1. GENERAL OBSERVATION

The Crystal Palace and the adjoining 'La Pipa' Pavilion housed the exhibition. on the ground floor of the Crystal Palace were displayed 4000 frames of exhibits from every competitive class, and on the upper floor were the Court of Honor with 16 exceptional exhibits, plus 150 stands of dealers and Postal Administrations. 'la Pipa' Pavilion, which also housed a limited numbers of exhibits, plus a Postal Museum, Theater, carrier pigeons and horses, was given over mostly to visit by school children. About 82,000 children from all over Spain, ages 7 to 16, representing 3000 classes, attended the exhibition. The children's outing was supporting by busses and drivers, by 180 guides and 35 monitors with each group of 100 children. The children received numerous free gifts. This was an exemplary effort by the spanish in promoting Youth Philately.

Some of the highlights of my visit were an outing with the Commissioners, Judges and their guests to the ancient walled town of Avila, the birthplace of Ste Teresa, and Queen Isabela Castile. The 11th century walls of Avila looked something like a picture from a children's storybook. We also visited the town of Segovia with its impressive Roman aquaduct, the domineering Morish castle of Alcazar and the 16th century Gothic Cathedral. We then dined royally in a 15th century Palace converted into a restaurant for special occasions. It was there that I got to meet many important people, among them Charles Verge, the new president of our Royal Philatelic Society and Ann Triggle, a consultant to RPSC and F.I.P. judge. I had the unique opportunity to discuss with both of them together the issue of promoting Maximaphily in Canada and the U.S. They will welcome maximaphily exhibits and at national level shows, the promised to have a judge familiar with our rules.

Another highligh was my visit to the prado Museum, there I marvelled at seeing all those famous paintings, that I only knew from art books. In many instances I was in awe seeing paintings by Great Master of the Spanish, Flemish, Italian, French and German schools like El Greco, Titian, Rubens to name justa few.
Above all, ESPANA 2000 was a unique experience for me, as I got to meet in person many distinguished maximaphilists that I only knew through correspondence or by phone, such as our president Daniel Olsen; Gianfranco Poggi, vice president of the Italian Maximaphilists; Anny Boyard, president of the French Maximaphilists; Andre Sandres, president of the Belgian Maximaphilists; Nicos Rangos, president of the Cypriot Maximaphilists; and Margaret Kotopoulis, president of the Greek Maximaphilists, my mentor for over 10 years.

2. THE MAXIMAPHILY COMMISSION MEETING

The meeting of the FIP Commission for Maximaphily took place on the grounds of the exhibition on October 13 from 5 to 7 P.M. presided by Jacques Thenard (the outgoing president) and assisted by Joseph Wolff (member of the administrative Committee of FIP). There were 30 countries represented, 20 in person and 10 by proxy. Mr. Thenard welcomed the new delegates to the Maximaphily Commission viz. Daniel Olsen for U.S.A., Nicolae Daniliuc for Romania, and George Constantourakis for Canada. Then there was one minute of silence observed for the late Faria Braga of Brazil, K. Dostal of Austria, and J. Pezevski of Yougoslavia.

The most important function of this meeting was the election of a new Presidentand members to the Bureau of the Commission. Nicos Rangos of Cyprus (the former vice president) was elected as the new President. The new Members elected to the Bureau are: Anny Boyard of France, Nicolae Daniliuc of Romania, Manuel Monterrey of Spain, Gianfranco Pogi of Italy, Andre Sanders of Belgium, and Silvio Taioli of Switzeland. Mrs. Anny Boyard was unanimously named Vice President and Secretary.

Another important function of this meeting was Mr. Thenard's response to written questions submitted in advance dealing with the regulations of Maximaphily:
1. Se-tenant stamps (stamp pairs) may be affixed together on the card only if their images form a complete view (a panorama). However, if their images have more subjects, only one stamp per card should be used.
2. To produced postcards commercially, one must first get the copyrights.
3. Cancellations are valid, as long as the stamp has franking validity, but they should be as close as possible to the stamp's date of issue. A more recent cancellation is prefered only if its illustration is concordant.
4. The format of the postcard should br 90x140 or 105x148 mm. If the postcard is larger, It may be cut down to size, while trying to preserve the text on the back.
5.The illustration (image) on the postcard should be no less than 75%.
6. M.C. created before 1974, having 2 different stamps and 2 different unrelated cancellations, are not accepted as M.C. The two cancellations should be either identical, or one cancellation of 'departure' and one of 'arrival'.
7. A stamp surcharged with a name of a person is not sufficient, to justify its use on a postcard with this person's image, for the realization of a M.C.

Before the end of the meeting, Mr. N. Rangos offered two presents, one to Mr. J. Thenard (the outgoing president) for his 12 years exemplary service in that position, and to Mrs. M. Kotopoulis (the outgoing secretary and outstanding exhibitor) for her excellent service in that position.

Reflecting back on the meeting, my first observation is that the 2 hours were simply insufficient. It seems to me that, at this high level meeting, dealing with the finer points of the regulations, more time was needed for a constructive exchange of ideas and for allowing for short oral presentations by every Delegate present. Also socializibg between the Delegates during the meeting was minimal only during the 15 min. break.

