November 2005
C7NPLE MOST SIGNIFICANT LITERATURE EXHIBITION

Cimon Morin has declared Canada's 7th National Philatelic Literature Exhibition (C7NPLE) "the most important philatelic literature exhibition in the world this year." C7NPLE was held in Toronto in conjunction with STAMPEX October 14-16, 2005.

Morin, who coordinated C7NPLE which featured 181 exhibits, has been involved in most of Canada's seven philatelic literature exhibitions since their commencement in 1991. In 15 years, he says Juries have critiqued over 1,000 entries.

There were 92 entries in the handbook category while catalogues accounted for 32 exhibits and periodicals/newsletters had 48 contributions. There were also two commercial publications and seven electronic publications.

After the exhibition, books were donated to the Philatelic Collections, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation (VGGPRF). Cimon Morin said "they will enhance their respective collections and disseminate first class philatelic publications within Canada."

The jury handed out 25 Gold, 40 Vermeil, 72 Silver, 35 Silver Bronze, and three Bronze medals. There was one Certificate of Participation and two entries classed as Hors Concours while two others were withdrawn from competition on recommendation of the jury. There were entries received from 17 different countries.

Charles J.G. Verge, President of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, under whose auspices C7NPLE was conducted, was "delighted to see so many entries and such a great diversity of titles in the exhibition." He said "it is through exhibitions like C7NPLE that collectors gain an awareness of just how vast the literature of stamp collecting is." Verge also had high praise for the "co-operation and support" from the VGGPRF.

The Grand Prix of the exhibition went to the four-volume Prefilatelia Espanola: Catalogo de las Marcas Postales de Espana y sus Dominios de Indias, Siglos XVIII y XIX by Manuel Tizon.

Wolfgang Baldus' four titles: The Postage Stamps of the Principality of Trinidad, The Postage Stamps of the Independent State of Acre, The Postage Stamps of the Republic of Independent Guyana, and The Postage Stamps of the Kingdom of Sedang earned the author a special prize for excellence in exploring and presenting new areas relating to Cinderella history. A biography, in French, of forger Jean de Sperati also got a special prize for author Lucette Blanc-Giradet's authoritative research and effective exposition on the life a key figure in the history of philately.

Other special prizes went to the Postal History Journal for editors Diane DeBlois and Robert Dalton Harris' work in broadening the scope of postal coverage and to the Michel Specialized Catalogue of Germany for continued excellence in specialized coverage of a major complex collecting area.

The jury granted felicitations to Paolo Vollmeier's Repubblica di Venezia (2 volumes) for outstanding research, to John Alan Hicks' Civil War Era Occupational Licenses: 1863-1873 - A History and Catalog for design and typography, to Ross A. Towle's Postal Rates of Chile: 1766- 1959 for primary research, to Fakes, Forgeries, Experts Journal, No 8, 2005, for advancement and dissemination of philatelic knowledge, to The Asia Pacific Exhibitor (Volume 17, 2004) for services to members, and to Jeffrey Brown's electronic submission on Indian Air Mails for effective use of available technology.

A complete list of awards is available at http://www.rpsc.org/awards/c7nple-palmares.htm

The jury for C7NPLE was comprised of Michael 0. Nowlan (Oromocto, New Brunswick) as chair, Charles J.G. Verge (Ottawa), John Kevin Doyle (Illinois), Kenneth Trettin (Iowa), and Peter Martin (Connecticut).

Information on The RPSC is available by e-mail: info@rpsc.org or by visiting the Society's website at www.rpsc.org or call 416-979-8874.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael O. Nowlan 506-357-2698