FIPSG Archived News

DIRECTIONS TO STOCKLAND

This is an ancient village nestling in the Blackdown Hills between the Yarty and Corry rivers - now in Devon it was part of Dorset until 1844.

Best approached from the A303/ A30 or A35
1.Coming from Taunton on the M5 turn off at J25 and turn SE on the A358 toward Ilminster for about 9 miles until you find the roundabout with the A303 - turn westwards on A303 following signs for Exeter and Honiton
- after about 10 miles and just past the junction with the A30 turn left just past the Otter Vale garage marked Axminster and Stock land -
- follow this section of the 7 mile straight for about 4 miles and turn left at the first crossroads on the bend marked Stockland -
- follow for about 2 miles and the Village Hall is through the village on the left but before the school!
2. From A 30 turn left about 1 mile outside Chard - a pretty but direct route -watch the potholes! OR follow until the A303 and follow as above !
3. From A35 - about 4 miles from Axminster turn right at Shute Garage now known as Devon Trade Centre, and follow signs for Stockland which will take you up the hill and past the TV mast - turn right at the crossroads before the long straight.
4.Coming from the West - follow the A30 from Exeter and Honiton and after @ 6 miles turn right just before the Otter Vale Garage then as for 1.
There are lots of more adventurous routes on the plethora of narrow lanes around but those above are the easiest.

March Upland Goose 
 

Stefan Heijtz 17th Postal Auction 27th April 2011 (8pm UK time)

 

Album Pages for your Falklands Collection
Stefan Heijtz reports:

Web based album pages going up to 1960 (including Dependencies), produced by
Peter Paul Hek in Holland, are available to download free of charge from his
website. These are based entirely on the SH catalogue and include catalogue
numbers and full descriptions as well as colour illustrations of the stamps,
and are in PDF format, for A4 size pages.

There are three sets:

http://www.eperforationgauge.com/page/falkland_islands/falkland_a4_r.pdf
http://www.eperforationgauge.com/page/falkland_islands/falkland_a4_s.pdf
http://www.eperforationgauge.com/page/falkland_islands/falkland_a4_c.pdf

The _r document is for a regular collection with only the main numbers.
The _s document is for a specialised collection with shades and printings.
The _c document is for a complete collection including wmk-, v-, t-,
sp-numbers etc.

Make sure to switch off any scaling and/or fitting when you print from Adobe
Reader, otherwise the frame sizes are smaller than they should be.

The other nice album pages are from Britannia Albums
http://www.britanniaalbums.com  and they are very good value for money.
There one can order by area (FI, FID, BAT etc) and period (pre 2000, post
2000 etc). The Britannia pages are based on the Scott catalogue so therefore
I have produced the earlier period (up to and including the 1938-50 issue)
based on my catalogue, with all printings and shades etc, but without any
other varieties. Anybody wanting these can just contact me and I will e-mail
PDFs of these pages.

FIPSG Auction 2011 Unsold Lots Available plus Prices Realised Below is the list of unsold lots, plus full details of the prices realised in the auction. For unsold lots, please contact the Auction Manager, details of whom are in your auction catalogue. FIPSG AUCTION MARCH 2011 - UNSOLD LOTS
LOT	AVAILABLE AT		LOT	AVAILABLE AT
12	10		208	40
32	8		222	10
33	8		230	130
34	8		238	15
41	150		239	15
44	25		266	10
64	100		268	6
65	7		269	6
88	40		270	6
92	3		277	10
93	3		278	40
95	5		279	8
96	3		288	7
103	3		295	36
113	15		298	6
141	10		299	75
145	50		305	4
163	20		307	4
175	15		311	30
179	250		315	10
191	25		317	6
192	10		321	40
201	10		326	18
207	20

FIPSG AUCTION MARCH 2011 PRICES REALISED
LOT NO.	SOLD	LOT NO.	SOLD	LOT NO.	SOLD	LOT NO.	SOLD	LOT NO.	SOLD	LOT NO.	SOLD	LOT NO.	SOLD
1	18	51	16	101	3	151	85	201	U	251	17	301	28
2	12	52	46	102	3	152	26	202	130	252	22	302	55
3	24	53	120	103	U	153	110	203	80	253	12	303	5
4	44	54	65	104	15	154	32	204	130	254	10	304	13
5	10	55	40	105	10	155	8	205	95	255	36	305	U
6	12	56	70	106	20	156	140	206	95	256	280	306	8
7	15	57	130	107	140	157	60	207	U	257	NL	307	U
8	55	58	75	108	220	158	19	208	U	258	NL	308	16
9	55	59	95	109	120	159	16	209	30	259	NL	309	30
10	12	60	150	110	220	160	34	210	26	260	NL	310	65
11	28	61	14	111	80	161	70	211	42	261	10	311	U
12	U	62	20	112	90	162	12	212	13	262	28	312	55
13	28	63	160	113	U	163	U	213	14	263	8	313	13
14	55	64	U	114	26	164	22	214	13	264	12	314	8
15	24	65	U	115	7	165	42	215	10	265	11	315	U
16	44	66	65	116	10	166	8	216	20	266	U	316	36
17	19	67	100	117	17	167	17	217	22	267	8	317	U
18	380	68	16	118	12	168	44	218	19	268	U	318	10
19	130	69	40	119	7	169	17	219	15	269	U	319	70
20	180	70	24	120	10	170	30	220	28	270	U	320	28
21	32	71	90	121	8	171	40	221	5	271	60	321	U
22	50	72	120	122	38	172	13	222	U	272	48	322	20
23	650	73	42	123	3	173	34	223	9	273	70	323	10
24	50	74	20	124	6	174	28	224	9	274	100	324	36
25	120	75	24	125	9	175	U	225	18	275	50	325	15
26	28	76	60	126	16	176	12	226	120	276	16	326	U
27	40	77	240	127	32	177	2500	227	8	277	U	327	26
28	17	78	26	128	15	178	55	228	19	278	U
29	7	79	70	129	200	179	U	229	24	279	U
30	7	80	36	130	32	180	820	230	U	280	12
31	7	81	26	131	120	181	19	231	12	281	12
32	U	82	3	132	44	182	120	232	16	282	65
33	U	83	5	133	50	183	20	233	95	283	42
34	U	84	6	134	120	184	26	234	28	284	85
35	7	85	180	135	26	185	240	235	20	285	11
36	48	86	140	136	36	186	150	236	24	286	12
37	150	87	26	137	32	187	13	237	8	287	13
38	160	88	U	138	38	188	24	238	U	288	U
39	60	89	17	139	46	189	80	239	U	289	20
40	24	90	32	140	26	190	34	240	16	290	10
41	U	91	17	141	U	191	U	241	16	291	22
42	110	92	U	142	50	192	U	242	16	292	34
43	80	93	U	143	46	193	24	243	16	293	15
44	U	94	3	144	70	194	16	244	16	294	17
45	18	95	U	145	U	195	75	245	20	295	U
46	26	96	U	146	42	196	26	246	38	296	60
47	16	97	5	147	38	197	80	247	6	297	60
48	120	98	8	148	65	198	13	248	6	298	U
49	16	99	3	149	60	199	16	249	11	299	U
50	80	100	3	150	10	200	30	250	13	300	8

