Introducing... The Austrian Philatelic Society

The Austrian Philatelic Society is a truly international organization of some 250 members, one third of whom live outside the UK., including many in the USA and others in some 23 other countries! Our object is to cater for every aspect of Austrian philately, from the beginnings of the postal system to the latest issues and from the Postal History of all the territories within the Habsburg Empire before 1918 to studies of interest to Thematic (Topical) collectors. The Austrian Philatelic Society has Local Groups, which hold regular meetings in such places as York and London; it also holds an annual philatelic and social weekend in a place such as York or Cambridge.

The history of the Austrian Philatelic Society is briefly described here, in both English and German. If you want to read the Rules and Regulations, here they are.

Our quarterly journal AUSTRIA has achieved international recognition as the foremost English language publication on the subject. There is a comprehensive and specialized Library (400 items and growing!) available to members. A flourishing Exchange Packet operates, through which members add to their collections or dispose of surplus material. Because of tax and insurance limitations, circulation of the packet is restricted to UK members, but EU members can (and do) sell through the packet and also buy or sell through the quarterly Auction, which offers a wide range of interesting material.

We have stocks of all back numbers of AUSTRIA, although earlier copies (and a few later ones) are available only as photocopies. Many new members like to buy these, as together they form an extremely comprehensive handbook. Prices are printed inside the back cover of AUSTRIA, as are details of other publications. Both the Club Rule Book and the Library list are sent to new members.

Membership records are entered into a secure computer Database which is accessible only to appropriate Officers of the Society (eg the Treasurer and the Membership Secretary). Information entered is restricted to full name and address, membership number, & subscriptions paid. This database is used to generate subscription invoices and reminders, and mailing labels for AUSTRIA and the Newsletter/auction list. Contact with other members is only possible via the Officers. To comply with the provisions of The Data Protection Act 1984, we must ask any member who objects to this information being held on computer to advise the Treasurer accordingly.

Annual Subscriptions are 20GBP (or 30 Euro or 35 USD) per year (European Union and surface mail to elsewhere) or 23GBP (or 33 Euro or 40 USD) per year (airmail to elsewhere). The membership year runs from 1st April to 31st March; subscriptions must be paid by September. Members joining between 1st April and 31st December receive all the back numbers for the calendar year in which they join plus the Spring issue of the year following. Members joining between January and March are credited through to 31st March of the year following.

Please send applications & subscriptions to the Membership Secretary. All cheques should be made payable to "APS", please. UK banks impose a charge of 10GBP per foreign currency cheque, and you must add this amount to your cheque - avoid this by sending sterling cheques drawn on UK banks, or international money orders, or sterling Eurocheques. Or simply send banknotes: we welcome Sterling, U S dollar bills, and Euro notes. Payment by certain credit cards is possible. Other arrangements by negotiation!

The Society provides various other services to members, including arranging subscriptions to "Die Briefmarke" (Vienna) and other literature, advising on all manner of philatelic problems and giving opinions on authenticity. If in doubt, please ask. We will be pleased to try to help.

©APS. Last updated 25 Aug 2007