Welcome to the homepage of the Scottish Postal History Society!

The Early Edinburgh Bishop Mark The Perth Lamb The Greenock Fleuron & The Fort William Thistle Early Circular Town Namestamps

The Society was founded in 1978 for the study of Scottish Postal History in all its aspects, from the earliest times to the present day. Our aim is to help everyone, whether an internationally renowned postal historian, a dealer, or a relative beginner, to enjoy and better understand the rich diversity of Scotland's postal services past and present. To that end we are an active society with a range of interests both social and philatelic, and with a world-wide membership. Members actively promote the hobby through local and national organisations, by providing displays to interested societies, or by publishing the results of their research. Members join for many reasons, often simply to keep in touch with events and the latest information through the award winning journal The Scottish Post. Whatever your interests or level of expertise, you will find a warm welcome in the Society.

About Us

The Society has approximately 200 Members worldwide and regular contact with all Members is maintained through the quarterly Journal, The Scottish Post. In addition, regular meetings are held throughout the year. These include Winter (February) and Autumn (October) meetings at Dunblane, where invited speakers give presentations. These meetings also include the opportunity for Members to give a short display (10-20 sheets) of some of their collecting interests. An Annual Conference and AGM Weekend is held in the early Spring, usually towards the end of March. The venue for the annual conference has been in Perth, Ayr and Crieff in recent years. It will be held in Dundee in 2010. Delegates usually gather on the Friday evening for an informal dinner. Saturday brings two Plenary Sessions from invited speakers, intermingled with Members displays, and a dealers and Members Bourse. The Conference Dinner is held on the Saturday evening, which is followed by social gathering. Sunday morning is the time for the Conference Auction followed by the AGM. The Afternoon session is devoted to a competition for The Jimmy Gall Trophy, a further session of Members displays, then it's the high or low roads home!

Applications for membership are welcomed. Subscriptions are currently 10 GB pounds sterling per year for residents of the United Kingdom & Europe and 12 GB pounds sterling for all other applicants. This includes 4 issues of the Scottish Post, by airmail for worldwide members and access to all auctions. Arrangements can be made to pay through Paypal for European and worldwide members but an additional charge would be made to cover fees incurred.

As a Society we do not undertake valuations of stamp collections.

News

Thanks to Lyn Robinson we now have an index to articles published in the journal "The Scottish Post". This is available to download or view on the "Society Journal" page of this website.

Postal Auction RS6 - Live auction to be held at the AGM Sunday 25th March 2012 All lots are now online for members only. If you don't have the link to the auction page email the webmaster.

At another successful Conference Weekend (March 2011) the Jimmy Gall Trophy was awarded to Sandy MacCalman for his exhibit "Lochgilphead, Argyll".

Sandy, on the right, receiving the trophy from President Rex Clark.

Meetings and Forthcoming Events

Non-members are welcome to attend Society meetings but please email in advance as we need to confirm numbers for catering.

SPHS Regional meeting 24^th September 2011 at John Whitehead Park, Bowling Club, Billingham TS23 3DD. Another successful meeting was held at Billingham, with 20 members and friends present. The invited displays by Mike Oxley, Brian Land and Ken Mitchell were very well received. 11 members also presented short displays. Senior Vice President Stephen Parkin proposed a vote of thanks to all for a most interesting and varied selection of displays. Our thanks once again to Bill Shand for organising the day and to his wife Evelyn and friends for providing lunch, tea and coffee during the day.

SPHS Winter meeting at Dunblane Golf Club Sunday 13^th November 2011. Another successful meeting with 26 members present to view invited displays by Pat Rothnie and Norman Watson. 11 members also presented short displays on various Scottish topics.

SPHS Spring meeting at Dunblane Golf Club Sunday 12^th February 2012. 10.00am coffee & tea on arrival. Morning displays 10.30am One round "Scottish Railways" by Ian Hamilton, 11.15am One round "Two Queens" by Dr Ian Evans, followed by members' displays and Lunch at 12.30pm. 2.00pm One round "Perth & District Re-visited" by Dr James Grant, followed by members' displays. 4.00pm President's closing remarks. members' displays should be 8/16 sheets and maximum talk 2 minutes. There will be a bourse at this meeting.

SPHS Annual General Meeting and Conference Weekend 23^rd - 25^th March 2012. The Queen's Hotel, Dundee. Some scans of the AGM auction material are on view on the site, the remainder will be uploaded over the next few days. Remember to book through the Secretary Ken Norris using the form sent with the latest "Scottish Post"

ASPS Congress 11^th - 12^th May 2012 Dewars Centre, Perth. As a member of the SPHS you can submit an entry to the National Exhibition (Competition). Please note these dates have been altered, due to a double booking for this year only. Congress will return to April in 2013.