PRESENTATION OF GOLD MEDAL TO BRITISH POST OFFICE

The International Gandhi Stamp Exhibition Gold Medal awarded to the British Post Office for being selected by the Jury as the "Best Gandhi Stamp," will be presented at a Special Ceremony at the British Post Office stand at the London International Stamp Exhibition, Olympia, on September 21 at 11 a.m. by the High Commissioner for India, Mr. Apa B. Pant.

The Secretary of the Organising Committee and Editor, Stamp Digest, Bibhash Gupta, will be present along with other members of the committee including Mr. Jal Cooper, Mr. S. K. Sethia, Mr. S. B. Kothari, Mr. M. C. Sukhani, Mr. S. C. Sukhani, Dr. S. C. Roy and Mr. Sukumar Mondal at this special ceremony.

First-ever

The prize-winning Gandhi Stamp, which was issued on August 13, 1969, was Britain's first stamp issued to honour an overseas leader. It was also the first-ever stamp to be designed by a foreigner, Mr. Biman Mullick. He was one of seven designers to submit several lay-outs of the design.

The stamp, which portrays a black and white head of Mahatma Gandhi with a background of the saffron, white and green flag of India, was selected from the 17 designs submitted by Mr. Mullick.

The selection was made by the Jury from more than 60 Gandhi Stamps issued by 35 countries which participated in the Exhibition inaugurated last March by the Governor of West Bengal.

The selection explains why British stamps are now so popular with stamp collectors throughout the world.

The designer Mr. Mullick was also awarded a Gold Medal for preparing the best lay-out and design.

Another medal awarded to the British Post Office was for participating in the exhibition by sending the second best exhibits. They displayed the original art works of Gandhi Stamp submitted by Mr. Biman Mullick, Mr. Philip Sharland, Miss Rosalind Dease, Bradbury Wilkinson Ltd. and others. The exhibit included the original accepted design by Mr. Biman Mullick.

Other Awards

Other medals which have been awarded are listed as follows:

For Stamp Award. 2nd Prize. Medal: Silver. Recipients: Govt of Malta. Special Prize. Medal: Silver. Recipients: Republic of Cyprus.

For Printing. Special Prize. Medal: Silver. Recipients: Messrs. Delarieu, Paris. Special Prize. Medal: Silver. Recipients: Courvoisier S. A., La Chaux de Fords, Switzerland.

For Exhibits. Special Prize. Medal: Silver. Recipients: Crown Agents Stamp Bureau, England. Special Prize. Medal: Silver. Recipients: Govt of Malta. Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corpn., New York.

Special Prize. Medal: Silver. Recipients: Theodore Champion, Paris.

The second chapter of the International Gandhi Stamp Exhibition Medal distribution programme will be held in New Delhi during the 'INPEX 1970' when medals will be presented to the P. & T. Department, Government of India, Government of Bhutan, Mr. P. B. Chitnis, Mr. C. R. Pakrashi, Mr. Sashikant Jha and the Security Press, Nasik.

The Philympia Exhibition will be open during the following hours:—

Friday, Sept. 18: 11.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (official opening at noon).
Saturday, Sept. 19: 10.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 21 to Friday, Sept. 25: 10.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26: 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

I.S.C Auction

The Calcutta philatelic magazine "Stamp Digest" reports that the India Study Circle, London, as part of the Philympia programme, will be having an auction of relevant material at the Phoenix Room of the Shaftesbury Hotel at 2.30 p.m. on September 19. The catalogue for the occasion will be distributed to members along with "India Post."

The auction will be conducted under normal rules with the lots catalogued being dealt with in strict rotation. Prior to the auction, there will be a luncheon in the Ambasador Room.