December 19, 2003
PHILATELIC WRITING TEAM WINS THE GELDERT MEDAL

Harry Sutherland, QC, RDP, chairman of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada committee for the Geldert Medal has announced that the writing team of Ken Kershaw and Roger Boisclair has been awarded the Geldert Medal for 2004. The Geldert Medal is given annually for the best article published in The Canadian Philatelist, journal of the Society, the previous year.

Kershaw and Boisclair earned the medal for their exceptionally detailed article on Canada Scott No. 85-86, the Canadian Christmas Map Stamp of 1898, the Imperial Penny Postage Issue.

“The 1898 Christmas Map Stamp: The Extent and Sequence of Re-entries to Plate 5" (September-October 2003 issue) is presented with excellent documented research. It overviews the background and established facts from earlier research and illustrates how the current study verifies “the existence of two states on Plate 5.” Of much interest is the use the authors made of a computer microscope called QX-3 Intel Play which was developed by Intel as a children’s toy. Many illustrations and cross-references support the Kershaw and Boisclair study.

The Geldert Medal was established by Phyllis Geldert in memory of her husband Dr. George M. “Mac” Geldert, a long-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 as a Fellow (FRPSC) of The Royal in 1968. Mrs. Geldert died on August 23, 2000.

The Geldert Medal is a significant reward for outstanding writing and research in the society’s journal. Harry Sutherland praised the work of Ken Kershaw and Roger Boisclair for “combining good research with lucid analytical writing.” Charles J.G. Verge, President of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada said “this kind of high quality writing is what has given our Society’s journal an appealing perspective for all philatelists.”

Verge is encouraged that The Canadian Philatelist is “enjoying good competition among its writers” for the medal. This year’s runner up was a close second to the winners.

The Geldert Medal selection committee is made up of Harry Sutherland, James E. Kraemer and Cimon Morin.

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