On 14 November in Wiesbaden, the Association Internationale des Journalistes Philatéliques (AIJP) held its annual General Meeting. The occasion marked both a heartfelt farewell to Wolfgang Maassen, who has chaired the AIJP for twenty years, and a warm welcome to Ari Muhonen as the Association’s new leader.
The new six-member Board was elected for a period of four years.
Ari Muhonen, President
Vincent Schouberechts, Vice President
Abhishek Bhuwalka, Vice President
Rainer von Scharpen, Secretary General
Hans Schwarz, Treasurer
Pol Wijnants, Director
Top photo: Abhishek Bhuwalka (left), Hans Schwarz, Ari Muhonen, Vincent Schouberechts, Rainer von Scharpen, and Pol Wijnants.
Bottom photo: Wolfgang Maassen hands over the “alarm clock” to Ari Muhonen.
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https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AIJP_2025-800.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-11-22 16:03:182025-11-22 16:06:32Ari Muhonen Succeeds Wolfgang Maassen as AIJP President
Hello philatelic world, hello exhibitors and collectors,
Bratislava calling! A small country in the heart of Europe—Slovakia—has taken on a grand task: to host its very first world stamp exhibition under the patronage of FIP and recognised by FEPA. It will be a specialised exhibition of traditional philately, postal history, thematic philately, philatelic literature, revenue stamps, and postcards, encompassing 1,500 frames. In Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, world-class exhibits will be showcased in the dignified halls of the Slovak National Gallery, alongside treasures of fine art, from 30 June to 4 July 2027. The organisers of SLOVPHILEX 2027 are a seasoned team with a track record of successful exhibitions with international participation.
Bratislava calling! Beneath the majestic castle lies a compact area steeped in history. You’ll feel its presence in the winding streets of the Old Town and when gazing at the golden crown atop the tower of St Martin’s Cathedral, the historic site of coronations for 17 monarchs, including the immortal Empress Maria Theresa. 560 years ago, Matthias Corvinus founded the Academia Istropolitana here, and the city remains Slovakia’s centre of science and education. It is also the heart of the Little Carpathian wine region, whose wines were once enjoyed by emperors and kings. The sparkling wine Chateau Palugyay won the Grand Prix at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris—long before the Grand Prix of FIP exhibitions existed—though philately was already beginning to take root in Bratislava.
Bratislava calling! On the stage of the Slovak National Theatre, the voices of opera stars have echoed and continue to grace the world’s most prestigious opera houses. Bratislava is a city rich in artistic heritage and a joyful place for relaxation in the company of guests from around the world, drawn by its reputation for a welcoming atmosphere. Many figures from global history, science, and culture have known this charm. Paracelsus and Albert Einstein walked its cobblestones, as did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Johann Strauss, Béla Bartók, Hans Christian Andersen, and Sándor Petőfi. Franz Xaver Messerschmidt and Georg Rafael Donner created their fascinating works here. The revered rabbi and scholar Chatam Sofer lived and is buried in Bratislava. And since man does not live by philately or fine wine alone, those interested in the history and culture of Central Europe will find plenty to enjoy in Bratislava’s museums and galleries.
Bratislava calling! The Danube, on whose banks Bratislava lies, connects the city to nearby Vienna in just 90 minutes via regular boat transport. Even faster and more frequent is the connection to Vienna’s Schwechat Airport, which receives flights from around the world—and where many exhibitors, national commissioners, jurors, and philatelists heading to SLOVPHILEX will arrive, unless their flight lands at Bratislava Airport. Bratislava’s hotels—Radisson Blu Carlton, Grandhotel Riverpark, Park Inn by Radisson Danube, and Hotel Devín—located very close to the exhibition venue, will satisfy even the most discerning guests.
And it is above all the Slovak philatelists and organisers of SLOVPHILEX 2027—though not only them—who are looking forward to your visit and your works, dear friends, your exhibition pieces.
…
https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/slovphilex.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-11-21 14:16:502025-11-21 14:16:50SLOVPHILEX 2027: Bratislava calling!
The Italian Association of Postal History (AISP) is delighted to announce the release of the new issue of its biannual journal, Cursores No. 36 (November 2025), marking a significant editorial and strategic turning point: the journal is now fully bilingual, with all content presented in both Italian and English.
Following the successful graphical renewal introduced with the May issue, this editorial choice aims to expand the boundaries of Italian postal history research, bringing national studies to an increasingly broad international audience. The goal is to stimulate a global dialogue and enrich the discussion among scholars and enthusiasts worldwide.
“This transformation into a bilingual journal is a fundamental step for AISP and for Italian postal history,” declares Luca Lavagnino, President of AISP. “We want the quality of the studies published in Cursores to be able to communicate with the international community without language barriers.”
The richly illustrated 128-page No. 36 offers an overview of in-depth studies spanning from the Napoleonic period to the maritime connections of the early twentieth century:
“Postal relationship between the French Empire and the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy 1805-1814” by Marco Panza.
“Across empires and borders: the long journey of a letter from Bukhara to Peshawar via the Italian route” by Enrico Carsetti.
“1847 – From Turin to Australia with a request to send two indigenous young boys” by Fabrizio Delmastro.
