Competition Rules
(Amended August 2024)
ANNUAL COMPETITION
1. Eligibili
1 Eligibility
1.1 All collectors who are members of a Philatelic Society or Stamp Club affiliated to the Federation of Surrey Philatelic Societies are eligible to compete.
1.2 The stamps and philatelic material submitted for the competition must be the sole property of the competitor and must be part of a bone fide collection.
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2 Conditions of Entry
2.1 Entries shall consist of 16 sheets which includes any explanatory material, maps etc. The sheets are not to exceed 295mm high by 245mm wide, or a lesser number of sheets providing an equivalent area. Each sheet must be in a protective transparent cover.
2.2 The first sheet of each exhibit in any Class should be an introductory sheet that provides a brief introduction to the Judges of the subject and scope of the entry. It is suggested that the introductory sheet could also include some philatelic material with half or three-quarters of the sheet devoted to the introduction and plan.
2.3 In the Social Philately class, at least 50% of the material displayed must be philatelic. Non-philatelic material must be no thicker than 5mm to fit into standard exhibition frames.
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3 Classes
3.1 A member may submit one or more entries in each of the following classes:
Traditional (Postage Stamps)
Traditional (Postal Stationery)
Postal History
Thematic Philately
Aerophilately
Revenues
Social Philately
Cinderella
3.2 All entry forms must reach the nominated competition organiser by a date specified when the competition entry forms are issued. Entries must be submitted in accordance with instructions issued by the Federation. Judging will take place before the date on which entries are displayed.
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4 Judging
4.1 The Judges shall be appointed by the Council of the Federation and will be asked to award marks according to the Marking Schedule in Appendix . Each exhibit shall be marked separately. The Judges will be instructed to treat entries in all classes as of equal importance.
4.2 The Judges may transfer an entry from one class to another if, in their opinion, the material exhibited is more appropriate to another class.
4.3 The Judges may penalise or disqualify any entry which, in their opinion, does not satisfy the Competition Rules.
4.4 The Judges will be asked to provide written comments on each exhibit.
4.5 The Judges shall submit their judging sheets to a sub-committee of the Council who will decide the number of medals and certificates to be awarded.
5 Trophies
5.1 The Ewart Sanders Cup shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest overall mark in any class.
5.2 The Norwood Salver shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest mark in the two Traditional classes.
5.3 The Federation Trophy shall be awarded to the best presented entry. No winner of the trophy is eligible for the award in subsequent competitions.
5.4 The Brooklands Cup shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest mark in the Aerophilately class.
5.5 The Thematica Salver shall be awarded to the entry that obtains the highest mark in the Thematic class.
5.6 The Derek Nathan Cup shall be awarded to the best entry submitted by a member who has not previously won a Federation, National or International trophy or medal.
5.7 All of these trophies are perpetual challenge trophies and shall be held by the winners for one year.
5.8 The Judges may, however, withhold any cup or trophy in the absence of an entry of sufficient quality.
5.9 If the Annual Competition and the Mason Cup Competition are held at the same event, Annual Competition trophies shall take precedence. An exhibit awarded an Annual Competition trophy shall not be eligible for the award of an individual Mason Cup trophy.
5.10 The names of the winners shall be engraved at the expense of the Federation but the winners shall be responsible for arranging the engraving of the trophies. The Federation will refund the cost on production of receipts. The winners shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the trophies and ensuring that they are returned to the Hon. Secretary in good condition at least 14 days before the next Annual competition.
6. Display of Exhibits and Insurance
6.1 All entries will be placed on display with a notification of any Trophy awarded.
6.2 Whilst the Federation will take every care of the material submitted for the competition, it can accept no responsibility for loss or damage. Entrants are responsible for arranging their own insurance.
Appendix A
Traditional Stamps/Postal Stationery, Postal History and Revenue classes
Presentation 15
Condition 15
Rarity 10
Treatment 20
Importance 5
Philatelic and related knowledge/personal study and research 35
Total 100
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Aerophilately class​
As for the Traditional etc classes but for “philatelic knowledge” read “aerophilatelic knowledge.”
Thematic Philately class
Treatment - Title and Plan 15
- Development 15
- Originality 5
Philatelic Knowledge, Study and Research
- Thematic 15
- Philatelic 15
Rarity 10
Presentation 15
Total 100
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Social Philately class
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Title Ideas and Creativity 20
Treatment: Plan and Development 20
Treatment: Research and Knowledge 20
Condition and Rarity 15
Intelligent use and Variety of non-philatelic material 10
Presentation 15
Total 100
Cinderella class
Cinderella and Related Knowledge 25
Personal Study and Research 10
Treatment 20
Originality and Philatelic Importance 5
Relative condition 15
Rarity 10
Presentation, Write-up and Arrangement 15
Total 100
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MASON CUP
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Eligibility
1 The Mason Cup shall be competed for annually between Societies affiliated to the Federation of Surrey Philatelic Societies.
1.2 The stamps and the philatelic material submitted for the competition must be the sole property of the society member and must be part of a bone fide collection.
