Promotion of Philately - A Different Perspective
Mainak Kathiara, President of Gujarat Philatelists’ Association (GPA) is a renowned philatelist from Ahmedabad. He has created some very special covers for different occasions which have always been highly appreciated by thematic philatelists. Mr Kathiara is an enthusiast philatelist who is associated with many promotional activities of philately. It’s a great pleasure to share here one of his articles “Promotion of Philately - A Different Perspective”. This article was published in Phila Post in 2008. Mr Mainak Kathiara may be contacted at email : mainak61@yahoo.com
The department spends a lot of money in promoting philately but still they have not been able to hit the right market segment. Now it becomes a collective duty of philatelists, dealers and philatelic associations to provide a solution to get Indian Philately recognised internationally.
In the era of technology the stamp of India Post should be available online. It would be a boon for collectors in India and abroad. Proper guidelines for despatching the materials and the mode of receiving the payment should be mentioned.
Philately as a hobby rests on three pillars: Post Office (originator); Philatelist (end user); and Dealer (market feeder). A very strong coordination among all the three is required at every stage to sustain the hobby and take it to new heights. The Dealer will help the philatelist to fill up the gaps in his collection, so free and frank exchange of ideas is a must between a philatelist and a dealer. The Post Office should encourage both the philatelist and the dealer to make the stamp collecting a successful hobby. Local/State/ National level Philatelic Associations also have a major role to play in promoting philately.
The department spends a lot of money in promoting philately but still they have not been able to hit the right market segment. Now it becomes a collective duty of philatelists, dealers and philatelic associations to provide a solution to get Indian Philately recognised internationally. For this, an exhaustive plan of 10 to 20 years should be drawn up by taking the views of the experts of the field. We have to look towards the future and work in accordance with the future in our minds.
Registration of Dealers & Philatelic Association
It is a pity that even after 60 years of our Independence, there is no National Stamp Dealers Association. The dealers in general are still much unorganised. India Post should try to register a few good dealers and a few good philatelic associations and give them accreditation (rating). This will help the dealers and philatelic associations to become stronger and accountable. With the years to come, they will gain the confidence of philatelists and investors both in India and abroad. A certain code of conduct should be adhered to and ratings should be given only on merits like (on the lines of) the membership of Philatelic Trade Society (PTS), American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) etc. In foreign countries dealers associations are so strong that they normally conduct major philatelic events besides a number of regional events in a very organised manner.
Once this system is established amongst dealers, the confidence of the philatelist will increase. This confidence will give birth to the fourth pillar of philately and that is the ‘INVESTORS’. Of late there have been a few investors in philately, but the numbers are minuscule. Still, big corporate investment bankers etc., have not entered in this field because of the evils of the unorganised market. There is huge potential for this market segment to be tapped.
Certificate of Authenticity / Genuineness
There is an urgent need to form an expert committee to give certificates of authenticity for premium grade stamps, rarities etc. Sinde Dawks, early lithographs, early cancellations, rarities and other philatelic gems are sold with certificate of authenticity and its genuineness. In India, there is no specialised organisation to certify these items. We have to get this certified either in England, USA, Germany and France etc., whose certificates of genuineness are valid and respected internationally.
Even for classic Indian items, the certificate of Royal Philatelic Society (RPS) or American Philatelic Society (APS) etc., is needed. There are a few reputed individuals also whose certificates are recognised. India Post in association with senior philatelists and associations can work in this regard and help fellow collectors to enhance their collection values. Something like this will help in promoting philately in a big way.
Stamps should be available On-line:
In the era of technology the stamp of India Post should be available on-line. It would be a boon for collectors in India and abroad. Proper guidelines for despatching the materials and the mode of receiving the payment should be mentioned. This system if implemented would increase the sale of stamps and related products of the Department of Post by many-fold. The unsold stock of the bureau would be a ‘hot cake’ item for collectors of other States. By doing this people at large would see the stamps for sale on the net and at the end the DOP will be a sure winner.
Also I would like to add that any information of the post office relating to philately should be available on-line. Each postal circle should have its own website, with all philatelic information. Philatelists would like to take cue from the introduction of new products for their collections.
How to get the Grass Root Collector to Exhibit
In India, like in other countries, a discontent is growing amongst would be collectors. They feel that the exhibition world is reserved for collectors with fat wallets and that only they can win high-placed medals. They also feel that the rules were too rigid.
The exhibitors realised that at their exhibitions, the public crowded around the dealers and post office stalls and queued up to get a set of newly released stamps or special covers. The man from the street did not understand the refinements of looking page after page, frame after frame of say, 1st issues of England or early India cancellations etc. They needed new and more exciting exhibits to attract the public.
These are the suggestions, which if implemented will become a win-win situation for all concerned. Again consensus should be reached among the three pillars of philately as to how to get more and more young people involved in exhibiting their collections. Still a lot of constructive work with innovative ideas is needed to put India amongst the more respectable country promoting philately.
I would like to conclude by quoting a note of management expert Mr. Peter F. Drucker. “Today’s efforts are tomorrow’s work, which a manager thought yesterday”.
This will be an on going article and reader views and suggestions etc., are welcome. This will take us one step ahead in promoting and developing philately in India.
: Phila Post
Club News
New special cover from Kanpur
Kanpur District Level Philatelic Exhibition - 2012
Date of Issue : 25 March 2012
2 Special Covers were released at Kanpur District Level Philatelic Exhibition KANPEX 2012 being held from 24-25 March 2012, on Bicentenary Chawk Satti Chaura Kanpur & Cantonment Board, Ministry of defence Kanpur.
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