Rhodesian Study Circle 2021 Annual Conference and AGM
Due to the ongoing restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided to hold a Virtual Conference in 2021. The success of our many virtual meetings in 2020 has provided us with the encouragement to plan and deliver such a venture. The programme will be designed to flow across various time zones to allow as wide a participation as possible from our membership spread across the world.
- The Conference is open to all and we hope that as many members as possible will be able to join some or all of the sessions.
- Running concurrently with the Conference will be our Livermore and Postcard Exhibit competitions along with a Single Sheet Competition. These, as in 2020, will be Virtual competitions and all entries will be up on the website prior to the start of the Conference. The results will be announced at the Conference.
- At the start of the Conference we will hold our annual AGM. Reports will be available beforehand.
News from the AGM and Conference
Announced at the AGM: Rhodesian Study Circle Awards 2021
At the AGM held on 23 April, 2021, the Chairman of the RSC, Patrick Flanagan, announced that the Council, after receiving advice from the Awards Committee and further deliberations, was delighted to announce the following awards:
- H. C. Dann Trophy (for the best publication in the previous two years) to Sean Burke (Australia), Bob Gibbs (USA) and Arnie Brickman (USA) for Memoir 34: Postmarks on the 1910-1913 Double Head Issue – Paradise Revisited
- Alan Drysdall Award (for the best article in the Journal over previous two years) to Ian Menzies (Switzerland) for Alfred Bertrand 1856-1924, Geneva explorer, adventurer and philanthropist; (RSCJ 280/278-82)
- The Simpson Salver (for services to RSC) to Bob Gibbs (USA)
- The Plato Mavros Trophy (for services to Rhodesia and Nyasaland philately) to Andrew Wilson (UK)
- The Editor’s Prizes: Rob Burrett (Zimbabwe) and Peter Wingent (UK)
- *The Chairman’s Awards for Virtual Presentations in 2020: Alan Rendle (UK), Dirk Kind (UK), Mark Thomas (UK), Adam Goulding (Australia), Narendhra Morar (UK), Colin Fraser (USA), Simon Hensman (USA).
The Council are delighted to announce the appointment of the following as Fellows of the Rhodesian Study Circle:
Mark Loomis (USA)
David Parsons (UK)
Walter Herdzik (Canada)
The Council are delighted to announce the appointment of the following as an Hon Life Member:
Jack Joyce (Canada)
*A new award flowing out of the COVID-19 conditions.
CONFERENCE NEWS
Session 1 – Friday 23 April


Over 110 members and guests registered for the Conference. Members come and go according to interests and time zones.
For the first session, 71 members and guests joined the Conference.
Session 2 – Saturday 24 April






For the second session, 75 members and guests joined the Conference.
Session 3 – Saturday 24 April





For the third session, 70 members and guests joined the Conference.
Session 4 – Saturday 24 April




For the last session, 70 members and guests joined the Conference.
At the conclusion of the Conference the results of the Virtual Competitions were announced:
- The Livermore Trophy to George Stewart from New Zealand.
- The Postcard Competition to Sean Burke from Australia.
- The Single Sheet Competition to Adrian de Bourbon from the UK.
The Judges also announce the winner of the Nodder and Hamilton Trophy for the best presentation at Conference to Brian Eyre from South Africa.
RSC Virtual AGM & Conference Programme
Friday 23 April (Moderator: Sean Burke)
8.00-11.45pm London
9.00pm-12.45am (Cape Town/Paris/Harare)
12.00-3.45pm San Francisco (23 April)
3.00pm-6.45pm New York (23 April)
5.00-8.45am Melbourne (24 April)
8.00 – 8.45pm (London)
Welcome and address by the Chair (Patrick Flanagan {South Africa})
RSC 2021 AGM
- Acceptances of 2020 Reports (Previously circulated)
- Acceptance of 2020 Accounts (Previously circulated)
- Office Bearers for 2021
- Subscriptions for 2021/2022
Announcement of Awards
- C. Dann Trophy (for the best publication in the previous two years)
- Alan Drysdall Award (for the best article in the Journal over previous two years)
- The Simpson Salver (for services to RSC)
- The Plato Mavros Trophy (for services to Rhodesia and Nyasaland philately)
- The Editor’s Prizes
Announcement of new Fellows of the RSC
8.45pm
The Journey of a Pioneer. (Dirk Kind {UK}) A presentation based upon two large photo albums in his possession from his great-great-uncle, William Harvey Brown, who became a Pioneer and wrote On the South African Frontier.
9.15pm
Three new Rhodesia-related publications in 2021:
- Rhodesian Philately to 1924 – The British South Africa Company Period by Brian Trotter, Colin Hoffman and Patrick Flanagan – a RPSL publication (Brian Trotter {UK})
- The British South Africa Company King George V Admiral Stamps 1913-1924 by David Spivack and Stephen Reah-Johnson – a RPSL publication (David Spivack {USA})
- Memoir 30: The postal history of the Paris Missionary Society in Barotseland 1884-1924: the people, the place and the time by Sean Burke, Paul Peggie and Patrick Flanagan (Sean Burke {Australia})

