Gozo Philatelic Society exhibition

The annual philatelic exhibition by the Gozo Philatelic Society (GPS) was held at the exhibition hall of the Gozo Ministry between Novembert 13 and 21. The title chosen for this year is ‘People and Peoples’.

This annual event is the most important activity in the society’s calendar of events.

GPS was founded on September 3, 1999, when a small group of philatelists met at Dar il-Lunzjata in Lunzjata Valley with the aim of starting up a philatelic group.

The society was launched in 2000 with the publication of its first informative newsletter. In 2007, the society launched its website www.stamps-gozo.org.

GPS holds regular monthly meetings for members at theVictoria Scouts Headquarters in Triq Santa Duminka, Victoria, on the first Sunday of every month.

It also issues a quarterly newsletter, produces philatelic material related to any stamps or events with Gozitan connections (including GPS postal cards), organises stamp collecting sessions in schools and summer clubs and participates in television and community radio programmes.

Last year’s philatelic exhibition saw Malta Post plc participating for the first time and commemorating the event with the issue of an occasion card (with a Gozitan theme) and the use of a specialhand-stamp.

At this year’s exhibition there were three competing classes – the postal history class and the social philately class (for adult participants) and the third class, entitled ‘People and Peoples’, open to adult as well as junior participants. Around 20 junior members took part.

Malta Post plc also participated in this year’s exhibition. It commemorated the event with the use of a special hand-stamp. Visitors had the opportunity to acquire a set of five commemorative cards and another special sheet of five different personalised stamps, which the society prepared to mark this year’s exhibition.