Tasmanian Philatelic Society

Established 1900

About the Tasmanian Philatelic Society (TPS)

The Tasmanian Philatelic Society has been providing a meeting place for people interested in all aspects of stamp collecting, postal history and related interests since 1900. The TPS welcomes people of all ages, interests and levels of knowledge to participate in its activities as a visitor or as a member – all that’s required is an interest in philately. At the local level the TPS is a society for any collector of stamp-related material. The TPS is also  a Society for collectors specialising in Tasmanian material and around half our members fall into this category, many living in other Australian States and overseas

Activities

TPS holds monthly meetings on the first Monday of the Month, except for January, at 7:30 PM, 159 Macquarie St, Legacy House, Hobart. Talks and displays are given and members and visitors can meet informally. Guest speakers as listed on the Annual Program cover a wide range of topics and include acknowledged experts in their field. A small ‘Sale by Tender’ is held at each meeting where members can buy and sell. Exchange sheets are also circulated at meetings, and regular circuit books are available to those members living in Tasmania.

Member Services

A useful Philatelic Library has been established, containing catalogues and publications on all aspects of stamp collecting and related fields. Scans of holdings can be provided for members not able to visit the library in person within limits of Australian copyright law, usually 10% or one chapter of a book.

There is a strong Tasmanian and Australian section but publications covering many other countries are held. The TPS also maintains recent copies of key Catalogues for reference by members.

Ultra violet lamps and high quality watermark detectors are available for members’ use at a convenient venue in Hobart.

Publications

The TPS journal ‘The Courier’ is published twice yearly and is provided to financial members as part of their membership. This journal has been regularly published since 1985 and presents a wide and detailed coverage of the stamps, postal history and postal markings of Tasmania. Back copies of The Courier are available for sale and are useful references for the collector of any aspect of Tasmanian Philately.

Buying and selling stamps

The Exchange Branch provides an opportunity for members to buy and sell surplus material through circuit books within Tasmania. The Exchange books are circulated to members at each meeting. There is also a ‘sale by tender’ at TPS meetings where any member can either buy or sell material

Membership

Visitors are always welcome at TPS meetings. If you would like to join the TPS, application may be made to the Secretary  – please see the Membership page for details. The annual membership fee is from $10 to $35 depending on the category of membership.

Office Bearers 2022 – 2023

Patron: Malcolm Groom

President:  Ross Ewington

Vice President: Peter Allan

Vice-president: John Campton

Secretary: John Panckridge

Treasurer: Mike Gray

Exchange Superintendent: Dick Williams

Webmaster, Publications: Peter Allan

Librarian: Jeff Lea

Publications sub-committee: Peter Allan, John Campton, Ross Ewington, Malcolm Groom

Committee:

  • Heather Andrews
  • Peter Lucas 
An early cover from Swansea to Hobart dated 4 August 1855.

An early cover from Swansea to Hobart dated 4 August 1855. Swansea was also known as Waterloo Point. The envelope is franked with a 4d Courier stamp which has been hand cancelled with the Barred Numeral number 58, which was used at the Swansea Post Office. Circular date stamps were not introduced into Tasmania until 1865 and until this time, either a barred numeral handstamp or a cancel in pen and ink by the local post master was used to cancel stamps. Many offices did not receive circular date stamps until well after 1865. The postage rate for an “inland” letter – within the colony – was 4d per oz at this time.