Study Group Weekend Success
With over 50 attendees, the Study Group weekend was an unqualified success with a wide variety of displays, an exciting auction and plenty of buying and selling going on! Most of all it was great to see so many old and new friends over the weekend. A full report will follow soon.

Revised Issue Dates
The confirmed release date for the RAF Search & Rescue issue is 9th March 2011 and for Stacks & Bluffs Part 3 is 11 April 2011.

Scottish Congress FIPSG Stand
To confirm the timings for this, it is 10am - 4pm on Saturday 16th April, not as reported in the March UG.

New Issue - Falkland Islands - Stacks and Bluffs - Part 3

The Falklands' coastline is enriched by a series of magnificent bluffs and numerous offshore islands and stacks. The stamps in this series illustrate both some of the best-known and other more obscure examples of these features. Many are seldom seen other than from the air and can only be visited by way of a long and arduous boat ride. Their very remoteness has meant that, in certain cases, they have remained almost untouched by man and free of introduced species. Such islands have retained the qualities of true wilderness remaining, as they have, virtually unchanged for thousands of years.

3p - Bird Island 52°10'S 60°55' W 125 metres

Bird Island lies some 4.5 kilometres to the south-west of Stephen's Peak, West Falkland.
It rises dramatically to 125 metres at its highest point and is, for the most part, covered with a dense growth of tussac grass. As it name implies it hosts a considerable number of birds and notable among these are Black-browed Albatross and Rockhopper Penguins. During the mid 19th century these latter attracted the attention of penguin oilers who killed and rendered birds down to obtain the valuable oil. Each rockhopper potentially yielded a pint of oil and the colonies on Bird Island and elsewhere were quickly, though only temporarily, decimated. A century ago, albatross eggs were eagerly sought for food. Large numbers were taken early during the month of October and shipped to Stanley. But, exposed as it is to strong tides and open ocean, Bird Island was not always an easy place to visit and over time the populations remained remarkably resilient. Today, as in the past, the island is seldom visited. It has never been stocked and remains vermin free. As a result the avian population is rich and includes several smaller species such as diving petrels, storm petrels and prions as well as wrens, finches and tussac birds. A large breeding colony of Falkland Fur Seal is also present.

120 Hectares Nature Reserve owned by the Falkland Islands Government.

27p - Eddystone Rock 51°11'S 59°03'W

The distinctive feature of the Eddystone Rock was first described by the Elizabethan explorer Sir Richard Hawkins onboard the Daintee in early February 1594. "At first wee had thought (it) to be a shippe under all her sayles; but after, as we came neere, it discovered itself to be a rocke".
A further description of the sighting is extracted from his book Purchas his Pilgrims which was published in 1622. "Some three leagues from the shoare, lyeth a bigge Rocke, which we called Conduit head; for that howsoever a man commeth with it, it is like to the Conduit-heads about the Citie of London".
In January1765, it was sighted and re-anointed by Commodore "Foulweather Jack" Byron. "We saw a rock (which) I called Edistone and then steered between it and a remarkable head-land which I called
Cape Dolphin". Byron's French contemporary Louis de Bougainville referred to it as "Le Tour de Bussy".
This isolated stack is situated some 6.5 kilometres to the north-west of Cape Dolphin and rises to a height of 44 metres. It is formed of layers of sedimentary rock. The lower and less steep "steps" provide a hauling-out spot for a resident group of Falkland Fur Seal while the higher ledges offer ideal nesting sites for hundreds of Rock Shags, whose white guano daubs the stacks' sheer flanks.

Area less than 1 hectare Owned by the Falkland Islands Government.

70p - Round Island and Sail Rock 51°35'S 60°43'W

Sail Rock, which rises to about 8 metres above sea level, lies between Round Island and Second Passage Island on the western side of Whale Passage. From a distance, the rock's silhouette resembles that of a single-masted sailboat and from thus was the name derived.

Area less than 1 hectare Owned by the Falkland Islands Government.

£1.71 - Direction Island 51°53'S 58°21'W

Direction Island is another of the Falklands' well-known, if less distinctive, nautical landmarks. It is situated along the low-lying and treacherous coast of East Falkland, about 1.5 kilometres to the south of Bertha's Beach, East Falkland and rises to a height of about 5 metres above sea level. The island has a largely rugged and rocky coastline and is surrounded by a thick band of kelp. It is mostly clad with tussac grass. Being free of introduced rodents it has a good and varied population of birds including burrowing petrels. There is also a small breeding group of Southern Sealions. The derivation of the name "Direction Island" is unclear but is thought to date back to a time when the islet was used as a place where seafarers could check the alignment of their compasses.

