Hampshire Philatelic Federation HAMPEX Competitions

It is now essential in national and international competition that each exhibit, no matter what class, should have an introductory page which explains what the exhibit is trying to show. The Hampshire Philatelic Federation has adopted this change and therefore requires an introductory page for all classes. The introductory page (also called the Title Page) is intended to give structure, scope and content to the viewer and should include something pictorial (e.g. a map, proof, or cover). The introductory page is usually the first sheet of the 16 or 32 sheet exhibit.

This class covers the study of stamps, stickers, envelopes and covers relating to any form of airmail transmission of mail, whether official or unofficial. Entries may contain items commemorating aerial meetings and events. Relevant advertisements, photographs, notices, press cuttings, maps, leaflets and so on may be included as are absolutely necessary, as may autographed letters relating to aero postal history. Entries which consist solely of airmail stamps will also be judged in this class.

The study of postal services, routes, rates, postal markings of any form related to the carriage of mails. (This category does not include mint or unused stamps or stationery). Postal history entries should consist of material ranging from pre adhesive entires and letters, to stamped or stampless covers of the present day. Postmarks and cancellations, whether on loose stamps, pieces, or covers, may be included together with a limited quantity of appropriate collateral or associated items, provided that the principal part of the entry is material conveyed by post.

May include local stamps, telegraph stamps, railway stamps, revenues/fiscals, and forgeries, bogus and phantom issues. Christmas, Red Cross, TB and other charity seals, registration labels, advertisement and exhibition labels etc.

However, things such as trade, cigarette and telephone cards (unless the image of a stamp is incorporated in the design), matchbox or cheese labels, aerial propaganda leaflets, and other forms of ephemera like emergency money are not considered as Cinderella items for this purpose.

A collection of all the above aspects, combined into a common theme such as "The meaning of Christmas", "The world of Flowers" and similar approaches. Sometimes referred to as Topical collecting, but different from Subject collecting (for example "Flowers on stamps"). The range of themes is limited only by the imagination and inventiveness of the collector and exhibitor. This class employs a wide range of philatelic skills. Entries based on a theme are developed according to a logical plan and by the use of appropriate philatelic material. The entry should have an introductory page which contains a plan of the entire exhibit, and this plan must be fully consistent with the title of the entry. The plan should define the structure of the entry and the division of it into parts: it should cover all aspects of the chosen theme. The plan has to be laid out in accordance with the demands of the theme itself, and should not be merely a classification by issue date and/or country of issue. Each item selected for the entry must be strictly related to the chosen theme, and this relationship has to be of a postal nature and not consist of privately produced items. Entrants are advised to ensure that they include only genuine postage stamps, and omit those items that are regarded as being of a dubious or undesirable nature. Philatelic items (e.g. stamps and documents) represent the essential elements of a thematic entry. Non philatelic items should not normally be included, and if maps, drawings or photographs are felt to be essential to the development of the theme, they should be kept to an absolute minimum.

This class gives an exhibitor complete freedom to present an exhibit on any subject using up to 50% of non-philatelic items. The non-philatelic material must not be thicker than 5 mm so as to be able to fit into standard exhibition frames. Open Philately definition has tried to keep rules to a minimum to make exhibiting more accessible and to allow for more creativity.

Those exhibitors who have previously entered HAMPEX with 'Social Class' exhibits should note that HAMPEX does not support such a class and should consider entering an exhibit that follows these Open Philately guidelines.

Guidelines for Open Philately Exhibits
These guidelines are based on the ABPS guidelines (ABPS InterFed 2011 National Competition) for assisting the jury to judge the individual exhibits and to help the exhibitors to develop their exhibits. One of the most important aims with the Open Class is to encourage collecting.

The Open Philately Exhibit
At least 50% of the material (not numbers of items) must be of a philatelic nature. It is not a requirement that non-philatelic material must be used, but a lack of non-philatelic material will influence the judging of 'Treatment' as well as 'Material'. This is neither measured by counting individual philatelic and non-philatelic items nor by measuring how much space the items cover on the pages. Some topics lend themselves to more non-philatelic items than others. Standing back and looking at a page, a frame, and across several frames, it is not so difficult to judge if there is a reasonable distribution of both kinds of material in the exhibit.

Open Philately Judging Considerations

Title, Idea, and Creativity
An imaginative title which covers the topic and an original idea must be rewarded.

Treatment
A plan explaining the development of the exhibit is necessary. The plan should not include an extensive text, but a logical division of the topic in sections, to provide an idea of the contents of the exhibit for the jury and the public. The development of the exhibit must follow the plan and expand through explanatory text on the individual pages. This text must be placed in connection with the relevant items. Research should be interpreted in a wider meaning and generally show the exhibitor's thorough knowledge of the topic. This knowledge is documented through the choice of material and the use of brief but sufficient text.

Material
Condition and rarity are evaluated separately for the two aspects of material with a maximum of half of the total number of 15 points for each aspect. It is expected that exhibitors exploit the possibilities available with the use of non-philatelic material in the development of the topic. It is expected that exhibitors use a varied choice of non-philatelic material and not just postcards and other pictorial material.

Presentation
The overall impression is important. Does the exhibit show itself to the public to its best advantage? Are all aspects presented with attention and care? Large areas with text do not increase the accessibility of the exhibit.

For competition purposes a Picture Postcard must have an illustration and may be Used (must show that they have been through a postal service) or Unused (must have printed text or printed address lines, for example a postage area, which shows that the card is meant to be posted without an envelope).

A Picture Postcard exhibit must have a title and plan on the introductory page. The plan must show the intention and the structure of the exhibit. The title as well as the main and sub sections of the exhibit must show the structure and logical development through the exhibit and demonstrate personal creativity, knowledge, and research. The title must mirror the content of the exhibit in the best possible way. The treatment of the exhibit must be according to the title and plan. Each Picture Post card must have a connection with the chosen topic. Research is a pre-requisite for knowledge of the topic and the Picture Postcards, and this is demonstrated in a brief text in connection with each Picture Postcard.

Guidance on how Picture Postcard exhibits are to be judged is included on this ABPS guidance page. [Understanding what the judges are looking for is half way towards creating a powerful exhibit - in all classes.]

HAMPEX - Hampshire Philatelic Federation Competitions - Philatelic Classes

Open Philately Judging Considerations