Royal Philatelic Society London
The Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) is the oldest philatelic society in the world. It was founded on 10 April 1869 as The Philatelic Society, London. The society runs a postal museum, the Spear Museum of Philatelic History, at its headquarters in the City of London.
Premises of the Royal at 15 Abchurch Street
The former premises of the society at 41 Devonshire Place on the corner with Devonshire Street
The front cover of the first number of The London Philatelist, Vol. 1, No. 1, January 1892.
Philately is the study of postage stamps and postal history. It also refers to the collection and appreciation of stamps and other philatelic products. While closely associated with stamp collecting and the study of postage, it is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps. For instance, the stamps being studied may be very rare or reside only in museums.
The Penny Red was used in the UK for many years (1841–1879), and comes in hundreds of variations which are subject to detailed study by philatelists.
Zeppelin mail from Gibraltar to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil via Berlin on the Christmas flight (12th South American flight) of 1934
1960 Soviet stamp marking Collectors' Day: "Philately serves the friendship of peoples."
A large stamp show (philatelic exhibition) at which collectors and dealers meet