Postal Order Society

The Postal Order Society is a specialist collecting society focused on postal orders, postal notes, money orders and associated philatelic and numismatic material. It was established in 1985 by Howard Lunn, who became its first chairman. Rather than operating as a commercial consumer brand, the organization functions as an international fellowship and knowledge-sharing network for collectors, researchers and enthusiasts interested in postal payment instruments. The society's central purpose is to encourage the study of postal orders and related forms of postal and financial ephemera. Its scope combines elements of philately, postal history, paper-money collecting and financial history. British postal orders are a particularly important area of interest, and the society also covers material from other countries, including New Zealand. Many members do not collect postal orders exclusively; instead, they incorporate them into broader collections of stamps, postal history, banknotes or other forms of monetary and documentary ephemera. The organization is associated with established collecting institutions. It is listed as a member of the United Kingdom-based Association of British Philatelic Societies and the American Philatelic Society. Meetings are held annually in London at an International Bank Note Society venue, providing a physical setting for members to exchange information, examine material and maintain contacts across related collecting communities. The society has also developed overseas representation in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, reflecting an international membership base despite its British focus. Its activities include member communication, research, collecting guidance, auctions and publishing. The Postal Order News is issued quarterly and contains organizational updates and articles, many of which are submitted by members. The society has also published catalogues covering British postal orders, overprinted British postal orders and New Zealand postal notes. These publications support identification, classification and research within a field that is narrower than mainstream stamp collecting but closely connected to it. The society's auction activity provides a route for members to buy and sell postal orders and related items. Its subscription-based structure, specialist publications and volunteer officer model are characteristic of a traditional collecting society rather than a commercial enterprise. The available reference material records 89 members in February 2011 and an annual worldwide subscription of £15 at that time; those historical figures should not be treated as current membership or pricing. The society is administered by a chairman, treasurer and secretary, although the available material does not identify the current officeholders. Its continuing purpose is the preservation, study and circulation of knowledge about postal orders and related instruments.

The Postal Order Society was founded in 1985 by Howard Lunn, who served as its first chairman. It emerged as a dedicated organization for the study of postal orders and related instruments, including postal notes, money orders and associated collecting material. These objects occupy a position between postal history and monetary history: they were used to transmit or redeem value through postal systems, while also becoming collectible examples of printed security, postal administration and everyday financial practice. From its beginning, the society's role has been educational and associative rather than commercial. It brings together collectors and researchers, many of whom also collect stamps, postal history or banknotes. British postal orders form a major area of interest, but the society's remit is not limited to the United Kingdom. Its published work and overseas contacts extend its scope to other postal systems, including New Zealand, and representatives have been identified in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. The society participates in the wider organized philatelic and numismatic community. It is affiliated with or listed as a member of the Association of British Philatelic Societies and the American Philatelic Society. Annual meetings take place in London at a venue associated with the International Bank Note Society. These links place the organization within a broader network of specialist societies concerned with stamps, postal documents, banknotes and related artifacts. Publishing has been a central part of its historical activity. The quarterly Postal Order News carries society information and articles, with substantial contributions from members. The society has also produced catalogues dealing with British postal orders, overprinted British postal orders and New Zealand postal notes. Such catalogues help collectors organize material and provide a shared basis for identification and comparison. Auctions are another recurring activity. By arranging auctions of postal orders and related items, the society supports the circulation of material among specialists and complements its research and publication work. The available reference material records 89 members as of February 2011 and an annual worldwide subscription of £15 at that time. These figures are historical and do not establish the organization's present size or fee structure. The society is administered through the customary offices of chairman, treasurer and secretary. The source material does not provide a current officer list, a confirmed headquarters address or a current official website. On the available evidence, the Postal Order Society remains an active specialist fellowship whose principal value lies in preserving knowledge, encouraging research and supporting collecting in a narrowly defined but internationally connected field.

• 2011

  Membership figure recorded

  [1]Postal Order Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society was reported to have 89 members in February 2011.

• 1985

  Society established

  [1]Postal Order Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Howard Lunn founded the Postal Order Society and became its first chairman.

A specialist, research-oriented collecting society serving the postal-order, postal-history, philatelic and numismatic communities.

• Society publication

  Postal Order News

  A quarterly publication for members containing society news and articles on postal orders and related subjects. Contributions are largely submitted by members, making the periodical both a communication channel and a vehicle for specialist research and collecting knowledge.

• Reference catalogue

  British Postal Orders Catalogue

  A specialist catalogue devoted to British postal orders. The available reference material identifies it as one of three catalogues published by the society, supporting the classification and study of a principal collecting area.

• Reference catalogue

  Overprinted British Postal Orders Catalogue

  A catalogue focused on overprinted British postal orders. It addresses a specialized subset of British material and forms part of the society's effort to provide structured reference resources for collectors and researchers.

• Reference catalogue

  New Zealand Postal Notes Catalogue

  A catalogue covering New Zealand postal notes. Its inclusion demonstrates that the society's research and collecting interests extend beyond Britain into the postal-payment instruments of other countries.

• Collecting service

  Member auctions

  Regular auctions of postal orders and related items give members a specialist marketplace for acquiring and transferring material. The auctions complement the society's publications and meetings by connecting research interests with collecting activity.

1. 1Postal Order Societyen.wikipedia.org