In accordance with Article 1.4 of the General Regulations of the F.I.P. for the Evaluation of Competitive Exhibits at F.I.P. Exhibitions (GREV), these Special Regulations have been developed to supplement those principles with regard to Postal History Also refer to Guidelines to Postal History Regulations.
Postal History exhibits contain material carried by, and related to, official, local or private mails Such exhibits generally emphasise routes, rates, markings, usages and other postal aspects, services, functions and activities related to the history of the development of Postal Services Postmark exhibits have classifications and/or studies of postal markings related to official, local or private mails on covers and other postal items (ref. GREV Article 2.3).
3.1 A Postal History exhibit consists of used covers and letters, used postal stationery, used postage stamps, and other postal documents so arranged as to illustrate a balanced plan as a whole or to develop any aspect of postal history. Examples of postal history subjects include:
1 Pre-adhesive postal services
2 The development of local, regional, national or international
postal services
3 Postal rates
4 Routes for transportation of mails
5 Postal markings (Marcophily) - as described in Article 2,
second para
6 Military mail, field post, siege mail, POW, civil and military
internee camp mail
7 Maritime mail and/or inland waterway mail
8 Railway mail
9 All kinds of Travelling Post Offices
10. Disaster mail
11. Disinfected mail
12. Censorship mail
13. Postage due mail
14. Automation of the mails
15. Forwarding agents markings
16. Official mail, Free Frank mail
The plan or concept of the exhibit shall be clearly explained in an
introductory statement (ref. GREV, Article 3.3).
3.2 A Postal History exhibits may contain, where strictly necessary, maps, prints, decrees and similar associated materials Such items must have direct relation to the chosen subject and to the postal services described in the exhibit (ref. GREV, Article 3.4).
(ref. GREV, Article 4) "Presentation" (ref. GREV, Article 4.7) The importance of understanding a postal history exhibit can mean that more text is included. However, this text must be concise and clear.
5.1 Postal History exhibits will be judged by the approved specialists in their respective fields and in accordance with Section V. (Article 31-47) of GREX (ref. GREV, Article 5.1).
5.2 For Postal History and Postmark exhibits the following relative terms are presented to lead the jury to a balanced evaluation (ref. GREV, Article 5.2): 2
| 1. Treatment (20) and Philatelic Importance (10) | 30 |
| 2. Philatelic and related Knowledge, Personal Study and Research | 35 |
| 3. Condition (10) and Rarity (20) | 30 |
| 4. Presentation | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
Exhibits will be evaluated by allocating points for each of the above criteria. These will be entered on score sheets of an approved format.
6.1 In the event of any discrepancies in the text arising from translation, the English text shall prevail. 6.2 These Special Regulations for the Evaluation of Postal History Exhibits at F.I.P. Exhibitions have been approved by the 61st F.I.P. Congress in Granada on the 4th and 5th May 1992 They come into force on 1st January 1995 and apply to those exhibitions granted F.I.P. Patronage, auspices or support, which will take place after 1st January 1995.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS These revised Guidelines will come in force for exhibitions after 1st January 1995, when the revised GREX and GREV are implemented.
1.1 These Guidelines give practical advice on how to apply the GREV (1.1- 1.4) and the SREV for Postal History exhibits approved by the 61st Congress at Granada, Spain.
1.2 The SREV for Postal History exhibits is the main framework for the general principles determining what a Postal History exhibit should contain, what it should encompass and how it should be developed and presented. These Guidelines provide general guidance for the judging of such exhibits, and are also intended to guide collectors exhibiting in the Postal History class.
1.3 Where a dispute arises between the level of authority of the GREV, SREV for Postal History exhibits, and these Guidelines, the GREV has the highest order of authority, the SREV for Postal History exhibits the second order of authority, and these Guidelines rate below all decisions made by the FIP Congress.
2.1 A Postal History exhibit, by analysis of the philatelic objects within it, should show and explain the development or operation of one or more postal services; the practical application of postal rules and regulations, and the study and classification of the use of philatelic material and/or postal markings to illustrate the main subject of the exhibit. It applies to exhibits covering the start of organized postal services to those of the present day. 3
2.2 The SREV gives a list of possible subjects for a Postal History exhibit; these are, however, not a limitation on the permissible subjects. It is possible to show the development of mails between two or more areas, nations or continents; to show the development of postal services in one country, one district or one single geographical locality. Alternatively the development of one special postal service can be shown - either world-wide, in a country or groups of countries or more locally.
2.3 Exhibits may be planned chronologically, geographically (e.g. by local/ national districts), by mode of transport/service, or by any other way that the exhibitor may feel appropriate to employ.
2.4 Exhibitors should avoid large-scale duplication of similar items, large chronological gaps where possible and the inclusion of expensive items not directly relevant to the subject shown.
2.5 A general rule should be that a Postal History exhibit should show philatelically interesting material to the best advantage, and not appear to be a manuscript for a monograph.
3.1 A Postmark (Marcophily) exhibit is concerned with the classification and study of postal markings and obliterations, including manuscript markings, applied by official and private postal services.
3.2 Postmark exhibits may range from the pre-stamp era to the present day.
3.3 The study may cover the function, the period of use, place of use, colour, state or other changes over the course of time, or other aspects of postal markings The subjects can include marks of office or of services such as registration, maritime, traveling post offices, disinfection, instructional marks, and so on. Examples of Postmark exhibits include the study of repaired datestamps and methods of showing distances used by postal administrations. A study of the different types of automatic postal coding marks used would be a Postmark exhibit; the introduction of automation by an Administration is, however, postal history.
