A Short Introduction To The Philately Of Palestine

Collectors' Societies and Other Organisations

   

This is a concise list of collectors' societies, study groups, journals, and websites, covering broadly the field of collecting stamps and studying postal history of the Holy Land and Palestine. I am a member of all eight active societies and can recommend membership of these organisations to every serious collector.

For historical reasons I also list organisations and publications that are no longer existing, but have contributed to this field of philately in the past.

  1. Organisations in operation
  2. Organisations in Related Fields
    • Egypt Study Circle (ESC) (1935–)
      Journal: The Quarterly Circular, quarterly, English. Subs: £20 p.a.
      Contacts: Secretary, Editor
    • Philatelic Society Of Egypt (1929–)
      Journal: L'Orient Philatélique, English. Editor: Dr. Adel Farid
      Contacts: Philatelic Society Of Egypt, 16 Abdel Khalek Sarwat St., PO Box 142, Cairo. President: Dr. Sherif Samra
    • Filatelistische Contactgroep Islamitische Wereld (1979?-)
      Contacts: Utrechtsestraatweg 20, NL-3445 AR Woedren, Netherlands
    • Saudi Arabian Philatelic Society (SAPS) (1965–)
      Contacts: Saudi Arabia Philatelic Society, P.O. Box: 1332, Makkah, KSA. (4000 members)
    • Qatar Philatelic Club (1995–)
      Contacts: Qatar Philatelic Club, P.O. Box: 10933, Doha, State of Qatar, Tel.: 00974323292; Hussain R. Al-Ismail (Vice-President)
    • Emirates Philatelic Association (EPA) (1996–)
      215 members (2006)
      Contact: Abdulla Mohammed Tayyeb Khoory (President)
    • Bahrain Philatelic Society (BPS) (1980–)
      "Leader": Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa (Government Under-Secretary)
      Contacts: Bahrain Philatelic Society, P.O. Box 26862, State of Bahrain
    • Israel Philatelic Federation (–)
      Journal: Shovel, 6 issues p.a., Hebrew.
      Contact: Israel Philatelic Federation, POB 4523, 61045 Tel Aviv, Israel
  3. Organisations no longer in operation
    • Europe & The Middle East
      • Schweizerischer Verein der Israel-Philatelisten (SVIPh) (1963–2007)
      • Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Israel (1959–1999)
      • Freunde der israelschen Briefmarke, Austria (1980s)
      • Arabian Philatelic Association (1968–1995; 2001–)
        F.C. Benedict, R.J. Thoden, E.A. Kawar, J.M. Wilson
        Journal: Random Notes
      • The Lebanese Philatelists Syndicate (–1958–)
      • Israel Philatelic Society (?), Westberlin (1950s)
        later affiliated to BArGe Israel; founder: Lotte Badrian
      • Amicale Philetélique France-Israel (APFI) (1969–)
        Defunct website. President: Charles Finel (1996–) [5 Rue Raffet 75016 Paris]; past presidents: Jean Kohn (1970–1984), Raphaël Livnat (1984–1987), Etienne Mantoux (1988–1993), Gérard Theodore (1994–1995). 111 members (2002). Bulletin (2 p.a.)
    • The Americas
      • Israel-Palestine Philatelic Society of America (IPPSA) (–1953–)
        Journal: IPPSA Bulletin; IPPSA Newsletter, quarterly, editor: Burton S. Adlerblum (1962)
        Presidents: Fred F. Blau (1967)
      • The World Congress of Israel, Holy Land and Judaica Philatelic Societies (1967–)
        Founded as an umbrella organisation. Irregular newsletter.
        Secretary: Irwin Girer (1967)
      • Canadian Israel Philatelic Association
        later: Canadian Association For Israel Philately (–1956–)
        President: A. Ben-David (1969)
        Journal: CAFIP Bulletin, editors: Sidney Antony, D. Urstein (1969), Zeeve Drach (1979)
      • Turkish & Ottoman Philatelic Society (TOPS) (1979–2000)
      • Holy Land Revenues Study Group (1976–, now part of SIP)
        Coordinator: Charles F. Mandell (1977)
      • 1948 Transitional Period Study Group (1982–)
        Coordinator: S. Banchik, N.Y.
    • Israel
      • Israel Postal History Society (1957–)
        Founder president: F.W. Pollack
      • Haifa Philatelic Society Study Circle/Israel Study Circle (–1948–)
        Journal: Haifa Philatelic Society Study Circle Magazine (irregular, 1948–1950)
      • Tel Aviv Philatelic Society (–1961–)
      • Holy Land Revenue Study Group (1983)
        From 1987: Judaica and Israel Revenue Study Group; 1988: Holy Land Locals & Judaica.
        Contact: P.O.Box 14143, 61141 Tel Aviv and P.O.Box 11470, 61113 Tel Aviv (apparently a commercial trade company)
      • Union of Philatelic Societies in Israel (FSPI) (–)
        Journals: Habulai Haivri (–1958, editor: S. Schmulewitz); Bula'ut b'Yisra'eil (1958–, editor: F.W. Pollack)
    • South Africa
      • South African Society of Israel Philately (1956–)
        Chairman: Leo Buchen. Monthly (?) newsletter SIP Bulletin; editors: A. Kaplan, I. Aubrey Miller.
      • Cape Society of Palestine-Israel Philately (CASPIP) (–1966–)
        as CASPIP Study Group now part of SIP.
        Presidents: M. Peisasch (1966, 1978), M. Galp (1969–1974–). P.R. officer: X. Piat (1969). Editor: J. Markman (1969)
    • Judaica
      • Chug Judaica (1958–)
      • Judaica Associates (1960–)
        Journal: Judaica Post: The Journal of Philatelic Judaica, editor (1962): Eli Grad
      • Holy Land Judaica (1975–)
        Journal: Judaica Post: The Journal of Philatelic Judaica, Toronto; editor: Eli Grad
      • Judaica Philatelic Historical Society (–1973–).
        Editor: Irwin Girer.
        Journal: Judaica Philatelic Journal
      • The Judaica Philatelic Society (1981–)
        Chairman (1981): Freddie Knoller
        Journal: Judaica Philatelic Journal (later: The Judaica Collector ?)
      • The Israel Judaica Association (–)
        Contact: POB 21224, 61620 Tel Aviv, Israel, Tel.: +036054054
      • Jan Bart Judaica Study Group (–1979–)
        (part of Canadian Association For Israel Philately)
  4. Journals and magazines (not associated to any society) no longer in operation
    • The Holy Land Philatelist (1954–1961)
      82 issues, editor: F.W. Pollack
    • The Holy Land And Middle East Philatelic Magazine (1957–1959)
      Title from May 1957: Thamep Magazine
      17 issues, editor: E.H. Moshi (Mosden Stamp Company)
    • The Arab World Philatelist (1978–1982)
      6 issues, editor: R. Howard Courtney
  5. Websites, Journals & Miscelleanea
org_BAPIP (32K)

