International Philatelic Union

The International Philatelic Union, formed 1881, was an early international philatelic organisation formed for the study of stamps and the promotion of philately generally.[1] Its office was located in London. The society survived to see its jubilee in 1931, and an exhibition was held to celebrate the fact,[2] but its later history is unclear.

The nameplate from the I.P.U.'s official journal.

Stamp exchanges

The Union was notable for establishing a stamp exchange section, the Amateur Collectors’ Exchange, thus originating the exchange packet system common in philatelic societies today.[1]

Competitions

On 23 February 1901 the Union held an important competitive exhibition at the premises of the Royal Philatelic Society in Effingham House, Arundel Street, London. Competitors were allowed up to fifty stamps in their entry which could be in one of five classes, 1) Great Britain or a British colony, 2) A country or colony not in class one, 3) Fiscals, 4) Envelopes and Postcards, 5) Stamps not listed in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue. The winner was Vernon Roberts for early Cape of Good Hope stamps.[1] The catalogue for this exhibition is available in the Crawford Library, part of the British Library's Philatelic Collection.

Fiscal Philatelic Society

In 1920, when the Fiscal Philatelic Society started to struggle, it came under the wing of the I.P.U. as their Fiscal and Local Stamp Section.[3]

Liverpool Philatelic Society

The L.P.S., one of the first philatelic societies in the United Kingdom, was formed on 29 November 1888 as a branch of the I.P.U.[4]

Membership

A number of distinguished philatelists, often members of the Royal Philatelic Society as well, were members of the I.P.U., including:[5]

RDP = Roll of Distinguished Philatelists

Journal

The official organ of the Union was The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, published from 1891. As of 1938 the journal was also the official publication of the Manchester, City of London, Herts and Birmingham Philatelic Societies. In 1956 Robson Lowe acquired the firm of P.L. Pemberton & Co., which included the Philatelic Journal, and eventually it was incorporated into Lowe's The Philatelist.[5]

See also

References
  1. Rogers-Tillstone, Capt. B. The Royal Philatelic Society London 1869-1969. London: Royal Philatelic Society, 1969, p.41. ISBN 0-900631-00-7
  2. "Topical Notes" by Stanley Phillips in Gibbons Stamp Monthly, May 1931, p. 159.
  3. The Bulletin, Vol.II, No.1, October 1908, Fiscal Philatelic Society, London.
  4. "The Liverpool Philatelic Society 1888-1988" by Richard Stevenson in Philatelic Paraphernalia, No. 16, July 1988, p. 209.
  5. Schofield, Brian. Who Was Who in British Philately. London: British Philatelic Trust, 2003. ISBN 1-871777-14-3

Further reading
  • Constitution and Rules of the International Philatelic Union and Amateur Collectors’ Exchange, I.P.U., 1881.
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