report on the exhibition - how many books and journals and the results with a list of titles in English so as to provide information on what is being published in China.
Czech Republic: PRAGA 2008 will include literature and it was hoped to include electronic media and websites. A virtual album had been developed - EXPONET www.exponet.info [it has 170 exhibits from 27 countries]. Details of technical requirements could be requested by email.
Germany: Monthly and fortnightly journals, Michel catalogues, 200 very active study groups mostly publishing small booklets. National literature exhibition in Leipzig in 2007. New project started in October - website of German Philatelic Federation: KOMPAS for collectors (like Wikipedia) includes fight against forgeries, over 700 static pages, in German but easy for everyone to use. Hope to make it free early in 2007, aiming to get support from e-bay and some postal administrations.
Great Britain: Over 200 specialist societies, Royal Philatelic Society London, British Philatelic Trust and the Rossiter Trust all publishing philatelic literature. The National Philatelic Society library was expected to go into the National Postal Museum & Archive. Biggest single achievement had been to put the complete London Philatelist onto 11 CDs with search and printing facilities - 1 GB of information and updates every year.
Greece: Now publishing 2-3 books each year - problem of finance - most publications financed by auction houses and distributed free to their clients - very good but resulted in a restricted readership.
India: For the first time in five years philately was being funded by the Government and being promoted at "grass roots" level - a stamp catalogue being produced every 2-3 years.
Italy: Italian Post Philatelic Department was supporting some publications making more copies available. The Institute for Postal Historic Studies in Prato is a private scientific institute funded by the Italian Government - it has a very large philatelic library of 32,000 entries and is interested in internet exchange [website: www.issp.po.it ]
Mexico: Had three entries in ESPAÑA'06.
Netherlands: Only a few books published each year but a lot of special study groups publishing research for their members. There was the possibility of the national federation providing money for books. There was a very good library near Utrecht.
New Zealand: The 10th National Literature Exhibition would be held in June 2007 - open to all - no entry fees - one copy only of a publication. Two new books being written - Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand handbooks, Volume IX on Postal Stationery of New Zealand to be published early 2007, and North Shore Philatelic Society book on New Zealand: The Chalon Issues 1855-1873 is being written.
Portugal: One book had received a Gold medal 91 points at Washington 2006 - A Study of All Marks Used in Portuguese Post Offices Between 1853 and 1900. The National Association of Journalists & Writers (ANJEF) produced a magazine and in 2005 organized ESTREMOZ 2005 - the first national literature exhibition - involving Portugal, Spain and Brazil. ANJEF promoted an annual philatelic literature seminar. The authors of History of Postal Military Service - a catalogue of Portuguese military aerogrammes - had received the 2006 Lewandowsky Award of the United Postal Stationery Society.
Singapore: The Association of Singapore Philatelists supported philatelic research and had recently approved setting aside funds for literature publication.
South Africa: The South African Philatelist had recently introduced monetary awards for articles in the South African Philatelist on the philately of southern Africa - in memory of Jack Haggar. It also promoted publication of books such as the recent Siege of Rustenburg by Harry Birkhead.
Spain: Had achieved a Large Gold at ESPAÑA'06 for Spanish Pre-philately: Catalogue of Postal Marks of Spain & Dominions in the Indies, 18th & 19th Centuries, volumes 1-4.
Chinese Taipei: In recent years all books had been privately published - important news is that Chungwha Post is currently preparing an official detailed postal stationery catalogue. The first edition in 2007 will be in Chinese but an English edition is expected to follow probably in 2008. It was suggested that bilingual publication should be promoted.
U.S.A.: Normally five national literature exhibitions were held each year - anyone can enter - details under "Shows & Exhibitions" on the American Philatelic Society website www.stamps.org. At WASHINGTON 2006 the reading room had been well visited.
Website: Tony Virvilis (Greece) suggested that for every major literature exhibition a report with awards list should be put on the Commission website and in the Newsletter.
Records: Mr Tay reported that since 2000 a list was kept of all Gold and Large Gold medals awarded.