Area less than 1 hectare Privately owned by Mrs. Joan Spruce

Notes compiled by Tony Chater

Technical details:
Artist Tony Chater
Printer Cartor Security Printing
Process Lithography
Perforation 13.25 x 13 per 2cms
Stamp size 30.6 x 38mm
Sheet Layout 50 (2 x 25)
Release date 4 March 2011
Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd

New Issue - South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands - Sir Alister Hardy

In March 2011 a Continuous Plankton Recorded returns to South Georgia and will be towed, for the first time, by the South Georgia Fishery Patrol Vessel Pharos SG which will also carry this set of stamps commemorating the creator of the CPR to South Georgia. It is intended that the CPR will collect data every other month on the Pharos SG's regular route between the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

Sir Alister Clavering Hardy (1896-1985), born in Nottingham on the 10th February, was an eminent marine biologist famous for his work on plankton and fisheries, but also an accomplished artist, inventor and writer of popular science.

Alister Hardy was educated at Oundle School and Exeter College, Oxford where he initially studied botany. The First World War interrupted his studies and Hardy took up a commission with the Northern Cycling Battalion, patrolling the coastal defences of Lincolnshire. He later transferred to the Royal Engineers as a camouflage officer, which included a period as a flying observer. After the war he returned to Oxford to study zoology, during which time he met his future wife Sylvia Garstang.

After graduating in 1920, he worked briefly at the Marine Laboratory in Plymouth before taking up a scholarship to work at the Stazione Zoologica in Naples in 1921. In August 1921 Hardy was appointed as an Assistant Naturalist at the newly established Fisheries Laboratory in Lowestoft, where he worked on the feeding strategy of North Sea herring (70p stamp) and developed a simple "plankton indicator" that enabled fishermen to detect plankton and improve their catches.

In April 1924 Hardy was appointed Chief Zoologist to the Discovery Investigations, which were established to assess the status and natural history of whale stocks in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. The expedition utilized Captain Scott's first Antarctic vessel, RRS Discovery, which was refitted for scientific work (£1.15p stamp). The refit took longer than expected and Hardy used the time to help design the shore laboratory on South Georgia (Discovery House) that is still standing today. RRS Discovery eventually sailed from Dartmouth on 24th September 1925, arriving in Cumberland Bay on 20th February 1926.

For six weeks the vessel undertook scientific stations around South Georgia, collecting oceanographic data and sampling Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba; the main food of the whales and illustrated top left on the FDC) and other zooplankton. The work was conducted in sea conditions that were often extreme, making sampling arduous and dangerous. After a busy season RRS Discovery returned to Cape Town for the austral winter, returning in October 1926, when she was joined by another vessel, RRS William Scoresby. The two vessels were tasked with undertaking a survey of the whaling grounds off South Georgia and Hardy transferred to the William Scoresby, where he was the scientist in charge.

Following the successful survey of the whaling grounds, Hardy rejoined Discovery and sailed south for the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands. Here, in addition to midwater nets, they dredged the seafloor to investigate the diverse benthic (bottom) fauna of the Southern Ocean. The vessel continued south, along the Antarctic Peninsula, before returning across the Drake Passage to Cape Horn and north to Britain. Although Hardy took up an academic post in Britain, the Discovery Investigations continued on RRS Discovery II, resulting in 37 volumes of scientific reports as well as Hardy's own popular account Great Waters, which was published in 1963.

Recognising the need to sample plankton over large spatial and temporal scales, Hardy designed and built a device called the Continuous Plankton Recorder or CPR (60p stamp), which he first trialled (CPR Mk I) on RRS Discovery in the Southern Ocean. The CPR collects plankton samples and stores them on a moving band of silk, preserving them in formalin. Later, when based at University College Hull, Hardy designed a MK II version, which was considerably smaller in size and could be towed behind merchant ships, enabling information to be collected on plankton distribution from shipping routes throughout the world. The CPR continues to be used worldwide, with only minor modifications from Hardy's original design.
 
In March 2011 a CPR returns to South Georgia and will be towed, for the first time, by the South Georgia Fishery Patrol Vessel Pharos SG. It is intended that the CPR will collect data every other month on the Pharos SG's regular route between the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

As well as being a dedicated and talented scientist, Hardy was an excellent communicator and in addition to Great Waters was the author of the two volumes of The Open Sea in the New Naturalist Series. Throughout his life Hardy was also a prolific and gifted water-colourist, whose pictures gave a powerful dimension to his books. "A busy day at the whaling station at Grytviken" (95p stamp) was painted, on February 21st 1926, from the deck of RRS Discovery near the jetty at Grytviken and shows the carcasses of whales awaiting flensing and the discoloured water from the blood of the whales.

In 1928, having returned from the Southern Ocean, Hardy was appointed as the first Professor of Zoology at the University of Hull, where besides a full teaching programme he continued work on the plankton indicator, developed CPR MK II, and worked on his Discovery Reports. In 1940 Hardy was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and in 1942 accepted the Regius Chair of Natural History in Aberdeen.

In 1946 Hardy was appointed Linacre Professor of Zoology in Oxford. After a period of stagnation during the war, he brought new life to his old department with an emphasis on whole-animal biology, and soon it was a thriving centre for research in ecology, animal behaviour and genetics. Hardy was knighted in 1957 and retired in 1961.

Throughout his life, while not conventionally religious, he was convinced of the importance of man's spiritual nature. While a student he made a vow that, should he survive the war, he would devote his life to attempting reconciliation between religion and evolutionary biology. This was put on hold during his scientific career, but soon after retiring from the Oxford chair he founded the Religious Experience Research Unit (now named after him), and devoted the rest of his long life to this project. In the year he died he was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize for his work in this field.

The Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) continues Hardy's pioneering research into plankton distribution and abundance. SAHFOS was established as a charitable foundation in 1990 and continues to operate the CPR throughout the world's oceans.