2. Conditions of Entry
2.1 Each Society’s entry shall consist of exhibits by three members of the Society. Each exhibit shall comprise 16 sheets which includes any explanatory material, maps etc. The dimensions of the sheets shall not exceed 295mm high by 245mm wide, or a lesser number of sheets providing an equivalent area. Each sheet must be in a protective transparent cover.
2.2 The first sheet of each exhibit should be an Introductory Sheet that provides a brief introduction to the Judge(s) of the subject and the scope of the entry. It is suggested that the Introductory Sheet could also include some philatelic material with half or three-quarters of the sheet devoted to the introduction.
2.3 If the Mason Cup Competition and the Annual Competition are held at the same event, all entries in the Mason Cup Competition shall also be eligible for entry into the Annual Competition.
3 Classes
3.1 A Society’s entry shall consist of one exhibit from each of three different classes selected from the following:
Traditional (Postage Stamps)
Traditional (Postal Stationery)
Postal History
Thematic Philately
Aerophilately
Revenues
Social Philately
Cinderella
3.2 All entry forms must reach the nominated Competition organiser by a date specified when the competition forms are issued. Entries must be submitted in accordance with instructions issued by the Federation. Judging will take place before the date the entries are displayed,
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4 Judging
4.1 The Judges shall be appointed by the Council of the Federation and will be asked to award marks according to the Marking Schedule in Appendix A. Each individual member’s exhibit shall be marked separately. The Judges will be instructed to treat entries in all classes as of equal importance.
4.2 The Judges may transfer an entry from one class to another if, in their opinion, the material exhibited is more appropriate to another class.
4.3 The Judges may penalise or disqualify any entry which, in their opinion, does not satisfy the Competition Rules.
4.4 The Judges will be asked to provide written comments on each exhibit.
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5 Trophies
5.1 The Mason Cup shall be awarded to the Society with the highest aggregate of marks for its three exhibits.
5.2 The Colonel Webb Memorial Cup shall be awarded to the individual exhibit that obtains the highest number of marks in the two Traditional classes
5.3 The Croydon Centenary Cup shall be awarded to the individual exhibit that obtains the highest number of marks in the Postal History class.
5.4 The Aerophilatelic Club Trophy shall be awarded to the individual exhibit that obtains the highest number of marks in the Aero Philatelic class.
5.5 All of these trophies are perpetual challenge cups and shall be held by the winners for one year.
5.6 The Judges may, however, withhold any Cup or Trophy in the absence of an entry of sufficient quality.
5.7 The names of the winners shall be engraved at the expense of the Federation but the winners shall be responsible for arranging the engraving of the trophies. The Federation will refund the cost on the production of receipts. The winners shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the trophies and ensuring that they are returned to the Hon. Secretary in good condition at least 14 days before the next Mason Cup competition.
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6 Display of Exhibits and Insurance
6.1 All competition entries at a Federation event will be placed on display with a notification of any
Trophy awarded.
6.2 Whilst the Federation will take every care of the material submitted for the competition, it can accept no responsibility for loss or damage. The Society or their members to whom the exhibits belong are responsible for arranging their own insurance.
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FSPS OPEN COMPETITION RULES
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Eligibility
1 All collectors who are a member of a Society affiliated to the Federation of Surrey Philatelic Societies.
​1.2 The philatelic and non-philatelic material submitted for the competition must be the sole property of the society member and must be part of a bone fide collection.
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2. Conditions of Entry
2.1 Entries shall comprise 16 sheets which includes any explanatory material, maps etc. The dimensions of the sheets shall not exceed 295mm high by 245mm wide, or a lesser number of sheets providing an equivalent area. Each sheet must be in a protective transparent cover.
2.2 The first sheet of each exhibit should contain a Plan that provides a brief introduction to the exhibit and sets out how the subject is developed to create information for non-philatelists.
2.3 At least 50% of the material displayed must be philatelic. Non-philatelic material must be no thicker than 5mm to fit into standard exhibition frames.
2.4 All entry forms must reach the nominated Competition organiser by a date specified when the competition entry forms are issued. Entries must be submitted in accordance with instructions issued by the Federation.
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3 Display of Exhibits and Judging
3.1 Entries will be placed on display for judging by visitors who will be invited to vote for their preferred exhibit. The Federation shall provide voting slips and a ballot box.
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4 Trophy
4.1 The Ian Hamilton Cup shall be awarded to the entry that receives the highest number of votes cast by visitors to the event.
4.2 The Ian Hamilton Cup is a perpetual challenge cup and shall be held by the winner for one year.
4.3 The name of the winner shall be engraved at the expense of the Federation but the winner shall be responsible for arranging the engraving of the trophy. The Federation will refund the cost on production of receipts. The winner shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the trophy and ensuring that it is returned to the Hon. Secretary in good condition at least 14 days before the next Open competition..
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5. Insurance
5.1 Whilst the Federation will take every care of the material submitted for the competition, it can
accept no responsibility for loss or damage. Entrants are responsible for arranging their own insurance.
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