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Welcome to our website!
In 1949, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first French postage stamp, a group of British philatelists set up a pioneering specialist philatelic society devoted to the study of the stamps of France and the then French Empire. From small beginnings, the France and Colonies Philatelic Society now unites over 300 collectors in Britain and overseas in the many and varied delights of the stamps and postal history of la Francophonie.
The Society provides an extensive programme of meetings in several locations, holds an annual Philatelic Weekend, publishes a well regarded and authoritative Journal and series of monographs as well as several more extensive specialist philatelic books, operates a magazine circuit, two thriving exchange packets and three postal Auctions a year. It is a friendly and informal group to which non-members are welcome to attend any of our meetings.
PUBLICITY FOR THE JOURNAL
Once again the Society’s Journal has been featured by the French philatelic magazine ‘L’Écho de la Timbrologie’ in the publication’s ‘Bulletins de club’ column. The December 2017 edition of our Journal was featured in the April 2018 edition of ‘L’Écho’ and in our May 2019 edition it was the turn of our special 70th anniversary edition to be featured. In the photo both the cover and the facsimile Newsletter were illustrated and comments highlighted the variety of topics covered focusing in particular on the contributions made by our longstanding members George Nash and Bill Mitchell. Thank you again to editor Sophie Bastide-Bernard and her team.
ALAN J WOOD FRPSL 1929 – 2019
Alan was a long-standing member of the France & Colonies Philatelic Society contributing articles to the Journal and regularly attending the Philatelic Weekends at Leamington and Charlecote. His main interests lay in 19th century postal history, especially the period of the Siege of Paris, but he also collected and displayed WW1 patriotic postcards, military themed vignettes, essays and colour trials of the classical issues and Morocco Private Posts. He acted as auctioneer at the room auctions in London from 1992 to 2011 and invariably attempted to beat his previous record for the time to dispatch 500 lots! In 2004, with Peter Kelly, he started the Wessex Regional meetings in Salisbury and continued as co-convenor until 2018. In recognition of his contribution to the F&CPS Alan was awarded the Society’s ‘Long Service Award’ in March 2019. On his retirement in the 90s he joined the Salisbury P.S. and was well known for giving displays of “Countries I don’t collect”. At auctions he would often buy a lot to obtain a particular French item but the lot often contained material from other countries which he then formed into displays. In due course he was elected a Life Member. His common sense and dry sense of humour enlightened the many years served as our society’s auctioneer. His easy going welcome made those meetings a reunion of friends gathered together to enjoy French philately at all levels in a companionable way. The number of his friends present at his funeral shows that he will be greatly missed. Jeremy Martin FRPSL, Peter R A Kelly FRPSL
JOURNAL EDITOR
Jan Gane (right), who has been our Website Manager since 2016, has volunteered to take on the challenge. From the beginning of 2020 she will be applying her IT and editorial skills to our flagship publication.
AN APPEAL FOR JOURNALS ARTICLE - LARGE OR SMALL
We are getting rather short of material so contributions on any subject and of any length would be welcomed. It is essential that when Jan takes over as editor next year she has a full intray of material to choose from so please look through your collections straightaway and find something to share with your fellow members and collectors. Do not forget to submit the text in Word and send images, scanned at 300dpi, as separate jpeg attachments to Mick Bister at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - and Mick looks forward to being inundated.
JOIN OUR PHILATELIC FORUM
You can join our Forum without being a member of the Society - just contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.with your name and preferred password and you will be supplied with a username - you don't have to be a member!.
News
THE UNSOLD AUCTION LOTS LIST FOR THE SEPTEMBER AUCTION is available here, Many images are available to view on the Auctions page.
STOP PRESS... STOP PRESS...
AUCTION SECRETARY TO STEP DOWN. Steve Ellis has advised the committee that he wishes to step down as 
Auction Secretary in order to spend more time on other commitments. We are indebted to him for all he has done and he will be sorely missed but he has found an able successor in our auditor David Parmley. It has been arranged that David will take over from the beginning of 2020. ...Steve has organised 23 auctions in 8 years with 10,972 lots.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2019 AND 2020
THE WESSEX GROUP be holding its next meeting on Saturday 26 October at the Scout Hall, Lower Street, Harnham starting at 10.30am when the display will be ‘French Air Mails’. After lunch, the afternoon will be devoted to members’ displays.
2020 meeting dates for your diary: February 22nd, July 18th and October 3rd.
NORTHERN GROUP MEETING will hold its next meeting on Saturday April 4th 2020 at Broom Methodist Church, 195 Broom Lane, Rotherham, S60 3NW from 10.30am to 4.30pm. The day will be devoted to members’ displays on any topic and lunch will be taken at the local pub. Furthur details will be published when they come to hand. Addtional meetings in 2020 are July 11th and October 3rd.
THE LONDON GROUP The next meeting will be on Saturday February 15th 2020 11.00am to 4.00pm at the Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR with an invited display in the morning, after lunch members are invited to show their own material (any topic). Furthur details will be published when they come to hand. Other dates in 2020 are July 25th and October 24th.
It would help if those planning to attend could let the appropriate convenor know - datails for whom are here.
VISITORS are most welcome at all meetings - please check with the appropriate convenor before hand to a) confirm time and address and, b) to introduce yourself.