Philatex show report

By M.A.Sherwood-Jenkins

This year's spring Philatex has just come and gone and I was lucky enough to get a little time away from work to attend. Unlike the hectic frenzy of the office, this seemed a very civilised place to be - welcome island of calm amidst a sea of pressure. Having fortified myself, Yelena, and six year old Emma (already privy to the delight of soaking stamps, as well as a master with the tweezers and with her own stockbook album) in the canteen, I took to the floor. 

It was not long before I spied the first fellow Russophile in the shape of a certain Dr Stoten earnestly leafing through a mound of covers. A glutton for punishment it seems he had already been to Stampex and commented on the quality of material he found there - including a couple of nice 'Used abroad' cards (watch his column in the journal!). I left Bill to his work and continued the usual quick first walk round to get the feel. Having noted a few promising stands - Trevor Pateman, Igor Pugachev from Russia (who was also represented at Stampex, and so Russian philately must be alive and well in London), Webster Stickney (from the USA), and one or two specialising in postal history, I settled on a visit to Trevor first. This proved an admirable choice as not only did he have some nice Civil War material, blocks of Denikins with sheet marginal inscriptions, and a couple of Siberian blocks, but also the most exquisite monogrammed cover with pristine wax seals that I have seen for a long time. Not only was the cover a delight but the content equally so, being a wonderful letter home from an American tourist in St. Petersburg in 1885. (A future write-up for the journal predicted). But this was not all, a pleasant chat and a look through the stock was followed by a welcome shot of Slivovitz, shared with Trevor and Igor who just happened along.

Having finished at Trevor's stand, I drifted round to Igor to view a few choice items of ephemera including an award certificate to a Russian atomic scientist signed by Stalin, a full signature no less and not his usual abbreviated initials. Another document bore Trotsky's signature - the early Russian type not the later anglicised version of exile. I also came across a batch of other luminaries from the Soviet past - Krushchev, Beria, Zhukov etc. 

I parted from Igor with a lighter pocket and proceeded to Webster's stand via a few of the smaller postal history boxes. This proved a fortuitous route as I found a British Embassy document bearing both Soviet and British Revenues as well as a batch of very clear Embassy and consular handstamps. This was sold, as often is the case, as a 'curiosity of indeterminate value' - which as many of you will realise means 'cheaply'. So happily onward to Webster's, where again I was lucky to find a treasure-trove of interesting little items, including charity seals on cover (soldiers kopeck etc), some cartes de visite with Russian stamps on them, and several very attractive postcards. 

After this a combination of dwindling funds and the need for a six year old to get to bed by a reasonable time brought to a close an enjoyable afternoon at the show and all returned home happy.

© 2001 the BSRP