Text by Dr Martin Collins

Technical Details
Designer Andrew Robinson
Printer Cartor Security Printing
Process Lithography
Stamp size 28 x 42mm
Sheet layout 50 (2 x 25)
Perforation Gauge 13.5 x 13 per 2cm
Release date 15 March 2011
Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd

New Issue Falkland Islands - 70th Anniversary of the RAF Search and Rescue

6th February 2011 marks the 70th Anniversary of the formation of what is now the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Force.

During the early stages of the Battle of Britain 220 aircrew were killed or went missing over the English Channel and it was soon realised that the RAF could not afford to lose pilots who ditched to the sea. As a result, acting on the instructions from Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, the Directorate of Air Sea Rescue (ASR) was formed and took up its duties on 6th February 1941. Prior to this rescues were ad hoc affairs involving a search by operational aircraft from the crews own unit who then attempted to divert any surface craft in the vicinity to the aircrew in distress.

The flights also operate internationally in Cyprus (84 Squadron) and the Falkland Islands (1564 Flight). These teams, like their colleagues in the UK, can respond to man-made crises and natural disasters all over the world at any time of day or night. The RAF SAR's involvement with the Falklands began in 1982 when a RAF Sea King Helicopter from 202 squadron was deployed to Ascension Island. Although the crew did take the opportunity to medevac a casualty from the submarine HMS Spartan, their role was mainly one of support for the Task Force that was assembling at Ascension.

After the conflict the decision to hold a deterrent force in the South Atlantic led to 3 Sea King Mk 3's from C Flight 202 Squadron being deployed to the Falklands to provide SAR support. Painted grey these craft were nicknamed the "Grey Whales". Initially based on SS Rangatira and then at Stanley Airfield, Flight 1564 as they were now known then moved to Navy Point in 1983.

Although many notable rescues were successfully completed in those early years, including the rescue of an ejected Harrier Pilot, the Flights secondary role of troop and load carrying occupied most of its resources for some considerable time. In 1999 it was decided that the Sea Kings no longer needed to be painted grey and on rotations the Grey Whales were gradually replaced with the more familiar yellow aircraft.

Today the RAF Search and Rescue Force is as active as ever. Currently 1564 Flight comprises two Sea King Mk 3s based at Mount Pleasant Airfield (MPA). Their primary role is to provide cover for the Eurofighters, also based at MPA. However with such an excellent safety record this takes up very little of their time and so much of their time is taken up with the traditional tasking role of supplying the more remote communications stations around the western isles.

Their secondary role is similar to that in the UK, supplying search and rescue for any other military units and civilians
on the islands. Their range of 250 miles from coast is limited by fuel. In the summer months there are pleasure craft and cruise liners that may need assistance. In the more severe winters seas can become extremely hazardous with 40-50ft swells, wind speeds in excess of 60 knots and sea temperatures of perhaps 3 degrees making it one of the most hazardous areas that SAR operate in. During these months SAR assist with all manner of trauma injuries to fishermen and also compassionate evacuations from ships and the oil rig.

Fortunately emergencies are not commonplace and for much of the time the SAR Force in the Falklands is able to support the Stanley community and more outlying areas with any accidents that may require assistance as well as involving themselves with the local community.

Values are 27p, 70p, 95p and £1.15p

We acknowledge with thanks the assistance of Flight Sergeant Andy Carnall, SAR Force HQ

Technical details:

Photography: Senior Aircraftsman Faye Storer and Dek Traylor
Image Exploitation Section, RAF SAR Force HQ at RAF Valley
Layout: Bee Design & Art
Printer: Cartor Security Printing
Process: Lithography
Perforation: 13.25 per 2cms
Stamp size: 31.5 x 48mm
Layout: 50 (2 x 25)
Release date: 16 February 2011

The Falkland Islands National Stamp Collection Comes Home

Below we show the Penguin News article on the presentation of the Falkland Islands National Stamp Collection to the Museum, together with a colour photograph of Tim Blake receiving the collection from Sukey Cameron.

Sukey Cameron presenting the album to Tim Blake

Stefan Heijtz and Hugh Osborne with Dr Philip Kinns

Happy Christmas to all Study Group Members

A very Happy Christmas and Collecting New Year to all members of the Study Group from the committee of FIPSG. 

Clive Perkins and Malcolm Barton discuss a sheet

Robin Sherman receives the Edgar Stern award

Grosvenor Auction - Falkland Islands and Antarctica

The next Grosvenor auction contains 243 lots of Falkland Islands and Antarctica material, including items from the collection of well known Falklands based collector Nap Bound.

The auction is on Thursday 9th December, at the end of the session starting at 11am (ie the Falklands section lots 297-540 will be after 12 noon, but please check for precise timings).

Viewing is on:
Monday 6th December 9.30 am to 5 pm
Tuesday 7th December 9.30 am to 5 pm
Wednesday 8th December 9.30 am to 4 pm

We hope this early information helps all our Study Group members with travel arrangements.

Handover of the Complete Falkland Islands National Collection

Study Group members should be proud that the handover has taken place on Thursday 4th November at Falkland House, of the reference collection of Falkland Islands stamps.

Stefan Heijtz introduced the concept of the National Collection saying, "During my stay in the Falklands in 2009-2010, I found out that Nutt Cartmell's stamp collection, which was bought by the Museum and National Trust in Stanley in 1995, does not contain a basic Falklands stamp collection, which we had all thought. As a matter of fact, all that was bought was a large number of duplicates and complete sheets from the 1960's and 70's, most of which have been sold since they were of no interest to the Museum.

"When I learnt about this, I was of course very disappointed, since I had believed that there was a good basic stamp collection in the Museum, which could be used for illustration purposes in connection with temporary displays, and for educational reasons. I therefore asked if the Museum would be interested in buying a relatively complete collection, if one could be found for them. The answer to this was that there were no funds available for purchasing a collection like that.

