The FEPA Awards for 2023

The FEPA Board wishes to express its profound gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the recognition of exceptional achievements in the world of European philately by nominating individuals and societies for the FEPA Medals and Certificates of Appreciation for 2023. The Board has decided to make the following awards.

THE FEPA MEDAL FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO ORGANISED PHILATELY 2023

ELI WEBER (ISRAEL)

Eli Weber has served as President of the Israeli Philatelic Federation for the last 30 years and under his leadership it has reached exceptional heights of achievement. Israel hosted three International stamp exhibitions and a European exhibition. He has served the international philatelic community as a member of the jury since 1984 – a remarkable period of 40 years during which as a group leader he has trained many fellow jury members with the result that a large proportion of the current generation of judges did their apprenticeship under his guidance. He has served as President of the jury at no less than 6 international exhibitions – Tel Aviv 1998, Tel Aviv 2008, Prague 2018, Budapest 2022, IBRA 2023, and the recent EFIRO 2024. He was also President of the jury at the European stamp exhibition “Jerusalem 3000” in 1995. It speaks highly for the regard in which he is held that five different European federations considered him as the most suitable person to lead their jury.

THE FEPA MEDAL FOR EXCEPTIONAL PHILATELIC STUDY AND RESEARCH 2023

The following nominations have been presented:

Great Britain, Colin Tabeart, British Long Distance Mail Packets Vol 2. The Harwich Packets 1816-1834
Greece, Stavros Andreadis, Large Hermes Heads – Printings and Shades
Italy, Fabio Bonacina & Beniamino Bordoni, Creatività per un francobollo
Lebanon, Semaan Bassil, Mail in the Levant. Beirut – A Case Study in the early age of steamship and globalisation 1835-1914
Spain, Eugenio de Quesada, El Correo sin Correos en España, siglos XV a XVIII

The winner will be announced at the end of June.

THE FEPA CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION 2023

Triestingtaler Briefmarkensammler Verein Hirtenberg, Hirtenberg, Austria
The Triestingtaler Stamp Collectors Club, founded in 1967 and gathering 92 members, is one of Austria’s most active clubs. They host the “HIBRIA” event nearly every two years, featuring class 1 and 2 exhibitions, special themes, and philatelic competitions with dealers and foreign postal administrations. The club has also hosted the Austrian exhibition ÖVEBRIA twice with FEPA recognition. In 2023, ORF’s broadcasting coverage of their Stamp Collectors Day generated significant public interest and new memberships. The club’s success is further complemented by cultural and social events, including excursions and gatherings for members and friends.

Klub filatelistu 04-01, Liberec, Czech Republic
In recent years, the Philatelic Club 04-01 Liberec has significantly promoted Czech philately both domestically and internationally. Key achievements include organizing major exhibitions such as LIBEREC 2022 and LIBEREC 2019 and having members on the PRAGA 2018 board. Club members took a successfully part in FIP exhibitions and exhibited philatelic literature at FEPA shows. They contribute to philatelic literature, write for national magazines, and publish for professional societies. Members are involved in digitizing philatelic literature, serve as experts for the Union of Czech Philatelists, and offer free advice on stamp valuation. The club, founded in 1887, also organizes monthly regional stamp exchanges.

Circolo Filatelico “Giacomo Puccini”, Viareggio (Lucca)
This society, established in 2007 by a small group of people very fond of stamps, postcards, coins, and other collectibles, is based in a town in Tuscany famous for its seaside resort but also as the home of the composer Giacomo Puccini. The society, currently with 80 members, has always been very active in promoting philately in the local community and the region, especially among young people and in schools. The society, currently with about 80 members, has linked philately to the town’s most important events, first and foremost Carnival, with philatelic exhibitions and other initiatives.

Royal Tunbridge Wells Philatelic Society, Royal Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom
The Royal Tunbridge Wells Philatelic Society, established in 1945, attracts members from various regions and holds daytime meetings twice monthly, except during July and August. Facing declining attendance in 2018, the society shifted to all daytime meetings in 2019. During the 2020 Covid pandemic, they successfully transitioned to Zoom meetings, maintaining participation levels. The society’s activities focus on sociable and inclusive philatelic meetings, including displays and an annual Stamp Fair in Crowborough. Plans involve enhancing their website as a philatelic resource and potentially adding social-philatelic displays to attract a broader audience.

THE FEPA CERTIFICATE FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS 2023
SINISHA PAVLESKI (NORTH MACEDONIA)

for his service to Philately at the national and international level over 30 years.