10.15pm
Buying and selling at auction at a time of lockdown (Ian Shapiro {UK} from Spink)
10.45pm
Independence Forgeries: a mystery solved (Dave Trathen {UK})
11.15pm
The Cancellation Types of Zambia (Mark Thomas {UK})
Saturday 24 April
(Moderators Adrian de Bourbon {am} and Brian Trotter {pm})
9.30am-1.00pm & 8.00-11.00pm (London)
10.30am-2.00pm & 9.00pm-12.00am (Cape Town/Paris/Harare)
1.30-5.00am & 12.00noon-3.00pm (San Francisco)
4.30-8.00am & 3.00-6.00pm (New York)
6.30-10.00pm & 5.00-8.00am (Melbourne)
9.30am (London)
Early Rhodesian airmails (Keith Harrop {UK})
10.00am
The BCA Provincials of 1898 (Mark Ladd {UK} and Brian Coop {UK})
10.30am
On Postmarks:
- Postmarks on pre-Double Head issues – (Huw Williams {UK},
- Making the Dumb Speak: The-background to the Mutilated Cancels of Northern-Rhodesia (Adam Goulding {Australia})
11.00am
A call to Arms (Colin Hoffman {UK})
11.30am
Research & Social History:
- Since Discovered (Anita McCullough {UK}),
- Tracking them down: Exploring Zimbabwe in Search of Geographical Postal History (Rob Burrett {Zimbabwe}),
- What’s in a Name” The background to name changes in NR and Zambian Post Offices (Adam Goulding {Australia}}
12.00noon
Malawi; keeping up with the neighbours (Stuart Ross {UK})
12.30pm
Forgeries – Simon Hensman {USA}
12.45pm
Members Ask
8.00pm
Revenues:
- Large format Revenue Stamps of the BSAC (Adrian de Bourbon {UK}),
- Inspection Certificates (Christopher Cooksey {UK})
8.30pm
The Nyasaland 1934 Leopard issue (SG 114-122) (Colin Fraser {USA})
9.00pm
From the Limpopo to the Zambezi: History, Politics and Ideology in 101 Stamps and Covers. (Narendhra Morar {UK}) This presentation will showcase excerpts of a much larger piece of work that he is undertaking on the history and politics of Zimbabwe, from earliest times to the present, as refracted through the prism of its stamps and postal history.
9.30pm
Southern Rhodesia Postal Stationery – archival material, the issued material and usage (Patrick Flanagan {South Africa})
10.00pm
Mission Mail:
- Some missionary postcards from Catholic Missions in Southern Rhodesia (Mark Loomis {USA}),
- John and Helen Springer, Methodist missionaries in Central Africa (Paul Peggie {Australia}).
Sunday 25 April (Moderator David Spivack)
8.00-11.00pm (London)
9.00pm-12.00am (Cape Town/Paris/Harare)
12.00noon-3.00pm San Francisco
3.00pm-6.00pm New York
5.00-8.00am Melbourne (26 April)
8.00pm (London)
The Kariba Dam – 60 years on (Jono Waters {Zimbabwe})
8.20pm
Noel Brettell, ‘Poet who shied away from any sort of limelight’ (Ian Menzies {Switzerland}) See article here
8.40pm
Some philatelic aspects of what is now the University of Zimbabwe (Hugh Amoore {South Africa})
9.00pm
To dream the impossible dream – updating the SG listing on the Double Head Issue (Sean Burke {Australia}, David Spivack {USA}, Colin Hoffman {UK})
9.30pm
Southern Rhodesia: The last two issues of coil stamps; the Harrison printings. (Brian Eyre {South Africa})
10.00 pm
Encyclopaedia of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland (Geoff Brakspear {UK}}
10.15pm
Postmark Cancel Errors on Cover – Northern Rhodesia & Zambia (Walter Herdzik {Canada})
10.30pm
- The Judges of the Virtual Competitions for 2021.
- The best presentation at Conference
10.50pm
Closing Address from Chairman
RSC Conference Q&A
There is a time set aside at the Conference for a short Question & Answer session. If you wish to participate, please forward your question with a relative scan to the Conference Organiser Adrian de Bourbon. His email address can be found in the Journal or
As in 2020, we will hold a virtual competition for our annual Livermore and Postcard Competitions. The rules for these competitions are available on the RSC website.