By Edwin G. Kroft, Q.C.
“COVID 19- Coronavirus
All of you have read reports about this virus and its impact around the world. Some of you may be reluctant to attend stamp shows and stamp club events in light of your concerns. I wish safety and good health to all of you wherever you are. The Board of the RPSC has been discussing this topic through emails and will be discussing this topic at our March 30 board teleconference call. We have been reaching out to stamp shows to see about their plans and precautions and hope that you may hear from them further. At this time, the plan of the Fredericton District Stamp Club is to continue on with hosting Royal 2020. Please see details on rpscroyal.com
2019 RPSC Geldert Medal Recipient – Larry Margetish of Victoria
The Geldert Committee of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) may award the Geldert Medal annually for the best article published in The Canadian Philatelist.
I am pleased to advise that the Geldert Committee selected the article “The Story behind Canada’s 12c Parliament Stamp” ( Volume 70, #2, Mar-Apr 2019 )as the 2019 article most worthy of the Geldert Medal. Congratulations to Larry Margetish of Victoria . The Committee praised the article for its polished writing, original and detailed research , its interesting story with appropriate material illustrated on an important definitive Elizabethan stamp and generally its outstanding contribution to the Canadian traditional philatelic literature.
The Geldert Medal was established in 1967 by Phyllis Geldert in memory of her husband Dr. George M. “Mac” Geldert, FRPSC and RPSC president (1958-1967). 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 in1968. Mrs. Geldert died on August 23, 2000.
The members of the Committee consist of me, Kevin O’Reilly FRPSC and George Pepall FRPSC . Long time member Charles Verge stepped down in 2019 and the RPSC thanks him for his service.
The medal will be awarded at the 2020 AGM of the RPSC in Fredericton in June . A press release will also be issued regarding the achievement.
RPSC Board Activities
Our next meeting of the Board will be held on March 30, 2020 by teleconference . The Board and other dedicated volunteers discussed a variety of topics dealing with the operation of the RPSC. Once approved, minutes of Board meetings are posted on the RPSC website. http://www.rpsc.org. There will also be a Board meeting held in June 2020. The RPSC is in need of filling its Treasurer position once the very capable Stuart Keeley steps down in early 2021. Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering or know of any others who could capably do so.
RPSC Strategic Plan and Application for Charitable Status
The Board continues to discuss the implementation of the strategic plan as the Canada Revenue Agency continues to consider the application of the RPSC for charitable status under the Canadian Income Tax Act.
Royal 2020 Royale -June 19 – 21, 2020–Fredericton, New Brunswick
Make your reservations now before the space disappears!
Fredericton Inn
1315, rue Regent St.
Fredericton, NB
For information please contact Rob Lunn (506) 460-2159
I am advised by Rob Lunn, chair of the show, that planning for the show is going very well. All dealer tables are spoken for, some great offers of sponsorship have been made and the exhibit applications have been coming in steadily .
RPSC Volunteer Recognition Programme- Keep the nominations coming!
Last year the RPSC recognized 22 individuals from across Canada and their contributions to our hobby. We have received some nominations but we are looking for more! Please provide us with your nominations so we can increase the number of recognized volunteers at the June 2020 AGM in Fredericton.
The Future of Philately- Robert Zeigler-President of the American Philatelic Society
The February 2020 issue of the American Philatelist contains a very thoughtful piece about the “pluses and minuses concerning the future of philately”. The article makes observations about the composition of collectors and the increasing diversity in the hobby. The article also comments that the future of stamp collecting and postal history is bright because of computer technology and the potential of our hobby to welcome different people.
Members of the RPSC Seem to be Everywhere
I enjoy running into and chatting with stamp collectors wherever I am . In early February I was judging at the Sarasota national stamp exhibition ( an excellent show)and was pleased to see Roy Houtby , the dealer from St Catherines and other RPSC collectors and exhibitors such as Bob Carswell, Jack Forbes, Robin Moore and Stuart Reddington. Later in February I was at the Toronto Postcard show (an excellent show) and ran into at least 40 fellow stamp collectors and members of the RPSC. The same day, miles away in downtown Toronto, I saw other RPSC members at St Lawrence Market looking for ephemera and philatelic treasures.
Orapex 2020 May 2-3 2020
ORAPEX is the Ottawa RA Centre Philatelic Exhibition. 2020 will mark the 59th edition of this show, which is managed by volunteers drawn from the RA Stamp Club, the Amicale des philatélistes de l’Outaouais, the Ottawa Philatelic Society and related philatelic societies and organizations. ORAPEX is one of only a few national-level stamp shows held annually in Canada and is part of the American Philatelic Society’s “World Series of Philately.”
RA Centre
2451 Riverside Dr.
Ottawa, Ontario
Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-4
Free admission and parking.
Each year, ORAPEX has a theme. For the 2020 show, the theme will be Topicals, Thematics and illustrated Mail.
ORAPEX boasts about 40 stamp dealers in its bourse and runs an impressive series of society meetings, seminars and study groups. Bring your children to the Youth Booth to get them started on collecting! The show’s awards reception is a highlight of the weekend and a great chance for everyone to socialize after the exhibits have been judged. (Awards Reception tickets will be available at the Welcome Booth at the show.)
Canpex 2020-October 31-November 1, 2020
CANPEX is the acronym for CAnadian National Philatelic EXhibition, the first of which was in 2016. It is hosted by the Middlesex Stamp Club and is managed by volunteers from various stamp clubs in Southern Ontario and related philatelic organizations and societies. CANPEX is one of a few National Level exhibitions and stamp marketplaces held annually in Canada. It is sanctioned by the RPSC and is part of the American Philatelic Society “World Series of Philately”.