The Holyland Philatelic Society
(formerly The British Association Of Palestine-Israel Philatelists)

Established: 27.04.1952
Membership: ?
1965: 120 (?), 1968: 272, 1969: 304
Subscription: £10.00
Officers: Alan Tunkel (President, Treasurer, Membership Secretary), A. Andrusier and V. Denis Vandervelde (Vice-Presidents), David K. Smith (Secretary)
Past presidents: Dr. Herman H. Hirst (195?–197?), Maxwell Seshold (1975–1977 , ... , J. Fletcher (198?–1984), Zeev B. Galibov (1984–1986), Michael M. Sacher (1986–1987), Ralph Norgate (1987–1988), Zeev B. Galibov (1988–1994), Joseph Hackmey (1994–2002), Alan Tyler (2002–2005); John D. Shaw (2005–2006); Alan Tunkel (2006–).
Journal: The BAPIP Bulletin (ISSN: 0140-2889). 20–30 pages, A4, full colour, English. Published (nominally) twice p.a., latest edition: no. 158 (2008). Index.
Editors: V. Denis Vandervelde, David K. Smith
Past editors: Dr. Herman H. Hirst (1952–197?), Ben A. Remington (197?–1980), Norman J. Collins (1980–1986), Walter Y. Loebl (1986–1993), Isaac Barak (1993–1996), Dr. J.O. Baum (1996–1998), V. Denis Vandervelde (1998), Monica L. Wisker (1999–2004), "Bulletin team" V.D. Vandervelde/J.O. Baum/M.L. Wisker (2005–2007), "Bulletin team" V.D. Vandervelde/David K. Smith (2007–)
Contacts: David Smith, 25 Matford Ave., Exeter, EX2 4PL, UK
Alan Tunkel, 3 Stone Bldgs., Lincoln's Inn, London, WC2A 3XL, UK
org_SIP (14K)

Society of Israel Philatelists, Inc.
APS Affiliate #105

Established: 1948
Originally "Society of Israel Philatelists New York", other local societies affiliated to S.I.P. from 1962, establishing a US-wide organisation.
Membership: 1135 (2007)
Subscription: $25.00 (US), $29.00 (Canada/Mexico), $38.00 (World)
Officers: Michael A. Bass (President), Martin D. Cohen and Jonathan Becker (Vice-Presidents), Ben Wallace (Membership Committee)
Journal: The Israel Philatelist, formerly The Israel-Palestine Philatelist (ISSN: 0161-0074). 40 pages, ca. A4, full colour, English. Published six times p.a.
Editor: Donald A. Chafetz
Contacts: SIP Website
Ben Wallace (membership committee)
Donald A. Chafetz (editor)
org_opal (16K)