"Because of this situation, I offered to put together a collection, which would be donated to the Museum. A nice album with a good selection of stamps was bought, and after I had added most of the issues between 1878 and 1960, a number of FIPSG (Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group) members got involved and filled most of the remaining gaps. Finally Stanley Gibbons Ltd stepped in and added the last two stamps missing to make the collection 100% complete. Every individual contributor is listed on the page of contributors.

"The Falkland Islands National Stamp Collection has been created in the spirit and honour of Nutt Cartmell, probably the most well known local Falklands stamp collector in modern times. I knew Nutt very well personally and I am convinced that he would have approved of this project, and if he had still been alive, he would have contributed generously.

"Therefore it is my honour and pleasure to hand over this collection to the Falkland Islands Museum. I am sure it will be treasured and admired by generations to come, both locals and visitors, since the stamps show so much of the history, culture, nature, everyday life and development of a country.

"A big thank you to all contributors; without you this would not have been possible!".

Stefan then handed the collection to the Falkland Islands Government representative in the UK, Sukey Cameron.

Stefan hands over the National Collection to Sukey Cameron

Sukey read a statement on behalf of Leona Roberts, Falkland Islands Museum Manager, who said "In early March, Stefan offered to try to put together a collection of Falkland Islands stamps for the Museum & National Trust. The expectation was that this would be a "partially complete" collection, making use of colour illustrations in the place of rarer stamps, and that it would take considerable time to put together.

"We gratefully accepted this generous offer, knowing that even an incomplete collection would be a very useful and important addition to the Museum's holdings - something which could be used both as a reference tool and to help illustrate future exhibitions and displays.

"Now, just seven months later, I am told that the collection has been assembled and - unbelievably - that it is 100% complete. This is an outstanding achievement and is far more than we could ever have hoped for. Stefan came up with the idea of building a National Collection after discovering that the collection purchased by the Museum & National Trust in 1995 was not what it was believed to have been. That he was able to create such a positive result from what began as a bitter disappointment is an absolute credit to Stefan, and I hope that he and all the members of the F I Philatelic Study Group are proud of what they have accomplished.

"I understand that particular thanks are due to Dr. John Henshall, who helped with many of the rarer stamps, and to Stanley Gibbons Ltd for a couple of very generous donations. However, I know that this was a group effort and I would like all members of FIPSG to know that if the Museum can ever be of any assistance to them, they need only to get in touch and we will do what we can.

"I wish that I was there with you today to thank you all in person for supporting this important project. This is truly a remarkable donation, not just to the Museum, but to the Falklands as a whole and we are extremely grateful. Thank you again."

Stefan and Hugh Osborne (centre) and other attendees at the handover

FI Study Group Chairman, Hugh Osborne, concluded the event by saying "The study group was founded by Malcolm Barton, present today, in 1970 and has grown to some 400 members worldwide, about 100 overseas, including a good presence in the Falklands, obviously mostly in Stanley.

"I am by no means alone in visiting the islands, three times now. It is quite remarkable how many members chose to visit the islands for a holiday, a philatelic journey to the post offices and undertake research at the Government archives - I enjoyed three weeks there in November-December 2009 with two colleagues both here. The most marvellous experience for me was to be to drive from Stanley to West Falkland and I believe we covered every mile of every road in West Falkland - a simply extraordinary experience; we defined the lodges as either wife friendly, or not as the case might be!

"So to say we are very proud of the club's efforts and trust the Falkland Islands Museum will make wise use of this album, it has much to show the world the Falkland Islands, its people, traditions, and its proud history, its beauty, its wild life through the medium of philately. Only one way to improve on this is to go there and see for yourself."

South Georgia New Issue - Flora

Small Fern Blechnum penna-marina (27p stamp) is only known on north facing slopes in a valley above Husvik, where it is frequent. It is widespread in the Falklands, other subantarctic islands and southern South America, and has been found in England as an introduced plant, though here it is known as Little Hard-fern. The plant has separate vegetative and fertile fronds, with the latter growing up to 35 cm high. Its Latin name Blechnum is derived from the Greek name for a fern - Blechnon.

Water Blinks Montia fontana (70p stamp) often covers patches of damp ground by streams, though its small white flowers can be confused with another plant that occurs in the same habitat - Antarctic Water-starwort Callitriche antarctica. Water Blinks has a widespread distribution across the globe and the plant genus Montia was named after the Italian botanist Giuseppe Monti who died in 1760. Its leaves are edible, though make a somewhat bland addition to a salad.

Antarctic Pearlwort Colobanthus quitensis (95p stamp) is, as its name suggests, found in Antarctica and is one of the continent's two native flowering plants (the other is a hair-grass, Deschampsia antarctica). On South Georgia it is widespread and often forms cushions on stony ground. The flowers are only a few millimetres across and rarely stand more than a centimetre above the cushion. Its range extends north along the Andes to Mexico and so it is sometimes called Andean Pearlwort.

Adder's-tongue Ophioglossum crotalophoroides (£1.15 stamp) looking a little like a rattlesnake's rattle, the "flower" of  is sometimes hard to spot in its damp grassland habitat. This little plant puts out a single leaf from its bulbous rhizome and the spore cases are born on the "rattle" held on a short stalk a few centimetres long. It is also found in the Falkland Islands and central Chile. The family of the Ophioglossaceae is an early branch of the vascular plant lineage, and it is separate from that of the true ferns, which includes all the other ferns found on South Georgia.

Jonathan Shanklin, British Antarctic Survey

Technical Details

Illustrations: Robin Carter
Layout: Bee Design & Art
Printer: Cartor Security Printing
Process: lithography
Perforation: 13.25 x 13 per 2cms
Stamp size: 30.6 x 38mm
Sheet Layout: 50 (2 x 25)
Release date: 15 December 2010
Production Co-ordination: Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd

Falkland Islands New Issue - Flowering Shrubs

This new issue has been designed by local artist Mrs Mirabel (Tim) Simpson, the recently retired Art Teacher at the Community School in Stanley, based on her observations of Flowering Shrubs found in the Islands.

