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The Salvation Army Philatelic Circle.
Harry Hayes
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The Circle's Eighth Convention was held on October 21, 2000 and as on most previous Conventions, we had good weather which helped to start on the right foot! This year we were back in our "home," setting, York Citadel, and members started to flock in from 9.30 for the 11 o'clock start. Once more, Jim Pratt interrupted a holiday to organise the sales table, which offered about £2,000 worth of covers, stamps, postcards and other things philatelic. As soon as that was set up, he was almost buried beneath members, avid for new treasures for their collections. Coffee flowed, with Stella alone in the kitchen; her usual helpers not being available, mainly due to illness. Many members had sent their apologies, again mainly because of illness. Our only ever-present member (apart from
Jim and Harry, with Stella), Margaret Campbell (Brechin), was one of the casualties, and she sent her regrets, plus her best wishes for the success of the event.
Eleven o'clock arrived and Martin Reid (Maidenhead), Chairman, opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone to the meeting, and introduced the first speaker.
Rob Brettle, (Manchester), presented "Resources for Research". Using his experiences in Bristol as a typical example of seeking information on SA matters, he told of the many possible books and documents which may have some useful fragments (or mass!) of details. Fuller details of his researches will be found in the Convention 2000 Handbook when it is published at the end of this year.
David Pickard (London) presented a second selection from his Picture Postcard collection. These were often 90 years old, and mostly in very good condition, the few not so being included for special reasons! Cadets at the Training College, Bands, and groups of Salvationists often included people whom David had known in years gone by. Birthday and Mothers' Day cards followed, with a further large selection of bands; David was able to give additional details on very many of these. More "Flag" cards, some International Series items, and Harvest Festival Displays ended a most entertaining presentation.
The last speaker before lunch was Harry Hayes (York), who showed a very wide range of the Christmas Seals which were prepared for the Batley Castle Building Fund, between 1978 and 1985. These commenced with original entries in design competitions, developed and final designs; printing preparatory material such as bromide prints and transparencies for
platemaking. The final section showed progressive printing proofs, the issued sheets, then errors, varieties and printing flaws. It was a microcosm of the preparation and printing of our postage stamps. A number of the seals used on covers from various countries were also shown.
Lunch followed: ninety minutes of eating, talking, searching Jim's sales table, and looking over the Citadel's once-more improved entrance area.
Two o'clock brought the resumption of Circle business. Glenn Horridge (Westonbirt) coincidentally brought a wide selection of SA Christmas Cards. He showed three examples of pre-1914 cards, in a common style, personal greetings cards showing officers. Inter-War cards followed, including an envelope presented to households called upon by the Band, "Kindly place your gift in this envelope". One card of 1954/5 was a puzzle. Sent from an "After-Glow." group, with C.O. Senior Major E. Taylor, a Corps identification would be welcomed. Later cards came from the Training College, Slough Corps, and a home-made card which included a colour photograph of the Corps Officers. There followed a number of card which incorporated a SA red shield, or a "mission statement". One of these was from the SA at their Newington Causeway address - was this the first such? Christmas greetings cards showing SA bands followed. The final section was from countries other the Great Britain. Most were from the United States, but there was one from the East Africa Territory and another from the Philippines, a card from the Atlanta Millennial Congress, and lastly a card from General and Mrs Rader, and Commissioner and Mrs Maxwell.
Last year, Bram Hughes (Tavistock) showed us modern British stamps; this year he brought a study of a design for British Colonial stamps, which was introduced in 1879, and which lasted until the 1950s. This is the Imperial Keyplate Design, devised and used almost exclusively by the security printers De la Rue & Co. Ltd. Well over thirty countries used stamps based on elements of the design, and Bram showed a very wide selection, with a surprising variety of currencies being involved. Whilst not SA-orientated, it was an intriguing exhibit of stamp production in long-gone times.
The final display of the day was of "The Salvation Army in Latin America and its Philately". Some ninety sheets of covers, cards and stamps were shown, from fourteen Republics, the oldest being of Argentine, used 85 years ago. Wartime envelopes, examined by official censor; others with rare postmarks, and even one addressed from the Canal Zone (Panama) to
Wheatstone, the concertina makers. One wonders if a concertina then led the singing at Balboa Central Corps!
Harry Hayes then gave a report on the Circle's year 1999-2000. The membership is steady, losses being balanced by new members; the financial position is also stable. The Journal published 60 pages of mainly original research on a very wide variety of subjects. A new Junior subscription of just £1 per year has been introduced for collectors up to 16 years of age. The Circulating Packets of SA material are doing well in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand, with a brisk demand from the buyers. The auctions are producing good results for the vendors, and there is a ready and continued demand for unusual SA philatelic items and picture postcards. A discussion followed on future meetings and suggestions were made, which will be aired in the next issue of the journal.
The Circle's thanks were then extended to Captains Drew and Beverley
McCombe,' for the use of the Hall and equipment; to the Chairman, Martin Reid, for ably guiding the Convention's proceedings; those who gave displays; York Philatelic Society and York Postcard Collector's Club for the loan of display frames; Jim Pratt, for again taking care of the Sales Table; and to Stella, for her hard work in providing two meals and coffee.
From the word "go.", there was a warm, friendly atmosphere of old friends meeting again after an absence, and many expressions of "see you next year". Another excellent day.
Further details regarding the SAPC may be had from the Secretary, Harry Hayes, at 11 Chatsworth Drive,
Haxby, York. Y032 3QS, England, or by telephone on 01904 764660. |
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