Each year, The Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) awards one publication with the prestigious Crawford Medal.
The medal is silver-gilt and is awarded for “the most valuable and original contribution to philately published in the form of a book.” It’s open to both members and non-members of The RPSL, and it’s open to worldwide competition. In the case of joint authorship, The RPSL council may award a medal to each author; however, in the case of books compiled as a result of collaboration on the part of more than two authors, council may award a medal to the sponsors or editors of the work instead of to the authors.
To ensure the widest possible list of titles is considered, The RPSL is inviting nominations of books that were published in 2015 or 2016 for consideration. If you are aware of any major philatelic books which you believe should be candidates, please send brief details by email to secretary@rpsl.org.uk or by letter to “The Royal Philatelic Society London, 41 Devonshire Place, London W1G 6JY” no later than Feb. 1.
The society hopes to have nominations for as wide a selection of books as possible. If a nominated book is not already held in the RPSL Library it may request the nominator to supply a copy for the committee to consider. The RPSL would also appreciate it if these books were donated to the library.
CANADIAN CONNECTION
In 1962, Nicholas André Argenti (1896-1961) was posthumously awarded the Crawford Medal for his work, The postage stamps of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, which was published after his death.
Argenti was a British stockbroker who served as a captain in the British Army during the First World War and a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. In 1963, two years after his death, Argenti’s collection was sold by Harmer, Rooke & Co., realizing £42,214 altogether.
In 1947, Winthrop Smillie Boggs (1902-74) was awarded the Crawford Medal for his work, The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada, which was published to much acclaim in 1945. Another of Boggs’ works, The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Newfoundland, was published in 1942.
Boggs was a long-time member of the Collectors Club of New York, which he served in a variety of roles. From 1945-61, he also served as the first executive director of the Philatelic Foundation.