FUCHSIA Fuchsia magellanica (27p)
The ‘Fuchsia' is a species of flowering plant in the family ‘Onagraceae', and native to Southern Argentina and Chile. It is widely cultivated as a garden plant and was thought to have been introduced to the Islands by early settlers having visited the southern coasts of Patagonia. A deciduous shrub, the Fuchsia can grow to about 1.5 to 2.5 metres in height and is unmistakeable in flower with the visible red sepals and shorter purple petals, long red protruding stamens with purple anthers. The flower has a diameter of 18 to 28 mm. The leaves are a vibrant green and measure from 3 to 5 cm in length.

BOXWOOD Hebe elliptica (70p)
The ‘Boxwood' or Hebe elliptica is a member of the ‘Figwort' family and grows extensively in the Falkland Islands. One of the tallest native plants to be found in the Islands and is commonly used as a hedging plant around gardens in Stanley and the outlying settlements where it can grow to almost 3 metres in height. The leaves are oval shaped and shiny and are neatly arranged in groups of four around a woody stem. The flowers are generally white, there also being a variety with lilac flowers, which crowd around the top of the stem.

GORSE Ulex europaeus (95p)
‘Gorse' is a member of the ‘Pea' family and was introduced to the Islands by early European settlers for use as hedges to contain cattle. A dense spiny bush with bright yellow flowers with a distinctive sweet smell (described as a mixture of honey and coconut), it can be found around most settlements or where there is any history of habitation. In the wild it tends to be found on rocky areas around the coast of West Falkland or remote islands where it is relatively protected from sheep and cattle. An evergreen shrub which can grow to about 2 metres in height but can have a wide spread of up to 10 metres.
 

HONEYSUCKLE Lonicera periclymenum (£1.15p)
The ‘Honeysuckle', also known as the ‘Common Honeysuckle' or ‘Woodbine' is from the family ‘Caprifoliaceae'. A deciduous climber that can grow up to 10 metres in height, it's buds are pinky-orange and has flowers which are creamy white or yellowish in colour, trumpet shaped and very sweet smelling (especially during the night). It is commonly grown as a garden plant and thought to have been introduced by early settlers from Europe.

Technical details:
Artist: Mirabel (Tim) Simpson
Setting: Bee Design & Art
Printer: Cartor Security Printing
Process: Stochastic Lithography
Perforation: 13 ¼ x 13 per 2cms
Stamp size: 38 x 30.60mm
Sheet Layout: 50 (2 x 25)
Release date: 27 October 2010

South Georgia New Issue - Penguins - Airmail Postcard Rate

Four species of penguin regularly breed on South Georgia:

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
The second largest of all penguins, the king penguin is a striking bird; with bright orange flashes around its head and beak, it truly deserves its regal name. King penguins are excellent divers reaching depths of up to 300m during their week-long foraging trips, hunting for fish and occasionally squid.

King penguins are an abundant species, with an estimated population of two million breeding pairs, thought to be increasing. South Georgia is an important breeding location for the king penguin, being home to nearly 25% of the world population. There are numerous king penguin colonies on South Georgia ranging in size from a few tens of pairs, to many thousands; St Andrews Bay is home to the largest colony exceeding 150,000 pairs, while at Salisbury Plain, the second largest colony, there are thought to be over 60,000 pairs.

Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Due to their distinctive yellow tufts, these penguins were named after the peculiar 'Macaroni coiffure' hairstyles of 18th century Dandies. Feeding predominantly on Antarctic krill, the macaronis spend their winters at sea, only returning to land in the spring to breed and later moult.

With an estimated 18 million individuals, .the macaroni is the most abundant of all the penguins, although the population is thought to be in decline. South Georgia is home to the majority of the world's macaroni penguins, with a population of 2.5 million pairs, which is also declining. Highly gregarious, macaroni penguins form colonies of many thousands, often situated on South Georgia's most exposed reaches. This, combined with the macaroni's powerful voice, constant bickering, and the pungent aroma of spilt food and guano, makes visiting a colony a rich sensory extravaganza!

Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica)
Named after the characteristic black 'strap' that runs under their beaks, the chinstrap penguins are unmistakeable. Unlike the other penguins, chinstraps often forage at night while their crustacean prey is closer to the surface and so easier to reach.

This species generally occupies the more southerly subantarctic islands; with the majority of the population, around 5 million pairs, breeding on the South Sandwich Islands. At the northern limit of their range, a small chinstrap population of approximately 12,000 pairs breeds on South Georgia. Here the only breeding colonies are in the Cooper Bay region, on the south eastern tip of the island, but in autumn occasional moulting chinstraps can be seen on more northerly beaches.

Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Gentoo penguins are the third largest penguin species, and also boast the largest tails of all! They are generalist predators, feeding on a mixture of crustaceans and fish. Gentoos are very dependent on land, returning to the beach each night. As a result they must forage coastally, rarely venturing more than 12 miles offshore, making them very vulnerable to local variations in food availability.

The gentoo is one of the least abundant Antarctic penguins, with only 300,000 pairs worldwide. South Georgia is home to the majority of the worlds gentoos; approximately one third of the global population. They are found in small colonies around the island, nesting either on the beaches, or considerable distances inland in the tussock grass on elevated headlands and hilltops; while walking around the coast you will often bump into a gentoo colony where you would least expect it!

Text by - Jonathan Ashburner (Zoological Field Assistant - British Antarctic Survey)

The current Airmail Postcard rate is 60p, the set has a face value of £2.40 and the special mini sheet containing two sets with decorative border has a face value of £4.80.

