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BTA One-Page Virtual Competition: Rules
16th March 2020
Rules 1. There will be seven philatelic classes: o Thematic Philately – Nature o Thematic Philately – Science and Technology o Thematic Philately – Culture o Open Philately o Topical o Picture Postcards o...
BTA Zoom Presentations: Upcoming Programme
2nd May 2021
Tuesday 09 January 19.00 for 19.30 Les Ashton-Smith Marie Curie A philatelic investigation into the life of Marie Curie. Marie Curie was born in Poland in 1867 and later on became a French National. She was a pioneer in Physics and...
BTA One-Page Competitions
16th March 2023
One Frame Competitions We organise four competitions each year, currently hosted at the South of England Stamp Fair and Sussex Convention. All are sixteen sheet / one frame competitions; and all judged by a nationally qualifed judge...
Programme 2024
30th October 2023
ZOOM Tuesday 9th January 19.00 for 19.30 Les-Ashton-Smith Marie Curie A look at the life and work of the pioneering physicist and chemist Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. ZOOM Thursday 15th...
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BTA Residential Weekend 2024
Another very successful weekend was held at the Oxford Spires Hotel from 12th to 14th April. Four invited speakers presented a wide range of topics: Africa and Islands by James Podger: Small but perfectly formed: the British lamp letter box by Wayne Cox; Thematic...
BTA Display to the RPSL 2024
'Showcasing the World of Pictorial Collecting' was the title chosen for the BTA's presentation to the Royal Philatelic Society London, on the occasion of the BTA’s 40th anniversary. It was a great honour to be invited to give this display,...
One-Frame competitions 2023
The BTA 2023 one-frame competitions will take place as part of the South of England Stamp Fair and Sussex Convention on 28th October. There are four categories: Thematic, Open, Postcards and Championship. Click here for full details and application...
Franceska Rapkin Memorial Bowl winner 2023
The Francesca Rapkin Memorial Bowl is awarded annually to the author of the article voted by the Committee to be best in Themescene the previous year. This year the winner was Charles Oppenheim with Joseph Sloper, patents and perfins Click...
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Virtual One-Page Competition Palmares
OPEN Paolo Vispi BEST IN CLASS Canticle of the Sun Diamond Fran Adams Charon Ruby Salvatore Picconi An Ancient Love Song from Sardinia Ruby Salvatore...
BTA Residential Weekend at Oxford 2022
On a warm and sunny weekend in September members and guests got together to enjoy excellent hospitality, wonderful talks and displays, and perhaps more than anything the entertaining company of like-minded friends new and old. Our guest speakers were Bob...
AGM display
POST WORLD WAR II POSTCARDS IN SARAWAK Display given by Malcolm Gascoyne to the BTA AGM In the aftermath of the liberation of Borneo in 1945 there was little demand for picture postcards. Reconstruction, repatriation of troops and civilians and shipping...
London 2022 International Stamp Exhibition
Many congratulations to all the BTA members who exhibited at London 2022. Their results are: THEMATIC PHILATELY Lesley Marley A Whale’s Tale 8 frames Large Gold Peter...
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Wheeler Penal Colonisation
THE PENAL COLONISATION OF AUSTRALIA (1788 - 1868). PART 1: INTRODUCTION By Chris Wheeler The inspiration behind these articles comes mainly from the lengthy novels by the Australian authors Nancy Cato, Lola Irish and Colleen McCullough, with support from Wikipedia and Stanley Gibbons. The forced exile from a society has been used as...
The Statue of Liberty: A Symbolic Theme
This article first appeared in Themescene no. 116. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY: A SYMBOLIC THEME Jon Matthias looks at the USA’s most famous landmark I collect the Statue of Liberty on stamps. It appears quite a narrow theme, although I have over 400 stamps from over 100 postal issuing authorities, and I’m always discovering...
BTA Zoom Presentation 09 December
You are invited to join in the first British Thematic Association virtual presentation by Zoom on Wednesday 9th December at 19.30. To start off our displays and discussions on Zoom Andrew Millington will show some items from his collection of copper-related stamps. It is a wide ranging collection and includes geology, technology, art and...
One Page Emerald Entries
These are the Emerald award winners. Click on the thumbnail to view full size: Mark Humfrey Alastair Watson Augusto Zavala Postal use of orchids New Zealand's Dolphins Inca Chess Players...
One Page Youth entries
These are the Youth award. Click on the thumbnail to view full size: S. Krithikka B. Shruthikka Apeksha Shet The X-Ray Man Father of Tamil...
