History of the North of Ireland Philatelic Society

The century in stamps…

The North of Ireland Philatelic Society was founded in the autumn of 1907, just 67 years after the introduction of the postage stamp. King Edward VII, Queen Victoria’s eldest son, was on the throne and Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was President of the USA. For any society to have not only survived but flourished over the next century is no mean achievement. The last 100 years have been a period of monumental change. They have witnessed such developments as the sinking of the Titanic, the partition of Ireland, two World Wars, the formation of the welfare state, television, the Beatles, the assassination of JF Kennedy, the Northern Ireland Troubles, the moon landings, the internet, and 9/11. 

Could the six keen philatelists who between them formed the North of Ireland Society in Belfast, have had any idea that their creation would still be in existence 100 years later? Did they consider, when they first met together in the Grosvenor Road premises of Mr HP Woodside in 1907, that they were creating a piece of history in the city? Stamp collectors are, of course, keenly aware of history – their prized possessions, after all, commemorate key events and people. Belfast might well have felt like a place on the move in 1907, with its booming shipbuilding and linen industries. Just a year earlier the imposing City Hall, in the city centre, first opened its doors. Membership of the Philatelic Society quickly increased after its formation and its monthly meetings were moved to the Church of Ireland Young Men’s Society in Donegall Square East – with a fine view of the newly built splendour of the City Hall.

Various locations have since been used for the Society’s monthly meetings and the list provides a window into life in Belfast over the past century. It includes such names as the Carleton Café, the Lombard Café, the King George VI Memorial Hall in May Street, the top floors of the Imperial Cinema in Arthur Square, the International Hotel, the City YMCA and currently Hunter House College. Unfortunately, several of these locations no longer exist. In 1924, a well-known Ulster philatelist, Mr T Macgregor Greer DL, who had taken a great interest in the society, presented an elegant silver cup for the first of the annual competitions. The Greer Cup has been awarded every year since then, and its winners form a Who’s-Who of prominent philatelists in Northern Ireland over the years. In 1941 history imposed itself cruelly on the Philatelic Society when its valuable library, treasured records and minute books were destroyed in an air raid. Even the Luftwaffe’s bombs could not halt the organisation. It continued to meet throughout the war years and saw its membership grow further after the war. In 1948, a change in philatelic fashions was recognised by the Society with the inauguration of the Gordon Cup for theme-based collections. Like the Greer Cup, it is the subject of enthusiastic competition every year.

The Society marked its 50th anniversary in 1957 in fine style, with a major exhibition at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery featuring over 15,000 stamps from around the world. It could boast of 200 Members by the time of these Golden Jubilee celebrations. The commemorative cover prepared by the Society for this event is shown on the back cover. The Belfast Telegraph recorded the event by devoting a special half-page feature to “The Hobby of Kings”. The article, which appeared on 9th October, 1957, was penned by the Philatelic Society’s then Chairman. It stated: “Philately is indeed a fascinating hobby. History is writ large upon our stamps.”  

The Society is very grateful to the Nevin family for a bequest, the interest from which is available to boost the Society’s interests. The Nevin Bequest is administered on behalf of the Society by John Finlay. The North of Ireland Philatelic Society faces the next 100 years with great optimism. Despite all of the distractions which come with modern living, the Society continues to flourish. It hosts a varied programme of fascinating monthly presentations at its current meeting place, RPS, 74 Boucher Road in south Belfast. It currently has about 100 members, drawn from all parts of the province and from all walks of life. As ever, it has only one qualification for membership – an interest in the fascinating hobby of philately.

W Thompson.