December 2025
Ulm 2026 – RPSL invited to display
The annual postal history masters will take place in Ulm in October 2026 and RPSL members have been invited to take the leading role in competing for the famous Gold, Silver and Bronze Posthorns – there are six categories, plus literature so 21 Posthorns are available. The exhibition is open from 22-24 October and I’m sure there will be a great response from members. Chris King has agreed to co-ordinate the RPSL participation and there will be at least one London based commissioner. Please let Chris know if you would like to take part chris.king@postalhistory.net , more details are in your December edition of the London Philatelist and the entry form can be found on the website using this link: https://www.rpsl.org.uk/Portals/0/RPSL/News_Events_Meetings/IBB_Ulm_Anmeldeunterlagen_2026_PGL_dyn.pdf
This opportunity is open to members worldwide and we hope to have a broad participation, but you do need to get your entry either to Abchurch Lane or directly to Ulm. Frames take 16 pages each and there is an entry fee of 45 euros per frame for 1-3 frames and 35 euros per frame for larger exhibits – seemingly plus VAT! Please let Chris know if you want to participate by 28 February.
2025/26 programme
Tuesday 2nd December RPSL Zoom Meeting
The latest offering from Sandeep Jaiswal FRPSL with his ‘Favourite things from Jammu and Kashmir’, those who have seen his display of gems from the other Indian states will know that they are going to see some remarkable material, so do join them. Remember to register on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1262821536209?aff=oddtdtcreator
Thursday 4th December RPSL Meeting Day
After the splendid group display to mark the 75th Anniversary of the West Africa Study Circle, we stay with that region as we are delighted that Philip Levine has come all the way from Australia to show us his award winning collections of Gold Coast, the stamps, the postal stationery and more, another 1.00 meeting.
Thursday 11th December RPSL Meeting Day
The final meeting of the calendar year will be just a week later with a spectacular display by David Feldman of his imperforate classics of the world in green. You may have seen parts of this display as eight frames at various internationals, but the additional frames at Abchurch Lane offers a chance to see the whole collection and it will be a real feast.
Regional and International Meetings
David kindly agreed to bring the meeting forward a week to enable me to go to India to combine a family wedding with a regional meeting in Mumbai. Our representative there, Markand Dave, has gone that ‘extra’ mile to put on a spectacular meeting on 21 December, which may give me just long enough to get back to cook the Christmas dinner!
There was an excellent turnout for the West Midlands meeting at Knowle on 22 November, which I very much enjoyed.
Full details of these and our regional meetings can be found on the website. Do encourage non-members to attend as your guest. With fewer local Societies these days it is an opportunity for all and an opportunity to recruit new members.
The AEP meeting at the Salon D’Automne last month was an excellent venue for meeting old friends and making new ones, fingers crossed we may have a regional meeting in France in 2026.
Boston 2026 – RPSL Dinner – save the date
The RPSL will be holding a dinner at Boston in 2026 on Wednesday 27th May at The Exchange on Boston’s historic waterfront. So do mark the date in your diary now. Tickets will be available on the RPSL website from early in the New Year.
Experts
Our Expert committee has had a busy year and will have its final meeting for 2025 on 3rd December. The dates for 2026 are now on the website. Each calendar year, RPSL members are entitled to receive a 50% discount on their first two submissions for expertising. Contact experts@rpsl.limited or +(0)20 7935 7332.
Christmas Outreach
A festive form of outreach is provided by our Collections team who have arrange for Barry Feltham to present ‘The Christmas Story’ on 10 December at Abchurch Lane. Designed to appeal to a broader audience, admission is free, but registration in Eventbrite is required – a few places are still available using the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1967617352468?aff=oddtdtcreator
Finally, it remains for me to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas Season and that you enjoy a prosperous and healthy New Year that will also be philatelically rewarding for you.
Yours sincerely,
Simon
Simon Richards RDP FRPSL
President of The Royal Philatelic Society London