Annual Competitions 2023
The competitions will be held at the South of England Stamp Fair & Sussex Convention, Norfolk Pavilion, South of England Centre, Ardingly Showground, Ardingly, RH17 6TL SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2023 10.00am – 4.00 pm Competition categories are: BTA CUP 16-sheet One Frame competition subject to the Rules and Regulations for National...
About Us
We are a friendly national association for stamp collectors, philatelists and postcard collectors who like to collect 'thematically', that is following a chosen theme (e.g. ships, birds, medicinal plants) or relating a story (e.g. the development of the bicycle or the history of flight). Many of our existing members like to give...
Meet Your Committee
Patron: Brian (FRPSL) Collects Go By Cycle! and British Greetings Telegrams Chairman: Barry (FRPSL) Collects Parachuting and Archery Secretary: Anne Collects Rocks to Riches Treasurer: Peter (FRPSL) Collects It's...
List of Speakers
The BTA maintains a list of its members who give displays to societies. Clubs or Societies wanting more details or who wish to book any of the displays should contact the Membership Secretary. Please ensure you state which display you are interested in and offer a range of dates and times available. Dr. J. Alexander...
Photo Albums
Albums Here you can see all of our recent photo albums. To display in full, click on the photo thumbnail, click on the thumbnail of the first photo, then scroll through....
Early History of BTA
“THEMATICS - The Way Ahead or a Passing Phase?” was the title of a paper read by Raife Wellsted, Curator of the National Postal Museum, at the 1983 Philatelic Congress in Bath. He wanted to stimulate interest in Thematics and to raise the standard of British entries at International level. At the end of the debate, Ron Lee, Chairman...
Constitution of BTA
CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF THE BRITISH THEMATIC ASSOCIATION (Version 7) 1. Title The Association shall be known as “The British Thematic Association” (BTA) 2. The membership of the BTA will consist of : a) ordinary members b) family members i.e. a second adult and all children under 18 years of age in the...
Subscription Rates
Ordinary Family Junior (under 18) Society UK Full £18.00 £18.00 £5.00 £20.00 Euro Currency Zone Full £22.00...
BTA One Page Virtual Competition 2023
38 entries were judged in the internationally accepted categories of Thematic - Culture; Thematic - Nature; Thematic - Technology; Open; Topical; Youth ages 10 - 15; Youth ages 16 - 18. These are the very top entries, given the Diamond award. Click on the thumbnail to view them full size: BTA MEMBER BEST IN SHOW...
Showing your collection
There will be members who will only collect for themselves and never consider showing their collection to other than perhaps a chosen few. Some, probably those belonging to their local stamp or postcard club, will display some of their material at members' meetings, or respond to an invitation to put on a whole meeting's display. A...
Guidance on Pictorial Collecting: Barry Stagg
At Autumn Stampex 2021 Barry Stagg gave a talk entitled Theme collecting: story telling with stamps? Click here for the PowerPoint slides Click here for the talk as recorded by the Philatelic Traders' Society...
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Guidance on Pictorial Exhibiting: Birthe King
The following guidelines are reproduced with the kind permission of Birthe King (pictured). Thematic Philately A collection of stamps and other philatelic items that illustrate a theme. The term ‘theme’ has a dynamic meaning implying the personal elaboration by the collector, who develops a story around it. A collection consists...
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Exhibitor Step By Step Guide
See our BTA Seminar led by John Hayward, previous President of the BTA (opens in pdf)...
Guidance on Postcard Exhibiting
Click here for a presentation (pdf) given by Barry Stagg at the 2018 BTA Weekend entitled Postcards, Or Shall we venture into the unknown? Its purpose is to give the viewer confidence in putting together a Postcard exhibit. Among other things it covers why it is good to exhibit, and why now; the definition of a postcard; where to buy cards...
Forthcoming Exhibitions
NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS AND FAIRS 2024 19 - 20 July. York Coin and Stamp Fair. York Racecourse. This will host the Northern National Exhibition. Closing dat for entry forms 31 May 2024. 23 - 26 October. Stampex. Business Design Centre, Islington INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS 2024 25 May. SAVPEX: virtual one-page competition....
Rules and Guidance: links to useful sites
THEMATIC CLASS Click here for the Stockholmia seminar Analytical Approach Toward Thematic Philately by Yukio Onuma Click here for for the F.I.P. seminar How to Improve a Thematic Exhibit by Tono Putranto Click here for a YouTube video Thematic Philately by Peter Suhadolc Click here for the F.I.P. seminar How to Prepare a Thematic...
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Examples of Exhibits: BTA Competitions
BTA members who have entered either the John Fosbery Trophy for Open Philately, the BTA Cup for Thematic Philately or the Brian Sole Trophy for Postcards are invited to send in good quality scans of their entries to put on our website. Thematic Philately - 1 frame Pillars of the Community. Wayne Cox (2018) What Can The Matter...
