Traditional Philately

This is the basis of all philately and what we all generally mean by stamp collection as a hobby. All stamps relating to a particular country or a region or a postal administration issued, say, over a particular period or certain philatelic items issued during that period come under this category.

Postage stamps, miniature sheets, FDCs, varieties in cancellations and postmarks, postal stationery of various types and other philatelic products, all are included in this category, but presented historically.

Archival items such as artist’s drawings, essays, proofs, printer’s specimens and other rare items, can also form a part of this category. Some stamps are of immense value. The world’s most valuable stamp is the famous British Guiana one-cent magenta stamp with Demerara postmark dated 4-4-1856 as there is only one copy available of this stamp. It sold for $ 935, 000 at a New York auction in 1980.

Philately- Its Classes of Collections

We shall now go over to the growing classes of philately. Under article 5 of the GREX Regulations, the FIP approved competitive classes (for FIP exhibitions) are ten in number:

Traditional Philately, Postal History, Postal Stationery, Aerophilately, Thematic Philately, Maximaphily, Philatelic Literature, Youth Philately, Revenue and Astrophilately

Any other exhibit of special philatelic interest can also be included and this can constitute, what one might call, a 11th class or a class on its own.

The SREV provides regulations for the evaluation of exhibits of each approved class and provides for constituting a special jury for the 11th class. The non-competitive or invitee classes include the Court of Honour or exhibits of exceptional significance, the Official Class (exhibits from postal authorities, postal museums, postage stamp printers and postage stamp designers and engravers), the Jury Class and other non-competitive classes consisting of exhibits of special interest.

Philately- Its Educational Value

As a primer on philately, I shall first analyse the various classes of collections that philatelists internationally recognize, and subsequently, highlight the inestimable educational value of philately a hobby among children and the youth.

Fortunately, in comparison to many other hobbies and pursuits, philately is internationally well organized. The International Federation of Philately (the FIP), which was set up in 1926 at Zurich, aims to promote philately and philatelic exhibitions, friendly relations amongst peoples and also between philately traders and postal administrations. It is recognized by the Universal Postal Union as the official representative of philately. It’s regulations adopted since the Finlandia – ’88 exhibition provides a uniform basis for collecting, exhibiting and evaluating philatelic exhibits, and are contained in three documents:

* GREX or the General Regulations of FIP for Exhibitions,
* GREV or the General Regulations of the FIP for the evaluations of exhibits under the competition –class and the
* SREV or the Special Regulations of the FIP for the evaluations of competitive exhibits.
These rules are for conducting exhibitions held under the auspices of FIP at the international level, but other national level exhibitions endeavour to follow FIP regulations to the maximum extent possible for the sake of uniformity. The FIP also started an FIP – internet Competition in 1999 to adjudge the best website put up on philately.

The Universal Postal Union developed a ‘Philatelic Code of Ethics’ in its Beijing Congress of August, 1999 (Recommendation C70) which gives details for issuing policies and other matters related to philately, to be followed by the postal administrations of the member nations of the UPU. This code is being implemented by the World Association for the Development of Philately (WADP) – an independent body that works under the aegis of the UPU and its member postal administrations.

The WADP coordinates between the UPU and the four major philatelic associations of the world – one for Europe (Federation of European Philatelic and Associations), one for the Americas (Federation of Inter-American Federations) and one for Asia (Federation of Inter-Asian philately or FIAP) and the FIP.

Since dealers are an integral part of the philatelic industry, the constituent members of the WADP are the FIP, the International Federation of Stamp Dealers Associations (IFSD), the International Association of Philatelic Journalists (AIJP) and the International Publishers of Postage Stamp Catalogues, Stamp Albums and Philatelic Publications Association (ASCAT).

The Philatelic Congress of India (PCI) is the Indian body affiliated to FIP and FIAP.