The Royal Philatelic Society London welcomed Thomas Mathà FRPSL on 7 November, giving his third presentation to the Society. His subject this time was the Postal History of the Italian Islands, showing the origin and development of the organised postal service to the islands, concentrating on the mail connecting the islands with the mainland. He excluded those islands connected to the mainland by bridges or jetties.
The presentation was divided into groups of islands: Maritime islands including Sicily and Sardinia; Lagoon islands in the Adriatic Sea; Lake islands; River islands.
Peter Cockburn FRPSL, Past President of the Society and presiding over the meeting, described the presentation as a ‘fantastic tour of these extraordinary islands’, adding ‘I have learnt a lot.’
Alan Moorcroft FRPSL, giving the Vote of Thanks, praised Thomas for allowing all to benefit from his enthusiasm by publishing the results of his researches. Reviewing the presentation, Alan noted in particular a letter sent from the island of Ponza in the Tyrrhenian Sea from a political prisoner to his mother, complete with censorship handstamp.
Thomas was presented with a certificate and the Society’s plaquette.
