WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
ABOUT US
We are one of the oldest philatelic societies in the country, having been founded in May 1890. But we are not
an old-fashioned society. We value our traditions, but also pride ourselves on being friendly and progressive.
We cater for all collectors from beginners to advanced specialists. Why not come and see for yourself if you
live in or around Leeds.
Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.
Novice collectors do not always realise that
small design diferences can make a considerable
difference in the value of a stamp. The British
Empire Exhibition stamps of 1924 can also be
found with the much scarcer date of '1925'.
|
|
|---|
WE HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS
We meet fortnightly on Tuesday evenings from September through to May. Our meetings are a mixture of
displays by invited speakers showing a variety of country and thematic displays, and members' evenings,
competitions, auctions and visits from other societies in the area. Meetings are held in the Leeds
General Infirmary. The room is open from about 6.45pm for members to meet and exchange stamps, and
the main business starts at 7.15pm.
See
our Programme & Events Page for our current programme of meetings.
Members often partake of the services
on offer at the local hostelries
after Society meetings -
provided they are not driving.
|
|
|---|
THE SOCIETY'S LIBRARY
The Leeds Philatelic Society has one of the best philatelic libraries in the country. With over 4,000 items
ranging from catalogues, journals and hand-books on all subjects from Aero-philately to Zanzibar. You are
bound to find something to help you whether you are a general collector or an advanced specialist. The
Library is housed at the Leeds City Council's Central Reference Library, The Headrow, Leeds, as one of
the Special Collections (telephone the Library on 0113 247 8911 for more information, or contact our
Librarian, Michael Waugh on 0113 256 5255). Access is available during normal Library hours. Only Leeds
Philatelic Society members may take books away on loan, but the books are available for members of the
public to consult within the Reference Library building. A catalogue is in course of preparation.
The world's first illustrated stamp catalogue was
produced in August 1862 by Frederick W Booty of Brighton, England.
Entitled 'The Stamp Collectors Guide', it has 200 facsimile stamps,
drawn and lithographed by Booty in 44 pages. It is an extremely
rare publication selling in auction for around £500.
|
|---|
OUR ANNUAL STAMP FAIR
We sponsor a two-day Annual Stamp Fair
each November at Pudsey Civic Hall. This attracts some 40 dealers from all over the country. In addition
there are specialist society meetings, and sometimes an auction and
an exhibition. The venue is popular with ample free parking and refreshments. Admission
is free and we attract collectors from as far afield as Scotland
and the Midlands. Enquiries from dealers and collectors to our Fair Organiser.
See contacts page
for contact details.
|
Contrary to popular belief the Penny Black
is not a rare stamp. About 70 million were printed.
It is the demand by collectors wishing to own a copy
of the first stamp issued that makes it expensive.
The design was based on the portrait of Queen
Victoria taken from the Wyon Medal (Right).
|
|
|---|
EXCHANGE PACKET
We operate an exchange packet, and members can receive regular packets
of stamps to browse through in the comfort of their own homes. They
select the stamps they want, pay for them, and pass the packet on to the
next member on the list.
Don't expect to find one of these in our packet!
The famous inverted 'Jenny' stamp.
Two colour printing has its hazards, but perhaps
not so hazardous as flying up-side-down in a
plane with an open cockpit!
|
|
|---|
SOCIETY COLLECTIONS
The Society has a good reference collection of forgeries, fakes and
bogus stamps which is displayed regularly, and is available for members
to consult. We also have important collections of Yorkshire and local Leeds postal history
bequeathed to the Society, and an archive of historical material
relating to the Society and the history of philately in and around Leeds.
AFFILIATIONS
We are affiliated to the Association of British Philatelic Societies (ABPS)
and the Yorkshire
Philatelic Association (YPA).
|
First Day Covers are popular
items to collect, and can provide
an interesting and colourful area
of the hobby, but be warned that
they are issued in large numbers
and seldom repay their purchase
price when you wish to sell them.
|
|---|
AND THERE'S MORE ...
The Society publishes a journal, 'The Leeds Philatelist', on an
occasional basis, hosts an Annual Dinner, subscribes to the main
philatelic journals, which are available for members to read at
meetings, sponsors local school stamp clubs, runs an annual
competition, and through membership of the Society and ABPS our members get special
discounts from a number of stamp dealers and accessory suppliers.
