Revenue Society


The Revenue Society was formed in 1990 and is the only international philatelic society which covers revenue stamps of the whole world. The society is also noted for the particularly high quality of its journal which has published many articles on subjects about which little or nothing has previously been written.
In 2007 the name of the society was shortened from The Revenue Society of Great Britain to just The Revenue Society in order to make the international nature of the society clear.

Origins

The first committee meeting took place at the East India Club in London on 3 March 1990 and the first open meeting followed on 10 May 1990. Founder members included Robson Lowe, Gary Ryan, Clive Akerman and Ronald Butler.
There had previously been no revenue stamp society in the UK since the Fiscal Philatelic Society ceased in 1928 and the only similar society in existence was The American Revenue Association. A revival of interest in revenue stamps had started since Robson Lowe began specific revenue auctions in the 1970s and the founder members of the society felt that the time was ripe for an organisation devoted just to revenues.

Objects

The objects of the society are:
The membership of the society is approximately 300 from 40 different countries. Approximately half the members reside outside the UK.

Officers

The first president of the society was Robson Lowe. and the current president is David Springbett.

Journal

The society is particularly noted for the quarterly Revenue Journal under the long-time editorship of Clive Akerman which has won several awards at philatelic shows including Vermeil medals at España 06 and China 09.

Selected publications

The society awards The Revenue Society Research Medal for research into revenue stamps and a Competition Medal. The Research Medal was first awarded in 2007 and the winner was Peter Mansfield for research into British and Northern Ireland key type revenue stamps.