Philatelic Society of Chile

The Sociedad Filatélica de Chile (Philatelic Society of Chile) is a Chilean cultural institution dedicated to the promotion, development and dissemination of philately and to bringing together collectors of postage stamps. It was founded on 15 March 1889 by a group of prominent figures of the era, among them Ramón Laval, Samuel Ossa, Germán Greve and José Miguel Besoaín. It is one of the oldest cultural institutions in the country and operates as a private-law corporation (Corporación de Derecho Privado) with domicile in the Province of Santiago, Región Metropolitana, indefinite duration and an unlimited number of members. The Society's principal aim is the diffusion of philately, carried out through ongoing activities and through a long tradition of publications. Its early studies and information appeared in "Los Anales de la Sociedad" between 1892 and 1904, followed by "La Gaceta Filatélica" between 1934 and 1936, and, most enduringly, in the magazine "Chile Filatélico", published from 1929 to the present day, in addition to numerous minor publications. The Society is a member of the International Federation of Philately (FIP) since September 1960, and in 2007 it was one of the founding institutions of the Federación de Sociedades Filatélicas de Chile (Fesofichile), together with the Círculo Filatélico y Numismático de Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt and the Círculo Filatélico Diego Portales de Valparaíso. On 23 June 1975 the Society acquired a house at Almirante Simpson 75, near Plaza Baquedano, which has served as its social headquarters ever since; before that year the group was based in a building at Huérfanos 972. The Society's website presents news, events, activities and exhibitions, a chronological display of Chilean postal issues from 1853 to the latest emissions by Empresa de Correos Chile, publications of current and past "dispersiones" (dispersals/sales of collections), and digital books inviting philatelists to submit articles for publication. The Society also publishes the specialized catalogue "Catálogo Especializado de Filatelia Chilena", whose 2006 edition ran to 650 pages in three parts. Governance is provided by a Directorio (board). The 2025 board lists Sebastián Ferrer Schmidt as President, Gabriel Unzueta as Secretary, Heiz Junge as Vice-President, Ricardo Estay as Treasurer, and directors Jaime Espina, Andrés Schueftan, Cristian Muat, Rosa Castillo and Marisol Hernandez, with Juany Muñoz in general administration. Wikipedia records Heinz Junge Wenzel as president from 2010 onwards. The Society remains active, hosting gatherings and exhibitions and continuing its publishing programme.

The Sociedad Filatélica de Chile was founded on 15 March 1889 by a group of prominent figures of the time, among them Ramón Laval, Samuel Ossa, Germán Greve and José Miguel Besoaín. It is one of the oldest cultural institutions in Chile. Its stated purpose is the promotion, development and dissemination of philately, and it has pursued this through permanent activities and a long publishing tradition. Its earliest periodical, "Los Anales de la Sociedad", appeared between 1892 and 1904. This was followed by "La Gaceta Filatélica" between 1934 and 1936. The Society's flagship magazine, "Chile Filatélico", has been published continuously since 1929, alongside numerous minor publications. In 1963 Manuel Mariño, a member of the Society, produced the programme "Momento filatélico" on Canal 13 to spread awareness of the hobby. Internationally, the Society has been a member of the International Federation of Philately (FIP) since September 1960. In 2007 it was one of the founding institutions of the Federación de Sociedades Filatélicas de Chile (Fesofichile), together with the Círculo Filatélico y Numismático de Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt and the Círculo Filatélico Diego Portales de Valparaíso. On 23 June 1975 the Society acquired a house at Almirante Simpson 75, near Plaza Baquedano, which has served as its social headquarters ever since; before that year the group was based in a building at Huérfanos 972. The Society is constituted as a private-law corporation (Corporación de Derecho Privado) with domicile in the Province of Santiago, Región Metropolitana, indefinite duration and an unlimited number of members. In the 2000s the Society published the "Catálogo Especializado de Filatelia Chilena". The 2006 edition, edited by the Sociedad Filatélica Chilena, comprised 650 pages in three parts. The first part (420 pages) includes an introduction with historical and technical background, classification of pre-philatelic marks and postal marks of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, and descriptions of all 2,204 stamps issued by Correos de Chile from 1853 to December 2006, with details of dimensions, perforations, paper, watermarks, sheet formats, designer, engraver, printer, legal decrees, printing varieties, errors, print runs and issue dates, plus an appendix of definitive series from 1975 onward and an index of names and themes on Chilean stamps with more than 1,300 entries across 78 categories. The second part (104 pages) catalogues "sellos clip" (booklets), foreign postal agencies, the War of the Pacific, revenue stamps, telegraph stamps, payment and receipt notices, official stamps, postage due stamps, and a review of postal stationery, aerograms and international reply coupons. The third part (124 pages) catalogues souvenir blocks, brochures and specimens, Casa de Moneda de Chile memoranda, Christmas and New Year greetings, special greetings of the Sociedad Filatélica de Chile, first day covers, self-adhesive labels and bibliography. Governance rests with a Directorio. The 2025 board lists Sebastián Ferrer Schmidt as President, Gabriel Unzueta as Secretary, Heiz Junge as Vice-President, Ricardo Estay as Treasurer, and directors Jaime Espina, Andrés Schueftan, Cristian Muat, Rosa Castillo and Marisol Hernandez, with Juany Muñoz in general administration. Wikipedia records Heinz Junge Wenzel as president from 2010 onwards. The Society remains active, maintaining a website with news, events, exhibitions, a chronological display of Chilean postal issues from 1853 to the latest emissions by Empresa de Correos Chile, publications of current and past dispersiones, and digital books inviting philatelists to submit articles.

• 2010

  Heinz Junge Wenzel recorded as president from 2010 onwards.

• 2007

  One of the founding institutions of the Federación de Sociedades Filatélicas de Chile (Fesofichile).

• 2006

  Publishes the 650-page "Catálogo Especializado de Filatelia Chilena Chile 2006".

• 1975

  Acquires a house at Almirante Simpson 75, near Plaza Baquedano, which becomes the social headquarters.

• 1963

  Member Manuel Mariño produces the programme "Momento filatélico" on Canal 13.

• 1960

  Becomes a member of the International Federation of Philately (FIP) in September 1960.

• 1934

  "La Gaceta Filatélica" published between 1934 and 1936.

• 1929

  Magazine "Chile Filatélico" begins publication, continuing to the present day.

• 1892

  "Los Anales de la Sociedad" published between 1892 and 1904.

• 1889

  Founded on 15 March 1889 by Ramón Laval, Samuel Ossa, Germán Greve, José Miguel Besoaín and others.

Chile's oldest philatelic society and a leading cultural institution for stamp collecting, publishing and exhibitions.

• Chile Filatélico magazine

  The Society's magazine, published since 1929.

• Catálogo Especializado de Filatelia Chilena

  Specialized catalogue of Chilean philately; the 2006 edition ran to 650 pages in three parts.

• Los Anales de la Sociedad

  Early publication of studies and information, 1892–1904.

• La Gaceta Filatélica

  Publication issued between 1934 and 1936.

• Digital books and articles

  Online publication of philatelic articles, open to submissions from philatelists.

• Dispersiones (collection dispersals)

  Publications of current dispersals for active participation and historical summaries of past dispersals.

1. 1Sociedad Filatélica de Chile – official websitesociedadfilatelica.cl
2. 2Sociedad Filatélica de Chile – Aboutsociedadfilatelica.cl
3. 3Sociedad Filatélica de Chile – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Sociedad Filatélica de Chile – Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org