Fundy Stamp Collectors Club P. O. Box 302 Moncton N.B. E1C 8L4 Since 1997

So you don't belong to a society or subscribe to a magazine or journal! I won't ask why. I will merely provide an overview of the importance of philatelic societies and their journals.
I don't belong to a great number of stamp organizations, but the ones in which I have membership have paid handsomely in expanding my knowledge and my awareness of facts, trivia and news relating to this great hobby.
Foremost on my list is The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (National Office, P.O. Box 292, Station Q, Toronto, ON M4P 2P1), not only because it is the stamp organization for Canada, but also because of its journal and the benefits of the comradery at Royal conventions and exhibitions. The Canadian Philatelist, which has emerged as the most improved journal in North America, is now winning major medals at international stamp shows. The writers are handling their subject matter with considerable research and indepth knowledge. Editor Tony Shaman, moreover, has made it into a classy magazine.
I also belong to the American Philatelic Society (100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823, USA) whose journal is the top one of its kind in North America and ranks well toward the top in the world. The APS also has great shows and enables collectors to make new friends across the border. The American Philatelist, like The Canadian Philatelist, is in full colour and features news and informative articles every month. Each issue does not have material relating specifically to an area I collect, but the articles themselves help broaden interest and form opinions.

Since I have a special interest in philatelic literature, I also belong to the American Philatelic Research Library whose journal, Philatelic Literature Review (same address for APS) has significant information on many sides of the literature. Closely related is The Writers Unit 30, a study unit of the APS. It is the organization aimed directly at philatelic writers and those who have an interest in writing. The Philatelic Communicator has a great array of articles on writing, editing newsletters, style, publishing, and so much more. In my career as a professional writer which spans more than three decades, I have never come across a more useful journal and that includes Writer's Digest. I also belong to The Canadiana Study Unit which examines all foreign stamps that have a Canadian connection. The journal, appropriately titled The Canadian Connection is always full of news, research, and information. Editor John Peebles is a walking encyclopaedia of information on worldwide stamps that have a Canadian reference. As a philatelic writer, I often get other journals to examine, review, or ignore. I do not ignore any of them. They all offer something about the hobby. The Elizabethan II Study Group, for example, is rightly sub-titled the Society of Canadian Philately, and the newsletter Corgi Times has everything you want to know about contemporary Canadian stamps. Edited by Robin Harris, who now edits The Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps, this one is superb.

A new one that came to me recently is Enophilatelica (Bruce L. Johnson, 115 Raintree Drive, Zionsville, IN 46007 USA). Don't let the title scare you off to the back forty. This is the journal of the Wine on Stamps Study Unit. This is a rather interesting little newsletter with plenty of information.

Then, there is the British North America Philatelic Society (Peter Jacobi, Secretary, #6 - 2168 - 150 A Street, Surrey, BC V4A 9W4). Their journal is also a great work of information and research. Peter can also provide information on the Elizabethan II Study Group.

I had a good feeling about promoting journals and societies today after I e-mailed a friend from our club who just started collecting Europa stamps. I sent him the information about the Europa Study Unit, and he replied: "At a time like this, I appreciate belonging to a club." There is much to share and as those of you who belong to the Fundy Stamp Collectors Club know, belonging to a club is a valuable experience.

There is a study unit or a society for practically every possible collecting interest in stamps from religion on stamps, to Christmas, from cats to dogs to lighthouses, to music, to bells, to boxing.

If you want information on a specific area, please write me gnowian@nb.sympatico.ca. If it exists, I'll send you an address and a contact. Consider adding a new journal or membership in a new society in 2007. Happy collecting.

As a follow up to my initial choice of classic philatelic books that is Postage Stamps of NB and NS, I would like to present a companion book that is The Postal History of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by C. M. Jephcott, V. G. Greene, and J. H. Young published by Sissons Publications Limited in 1964.

This classic volume deals with early postal history and communication for both provinces. The book includes 17 chapters that deal with various themes such as the history, courier and stage coach routes, railway communications, packet and ship letter mail, coastal communication, forwarding agents, express companies and communications for both provinces. This volume of 393 pages provides many illustrations and is very informative. The authors have been very thorough in their documentation and research. Undoubtedly, it remains one of the most authoritative works in the postal history of NS and NB. In addition, the authors have developed an original rarity factor to evaluate the scarcity of postmarks from both provinces for this era. Only 400 copies of this book were printed which make it a rare and much sought after book in the philatelic field. You may on occasion find a copy of this book in stamp auctions, but be prepared to bid high, the current estimate for this book is $225.00. Although expensive, this book remains my favorite book in my collection.

The feature article this edition is a real treat, as Michael Nowlan of Oromocto has submitted a wonderful article on philatelic societies and their journals. I hope that our Newsletter readers find it as interesting as I did. Thank you, Michael.

Every year about this time I update my collection with new issues, and as usual, the Christmas issues are among the very best, no matter which country. I have decided to grace the pages of this Newsletter with a few examples from my collection. These include both the Canadian and United States Christmas issues for 2006, as well as those from Great Britain, Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

In most of my Newsletters, I have tried to find some philatelic cartoons. I have about five or six of them, but that seems to be the limit. If any readers have any examples, 1 would be happy to receive them via e-mail, and would be pleased to display them for you in future issues.

The Fundy Stamp Collectors Club has had a busy fall season. Attendance at our monthly meetings had averaged 14, of a registered membership of 21. Our purchase of the two lots of British Oceania stamps by auction went very well, and was sold in its entirety at cost, with the club earning a small mark-up. This was the second time that we have done this, and on both occasions interest was very high. Monthly meetings also have had a variety of presentations. These included one-page presentations on the letters "C" in September, "D" in November, "E" in December, and "F" in January. The October meeting saw the auction of the British Oceania lots. The upcoming meeting in February will see a presentation on the War of 1812, by Ron Messenger.

Planning has already started For BRUNPEX 2007. A new location has been secured, at the Chateau Moncton, for Saturday, October 20, 2007. This will also be the 10^th Anniversary of BRUNPEX, so organizers under chairman Gilles Olivier are planning a few special events. Hope to see you all then.

Look for the next issue of The Fundy Stamp News in late May 2007.

Don Mills, editor

e-mail: donmillscanada@yahoo.com

Please note that the paper newsletter also contained a beginners circle and club directory. These are now on their on pages that you can get to from the main page.