The Oriental Philatelic Association of London

Established: 1949
Membership: 269 (2007)
Subscription: £13 (UK), £15 (World)
Officers: Mehmet Basaran (President), N.N. (Vice-President), Philip Longbottom (Secretary), Martin Lovegrove (Membership Sec. & Webmaster)
Former presidents: J.E.H. Gilbert (1969); Bashkent Orhan (–2009)
Journal: OPAL (ISSN: 0267-8071). 50 pages, A5, English, partly in colour. Published thrice p.a. Index.
Editor: Bill Robertson
Past editors: Kemal Giray (–2008)
Since 1976 an internal newsletter is published at irregular intervals, about twice p.a.
Contacts: OPAL website
Bashkent Orhan
Kemal Giray
Martin Lovegrove
Bill Robertson
org_sphi (9K)

Society of the Postal History of Eretz-Israel

Established: 1979, successor to local Jerusalem group "Postal History Of Eretz-Israel Study Group" (1977)
Membership: ?
Subscription: $30.00 or €25.00
Officers: Eddy Leibu (Chairman), Zvi Shimony (Vice-Chairman), Zvi Aloni (Secretary)
Founder chairman: Bernardo Grosser. Chairman from May 1979: Zvi Shimony.
Journal:

Holy Land Postal History (ISSN: -). A5, ca. 80 pages, full colour. The journal is notionally published four times p.a., but actually only one "double" issue p.a. is produced. First edition: Summer 1979; most recent issue: 109/110 (2009).
Editor: Yehuda Kleiner
Former editors: Emanuel Glassman (1979–), Zvi Shimony (– 2008).
It should be noted that the society takes an at times hardline Zionist political stance and will not publish articles of an even mildly critical nature. One of my own articles was rejected recently solely because it contained a reference to this very website. The editor objected to some of the views expressed here, not anything in the piece itself.

Contacts: Yehuda Kleiner
Zvi Shimony, P.O. Box 10175, 91101 Jerusalem, Israel
Zvi Aloni, 152 Kedem St., Shoam, Israel
Eddy Leibu, P.O. Box 151, 27101 Qiryat Bialik, Israel
B. Kaliner, 36 Harav Berlin St., 92506 Jerusalem, Israel R. Nachum, 4 Moshe Dayan St., 56450 Yahud, Israel
org_IGI (20K)

Interessengemeinschaft (IG) Israel,
Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft im Verband Philatelistischer Arbeits- gemeinschaften (VPhA) des Bundes Deutscher Philatelisten (BDPh) e.V.

Established: 1999
Membership: 77 (2007), 86 (2009)
Subscription: €36.50
Officers: Hans-Peter Förster (Vorsitzender), Ludger Tecklenborg (stv. Vors., Redakteur)
Journal: Israel-Philatelie. 24 pages, A4, colour, German. Published thrice p.a.
Editor: Ludger Tecklenborg; co-editor: Dr. Ulf Zahn
(joint journal with Swiss society SVIPh from 1969–2006: Der Israel Philatelist)
Contacts: IGI website
Hans-Peter Förster, Darmstädter Str. 18, 70376 Stuttgart, Germany
Ludger Tecklenborg (editor)
Dr. Ulf Zahn (co-editor)
org_AGOS (24K)

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osmanisches Reich / Türkei e.V.
im Bund Deutscher Philatelisten e.V.

Established: 8.11.1986
Membership: 115 (2006)
Subscription: €30.00
Officers: Peter Schörger (1. Vorsitzender, Geschäftsführer), Dr. Andreas Birken (2. Vors., Redakteur), Dr. Adolf Gerlach (Schriftführer), Jens Warnecke (Schatzmeister), Klaus Pauli (Rundsendeleiter), Volker Fredebold (Bibliothek).
Founder president: Wilhelm Weber.
Journal: Türkei-Spiegel. 40 pages, A5, German. Published four times p.a.
Editor: Dr. Andreas Birken
Contacts: AROS website
Peter Schörger, Leinfelder Str. 46, 70771 Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany
Dr. Andreas Birken, Kreienkoppel 3, 22399 Hamburg, Germany
Volker Fredebold
org_ONEPS (13K)

Ottoman and Near East Philatelic Society
APS Affiliate #247

Established: 2000
Membership: 140 (2003)
Subscription: $20 (US), $25 (World)
Officers: Robert Stuchell (President), Carl Catherman (Vice-President), Gary Theodore (Treasurer), Rolfe Smith (Secretary), Richard B. Rose (Editor)
Journal: The Levant. English. Published thrice p.a.
Editor: Richard B. Rose
Contacts: ONEPS website
Rolfe Smith
Robert Stuchell
Richard B. Rose
Gary Theodore
org_CFPI (15K)

