HAMPEX - Hampshire Philatelic Federation Competitions - Philatelic Classes

It is now essential in national and international competition that each exhibit, no matter what class, should have an introductory page which explains what the exhibit is trying to show. The Hampshire Philatelic Federation has adopted this change and therefore requires an introductory page for all classes. The introductory page (also called the Title Page) is intended to give structure, scope and content to the viewer and should include something pictorial (e.g. a map, proof, or cover). The introductory page is usually the first sheet of the 16 or 32 sheet exhibit.

The collecting of postage stamps, proofs, essays, colour trials and such items, and the specific study of stamps mint or used and including usage. Entries may include stamps of any countries, may cover any period of time and be specialised or non specialised.

This class covers the study of stamps, stickers, envelopes and covers relating to any form of airmail transmission of mail, whether official or unofficial. Entries may contain items commemorating aerial meetings and events. Relevant advertisements, photographs, notices, press cuttings, maps, leaflets and so on may be included as are absolutely necessary, as may autographed letters relating to aero postal history. Entries which consist solely of airmail stamps will also be judged in this class.

The study of postal services, routes, rates, postal markings of any form related to the carriage of mails. (This category does not include mint or unused stamps or stationery). Postal history entries should consist of material ranging from pre adhesive entires and letters, to stamped or stampless covers of the present day. Postmarks and cancellations, whether on loose stamps, pieces, or covers, may be included together with a limited quantity of appropriate collateral or associated items, provided that the principal part of the entry is material conveyed by post.

The study of all items of stationery issued by postal authorities including postcards, lettercards, envelopes, registered envelopes, newspaper wrappers, aerograms, parcel cards and similar items.

A collection of all the above aspects, combined into a common theme such as "The meaning of Christmas", "The world of Flowers" and similar approaches. Sometimes referred to as Topical collecting, but different from Subject collecting (for example "Flowers on stamps"). The range of themes is limited only by the imagination and inventiveness of the collector and exhibitor. This class employs a wide range of philatelic skills. Entries based on a theme are developed according to a logical plan and by the use of appropriate philatelic material. The entry should have an introductory page which contains a plan of the entire exhibit, and this plan must be fully consistent with the title of the entry. The plan should define the structure of the entry and the division of it into parts: it should cover all aspects of the chosen theme. The plan has to be laid out in accordance with the demands of the theme itself, and should not be merely a classification by issue date and/or country of issue. Each item selected for the entry must be strictly related to the chosen theme, and this relationship has to be of a postal nature and not consist of privately produced items. Entrants are advised to ensure that they include only genuine postage stamps, and omit those items that are regarded as being of a dubious or undesirable nature. Philatelic items (e.g. stamps and documents) represent the essential elements of a thematic entry. Non philatelic items should not normally be included, and if maps, drawings or photographs are felt to be essential to the development of the theme, they should be kept to an absolute minimum.

For the purposes of this competition, these are defined as material not recognised for the international transmission of mail but accepted as being issued locally or generally for the transmission of messages or packages (e.g. local, railway or telegraph), or for the collection of non postal revenue.

The Open Class is an expansion of what has been previously called Social Philately and embraces a marking scheme close to (but not exactly) that anticipated for a UK National Open Class (as of January 2006). An Open Class Philately exhibit, by analysis of the philatelic and social objects within it, should show and explain the development, or operation, of a social need dependent on the postal system or deriving from it. It should show the practical application of postal systems to a social need and the study and classification of the use of such social and postal objects (including all aspects of philatelic material) to illustrate the main subject of the exhibit. An Open Class exhibit represents a study of the development of social systems and products derived from the operation of postal systems. Non-philatelic material can be included but should not comprise more than 50% of the exhibit

Such an exhibit consists of material which can be included in other classes of philately as well as non philatelic items which are directly related to the operations and products of a postal system either as post office equipment or as material developed by commerce to use or reflect post office services and products. This non-philatelic material must have an intimate connection with the operation or the objective of a postal system or the paraphernalia of postage stamps and philately or be part of the physical make-up of the subject being exhibited. The social information should provide the main thread of the story. Philatelic information should be included where appropriate so that philatelic knowledge and personal study can be demonstrated.

An Open Class exhibit may contain a wide range of material linked to the postal system. Some material may be included which is not directly related to the postal system but which is an integral part of a social system (for example medals awarded to trade fair participants where the medal was often posted but where the connection is more with the social story). Non-philatelic material has to be directly linked to a postal system: non-philatelic material not linked to the postal system can be included provided it is directly linked (and of importance to the theme) to the social aspects of the exhibit but should not comprise more than 10% of the material. Due to practical limitations, non-philatelic material will be no thicker than 5 mm to fit into the standard exhibition frames.

Reference has been made to a Social Philately article Background to Social Philately prepared by the late Dr. Edric Druce, and to guidance by Christine Earle, based on the judging of UK National Social Class entries at STAMPEX 2005.

Reference: FIP - Special Regulations for the Evaluation of Social Philately Exhibits at Exhibitions. The basis of these Special Regulations is the General Regulations of the FIP for the Evaluation of Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions (GREV). These regulations supplement those principles with regard to Social Philately exhibits.

Click here to contact the HAMPEX Organising Committee members. For guidance on International Competition and Exhibiting review the General Regulations of the FIP for the Evaluation of Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions on the FIP website below.