Lanarkshire Philatelic Society
"Switzerland" & "Danish Territories"
Mr. George Henshilwood
Members
of the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society were treated to a series of wonderful
displays at their meeting last Friday, 5th
February.
Guest
speaker George Henshilwood of Glasgow – previously of Hamilton -
gave displays
of the "Danish West Indies and of Switzerland".
First,
however, he gave a brief display of "This Day in History" – on the 5th
February 1924 the BBC ‘pips’ were first broadcast; in 1783 Sweden became
independent;
in 1971 Apollo 14 made its Moonlanding and in 1953 was the end of Sweet
Rationing.
The
Danish West Indies (consisting of 3 islands)
– now the US Virgin Islands – originally used stamps with the same
design as those of Denmark – beginning from 1856.
Stamps, watermarks, surcharges, postal stationery, postage dues and
errors on the stamps through the years
were displayed.
In
1865 the British Post Office opened the Post Office in St Thomas and issued
British Stamps – this closed in 1877.
In
March 1917, the US, fearful of Germany taking the island and thus gaining access
to the Panama Canal, took possession – and issued stamps in the new name of
the US Virgin Islands.
This
was followed by displays of stamps of the Faroes and of Greenland – both part
of Danish Territories.
Switzerland
– a wonderful display of the Pro Juventute stamp issues through the years –
1912 -2012.
These are charity stamps issued annually for the rights and needs of
Swiss Children.
From
1907 to 1942 – the main stamp issue for Switzerland was stamps bearing the
image of William Tell and also of his son, Walter.
Many examples of these stamps were displayed – the stamp of his son
showing him holding up the crossbow with his right hand while his left hand
holds the apple with a bolt through it.
A
display of stamps of Greenland showing polar bears were much admired – as were
those illustrating different aspects Greenland life – and the special issue of
2010 issued to celebrate the 70th birthday of Queen Margrethe II of
Denmark (Greenland remains an autonomous Danish Dependent country).
Paul
McGowan led members in giving thanks to George Henshilwood for giving such an
amazing and interesting display.
Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is next Friday, 12th February, 2016, at 7:30pm when Terry Woods will give his display of "Lanarkshire Postal History".
Anyone
with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to
attend.