Technical Details
Layout: Bee Art & Design
Printer: BDT International
Process: Stochastic lithography
Perforation: 13.75 per 2cms
Stamp size: 30.56 x 38mm
Sheet Layout: 10
Sheetlet (2 sets) size: 160 x 170mm
Release date: 25 October 2010
Production Co-ordination: Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd

Photographic Credits:-
King Penguin: Paula O'Sullivan Macaroni Penguin: George Lemann Chinstrap Penguin: Jonathan Ashburner Gentoo Penguin: Tony Hall
Sheetlet border: George Lemann
FDC: Jonathan Ashburner

Thick and Thin Map Presentations Available for Download

On our Published Infomation page are two links to pdf files of the presentations given by John Search at Faringdon 2010 Study Group weekend as powerpoint displays in the hotel Lecture Theatre.

John shows the various Group Transfer and individual flaws on the Thick Map set, and proposes a similar look at the Thin Map set.

The Study Group is grateful to John for providing these presentations for wider viewing and comment.

Fantastic News - the Falkland Islands National Collection is Complete!

Thanks again to the generosity of Stanley Gibbons Ltd, who have a long association with the Study Group, the Falkland Islands National Stamp Collection is complete. They have provided the missing stamp in the collection, the 1933 Centenary £1.

Some pages from the collection and the story are shown on the Published Information page.

Hugh Osborne of the FIPSG receiving the stamp from Pauline MacBroom of Stanley Gibbons

Karl Lellman

We are sad to report the death of Study Group member and a pillar of Falkland Islands philately, Karl Lellman, in New Zealand. A full tribute to Karl will appear in the Upland Goose.

Queues to attend the London 2010 International Stamp Exhibition.

Postal Officer Sarah Lurcock on the Pobjoy stand.

The competition frames

Trevor gives his display

The new Falkland Islands National Stamp Collection - your help is needed!
 

Nutt Cartmell in the Shearing Shed

The Falkland Islands National Stamp Collection Album

Nutt's Grave at Darwin

Upland Goose Binders

We have a new stock of these currently on order, unfortunately the price for each binder will now be £5.50, instead of £5. If you want additional binders brought to any regional meeting, just email the book coordinator.

The binders are of good quality and really help you to file your copies of Upland Goose. They are in green, with "Upland Goose" and a picture of same in gold.

New Auction from Stefan Heijtz

Stefan Heijtz's Falkland Islands & Dependencies + Antarctica Postal Auction no.16 with closing date of 25 April 2010, is now available on his website:
http://www.novastamps.com/stefan/

THE ENTIRE CATALOGUE IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A DOWNLOADABLE PDF FILE!

Stefan comments "This is the most comprehensive Falkland auction I have ever arranged, so therefore everybody who has been active in my auctions over the last few years, will receive a printed catalogue (with a colour section) by mail. The catalogues will be sent out during the last week of March. If you are uncertain if you are on my mailing list, or have changed your address over the last year or so, please send a message to me with your current postal address.

VIEWING AT THE FIPSG WEEKEND IN FARINGDON ON 27 MARCH: I will bring a selection of the better lots but you may also request specific lots you are interested in.

ILLUSTRATIONS ON THE WEBSITE: Almost all single stamps, most multiples and pieces, as well as all covers with an estimate of £20 or more are illustrated in colour! I will be happy to e-mail scans of any un-illustrated lots".

PSNC Labels

Not often is there a recommendation on the FIPSG website to go to the Peru section of an auction! But following the delivery with the March Upland Goose with the excellent PSNC Steamers 1840-1940 Monograph by Clive Perkins, Cavendish Auctions are holding a sale of The "Smith" Collections of Worldwide Private Posts and Malta (Sale 727) on Wednesday March 17th at 1pm. This auction includes a selection of labels similar to those shown on Pages 6 and 12 of the Monograph. The lots can be viewed under the Peru section at www.cavendish-auctions.com

A Slight Change to the Website
 

The Falkland Islands Government Archives

The work of Jane Cameron and the help she has given to the Study Group is recognised in the article below. The amount of material in the archives and the reading room is a tribute to the work that Jane and Tansy Newman have put into building an invaluable facility for Falkland Islands postal history research.

For those who have not visited the archives, the reading room (with Stefan Heijtz and Hugh Osborne in attendance) is shown below.

Karl Lellman 100th Birthday on January 25th

Ken Mills reports that it will be Karl's 100th birthday on January 25th. Everyone associated with the Study Group will recognise Karl's contribution to Falkland Islands philately and wish him well for this momentous milestone. If you want to pass on a message to Karl, use the comments form below and we will pass on your good wishes via Ken. 

Frank Laycock

It is reported that Study Group member Frank Laycock has passed away. Members will remember that along with his association with Cavendish Auction, Frank was the auctioneer with the Study Group for many years. ouir thoughts are with the family at this time.

Another Successful Falklands Section to December Grosvenor Auction

Here is the summary from Grosvenor of their December auction:

Exceptional sections on the Falkland Islands, the Dependencies and Antarctica are an established tradition at Grosvenor, and the lots offered at this sale brought to the room an impressive gathering of specialist collectors. As usual prices were strong.

The 1933 Centenary set of 'SPECIMEN' stamps (lot 641), additionally showing a second 'SPECIMEN' handstamp applied by the receiving postal administration, doubled its estimate to sell for £4,914. Amongst the Antarctica lots the 1911 envelope (lot 826) from the Scott Expedition addressed by the unfortunate Captain Oates to his mother did even better, more than tripling its estimate to sell for £3,826.

Another area to watch could be that of Whaling Mail as determined bidders were seen to drive the prices upwards, The top realisation was the £1,195 paid for a 1931 envelope from South Shetlands (lot 772).

Letter to Falkland Islands Postmaster from Stanley Gibbons - 1878

Here is a letter (sorry for the quality) from the man Stanley Gibbons himself to the Postmaster in 1878.

He adds a wonderful PS (with drawings) "We would like to receive some of the Black or Red Franks if not troubling you too much. Indeed!

