December 1, 2003
CANADIANS SUCCEED IN ONE-FRAME EXHIBITS IN BANGKOK

Charles J.G. Verge, President of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, says the one-frame stamp exhibit has come of age with international recognition at a prestigious Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) juried show.

Verge is also "delighted that Canadians came in first and second" at the first ever FIP One-Frame class competition held at Bangkok 2003 in Thailand, October 4-13.

On his return from Bangkok, Verge paid special tribute to Ron Brigham and John McEntyre whose respective exhibits caught the eye of the judges for first class one-frame exhibits.

The RPSC president said Brigham’s 16-page exhibit of the 12d. black from production to forgeries "was a spectacular display." As the first-place finisher, Brigham, from Mississauga, won a gold medal and one of four special prizes offered for One-Frame exhibits.

Montreal’s John McEntyre finished second with "a highly specialized research exhibit" on the 1908 one-cent Quebec Tercentenary stamp, which depicts Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain. McEntyre received a gold and felicitations from the jury for outstanding original research. It was the only one-frame exhibit to receive felicitations.

When one-frame exhibits were first accepted at local then national shows, there was a great outcry that the traditional exhibits were being undermined by inferior efforts.

It took a while to convince the critics, but one-frame exhibits, which appeal to both novice and expert, are now part of most shows.

The one-frame may well be described the short story of philatelic exhibiting. It has to tell a story in very compact terms, get the attention of judges, and impress with its research. Serious exhibitors have shown this can be done, and the Bangkok success supports the one-frame theory with much applause.

Charles Verge says "times have changed," and the one-frame exhibit "has proven itself." It is not a "weak feature of the hobby," but rather "an innovative one that is here to stay."

Many will continue to prepare their 8 to10-frame exhibits, the novels of philatelic exhibiting, but others have much to offer in the concise, tight development of one-frame exhibits.

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, or by calling 416-979-8874, toll free 1-888-285-4143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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