We have recently received a 20-page newsletter from the Swiss Scout Philatelists Association (SPPhV). In his editorial, President Martin Bosle writes: “…two important philatelic events are scheduled for 2026: EuroScout 2026 from 3 to 6 September 2026 in Palanga, Lithuania, and the Level 2 exhibition or Stamp Day 2026 from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Simplonhalle in Brig-Glis (Valais), which is a perfect opportunity to plan a long weekend in Kandersteg or in Valais. We would be delighted to meet as many of you as possible at these events!”
The SPPhV is a member of the Association of Swiss Philatelic Societies (VSPhV) and the International Federation of Scout & Guide Stamp Collecting Organisations (IFSCO).
The British Library has digitised and released The Row Collection of Siam (Thailand), 1881–1918, making one of the earliest specialist philatelic studies of a single country freely accessible online. Available globally through the Internet Archive, the collection focuses on postage stamps, postal stationery, and postal markings from a transformative period in Thai history. Compiled by British zoologist and philatelist Richard Williams Harold Row (1884–1919), it contains 24,473 items across 1,358 pages in twenty-three volumes and remains a landmark example of meticulous philatelic research.
According to Richard Scott Morel, Curator of the British Library Philatelic Collections, stamps issued under King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh served as potent symbols of the Chakri dynasty’s modernisation efforts and assertion of sovereignty as Siam resisted colonial influence. The online release includes high-resolution 600 dpi PDF scans supported by browsable metadata through the UK National Archives’ Discovery catalogue, enabling detailed study and responsible reuse under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC license.
The initiative represents the first stage in a broader programme to digitise the Library’s philatelic holdings, with invitations extended to researchers and societies to contribute to future development.
The first volume of the Memoirs of the Italian Academy of Philately and Postal History, edited by Clemente Fedele and Thomas Mathà, marks the revival of a distinguished scholarly tradition linking philately, postal history, and cultural research. Heir to the earlier Academy of Philatelic and Numismatic Studies, the institution renews the practice of publishing memoirs as tools for knowledge sharing and preservation. The theme of this inaugural volume, “Epidemics and Communications,” stems from the 2023 Bolzano conference and explores how disease outbreaks shaped postal systems over time.
The editors’ introduction, Lettere appestate, frames the topic through historical and philatelic lenses, revealing how letters—despite being potential carriers of contagion—remained essential for information exchange and crisis management. The essays that follow examine postal disinfection, sanitary controls, and the intertwining of public health and communication routes, with case studies spanning Trentino–Bolzano, Verona, Tuscany, Corsica, Liguria, and beyond. A notable feature is Fedele’s extensive bibliographic section containing over 600 references, alongside indexes and member lists that enhance its research value.
More than proceedings, the volume is a reflection on resilience, communication, and collective memory. It highlights disinfected letters as historical witnesses rather than curiosities, offering insight into past strategies for confronting epidemics—an echo profoundly relevant in the post-pandemic present.
Details: size 28 × 21 cm, 144 pages, fully in colour, hardcover, ISBN 9791224302964. Available from Vaccari, €40.
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https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/memorie2025-800.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-12-05 17:11:032025-12-05 17:14:59Memoirs of the Italian Academy of Philately and Postal History
The Swiss Scout Philatelists Association
We have recently received a 20-page newsletter from the Swiss Scout Philatelists Association (SPPhV). In his editorial, President Martin Bosle writes: “…two important philatelic events are scheduled for 2026: EuroScout 2026 from 3 to 6 September 2026 in Palanga, Lithuania, and the Level 2 exhibition or Stamp Day 2026 from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Simplonhalle in Brig-Glis (Valais), which is a perfect opportunity to plan a long weekend in Kandersteg or in Valais. We would be delighted to meet as many of you as possible at these events!”
The SPPhV is a member of the Association of Swiss Philatelic Societies (VSPhV) and the International Federation of Scout & Guide Stamp Collecting Organisations (IFSCO).
The complete newsletter: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025_03_SPPhV_newsletter_03_finale_Version.pdf
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The British Library Digitises Landmark Siam Collection, 1881–1918
The British Library has digitised and released The Row Collection of Siam (Thailand), 1881–1918, making one of the earliest specialist philatelic studies of a single country freely accessible online. Available globally through the Internet Archive, the collection focuses on postage stamps, postal stationery, and postal markings from a transformative period in Thai history. Compiled by British zoologist and philatelist Richard Williams Harold Row (1884–1919), it contains 24,473 items across 1,358 pages in twenty-three volumes and remains a landmark example of meticulous philatelic research.
According to Richard Scott Morel, Curator of the British Library Philatelic Collections, stamps issued under King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh served as potent symbols of the Chakri dynasty’s modernisation efforts and assertion of sovereignty as Siam resisted colonial influence. The online release includes high-resolution 600 dpi PDF scans supported by browsable metadata through the UK National Archives’ Discovery catalogue, enabling detailed study and responsible reuse under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC license.
The initiative represents the first stage in a broader programme to digitise the Library’s philatelic holdings, with invitations extended to researchers and societies to contribute to future development.
Explore the Row Collection today: https://archive.org/details/the-row-collection
For further information please email richard.morel@bl.uk
…
Memoirs of the Italian Academy of Philately and Postal History
The first volume of the Memoirs of the Italian Academy of Philately and Postal History, edited by Clemente Fedele and Thomas Mathà, marks the revival of a distinguished scholarly tradition linking philately, postal history, and cultural research. Heir to the earlier Academy of Philatelic and Numismatic Studies, the institution renews the practice of publishing memoirs as tools for knowledge sharing and preservation. The theme of this inaugural volume, “Epidemics and Communications,” stems from the 2023 Bolzano conference and explores how disease outbreaks shaped postal systems over time.
The editors’ introduction, Lettere appestate, frames the topic through historical and philatelic lenses, revealing how letters—despite being potential carriers of contagion—remained essential for information exchange and crisis management. The essays that follow examine postal disinfection, sanitary controls, and the intertwining of public health and communication routes, with case studies spanning Trentino–Bolzano, Verona, Tuscany, Corsica, Liguria, and beyond. A notable feature is Fedele’s extensive bibliographic section containing over 600 references, alongside indexes and member lists that enhance its research value.
More than proceedings, the volume is a reflection on resilience, communication, and collective memory. It highlights disinfected letters as historical witnesses rather than curiosities, offering insight into past strategies for confronting epidemics—an echo profoundly relevant in the post-pandemic present.
Details: size 28 × 21 cm, 144 pages, fully in colour, hardcover, ISBN 9791224302964. Available from Vaccari, €40.
…