Royal philatelic society honour for michael farrant

stamps and photos (including one of her own, taken 11 stories up, of the communists storming the government offices). Murray Figgins invited members to choose from 3 unpopular post­war collecting areas, with Sri Lanka chosen ahead of Pakistan and Indonesia, and promised to try to help members fill any gaps in these. Flo McCarthy raised the collecting tone with interesting p/c and anecdotes from, of course, Tipperary. Geoff Gordon's display was, as usual, well-researched, this time on Gilbert & Ellice Is (now Kiribata and Tuvalu). Tuvalu in particular has flooded the market with unrelated stamp themes, but had some sympathy from members as it has few other ways of making money and during a recent drought had to fly in drinking water from New Zealand. The forthcoming Diamond Jubilee and Royal Visit will, we can be certain, bring more stamps and perhaps more revenue. Nigel Steer and Jennie Little brought a huge store of information and superb material on Polar Exploration. The evening was the exact anniv of Amundsen's South Pole success: Nigel focussed on the Norwegians and Jennie on Herbert Ponting photos of Scott. By Richard Tarrant's measuring, his visit to Tierra del Fuego was 8246 miles. Jointly owned by Chile and Argentina - so they are prepared to share. Richard used the single issue stamp during the 1891 Gold Rush to describe the career of Romanian adventurer Iuliu Popper. Still in bandit country, Sarah Griffin had a substantial collection of early Mexico, and concluded with M.E.F. for a little extra distance. The final display was by Graham Little who took us to Australia via Cyprus, the latter's stamps of the past 3 years being affordably few and relevant. Even more affordable were those seen from Down Under - a cousin living there selects and posts issues of interest. Sport is clearly a strong theme but several others were also shown.

Most Postal Authorities will have made an issue this year for Christmas, in varying numbers, designs, and values, some of these having at best a very tenuous link to the subject.

Cyprus, on 11th November, issued three stamps, with the € 0•22 depicting a detail from a mural of the Birth of Christ from the Cathedral Church of Agios Ionnnis (St. John). The €0•51 and €0•68 show Christmas decorations, the complete set costing about £1•30 - compare with GB! Cyprus continues with its modest issuing policy and relevant themes.

Canada has a religious theme showing stained glass windows on three stamps (continuing its policy of self-adhesive, in booklets only), with values "P" (59c), booklet of 12; and booklets of $1•03 and £1•75 each of 6. There is also a combined booklet of 6 x £1•03 and 6 x $1•75. A secular booklet of 12 x "P" was also issued, all appearing on 1st November. Canada's first Christmas stamps came in 1964 (not the "map" stamp of 1898!) and have continued annually.