Founded - 1938
Birthplace of James Chalmers
Inventor of the Adhesive Postage Stamp
In 1999 Mr Jan. Raschke was awarded the Order of Merit from the Scottish Philatelic Association. The award was in recognition of his work in providing a special first day cover for the issue of 1st April 1970. He also organised and designed the special cancellation for the 650th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Scottish Independence in the Arbroath Abbey. This cancellation was the first pictorial cancellation to state the place, county and country. Mr Raschke drew the Postmaster General's attention to the fact that the signing in the Abbey was on 6th April and not the 1st. Mr Rashke is pictured receiving his award in Falkirk from Alexander 'Sandy' Forbes of the Dundee Society, watched by Mr Ron Marr - Secretary of Arbroath & District Stamp & Postcard Club.
Read the Declaration of Arbroath
Bellrock Lighthouse
On 24th March 1988 the Post Office issued a set of stamps featuring lighthouses. Arbroath & District Stamp & postcard Club issued a special commemorative cover featuring the Bellrock Lighthouse. A separate larger cover featuring all the stamps in the set was also issued in very limited numbers.
This is the full set issued on 24th March 1998
click stamps to enlarge
JAMES CHALMERS
THE SCOTS INVENTOR OF THE POSTAGE STAMP
from an article by
Rhoda Spence
James Chalmers was a native of Arbroath who moved to Dundee and established himself there as a bookseller, printer and publisher, eventually serving as a Town Councillor and becoming Convener of the Nine Incorporated Trades. Like many mild—looking people, he seems to have been a slayer of the dragons which retard progress, battling repeatedly in the cause of Burgh Reform, and fighting for the repeal of taxes on newspapers and newspaper advertisements, and the removal of the excise duty on paper.
His most burning enthusiasm, however, was postal reform, and to the delight of his fellow business-men, he managed to induce the authorities to speed up the mail between Dundee and London by a day each way, convincing them that this could be done without extra cost.
That he was far advanced in his scheme for an adhesive postage stamp in 1834, six years before the Penny Post was introduced, was later borne out not only by Dundee and Arbroath men of standing, but by employees in his printing-works. These afterwards recalled their work in applying gum to the slips and clipping the sample stamps apart—for the perforation was a subsequent refinement and came from another source.
Nor was James Chalmers’ plan imperfect, for he had worked out all its details, and had suggested the now universal means of paying for letters and packages of different weights by stamps of different colours. He even costed the expense of producing the stamps so accurately that his figure varied by the merest fraction from the estimate of those who later printed stamps for the government.
When the subject of a universal rate of postage came up in Parliament in 1839 James Chalmers submitted the plan he had worked out six years earlier, and when suggestions for making the Penny Post feasible were invited from the public, he sent it in again, this time backed by a testimonial from the merchants, bankers, and other leading citizens of Dundee. This is perhaps the most striking evidence that his reputation as originator of the stamp was already established, for shrewd business men do not back cranks or visionaries.
But with the introduction of the Penny Post in 1840, no recognition came to the quiet man whose adhesive stamp had made it possible. This was fought for much later by his fifth son Patrick, then resident in London after many years in the East. Patrick Chalmers’ ardent propaganda, carried on for twelve years, had support not only from many postal reformers in this country, but from philatelic experts on the Continent. After his death the cause was furthered by his elder daughter Leah, who worked untiringly to vindicate her grandfather’s claim to the title now engraved in stone above the site of his bookseller’s shop in Dundee” Originator of the Adhesive Postage Stamp.”
The above text taken from an article in the Scottish Magazine published in 1987
Arbroath & District Stamp and Postcard Club 50th Anniversary Cover
Please note:
Meetings are held in St Andrew's Church Hall, Hamilton Green Arbroath on the third Tuesday of every month from September to April at 7.30pm and all visitors will be made welcome.
2008 Syllabus UP
2008
January 15th Club Auction Night
February 19th Mr. Norman Watson
Subject to be confirmed
March 18th Visit from Aberdeen Philatelic Society
April 17th A.G.M - Viewing of Competition Entries and Presentation of Trophies
Please submit Competition entries of 10 sheets + title sheet if required by March meeting.
Competitions are in 2 categories:
J.S. Gordon Cup - One Country
Thematic Trophy - Any Theme
Club Auction
If you wish to include material in the annual auction please prepare and price items, and have them to Mr. W.P. Cargill by December 22nd., or earlier if possible.
Exchange Packets
Material for the Exchange Packets is always required and can be handed to the Packet Secretary at any time.
Stamp Fair - May 17th 2008
Please note this date in your diaries. Instead of our usual 'Shop Night' with Margaret Graham & Benny McIntyre - the Society is to hold an all day Stamp Fair in St. Andrews Church Hall on the above date, when Margaret & Benny will bring their vast stock for members and visitors to peruse. Teas and coffees will be available all day.
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