I would have liked to have seen: First, A 3 hour meeting at a minimum; Second, An informal social gathering at a set date and lacal; Third, A separate meeting with presentations by eminent maximaphilists on topics of their expertise and interest, as it was the case during PHILEXFRANCE 99 in Paris. May be the Spanish Maximaphily Association could have taken the initiative to arrange for such social and / or philatelic functions, in co-ordination with the President of the Commission and the Organizing Committeee of this exhibition. I hope that these suggestions will fall in good ears, for considaration for future meetings of the Maximaphily Commission.

3. THE MAXIMAPHILY EXHIBITS

The class of Maximaphily was represented with 18 Exhibits, 3 exhibits from Belgium; 3 exhibits each from France, Greece and Spain; 1 exhibit each from U.S.A., Canada, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Armenia and South Korea. From the 18 awards, 1 was a Gold medal, 2 Large Vermeil, 3 Vermeil, 4 Large Silver, 4 Silver and 4 Silver Bronze. They are listed here in order of their achievement:

1. Sites and Momuments which contributed to human culture and history outside Europe until 1940'. Points 91. Award: Gold Medal and a Special Prize. Exhibitor: Margaret Kotopoulis of Greece (president of the Greek Maximaphily Association). Excellent exhibit of exclusively old and rare Maximum Cards.

2. Military Men in peace and War. Points: 86. Award: Large Vermeil Medal. Exhibitor: David R. Cruz of Portugal. Excellent exhibit having the 1st M.C. of Henry the Navigator with a 1894 cancellation.

3. The Landscape and Momument Influence on the European Writers. Points: 85. Award: Large Vermeil Medal. Exhibitor: Francisco Velazquez Barroso of Spain (editor of the Journal of the Spanish Maximaphily Association). This exhibit had some good M.C. from the 1930's.

4. Greco-Roman Sculpture and its Influence. Points: 83. Award: Vermeil Medal. Exhibitor: George Constantourakis of Canada. Best item was a postally used Cretan M.C. of Hermes with Mar.31.1908 and (on back) Apr.8.1908 cancellations.

5. To Conquer the Sky. Points: 80. Award: Vermeil Medal. Exhibitor: Daniel Olsen of U.S.A. Excellent exhibit tracing man's dream to conquer the sky and its recent realisation. It had a postally used M.C. of Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis with Feb.21,1928 Chicago I11 and St. Louis MO cancellations.

6. Marines Points: 80. Award: Vermeil Medal. Exhibitor: Denis Brana of France (former president of 'Maximaphiles Francais'). An interesting exhibit of different types of ships: sail ships, river boats, merchant ships, ocean and navy ships.

7. Women in the Arts. Points: 79. Award: Large Silver Medal. Exhibitor: Theocharides Leda of Cyprus. Women as art protectors, inspiration, creators and perforners.

8. European Schools of Painting. Points: 77. Award: Large Silver Medal. Exhibitor: Cesare Rialdi of Italy (president of the Italian Maximaphily association). Paintings of the Italian, Flemish, Dutch, German, French and Spanish Schools, using only M.C. from 1933 to 1958. This exhibit was of particular interest to me. I think, if its theme was limited to only one school of painting it could achieve a greater result.

9. La France Touristique (Touring in France). Points: 76. Award: Large Silver Medal. Exhibitor: Andre PiPiquer of Belgium. This is an interesting exhibit using many older M.C. of views from every region of France in the form of a tour trip.

10. The evolution of Navigation throughout History. Points: 75. Award: Large Silver Medal. Exhibitor: F.H. Guillen of Spain.

11. Zoological and Geographical Aspects of Fauna. Points: 73. Award: Silver Medal. Exhibitor: Jin Hur of South Korea. It focouses on the protection of land mamals, as it is done in nature reserves and in zoos.

12. The Child - The Games - The Stories. Points: 70. Award: Silver Medal. Exhibitor: Laurence Scotte of Belgium.

13. The Work of Pablo Picasso. Points: 70. Award: Silver Medal. Exhibitor: George Noel of France.

14. Budapest, Capital of Hungary. Points: 70. Award: Silver Medal. Exhibitoe: Judith Szekely of Hungary (President of the Hungarian Maximaphily Association).

15. Vikings - Christopher Columbus - New World. Points: 68. Award: Silver Bronze Medal. Exhibitor: Andre Sanders of Belgium (President of 'Maximaphiles Belges').

16. Armenia. Points: 67. Award: Silver Bronze Medal. Exhibitor: Albert Poghossian of Armenia. It focouses on the history, culture, science and famous people of Armenia. An interesting and original exhibit from a little known country.

17. Religious Paintings. Points: 67. Award: Silver Bronze Medal. Exhibitor: Krzyaztof Sadowski of Poland.

18. Toys and Games. Points: 66. Award: silver Bronze Medal. Exhibitor: Zoe Michalopoulos of Greece. An original topic that it should have been a better appreciated. It presents Toys and Games that people of any age, from around the world, play with.

The closing Gala Ceremony was held at the hotel 'Melia Castilia' the show venue. The diner was followed by the ceremony of presenting the Grand Prix and the Special Awards to the most distinguished philatelists. As I watched each one of them going up to the stage, I wondered if I ever would be able to rech their stature. Then followed the entertainment segment for almost 3 houres and what a show the Spanish did put, with revolving and raised stages, with shows from figure skating to Flamingo dancing. It was something between a Las Vegas and a Paris 'Moulin Rouge' show, but on top with that real Spanish touch.

Editor: George Constantourakis | Webmaster: Itzhak Shdemati
Last Updating: Mar-06-2001

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