Examples of Exhibits by BTA members: National
Click on Frame+no. to see the exhibit The Road to Independence: Ireland from the Act of Union to Irish Free State. Peter Wood. Autumn Stampex 2017. Large Gold. Open Philately exhibit. Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3 Frame 4 Frame 5 _________________________________________________________________________________ The...
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Examples of Exhibits by BTA members: International
Click on Frame+no to see the exhibit Peter Weir. Liquid of Life: blood, from an ancient myth to a modern medicine. New York 2016 and Verona 2019. Gold. Thematic exhibit Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3 Frame 4 Frame...
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Examples of Exhibits: International, multi-sites
Sites with multiple exhibits. Please note the BTA is not responsible for the content of external sites, and we do not hold a view on the marks given. SAVPEX: South African Philatelic Federation Virtual One-Frame Exhibition. A multi-disciplinary exhibition including Thematic, Open and Postcard. Contains entries by two BTA members:...
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Contact
Get in contact with BTA by filling in the form below. We aim to respond to your query within 2-3 working days. If you would like to send us an email directly (and to include an attachment) please email: info@britishthematic.org.uk...
Affiliated Societies
Websites of the societies affiliated to the British Thematic Association: Astro Space Stamp Society Bicycle Stamps Club Bird Stamp Society Captain Cook Society Exhibition Study Group Guild of St. Gabriel Masonic Philatelic Club Scout and Guide Stamps Club West of England Thematic Society...
Themescene e-Issues (Members only)
Here are the electronic versions of Themescene from issue 79 (2005) onwards. Full subject and author indexes (1984 to date) will be found here. Each issue comprises the articles listed plus news about the society, reports of meetings and events, and regular features such as Just4Kids and reader's letters. 2024 Issue 154 - Auguste...
Themescene Articles
Here are a selection of articles from the BTA magazine, Themescene. Become a member and receive the magazine four times a year! In 2003 the BTA introduced the Franceska Rapkin Memorial Bowl award for the best article published in Themescene the previous year, as voted for by the Committee. Here are the most recent winning articles:...
Index to Themescene
British Thematic Association Resources Themescene Themescene is the BTA Journal issued 4 times a year containing details of all BTA events, reports and articles about thematic collecting. The articles produced offer considerable assistance to beginners and experienced collectors in formulating their collections and displays. Themescene...
Research and Further Information: useful links
Here are some useful links to other online resources. Please note the BTA is not responsible for any content on these websites. Undertaking Research. Full-text guidance on philatelic research, courtesy of the Royal Philatelic Society, London. (Please note these are general guides applicable to all classes of philately). David R Beech...
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Thematic Associations Worldwide
Links to thematic organisations worldwide. Some of them are not in English but use of your internet search engine options should help Australia Thematics Queensland Belgium Themaphila - Belgische vereniging voor thematische filatelie Colombia...
Themes on GB Stamps
Here you will find the original version of the series of articles "GB Themes" which were published in Stamp Magazine between 2016 and 2019. The late BTA member Jeff Dugdale analysed GB commemorative stamp issues by theme and wove the story they tell into a narrative for each theme which he very kindly made available to BTA members....
Log In
Please use the form below to sign in to the members area. If you are not yet a member, you can become one here... [INSERT LINK]...
Become a member
Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of British Thematic Association. MEMBERSHIP RATES 2022 - Download the membership form (Word doc) Ordinary Family Junior (Under 18) Society UK £18.00 £18.00 £5.00 £20.00 Euro...
My News
Here you can submit news to the website for approval by our moderators. If your news is accepted, it will be visible to all members, and in some cases, also to the general public. We regret that we cannot accept all submissions....
My Events
Here you can submit events to the website for approval by our moderators. If your event is accepted, it will be visible to all members, and in some cases, also to the general public. We regret that we cannot accept all submissions....
End My Membership
We're sorry that you wish to end your membership of the British Thematic Association, but respect your right to do so. If your membership is coming up for renewal, all you have to do is to not renew and your membership will expire automatically. However, if you wish to immediately cancel your membership, which will include the removal...
How to Pay
Please download a membership form and post it with a cheque drawn on a UK bank, made out to "British Thematic Association", to the address on the form. If you prefer to pay by PayPal or Bank Transfer please contact the Membership Secretary. Please note that exchange rates can fluctuate. Non-UK applicants should contact Membership...
News
The latest news from the BTA - we'd recommend you become a member and subscribe to Themescene to get the news 'hot off the press'....
