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Competition Rules

ANNUAL COMPETITION

  1. Eligibility

    1.  All collectors who are a member of a Society affiliated to the Federation of Surrey Philatelic Societies.

    2.  The stamps & the philatelic material submitted for the competition must be the sole property of the society member and must be part of a bone fide collection.

2.  Conditions of Entry

2.1 Entries shall comprise 16 sheets of philatelic material unaccompanied by additional pages of maps or explanatory material. The dimensions of the sheets shall not exceed 295mm high by 245mm wide. Each sheet must be in a protective transparent cover.

2.2 The first sheet of each exhibit should be an Introductory Sheet that provides a brief introduction to the Judge(s) of the subject and the scope of the entry. It is suggested that the Introductory Sheet could also include some philatelic material with half or three-quarters of the sheet devoted to the introduction.

  1.  Classes

    1.  A member may enter one or more entries in each of the following classes:

                Traditional (Postage Stamps)

                Traditional (Postal Stationery)

                Postal History

                Thematic Philately

                Aerophilately

                Revenues

                Social Philately

 

3.2   All entry forms must reach the nominated Competition organizer by a date specified when the competition entry forms are issued. Entries must be submitted in accordance with instructions issued by the Federation. Judging will take place before the date that entries are displayed.

MASON CUP

1.     Eligibility

1.1   The Mason Cup shall be competed for annually between Societies affiliated to the Federation of Surrey Philatelic Societies.

1.2   The stamps and the philatelic material submitted for the competition must be the sole property of the society member and must be part of a bone fide collection.

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 2.     Conditions of Entry

2.1   Each Society’s entry shall consist of exhibits by three member of the Society.  Each exhibit shall comprise 16 sheets of philatelic material unaccompanied by additional pages of maps or explanatory material.  The dimensions of the sheets shall not exceed 295mm high by 245mm wide.  Each sheet must be in a protective transparent cover.

2.2   The first sheet of each exhibit should be an Introductory Sheet that provides a brief introduction to the Judge(s) of the subject and the scope of the entry.  It is suggested that the Introductory Sheet could also include some philatelic material with half or three-quarters of the sheet devoted to the introduction.

2.3   If the Mason Cup Competition and the Annual Competition are held at the same event, all entries in the Mason Cup Competition shall also be eligible for entry into the Annual Competition

 

3.     Classes

3.1   A Society’s entry shall consist of one exhibit from each of three different classes selected from the following:

                                Traditional (Postage Stamps)

                                Traditional (Postal Stationery)

                                Postal History

                                Thematic Philately

                                Aerophilately

                                Revenues

                                Social Philately.

3.2   All entry forms must reach the nominated Competition organiser by a date specified when the competition forms are issued.  Entries must be submitted in accordance with instructions issued by the Federation.  Judging will take place before the date the entries are displayed,

 

4.     Judging

4.1   The Judge(s) shall be appointed by the Council of the Federation and will be asked to award marks according to the Marking Schedule in Appendix A.  Each individual member’s exhibit shall be marked separately.  The Judges will be instructed to treat entries in all classes as of equal importance.

4.2   The Judges may transfer an entry from one class to another if, in their opinion, the material exhibited is more appropriate to another class.

4.3   The Judges may penalise or disqualify any entry which, in their opinion, does not satisfy the Competition Rules.

4.4   The Judges will be asked to provide written comments on each exhibit.

 

5.     Trophies

5.1  The Ewart Sanders Cup shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest overall mark in any class.

 5.2   The Norwood Salver shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest mark  in the two Traditional classes,

 5.3. The Federation Trophy shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest mark in the Postal History class.

 5.4.  The Brooklands Cup shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest mark in the Aero Philatelic class.

 5.5   The Thematica Salver shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest mark in the Thematic class. 

5.6  The Derek Nathan Cup shall be awarded to the best entry submitted by a member        who has not previously won a Federation, National or International trophy   or medal.

 5.7   The Ewart Sanders Cup, the Norwood Salver, the Federation Trophy, the Brooklands Cup, the Thematica Salver and the Derek Nathan Cup are perpetual cups and shall be held by the winners for one year. The judges may, however, withhold any Cup or Trophy in the absence of an entry of sufficient quality.                               

5.8   The names of the winners shall be engraved at the expense of the Federation but   the winners shall be responsible for their safekeeping. The cups/trophies shall be returned to the Hon. Secretary of the Federation in good condition at least 14 days before the next Annual competition.

   

6.     Display of Exhibits and Insurance

6.1   All entries will be placed on display with a notification of any trophy awarded.

6.2   Whilst the Federation will take every care of the material submitted for the competition, it can accept no responsibility for loss or damage.  The Society or their members to whom the exhibits belong should arrange their own insurance.

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FSPS OPEN COMPETITION

1.    Eligibility
1.1    All collectors who are a member of a Society affiliated to the Federation of Surrey Philatelic Societies.
1.2    The philatelic and non-philatelic material submitted for the competition must be the sole property of the society member and must be part of a bone fide collection.
2.    Conditions of Entry
2.1    A member may enter one or more entries.  Entries shall comprise 16 sheets of philatelic material unaccompanied by additional pages of maps or explanatory material.  The dimensions of the sheets shall not exceed 295mm high by 245mm wide.  Each sheet must be in a protective cover.
2.2    The first sheet of each exhibit should contain a Plan that provides a brief introduction to the exhibit and sets out how the subject is developed to create information for non-philatelists.
2.3    At least 50% of the material displayed must be philatelic.  Non-philatelic material must be no thicker than 5mm to fit into standard exhibition frames.
2.4    All entry forms must reach the nominated Competition organiser by a date specified when the competition entry forms are issued.  Entries must be submitted in accordance with instructions issued by the Federation.
3.    Judging 
3.1    Entries will be judged by visitors to the Convention who will be invited to vote for their preferred exhibit.
4.    Trophy
4.1    The Ian Hamilton Cup shall be awarded to the entry that receives the highest number of vote cast by visitors to the Convention
4.2    The Ian Hamilton Cup is a perpetual challenge cup and shall be held by the winner for one year.
4.3    The name of the winner shall be engraved at the expense of the Federation but the winner shall be responsible for the cup’s safekeeping.  The cup shall be returned to the Hon. Secretary of the Federation in good condition at least 14 days before the next Open Competition
5     Display of Exhibits and Insurance
5.1    All entries will be placed on display, normally at the Spring Convention, to enable visitors to cast their votes for the most popular entry.
5.2    The Federation shall provide voting slips and a ballot box. 
5.3    Whilst the Federation will take every care of the material submitted for the competition, it can accept no responsibility for loss or damage.  Entrants are responsible for arranging their own insurance.



FSPS ANNUAL & MASON CUP COMPETITIONS

MARKING SCHEME

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1.    Traditional, Postal History, Aero-philately, Revenue Classes

          Presentation                                   15
          Condition                                       15
          Rarity                                             10
          Treatment                                       20
          Importance                                       5
          Philatelic & related knowledge/
          Personal study & research               35
                            

2.    Thematic Class

          Treatment: Title & plan                    15
          Treatment: Development                  15
          Treatment: Originality                       5
          Philatelic knowledge, study &
          Research: Thematic                         15
          Philatelic knowledge, study &
          Research: Philatelic                         15
          Condition                                        10
          Rarity                                             10
          Presentation                                   15
                            

3.    Social Philately Class

          Title, Ideas & Creativity                           20
          Treatment: Plan & Development              20
          Treatment: Research & Knowledge         20
          Condition & Rarity                                  15
          Intelligent use & variety of 
          non-philatelic material                             10
          Presentation                                            15
                            

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