Latest News

Entries Invited for the ABPS National Competition 2025

Updated on: 5 Oct 2024

The ABPS London National Competitive Exhibition 2025 will be held from Thursday 27 February to Saturday 1 March 2025 at […]

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Display your Way at Stampex in London

Updated on: 4 Oct 2024

  After the success of Display Your Way at Virtual Stampex, the Philatelic Traders’ Society (PTS) is thrilled to announce […]

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Danish Philatelic Literature Project

Updated on: 29 Sep 2024

Chris King RDP Hon FRPSL has circulated a 181-page Handbook on Danish Philatelic Literature, comprising: Philatelic Literature: – The First […]

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Welcome to the ABPS – the Voice of British Philately

The Association of British Philatelic Societies (ABPS) is the national organisation catering for the needs of collectors through the Federations and Societies and those interested in philately. Membership of the Association falls into various categories being Federations, Specialist, National and Local Societies and Overseas Societies. A special category of Patrons and Friends has been created for those interested in the work of the Association and are valuable in assisting the Association to achieve its aims. These individuals receive the ABPS news and can attend the Annual General Meeting without voting rights.

The principal aims of the Association are:

  • To represent the hobby both nationally and internationally.
  • To encourage the growth of philately.
  • To support events and, if required, offer support and advice to Federations/Society events.
  • To provide workshops and seminars locally or nationally on various aspects of the hobby.
  • To provide a website which serves a compendium of information useful to the Society Secretary and its members.
  • To assist in the organisation of an annual congress which acts as a national focus for philately within the British Isles.
  • To issue at least 4 times a year a journal, ABPS News, which publicises the work of affiliated Federations and Societies at a local and national level and reports on developments within philately.
  • To work with the International bodies in the creation of regulation for competitive entries.

The Association can provide a worthwhile service to its membership if the majority of societies are able to support these aims and to offer support both financial and physical. To assist in this process members of the Executive Committee are pleased to attend Society and Federation events, by invitation, to explain the aims of the Association and where possible to give a display of their own material.

The Association is operated by volunteers and its financial stability is underwritten by its corporate structure. The Association has been formed into a company, limited by guarantee, the liability of each member being limited to £1.

The Company has a subsidiary, ABPS Exhibitions Ltd which undertakes exhibitions and similar functions.

You can support the work of ABPS and philately in the UK by becoming a Friend or Patron here.

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Events Calendar

Postal History Society Conference 2025

Event date: October 3 2025

Annual conference and auction of the Postal History Society with competitions and displays of postal history

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Philatelic Congress of Great Britain

The first Philatelic Congress of Great Britain was held in Manchester in 1909. Barring interruptions due to war, they have been held annually ever since. The venue moves each year. Congress is the opportunity to meet with fellow collectors for a few relaxing days in pleasant surroundings. The events include discussions, displays and visits, plus the ever-enjoyable Congress Banquet. The highlight for many is the occasion at which both the Congress Medal is presented, and the new signatories to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists are invited to sign the Roll.

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Exhibiting

ABPS is the national organisation in charge of exhibiting in the United Kingdom, and for international purposes is the representative face of British philately overseas. Competitive exhibiting is an activity which takes place at a variety of levels within philately, and exhibitors require a markedly different approach to that of the collector, whose interest is primarily focused on the acquisition and arrangement of stamps and other philatelic material. ABPS provides information and existence to exhibitors at every level.

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