Cercle Français Philatélique d'Israël

Established: 2004
Membership: ?
Subscription: €25 (France), €30 (European Union), €35 (World)
Officers: Jean-Paul Danon (Président), Christian Abravanel (Sécretaire Général), Lucien Lumbroso (Vice-Prés., Trésorier)
Journal: Doar Ivri : Revue du C.F.P.I.. French, A4, colour.
Editor: Raphaël Livnat
Contacts: CFPI Website
Jean-Paul Danon
Christian Abravanel
org_NIP (19K)

Vereniging Nederland-Israel Philatelie

Established: 30.01.1954 as "Stichting Nederland-Israel Philatelie", 25.10.1953 acc. to other sources.
Membership: 50 (1954), 160 (2008)
Subscription: 24.50€, outside Europe: $40.
Officers: Bart Belonje, Voorzitter; G. Landman, Vice Voorzitter
Founder President: J.C. Schaefer, Treasurer: J.A. Fock, Secretary: N.A. de Groot. Later president: Edo Fuldauer.
Journal: N.I.P. : orgaan der vereniging Nederland-Israel Philatelie. Dutch. Quarterly, 36 pages. Editor: Bart Belonje.
Previous editors: Editors: B.H. Cohen, R. Bronke (–1982), J.C. Has (1982–?)
Contacts: NIP Website
Bart Belonje, Da Costakade 74, 2802 VS Gouda, Netherlands
G. Landman
Secretary: Rozengaard 14-61, 8212 DH Lelystad. Netherlands
org_SVIPH (11K)

Schweizerischer Verein der Israel-Philatelisten (S.V.I.Ph.)

This society is currently in the process self-dissolution: publication of the journal Der Israel-Philatelist is no longer viable after withdrawal of cooperation from the German IG Israel, and the recent AGM started liquidation of the society and its library.
Established: 8.09.1963, dissolution: 2007
originally founded in 1961 by Walter Mani as regional group "Landesgruppe Schweiz" of German ArGe Israel, membership was 31. It became a completely separate association in August 1963 when 27 members founded the break-away S.V.I.Ph.
Membership: 70 (2006), ca. 300 (1980s), 40 (1963), 119 (1965)
Subscription: 50 sFr. (Switzerland), 60 sFr. (international)
Officers: Edouard Selig (Präsident), Marie-Louise Rütti (Sekretariat), Hugo Grütter (Redaktor)
Past presidents: Walter Mani (1961–); Hans Salzmann (–1984–),Edwin Wehner (–1992–).
Journal: Der Israel-Philatelist. 40 to 50 pages, A5, German. Published three to four times p.a. Editions 1 to 3 as Der Israel-Sammler (26.03.1963–15.08.193); title from no.4 (14.09.1963): Der Israel-Philatelist. Last edition: No. 160 (2006).
Editors: Walter Mani (1933–1987), Hans Salzmann (1988–2004), Hugo Grütter (2004–2006)
From 1965 additional internal society newsletter: Rundschreiben.
"Der Israel-Philatelist" was from no. 26 (1969) to no. 160 (2006) jointly published by S.V.I.Ph. and ArGe Israel.
Contacts: Edouard Selig
Marie-Louise Rütti
Hugo Grütter
org_AGI (6K)

Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Israel
im Bund Deutscher Philatelisten e.V.

Established: 1956, dissolved: 1999?
Membership: ?
Subscription: ?
Officers: Ernst Burger (Vorsitzender) (1956–1966), Wolf W. Ising (Vorsitzender) (1966–) Heinz Mitzkat (Geschäftsführer) (-1964-), Wolf W. Ising (editor)
Journal: From 1969–1999(?) joint journal with SVIPh Der Israel-Philatelist.
From 1960 irregular monographs as Israel-Berichte für Palästina- und Israel-Briefmarkensammler
Contacts: Wolf W. Ising, Moordamm 72, 25474 Ellerbek
org_TOPS (34K)

Turkish & Ottoman Philatelic Society
APS Affiliate #109

Established: 1979; dissolved: 2000
In late 1999 TOPS became "inactive" and leading members formed ONEPS.
Membership: ?
Subscription: $20 (USA), $25 (World)
Officers: Presidents: Gary Paiste (1979–1984), Carl Catherman (1984–1987), Max Mayo (1987–1990), Earl Galitz (1990–1992), Gary Paiste (1992–1993), Erkan Esmer (1993–1998), Max Mayo (1999–2000)
Journal: The Tughra Times (ISSN: 1052-8652). English, ca. A4, twice p.a.
Editors: Gary Paiste (1979–1985), George Brown (1985–1988), Charles Makki (1988–1992), Richard Rose (1992–1996), Paul R. Secord (1996–1999)
Contacts:

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[Created 22.06.2007, last revised 16.02.2010]
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