THE INDIA STUDY CIRCLE FOR PHILATELY

Currently, the 2026 update of the ISC membership list is being completed. The information about new and lapsed members, etc. will be published in the next Newsletter, which will be emailed to ISC members at the end of March.

India Post issue no. 238 will be received by ISC members in the near future. In the meantime, it may be accessed at Current India Post on the Library page by those with current ISC membership, who may also download all issues of India Post from the ISC Website.

As the problems with sending postal packages to addresses in the US, due to the imposition of import tariffs, have been resolved, copies of the 75th Anniversary Book have been re-sent to US members, together with India Post issue nos. 236 and 237. We hope that all US members have now received them.

Frustratingly, Volume 2 of Series 3 of the ISC Handbook, “The Sacred Cow Issues of Bundi”, a revision of the late Ray Benns’ Handbook by John Warren, still requires some minor alterations, which are being worked on by John and the ISC Research Co-ordinator, Chris Cleal. This is a major work, of some complexity, so perhaps it is not surprising that it is taking so long to ensure its accuracy. ISC members will be informed how they may obtain a copy, as soon as these alterations have been completed.

On Saturday the 24th of January, the ISC Program Secretary, Sandeep Jaiswal, organized an ‘open’ Zoom meeting. There was no main presenter but several of the 22 participants showed, and talked about, items of interest. More details of this meeting will be included in the next Newsletter. Another meeting has been organized for Saturday the 21st of February.

ISC member Vivek Chopra was awarded a Gold Medal for his entry in the Literature exhibit section of the Sarasota National Stamp Exhibition, which was held in Sarasota from the 16th to the 18th of January; this was for his article “Demystifying Mythological Images on Stamps from Princely States”, which was published in The American Philatelist (and for which permission was given for it to be re-printed in India Post issue no. 237).

From the 4th to the 8th of February, the Dubai 2026 World Stamp Exhibition was held at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2026. Fifteen ISC members received a total of 21 awards, the details of which will be included in the next Newsletter.

BOSTON 2026 World Expo will be a major International Stamp Show, designated as a full FIP event, to be held from the 23rd to the 30th of May 2026 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The ISC will hold a meeting at this event and a dinner will be organized in the evening of May the 27th.

ISC members Carol Edholm and Vivek Chopra will be hosting an ISC Convention at PIPEX 2028, to be held in Oregon, US, from the 5th to the 7th of May 2028.