Fédération Internationale de Philatélie
Encyclopedia
The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) was founded on June 18, 1926 and is the world federation for philately
based in Zürich
, Switzerland
.
Since its inception in 1926, when a small number of European federations came together to found a worldwide organisation, the FIP has promoted the hobby that is sometimes called The King of Hobbies and the Hobby of Kings. FIP works to promote philately in developing countries, in Asia and in the industrialised countries, where it appears to be stagnating. It coordinates contact between the philatelic organisations in different countries.
Each Commission has its own Commissioner.
(WNS), introduced on 1 January 2002, is a cooperative project between FIP and the Universal Postal Union
. The cooperative venture produces a database of authentic postage stamp
s issued by UPU member countries. The intention is to combat illegally issued stamps
.
, Paris
, Bucharest
, Prague
, and Vienna
.
In 2004, FIP ran its first "World Stamp Competition" in Singapore
and selected Tel Aviv for the second competition in 2008. The competitions involved national teams and philatelic jurors.
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
based in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Aims
The primary aims of the FIP are:- To promote stamp collecting and philately.
- To maintain friendly relations and friendship among all peoples.
- To establish and maintain close relations with the philatelic trade and postal administrations.
- To promote philatelic exhibitions by granting Patronage and Auspices
Since its inception in 1926, when a small number of European federations came together to found a worldwide organisation, the FIP has promoted the hobby that is sometimes called The King of Hobbies and the Hobby of Kings. FIP works to promote philately in developing countries, in Asia and in the industrialised countries, where it appears to be stagnating. It coordinates contact between the philatelic organisations in different countries.
Governance
The FIP is run by a Board of Directors with a President and three Vice-Presidents. The current President is Joseph Wolff of Luxembourg.Commissions
There are eleven FIP Commissions:- AerophilatelyAerophilatelyAerophilately is the branch of philately that specializes in the study of airmail. Philatelists have observed the development of mail transport by air from its beginning, and all aspects of airmail service have been extensively studied and documented by specialists.- Scope :The scope of...
- AstrophilatelyAstrophilatelyAstrophilately is the area of philately connected with astronomy and efforts to reach outer space, both manned and unmanned.- Scope :Topics of interest include postage stamps, cancellations, and covers connected to various projects...
- Fight against ForgeriesPhilatelic fakes and forgeriesIn general, philatelic fakes and forgeries refers to labels that look like postage stamps but are not. Most have been produced to deceive or defraud...
- MaximaphilyMaximaphilyMaximaphily is a branch of philately involving the study and creation of maximum cards. It is one of eleven classifications of philately recognised by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie and therefore has its own FIP Commission....
- Philatelic literaturePhilatelic literaturePhilatelic literature is written material relating to philately, primarily information about postage stamps and postal history- Background to philatelic literature :...
- Postal historyPostal historyPostal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of postage stamps and covers and associated material illustrating historical episodes of postal systems...
- Postal stationeryPostal stationeryA piece of postal stationery is a stationery item, such as a stamped envelope, letter sheet, postal card, lettercard, aerogram or wrapper, with an imprinted stamp or inscription indicating that a specific rate of postage or related service has been prepaid...
- Thematic philatelyTopical stamp collectingTopical or thematic stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps relating to a particular subject or concept. Topics can be almost anything, from stamps on stamps, birds on stamps, to famous physicians, to the history of England.- Background :...
- Traditional philatelyPhilatelyPhilately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
- RevenueRevenue stampA revenue stamp, tax stamp or fiscal stamp is a adhesive label used to collect taxes or fees on documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, drugs and medicines, playing cards, hunting licenses, firearm registration, and many other things...
s - Youth philately
Each Commission has its own Commissioner.
Illegal stamps
The World Association for the Development of Philately, WADP Numbering SystemWADP Numbering System
The WADP Numbering System is a project referencing postal stamps issued in the world since 1 January 2002. It is monitored by the World Association for the Development of Philately and the Universal Postal Union...
(WNS), introduced on 1 January 2002, is a cooperative project between FIP and the Universal Postal Union
Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...
. The cooperative venture produces a database of authentic postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s issued by UPU member countries. The intention is to combat illegally issued stamps
Illegal stamps
Illegal stamps are postage stamp-like labels issued in the names of existing independent countries or territories used to defraud postal administrations, stamp collectors, and the general public. Often, but not always, a member nation of the Universal Postal Union will have asked the UPU to issue...
.
FIP congress
The FIP Congress takes place annually during one of the international exhibitions it has endorsed.FIP exhibitions
Each year the FIP provides patronage to a number of major stamp exhibitions. In 2008, FIP selected Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
In 2004, FIP ran its first "World Stamp Competition" in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and selected Tel Aviv for the second competition in 2008. The competitions involved national teams and philatelic jurors.