3.4 A useful demonstration of knowledge and personal study of postal markings could include the earliest and latest recorded dates of use, or identification of place of use, where this is not apparent from the wording or particular types (e.g. identifying the place of use of mute or numeral cancellations).
3.5 Markings should be as clear as possible with all essential wording complete Where Postmark exhibits are based on obliterating marks, they should be complete and preferably on cover Generally partial strikes should be avoided; so should unnecessary duplication other than early and late dates to demonstrate the period of use Any attempt to improve the appearance of a postal marking, subsequent to its being applied by the postal authorities, shall be treated as being faked material (See GREX Article 41.2).
3.6 Postmark exhibits should be judged using the same criteria as Postal History.
3.7 Postage stamps displayed in a Postmark exhibit are irrelevant except that they should be in reasonable condition If used postage stamps are included in a Postmark exhibit the evaluation will be based on the classification and study of the postal markings and obliterations on the stamps.
4.1 All Postal History exhibits must contain an introductory plan, showing the scope of the exhibit. The title of the exhibit should correspond to the introductory plan.
4.2 The plan should be used to give relevant general information on the subject and to indicate areas of personal investigation. It may also contain a short list of the important documentary sources used; this can be useful, but is not obligatory.
4 4.3 The judges will use this information to evaluate the material shown in relation to the aims set forth by the exhibitor. A well thought out plan may avoid otherwise lengthy descriptions later in the exhibit.
5.1 Treatment And Philatelic Importance 5.1.1 A total of 30 points can be given for treatment and philatelic importance. Up to 10 points should be related to the relative philatelic importance and up to 20 points to the development, completeness and correctness of the material shown.
5.1.2 When evaluating the treatment and importance of the exhibits, judges will look at the general development of the subject, the completeness of the material shown in relation to the scope of the exhibit and the relative philatelic significance of the subject shown, as well as the difficulty in duplicating the exhibit Exhibitors should ensure that their exhibit is cohesive and avoid combining largely unrelated subjects; such exhibits are likely to lose marks under the treatment and importance criterion.
5.1.3 The importance of an exhibit will be gauged in relation to the general postal history of the country, area or subject shown, and to philately in general It will usually be easier to adequately treat and provide completeness to unimportant subjects than to important ones in the space available.
5.1.4 For example, the postal history of a capital city may generally be more important than that of a provincial town or a rural area. A postal rate study of postal agreements between two or more states would generally be more important than the domestic internal rates of an individual state over the same period An exhibit (e.g. of rates) which spans the preadhesive and postage stamp eras, but omits the first postage stamp issues, will inevitably be downgraded under importance and rarity. This is equally applicable to exhibits of all periods which omit the most difficult sections.
5.1.5 The judges should also assess whether the material exhibited is relevant to the scope of the exhibit With rare exceptions, unused stamps and unused postal stationery are irrelevant Maps, proclamations etc., used only if relevant to the development and documentation, should be restricted in number and the judges should in principle only evaluate the philatelic material shown (GREV 3.1-3.2).
5.2 Philatelic and Related Knowledge, Personal Study and Research 5.2.1 A total of 35 points can be given for philatelic and related knowledge, personal study and research.
5.2.2 Philatelic and related knowledge is demonstrated by the items chosen for display and their related comments Personal study is demonstrated by the proper analysis of the items chosen for display For exhibits where obviously a great deal of real research (presentation of new facts related to the chosen subject) has been done, a large proportion of the total points may be given for this research In cases where a subject has been significantly researched previously, an exhibit should not be penalised for lack of opportunity for personal research.
5.2.3 The proper evaluation of philatelic and related knowledge, personal study, and research will be based on the relevant description of each philatelic object shown Judges and exhibitors should bear in mind that the information given should not overwhelm the philatelic material shown A well thought-out plan (see 4. Introductory Plan above) may avoid otherwise lengthy descriptions later in the exhibit.
5.3 Condition and Rarity 5.3.1 A total of 30 points can be given for condition and rarity Up to 20 points should be allocated to rarity and significance of the items shown and up to 10 points to the condition of the items shown.
5.3.2 Rarity is directly related to the philatelic items shown and to the relative scarcity of material of the type shown and in particular to the philatelic rarity (however, not the value), and the importance of the total exhibit and its subject E.g. a postal marking of a small town showing the 5 only example known, but of a standard type used throughout the country, may be of less significance than a special type only used at that town.
5.3.3 As condition may vary considerably for postal history material, judges should bear in mind the quality obtainable On the whole, good condition, clean, legible postmarks and other postal markings as well as the general appearance of the objects, should be rewarded, while poor quality should be penalised. When possible, covers and other objects carrying postage stamps should show the stamps in good condition. E.g. an exhibit of wreck/air crash covers, while the condition of the covers will by definition be poor, the postal markings applied upon salvage should be as clear as possible.
5.4 Presentation 5.4.1 Presentation may be given up to 5 points. It should complement the treatment of the exhibit by its general lay-out and clarity. Judges should evaluate the work put into the presentation from the point of view of how it facilitates the understanding and attraction of the exhibit to judges and viewers alike
5.4.2 Illustrations of relevant postal markings are necessary only when the originals are not clear enough to the onlooker When it is desirable to illustrate significant markings on the reverse side of a cover, such markings can be either drawn or illustrated with a reproduction, such as a photograph or photocopy, as long as the reproduction is clearly seen as a reproduction to onlookers. Coloured photographs or reproductions should be at least 25% different in size from the original.
6.1 These guidelines do not answer every question an exhibitor or a judge may raise. Each exhibit will have to be evaluated on its own merits.
6.2 In the event of any discrepancies in the text arising from translation, the English text shall prevail.