Whether your interests in philately range from the stamps and postal history of Great Britain or Paraguay, cinderella or meters, airmail or thematics, you will enjoy the formal and informal meetings that are held each Wednesday evening. Guests are welcome to come along too!
The Aims of the Birmingham Philatelic Society
- To unite persons with an interest in stamp collecting and/or postal history.
- To provide philatelists and stamp collectors with the opportunity to exchange material and knowledge.
- To encourage research, display and dissemination of philatelic knowledge and information.
Informal meetings
After the advertised activities, meetings “go informal” and members can buy, sell or exchange stamps, postal history or philatelic material. Informal sessions are ideal for seeking advice or opinions of other members who are only too pleased to offer encouragement to new members.
Informal meetings are also an ideal time to delve into the library to find out about those unusual items that do not appear to be in the catalogues or handbooks.
The Library
One of the most useful assets of the Society is the library which is accommodated in the meeting room. The library is extensive and has been built up gradually over many years.
In addition to including a wide range of catalogues and handbooks of many countries and aspects of collecting there are many bound philatelic magazines, specialist auction catalogues and reference books. Members may borrow books on many aspects of philately.
Because of the extensive range of philatelic literature within the library, considerable time and effort has been spent to catalogue the books and develop a cross reference filing system enabling members to find information and articles relating to their particular interest.
The Archive
The Society has managed to retain some outstanding items related to the founding of the Society in 1884 and over the past 130 years, gathered together letters, postcards, programmes, menu cards from past dinners, congress related material and much more.
Minute books recall many outstanding events from The Philatelic Congress to the Centenary Dinner.
The inaugural meeting of the Society took place on 2nd December, 1884. This day was recorded in the Birmingham Daily Post for Friday December 5th “- on Tuesday a meeting of gentlemen interested in philately – which means the science of postage stamps – was held for the purpose of forming a society for the exchange of postage stamps, etc. Mr. J. Botterley was elected President, Mr. W.E. Jeff vice-president and Mr. C.J. Phillips Hon. Secretary.”
The Birmingham Philatelic Society claims the proud distinction of being the oldest of all Provincial Philatelic organisations, while its Roll has embraced the names of many pioneers who became philatelic giants.