Programme 2024
ZOOM Tuesday 9th January 19.00 for 19.30 Les-Ashton-Smith Marie Curie A look at the life and work of the pioneering physicist and chemist Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. ZOOM Thursday 15th February 19.00 for 19.30 Gary Cook The Eiffel Tower The Eiffel Tower was the major attraction at the 1889...
BTA Annual One-Frame Competitions
One Frame Competitions We organise four competitions each year, currently hosted at the South of England Stamp Fair and Sussex Convention. All are sixteen sheet / one frame competitions; and all judged by a nationally qualifed judge to the standard of National Rules and Regulations. Click here for rules and entry form for the 2023 competition....
BTA One-Page Virtual Competition: Rules
Rules 1. There will be seven philatelic classes: o Thematic Philately – Nature o Thematic Philately – Science and Technology o Thematic Philately – Culture o Open Philately o Topical o Picture Postcards o Youth Philately. Split into: - Up to and including age 9 - Ages 10 – 14 - Ages...
BTA Zoom Presentations: Upcoming Programme
The British Thematic Association hosts a regular series of meetings on Zoom. All details of upcoming talks are given here. Videos of previous presentations are on YouTube; the most recent ones available to members only. All you need to do to attend the latest event is email and ask to be registered. YOU WILL BE SENT A LINK TO THE PRESENTATION...
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BTA Zoom Presentations 2024
Here are the BTA Zoom Presentations for 2024 (The presentations are in reverse order with the most recent at the top) 15th February: Gary Cook The Eiffel Tower The Eiffel Tower was the major attraction at the 1889 Paris World Exposition. It became a major tourist attraction and generated an emerging demand for souvenirs especially for...
BTA Zoom Presentations 2023 (September - Christmas)
Here are the BTA Zoom Presentations for 2023 from September to December. (The presentations are in reverse order with the most recent at the top) 12th December: Julian Bagshaw Christmas The presentation is in three parts: Early Christmas postal items Early postal items carrying a 25 Dec postmark What was the first Christmas...
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BTA Zoom Presentations 2023 (January - August)
Here are the BTA Zoom Presentations for 2023 from January to August. (The presentations are in reverse order with the most recent at the top) 15th August: George Henshilwood A thematic approach to the 50 US States A meander through a number of the 50 US States, perhaps visiting the 51st state as we go, with a range of philatelic material...
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BTA Zoom Presentations 2022
Here are all the Association's Zoom Presentations for 2022 (for 2023 click here) 14 December: Wendy Buckle Pictures in Miniature: the art of illuminated manuscripts European medieval manuscripts are an important source for our knowledge of the history of European art, and they provide a vivid picture of life in that period. This...
BTA Zoom Presentations July 2021 - December 2021
You will not need a YouTube account to watch these presentations. You can also access presentations from December 2020 - June 2021 here. Presentations 14 December: A Christmas Celebration Themed presentations by Brian Sole and Barry Stagg 17 November: John Davies A Jubilee Reminiscence The story of the introduction...
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BTA Zoom Presentations Dec 2020 - June 2021
This archive page contains the first seven Zoom presentations made during the Association's 'pandemic programme' in 2020 and 2021. 16 June: Jean Alexander. Stamp Advisory Committee Christmas Menus Between 1977 and 2014 Royal Mail held a Christmas Lunch for members of the Stamp Advisory Committee as a thank you for their...
Read more about BTA Zoom Presentations Dec 2020 - June 2021 >>
The attraction of thematic philately
Click here for a presentation given by Barry Stagg to the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain on 9th June 2023...
What is thematic collecting?
Thematic collecting is about collecting by theme or subject rather than by country or geographical area. The subject will be a very personal choice, and has no limitations other than availability of material. It can be limited to just stamps, featuring the theme as a major or minor element of the design, or ones that have wording on them...
Advice For Beginners
Like starting any new venture it is probably best to have a clear plan on how you are going to proceed rather than rushing headlong into a thematic collection. The advice given by John Hayward on how to embark on a thematic collection is directed at philatelists. However the advice given is equally sound if you wish to include non-philatelic...
Types of Material
There are many types of material that you might consider including in your collection. Most people, when they start collecting a particular theme, first look out for stamps depicting aspects of their subject. But after a time some choose to go further. This list has been compiled to give you an idea of the many types of material you...
The Home of Thematic Collecting
INFORMATION UPDATES For news and pictures from our two latest - and very successful - events, go the News tab to read about the BTA display to the Royal Philatelic Society London on 21st March 2024, and the sixth BTA Residential Weekend, held at Oxford Spires Hotel on 12th - 14th April 2024. Welcome The British Thematic Association...
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