The Circulating Packet

What is "the packet"?

It is a means through which club members can buy and sell stamps and covers with advantages for both buyers and sellers.

For buyers it offers a chance to fill gaps within a collection. Specialists may well find varieties or unusual postmarks; thematic collectors often see material from countries not stocked by major dealers. And since most stamps are priced individually there is no need to buy a long set for the sake of one particular stamp.

Those who want to sell duplicate stamps, or perhaps unwanted items acquired as part of a bulk purchase at auction, can offer their material to other collectors without having to pay large commission fees to auctioneers.

At present those on the circulation list see a packet (a box containing perhaps 12 to 15 books) about once per month on average. Being on the packet list, however, does mean that you must be prepared to deliver to the next person on the list, who may live two or three miles away.

Medway Towns Philatelic Society Packet Rules as amended 2009

Compliance with these rules is a condition of membership of the Circulating Packet.

  1. Membership is open to all Members of the Society on completion of an application form, obtainable from and returnable to the Hon. Secretary. The Society's Officers reserve the right to refuse or terminate Packet membership.
     
  2. Members are solely responsible for a packet while it is in their possession.
     
  3. Members shall give notice in writing to the Hon.Packet Secretary of any change of address, or of their wish to resign.
     
  4. Stamps, covers etc. will only be accepted for circulation when mounted in a standard packet book approximately 8" x 5" (203mm x 127mm) and containing not more than twenty pages. Blank books are obtainable from the Hon.Packet Secretary. Stamps should be securely mounted on one side of the page only and clearly priced in ink above each item. Catalogue numbers and prices, where given, should preferably be written in pencil. A total value should appear on each page, and a sum total on the front cover. No limit will normally be placed on the number of books submitted. Exceptionally covers or cards may be assembled in stout envelopes of the above-mentioned size, provided that the front of the envelope is marked in the same way as that of the approved book. Covers within envelopes should be clearly identified.
     
  5. All material with the Hon.Packet Secretary and in circulation (subject to the proper operation of Rule 7) is insured and every care will be taken, but neither the Society nor the Hon.Packet Secretary can be held responsible for loss or damage, or for irrecoverable debts of members.
     
  6. Commission on sales will be charged at the rate of 5% for Society members and 10% for all other vendors. Insurance will be charged at a rate related to that paid by the Society to underwriters, which may vary from time to time. The charge will be based on the value of material contained in each book.
     
  7. Spaces where stamps are removed should be clearly marked in ink with the buyer's full name (NOT initials), or (preferably) by a rubber stamp. The totals of stamps removed and their value should be entered on the front cover of each book, and listed on a packet slip. Any irregularities or unsigned spaces should be noted on the back of this slip. A packet slip must be completed whether or not any purchases are made.
     
  8. Before passing on a packet, buyers should fill in the circulation list. The buyer should clearly print the name of the recipient on the back of the slip. The buyer should inform the Packet Secretary when a box has been passed on. The recipient should sign and date the back of the packet slip as a receipt. A packet should be passed on as soon as possible after receipt, but in any event WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
     
  9. Remittances should be sent to the Hon.Packet Secretary together with the signed packet slip. Cheques, postal orders etc. should be made payable to Medway Towns Philatelic Society. Members may, however, pass on packet slips and pay the Hon.Packet Secretary in person at the next regular Society meeting. Where this is likely to be some days after a packet has been passed on, the Hon.Packet Secretary must be informed by phone of its move. He has an answerphone.
     
  10. The Circulation List will be designed to minimise, as far as possible, the distance between Members. Adjacent members should inform each other in advance of absences of more than three days: packets should not be kept to await their return, but passed to the next member on the list. Circulation of packets will be arranged by the Hon.Packet Secretary so that new boxes are distributed to different points on the circuit each month.