Each year CANPEX recognizes a significant event or milestone in the history of the area. London has a proud sports history. The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes Labatt Park in London as the “oldest continually operating baseball grounds in the world”, with a history dating back to 1877. Other sports teams have achieved their place in history, from the London Tecumsehs baseball club to the London Knights hockey. The Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (WOSSA) celebrates it’s 100th anniversary in 2020.
October 31 – November 1, 2020
The Hellenic Community Centre
133 Southdale Rd. West
London, Ontario
Saturday 10-5, Sunday 10-4
Free Admission, free parking, lunch counter.
Major Richard K. Malott, CD, FRPSL, FRPSC, FCAS, OTB (1927-2020)
Charles Verge provided me with the following with respect to Dick.
Many of you will have known Dick Malott Canada’s foremost Canadian aerophilatelist. He made his career in the Canadian Air Force and, upon retirement, worked for the Canadian War Museum where he was instrumental in collecting and documenting Canada’s Victoria Cross medals.
Malott in 1983
Dick began collecting and researching Canadian air mails in the 1950s and was able to interview several of the pilots who had made the pioneer flights. He developed outstanding collections of “Canadian Pioneer and Semi-Official Air Mail Flown Covers“, and of “Canadian Interrupted Covers“, which won 12 large and five gold medals at FIP shows, and many Canadian and American Air Mail Society awards.
Dick was very involved in organized philately. As well as serving as a Canadian Commissioner or judge at over 20 FIP international stamp shows, he was a former Director and Executive Director of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada; a Past President of the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society; and the former Canadian Delegate to the F.I.P. Commission for Astrophilately. He remained active in philately until very recently: he was a judge at ORAPEX in Ottawa in 2018, and on the organizing committee of ORAPEX in 2019. Dick was also the Editor-in-Chief for the First Edition of The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland – part of the 6th edition of The American Air Mail Catalogue.
Dick was elected a member of the Aerophilatelic Hall of Fame in 1996. Among his other philatelic awards, he was a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (1986) and a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of London (2005). In 2006, he received the British North America Philatelic Society Life Time Achievement Award. He was presented with a F.I.S.A. Gold Pin “for his service and devotion to Aero- and Astrophilately” in 2009.
A detailed philatelic biography of Dick has been posted on The Canadian Aerophilatelic Society’s website at www.aerophilately.ca
The Postal History Society of Canada (PHSC)
The PHSC is an affiliate of the RPSC. It is devoted to the study of the postal history of Canada and the early North American colonies. Originally founded in 1972 as the Postal History Society of Ontario, our name was changed in June 1977, reflecting the expanded nature and scope of the Society. It is a non-profit society whose members are students of postal history at all levels of experience, and it promotes communication and the dissemination of information among members. At present, there are about 410 members in Canada, the United States and throughout the world. More than 300 members are registered at this site and many use it regularly. Watch for details about its annual symposium to be held in July .
London 2020 FIP Specialized World Stamp Championship Exhibition
Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington. London N1 0OH, UNITED KINGDOM– May 2 to May 9, 2020
London 2020 is a FIP Specialized World Stamp Championship Exhibition with competitive classes in Championship, Traditional, Postal History, Thematic, Revenue, Postal Stationery, Aerophilately, Open, Picture Postcards, One Frame, Modern, Literature and Youth. The exhibition will run from May 2 to May 9, 2020 with a full change of exhibits during the evening of May 5th allowing a total of 3400 frames to be exhibited. I am proud to serve as Canadian Commissioner and to advise that 22 Competitive Exhibits and 14 Literature exhibits of Canadian exhibitors were accepted .
Garfield Portch -Introduction to Forensic Philately
A 2-Day Course Presented by Garfield Portch For the American Philatelic Society
Monday, June 22 – Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Garfield Portch is the Chairman of the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation and serves as the forensic examiner on the VGG Expert Committee.
He has been an active philatelist for 50+ years and is a member of several societies including: The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (Fellow); British North America Philatelic Society (Emeritus); Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain; American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors; Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada and the West Toronto Stamp Club.
Garfield is an accomplished philatelic exhibitor, has earned Gold medals for various exhibits of the Small Queens of Canada (1870 to 1897) and for postal history in Toronto between 1793 and 1901. He has also been heavily involved in the management of several stamp shows, including STAMPEX 2003, 2004, 2005; Ameristamp Expo 2006; ROYAL * 2007* ROYALE and, most recently ROYAL * 2019 * ROYALE.
CAPEX 2022
Canada will host a four-day international exhibition – Capex 22 – in the Greater Toronto Area in June 2022. The specific location and dates are to be decided; however, what’s certain is Capex 22 will be a two-class exhibition with 400 single-frame exhibits plus a philatelic literature class. The exhibition is being organized by the Canadian Association of Philatelic Exhibitions and hosted by the RPSC under the patronage of FIAF.
Please Volunteer and Help the RPSC
In every issue, I make the same plea. We all love our hobby and dedicate as much time as we can to it in many ways. I am asking you those of you who are unaffiliated with a local club to join a club and the RPSC . To RPSC members, I appeal for your help in any way you can. Without volunteers your Society and the hobby cannot prosper .
Best Regards
Ed
Edwin G. Kroft, Q.C.