“The implementation of the ‘Poste aux armées’ at the time of the conquest of Naples (1806)” by Laurent Veglio.
“From the Far East by steamer. The postal connections with Europe and, more particularly, with Italy between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century” by Paolo Zavattoni.
“The service of the French Mediterranean steamers: maritime postal relations of the Kingdom of Sardinia” by Pietro Giribone and Angelo Teruzzi.
“‘I see red!’ or: What went wrong with these items?” by Lars Böttger.
“An unusual choice” in the section Gems of postal history by Alessandro Agostosi.
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https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cursores-36-800.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-11-20 11:39:202025-11-20 11:39:20CURSORES is now Totally Bilingual (Italian-English)
Ari Muhonen Succeeds Wolfgang Maassen as AIJP President
On 14 November in Wiesbaden, the Association Internationale des Journalistes Philatéliques (AIJP) held its annual General Meeting. The occasion marked both a heartfelt farewell to Wolfgang Maassen, who has chaired the AIJP for twenty years, and a warm welcome to Ari Muhonen as the Association’s new leader.
The new six-member Board was elected for a period of four years.
Top photo: Abhishek Bhuwalka (left), Hans Schwarz, Ari Muhonen, Vincent Schouberechts, Rainer von Scharpen, and Pol Wijnants.
Bottom photo: Wolfgang Maassen hands over the “alarm clock” to Ari Muhonen.
…
SLOVPHILEX 2027: Bratislava calling!
Received from the organisers of SLOVPHILEX 2027.
Hello philatelic world, hello exhibitors and collectors,
Bratislava calling! A small country in the heart of Europe—Slovakia—has taken on a grand task: to host its very first world stamp exhibition under the patronage of FIP and recognised by FEPA. It will be a specialised exhibition of traditional philately, postal history, thematic philately, philatelic literature, revenue stamps, and postcards, encompassing 1,500 frames. In Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, world-class exhibits will be showcased in the dignified halls of the Slovak National Gallery, alongside treasures of fine art, from 30 June to 4 July 2027. The organisers of SLOVPHILEX 2027 are a seasoned team with a track record of successful exhibitions with international participation.
Bratislava calling! Beneath the majestic castle lies a compact area steeped in history. You’ll feel its presence in the winding streets of the Old Town and when gazing at the golden crown atop the tower of St Martin’s Cathedral, the historic site of coronations for 17 monarchs, including the immortal Empress Maria Theresa. 560 years ago, Matthias Corvinus founded the Academia Istropolitana here, and the city remains Slovakia’s centre of science and education. It is also the heart of the Little Carpathian wine region, whose wines were once enjoyed by emperors and kings. The sparkling wine Chateau Palugyay won the Grand Prix at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris—long before the Grand Prix of FIP exhibitions existed—though philately was already beginning to take root in Bratislava.
Bratislava calling! On the stage of the Slovak National Theatre, the voices of opera stars have echoed and continue to grace the world’s most prestigious opera houses. Bratislava is a city rich in artistic heritage and a joyful place for relaxation in the company of guests from around the world, drawn by its reputation for a welcoming atmosphere. Many figures from global history, science, and culture have known this charm. Paracelsus and Albert Einstein walked its cobblestones, as did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Johann Strauss, Béla Bartók, Hans Christian Andersen, and Sándor Petőfi. Franz Xaver Messerschmidt and Georg Rafael Donner created their fascinating works here. The revered rabbi and scholar Chatam Sofer lived and is buried in Bratislava. And since man does not live by philately or fine wine alone, those interested in the history and culture of Central Europe will find plenty to enjoy in Bratislava’s museums and galleries.
Bratislava calling! The Danube, on whose banks Bratislava lies, connects the city to nearby Vienna in just 90 minutes via regular boat transport. Even faster and more frequent is the connection to Vienna’s Schwechat Airport, which receives flights from around the world—and where many exhibitors, national commissioners, jurors, and philatelists heading to SLOVPHILEX will arrive, unless their flight lands at Bratislava Airport. Bratislava’s hotels—Radisson Blu Carlton, Grandhotel Riverpark, Park Inn by Radisson Danube, and Hotel Devín—located very close to the exhibition venue, will satisfy even the most discerning guests.
And it is above all the Slovak philatelists and organisers of SLOVPHILEX 2027—though not only them—who are looking forward to your visit and your works, dear friends, your exhibition pieces.
…
CURSORES is now Totally Bilingual (Italian-English)
The Italian Association of Postal History (AISP) is delighted to announce the release of the new issue of its biannual journal, Cursores No. 36 (November 2025), marking a significant editorial and strategic turning point: the journal is now fully bilingual, with all content presented in both Italian and English.
Following the successful graphical renewal introduced with the May issue, this editorial choice aims to expand the boundaries of Italian postal history research, bringing national studies to an increasingly broad international audience. The goal is to stimulate a global dialogue and enrich the discussion among scholars and enthusiasts worldwide.
“This transformation into a bilingual journal is a fundamental step for AISP and for Italian postal history,” declares Luca Lavagnino, President of AISP. “We want the quality of the studies published in Cursores to be able to communicate with the international community without language barriers.”
The richly illustrated 128-page No. 36 offers an overview of in-depth studies spanning from the Napoleonic period to the maritime connections of the early twentieth century:
…