March 14, 2003
JOSEPH MONTEIRO WINS THE RPSC GELDERT MEDAL

Charles J.G. Verge, President of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) has announced that Joseph Monteiro has been selected as the winner of the Geldert Medal for 2003. The Geldert Medal is given annually for the best article or series of articles published in The Canadian Philatelist, journal of the Society, in the previous year.

Joseph Monteiro’s prolific output shows why he merits the Geldert Medal. In 2002, he contributed six consecutive, well-researched articles to The Canadian Philatelist. In January-February, he examined “Tagging of Canadian Stamps” and followed with “Print Shifts on Canadian Stamps” in March-April. In May-June, Monteiro looked at Canadian stamps that have had incorrect values, while his July-August contribution featured “Double Print Errors on Canadian Stamps”. All four essays were informative and included bibliographic references.

In September-October, Monteiro took a different course with an overview of “Hong Kong’s Stamp Program for 2002. ” In November-December, he traced how Prestige Booklets have become “a success story”. Joseph Monteiro’s contribution is probably unique in that he had a feature article in each issue of the magazine last year. In 2000 and 2001, he wrote four and five articles respectively.

Over the last decade, Monteiro has done outstanding work in researching and studying Canada’s definitives. Definitives of Canada: The Last Quarter Century 1967-1994 won a Vermeil medal with felicitations of the jury at Canada’s Third National Philatelic Literature Exhibition. At Canada’s Fifth National Philatelic Literature Exhibition in 2000, he won a Vermeil Medal for Definitive Postage Stamps of Canada 1953-1999.

Geldert Medal committee chairman Harry Sutherland, QC, FRPSC, RDP, said “Joseph Monteiro was the unanimous choice of the committee.” He said the “wide range of information found in these five articles propels Monteiro to the forefront of those writing about stamps in Canada today.” Other members of the committee are James Kramer and Cimon Morin.

The Geldert Medal was established by Phyllis Geldert in memory of her husband Dr. George M. “Mac” Geldert, the longest serving president (1958-1967) of The RPSC. Mrs. Geldert put up the medal in 1967 shortly after Dr. Geldert’s death. A notable stamp collector herself, Mrs. Geldert was prominent in many facets of RPSC work, including a directorship from 1967 to 1978. She also served as executive director for three years. She was elected a Fellow (FRPSC) of the Royal in 1968. Mrs. Geldert died in 2000.

The Geldert Medal is a significant reward for outstanding writing and research in the Society’s journal. In joining the many previous winners, Joseph Monteiro joins a select group whose contribution to philately in Canada has been immense.

Information on The RPSC can be had by e-mail at info@rpsc.org or by visiting the Society's website at www.rpsc.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael O. Nowlan 506-357-2698
Carol S. Law 416-979-8874