Competitions
One domestic competition is held annually for the benefit of all members. This is:
The "ROAKE TROPHY" - awarded for the best article featuring some aspect of new research on any of our subjects of interest published in India Post during the year - or any such other conditions as may be set.
The Roake Trophy, was introduced in 1970 and was awarded annually for the best display at a London meeting on a theme set each year by the Committee. Lately, however, it has been awarded for the best article or series of articles featuring some aspect of new research on any of our subjects of interest received by the Editor of India Post and published during the year. It is awarded by the Committee on the recommendation of the Editor of India Post.
Competitions - USA and Canada
In order to encourage the showing of India related material, our American section has the ISC Medal which is available to the judges at all the "national level" U.S. and Canadian shows. The crieteria for award is very simple: India- related and must get at least a Bronze show award. We usually give out 4 or 5 a year. Its not intended for International
level displays.
2009 - EXCITEMENT AT NAPEX (North America Philatelic Exhibition)
India Study Circle for Philately walks away with top prizes
report from Peter Leevers, Editor - India Post
Despite the enormous amount of philatelic writing, collecting and study going right back to the 1890s, there has long been a feeling that the subcontinent has not been represented in the world philately in anything like the importance that its large population might command. The Study Circle still has relatively few members and little activity in India itself and popularity of the States internationally has been held back by puzzlement with “all those funny scripts" and a fear of forgeries. My view is that the development of philately of a country follows faithfully the development of its middle class. If that be so, then India’s growth since the early 90s should now be followed by growth in this and other leisure interests. Of course, once the hobby is established then its gems can become a repository of value in times of economic uncertainty, such as these.
I decided this year to put our Journal into the literature competition at the National Philatelic Exhibition in Washington DC. At the last minute I took the trip myself, to meet American members and make some visits of my own. What a time we had! The India Study Circle was one of the host societies. This means that our Secretary there, John Warren, ran a stand and had plenty of work to do. We had a Study Circle meeting, a restaurant meal, a banquet, and a reception with the United States Postal Service at its museum. It was a hectic four days.
But the big news is that every single philatelic entry from our members gained Gold medal or better.
Thus, Ron Klimley from Florida, who showed his collection of the Indian Refugee Relief tax, with a full range of instructional markings handstand frankings and handstamped overprints organised by State, won Gold. Dan Walker, who is involved in organised philately in Washington, and was a pleasure to meet, won Gold for his Barwani, which included a plating study of the postal adhesives. Our secretary, John Warren, won both a Gold medal and the American Philatelic Society award for excellence (predominantly 1900 to 1940) for his Bundi study of the postal adhesives, which included a plating study showing that the long-running "sacred cows" issue ran to at least 58 identifiable printings. Steven Zwillinger won Gold medals for two exhibits of British Indian material from Edward VII reign, stamps and postal stationery. He also displayed telegraph material of the period in the single frame non-competitive class.
Sandeep Jaiswal’s entry on the telegraph stamps of Jammu and Kashmir was brought into the Court of Honor (an honour shared with only one other entry which was from the Smithsonian Postal Museum). His two other ten frame entries, on the philately of Dhar and of Indore respectively, both took Gold. These were both comprehensive exhibits that went far beyond the States’ own adhesives to follow their postal history using all of the material available.
I felt almost left out, just taking a Vermeil for our journal. However, the steady move to higher printing standards makes it very difficult now to win Gold without using full colour.
Lastly, the Study Circle as a society won both the Grand and the Reserve Grand awards and that are made to societies by the American Philatelic Society.
Just to put our achievements into perspective, 16 awards in all were made in the General and Postcard Class of Gold medals. India Study Circle members took seven of them!
2009 - EXCITEMENT AT NAPEX (North America Philatelic Exhibition) - India Study Circle for Philately walks away with top prizes. Scroll down the page for full details of this amazing achievement.