Behind the Scenes at Stanley and Fox Bay Post Offices

Some photos to give you an idea of the some of the scenes at the Post Offices at Stanley and Fox Bay. Hope this gives you a better idea of life on the Falklands.

Stefan and Hugh with Postmistress Moira

The mail arriving in the PO from the UK MOD flight

The Stanley Machine Canceller

A close up of the datestamp for the machine canceller

Stanley Post Office

Which Way for Fox Bay?

Fox Bay Post Office (building on right)

Fox Bay Postmaster Gavin

Days 3 & 4 in the Archives

The archives continue to throw up fascinating information about stamp issues, we have certainly gained more knowledge of destruction numbers and sheet numbering for a lot of the 60's issues.

At the other end of the mail service period, an excited Stefan is shown here with a book containing 50 or so pre-stamp covers filed. And this was the second such book he had found like this!

Some other finds are shown - this Map set 1d proof in about A4 size really stands out (sorry the photo is a little squint).

A big continuing thank you to Tansy who is looking after us so well, and answering our continuing requests for more material.

Day 2 in the archives

The second day in the archives provided more interesting material. Stefan uncovered a UK - Falkland islands postal trading settlement account form, a magnificent large pre printed document. Hugh continued the search of Centenary correspondence and early QEII. Kim looked at the South Georgia 1963 issues and more QE II commemoratives.

Below is shown as a sample, a couple of imperforate proofs for the ICY issue.

ICY Proofs

Two of the Whale & Penguin Blocks

A close up of a pair of the £1 "cancelled"

South Georgia 1963 Imperforate Proof

Fox Bay Find

Postal Strikes and Postage Costs

During the postal strikes, the Study group Exchange Packet is suspended. They will restart with a new Packet Leader, details to follow.

Postage costs, especially overseas from the UK, continue to escalate. The Committee will explain how these increasing costs are impacting the finances of the group in a future Upland Goose, and ask members for their views. Likewise the Books Coordinator asks any members from overseas to check postage costs before placing an order.

Past President Malcolm Barton (left) chats to Clive Perkins as Her Majesty looks down approvingly

There is a Grosvenor sale on Wednesday 23rd September with the Falklands lots in the morning session, probably around 11:30am to 12 noon.
Thanks to Grosvenor for allowing the FIPSG web site to have an early look at some lots. Some example lots illustrated:

½d. deep blue-green, first printing May 1891, the unused imprint block of eight (4 x 2) from the Bradbury Wilkinson archive sheet, all of the printing was lost when the ‘Neko' sank, a fine unique item. Heijtz certificate (2002). SH 5a.

Early Incoming Mail: 1876 (Dec. 23) envelope addressed to George Travis in Falklands, bearing Great Britain 1873-80 1s. plate 12 (2, RL& RK), cancelled by indistinct barred ovals with Royston c.d.s. alongside, red crayon "4" and endorsed "Per Brazil Mail", with Falklands receiving mark of February 4th 1877, some toning and cover is roughly opened, torn and wrinkled, otherwise a scarce quadruple rate item. No. 19 in theHarmers booklet (included).

£1 KGV black and red, a marginal example from the top of the sheet, tied to small piece by F.6 1921 (July 12) c.d.s., fine. S.G. 69, cat. £550.

£1 W&P black on red fine used on local registered cover, tied by Port Stanley 1930 (Mar.) cancellation. S.G. 126.

1935 airmail cover to Ewell with strip of three G.B. 1934 Photogravure ½d invalidated by three red bars and South Africa 1d. and 6d. cancelled Cape Town 1935 (Apr. 5), boxed violet R.R.S. "WILLIAM SCORESBY" cachet at bottom left, with relevant extract from the Polar Post of Sept. 2006, also two fine used 1938 9d.

Birds 10s and £1 in mint plate blocks of four, each lightly mounted on one stamp with the others unmounted, also singles of each fine used. S.G. 206, 207.

FIPSG Members unfurl the flag - Vectis Meeting

Thanks to IoW County Press for the photo

Lot 12 of the April Auction

Faringdon 2009 - Study Group members

Click here to download Silver Jubilee Index

Click Here to view the items

Faringdon 10th Anniversary - The Crowd!

The Study Group at the 2008 Weekend at Sudbury House Hotel

NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE

Postmarks and Cachets of the British Antarctic Bases and South Georgia

Thanks to a generous donation from the author, we can offer Postmarks and Cachets of the British Antarctic Bases and South Georgia from £20. We have limited stocks of this excellent book. See Books for more details.

From £20

Shackleton at South Georgia by Robert Burton and Stephen Venables

Shackleton at South Georgia is a valuable and informative 24-page booklet by two South Georgia experts, Robert Burton and Stephen Venables.

from £5

Christ Church Cathedral by Alistair McHaffie

This 50 page booklet by Study Group member Alistair McHaffie gives the history of Christ Church Cathedral with illustrations.

from £4.50

Featured Book   Just £27 to FIPSG members! This is the edition of the most comprehensive catalogue of Falkland Islands stamps ever produced. In the catalogue you will find information about and prices (based on market values and auction realisations) for: All issued stamps of the Falkland Islands, the Dependencies, South Georgia and British Antarctic Territory, including prices for mint, used and on cover, with illustrations of most stamps. All major varieties Postal Stationery from Queen Victoria to the latest issues All postmarks and cancellations used in the Falkland Islands, the Dependencies, South Georgia and British Antarctic Territory The Miscellaneous chapter contains every other possible aspect of Falkland Islands philately in 39 sections. Non-philatelic collectables: Paper Money, Coins, Telephone Cards and Tokens. You will also find general information about the Falkland Islands and the Dependencies, full listings of Postal Rates, Printing Dates and Numbers Printed of every stamp, Numbers Destroyed, General Philatelic Information about Papers, Perforations and Watermarks of Falkland Islands stamps.