Federation Internationale de Philatelie (F. I. P.)

Abstract

At the top left hand corner of our Society's letterhead, beneath the logo and year of foundation, there is the inscription "Member Federation Internationale de Philatelie". A similar inscription appears at the top of the first page of the Society's Journal below the medals awarded to that prestigious publication. Going through the end of year accounts which are available, it transpires that the Society maintained continuously its membership of the F. I. P. since 1978. Membership may have been attained even before that year. In fact on the PSM Magazine of Spring 1975, it was stated that on the Agenda of the 44th International Philatelic Congress of the F. I. P. there was the Society's application to join the Federation. Further on it was stated that the Society had been invited to send a delegate to represent the Malta Philatelic Society and supply details of the Society's activities. The write-up ended by stating that it was unofficially believed that Malta's application had been accepted. Notwithstanding all this uninterrupted record, probably, very few members are aware of the functions of the F. I. P. Perusing the Cumulative Index of the MPS Journal, it seems surprising how no one has ever written about the functions of this very important philatelic organization. [excerpt]