Special Regulations for the Evaluation of Maximaphily Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions (SREV)
Article 1: Competitive exhibitions |
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These special regulations have been drawn up in accordance with article 1.5 of the “General regulations of the FIP for the evaluation of competitive exhibits at FIP exhibitions (GREV)” to supplement those principles with regard to Maximaphily. Also refer to “Guidelines for judging Maximaphily exhibits”. | |||||||||||
Article 2: Competitive exhibits |
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The maximum cards should conform to the principles of maximum possible concordance between:
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Article 3: Principles of exhibit composition |
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The constituent elements of maximum cards should conform to the following characteristics: | |||||||||||
3.1 | The postage stamp The ‘postage stamp’ designation is reserved for the postal operator assigned to ensure the universal service within a UPU member country (Universal Postal Union), or a dependent territory. The postage stamp can be personalised on request from a client (individual, association, company, …), provided that it is available to the general public. It must be valid for postage and affixed only on the view side of the picture postcard. Postage-due stamps, pre-cancels, revenue stamps, stamps violating the “UPU (Universal Postal Union) philatelic code of ethics”, are not allowed, nor are official stamps, except those, which are at the disposal of the public (United Nations, UNESCO, Council of Europe,…). The postage stamps which are cut out from postal stationery are allowed only if the issuing postal service permits their use. Postage stamps printed online by a customer are not allowed. Stamps issued by postal operators authorised by the responsible governmental body are admitted under the same conditions as the postage stamps. |
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3.2 | The picture postcard Its size must conform to dimensions accepted by the “Universal Postal Convention”. However, postcards of square or rectangular shape available on the market are accepted, provided that their size allows them to be laid out on a sheet to the A4 format (210 x 297 mm) at a rate of two per sheet. Out of respect for its designer, it is strictly prohibited to reduce the size of a postcard by cutting it.The picture must offer the best possible concordance with the subject of the postage stamp or with one of them, if there are several. All postcards fully reproducing the postage stamp, that is to say with perforation, face value, country name, are forbidden.The picture must emphasize the subject of the postage stamp. The postcards on the market are accepted as they are. They can have margins and a text directly connected with the subject. Old postcards can have on the view side an area for correspondence. With the exception of these old postcards, the larger the picture is, the better the quality of the maximum card is considered to be. Postcards with multiple pictures as well as ones with holograms are forbidden. |
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3.3 | The cancellation The cancellation must be printed exclusively by the authorized postal service. The pictorial design of the cancellation and/or the text, as well as the place of cancellation (name of the Post office) should have a connection with the subject of the postage stamp and of the picture postcard, or with the purpose of the issue (event, charitable activity, theme of the series). However cancellations made by philatelic services are accepted provided that the concordance of place is respected. Cancellations made by the philatelic service of small countries with only the country name are allowed. The closer the connection is between the subject and the picture and/or the text of a pictorial cancellation, the better is the concordance. The ordinary cancellations without illustration are valid provided that they indicate the name of the locality where the post office is located and the concordance of the place is respected. The cancellation must be carried out within the period of validity of the postage stamp and as close as possible to the date of issue. |
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3.4 | Classification of the exhibits Maximaphily exhibits can be classified by:
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3.5 | Plan In the introductory statement, the title and the plan form a whole, in perfect concordance with the material shown (reference GREV, article 3.3). The concept, the structure and the development of the exhibit should be clearly defined. |
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Article 4: Criteria for evaluating exhibits |
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The evaluation of the exhibits at FIP exhibitions is carried out according to well defined general criteria (reference GREV, article 4).For Maximaphily exhibits, special significance is given to the knowledge and the maximum possible concordance shown (refer to guidelines). | |||||||||||
Article 5: Judging of exhibits |
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5.1 | Maximaphily exhibits are judged by the approved specialists in the Maximaphily class and in accordance with section V, articles 31 to 46 of GREX (reference GREV, article 5.1.). | ||||||||||
5.2 | For Maximaphily exhibits, the following relative terms are presented to lead the jury to a balanced evaluation (reference GREV, article 5.2.). | ||||||||||
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Article 6: Concluding provisions |
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6.1 | In the event of any discrepancies in the text arising from translation, the English text shall prevail. | ||||||||||
6.2 | These “Special regulations for the evaluation of Maximaphily exhibits at FIP exhibitions” have been unanimously accepted by the FIP Maximaphily Commission Conference held in Jakarta on June 22, 2012 followed by clarifying paragraph 3.1 with simple and clear terms, accepted by the Members of the FIP Maximaphily Commission Bureau on November 9, 2013 and approved by FIP Board in Rio de Janeiro on November 23, 2013. |
Guidelines for Judging Maximaphily Exhibits
[Last updated March 2007]
1. |
Competitive exhibitions |
The present guidelines complete the general regulations (GREV) and the special regulations (SREV) to help the jury in the evaluation and the exhibitors in the elaboration of Maximaphily exhibits. | |
2. |
Competitive exhibits |
2.1 | A Maximaphily exhibit is exclusively composed of maximum cards. |
2.2 | The quality of the constituent elements and the concordance between these elements give the maximum card the qualification of “appropriate philatelic material” (GREV, art.3.1.). |
3. |
Principles of exhibit composition |
The constituent elements should conform to the following conditions, in addition to those provided in SREV article 3: | |
3.1 | The postage stamp
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3.2 | The picture postcard
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3.3 | The cancellation
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3.4 | Classification of the collections
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3.5 | Plan The collection must be preceded by a plan on a single page. It must describe the contents of the collection and clearly show the leading idea. It must be logical, well-balanced and in accordance with the chosen subject and title. It must be divided into chapters. A mere table of contents or a literal description cannot be regarded as a satisfactory plan. It must be written in one of the official FIP languages. |
4. |
Criteria for evaluating exhibits |
4.1 | Maximaphily exhibits are judged according to article 4 of the “General regulations of the FIP for the evaluation of competitive exhibits at FIP-exhibitions (GREV)” and in accordance with the “Special regulations of the FIP for the evaluation of Maximaphily exhibits at FIP exhibitions (SREV)”. |
4.2 | Treatment and importance of the exhibit A total of 30 points is allotted, 20 for the treatment and 10 for the importance.The treatment and the development of an exhibit deals with following points:
The importance of the exhibit is linked to the difficulty of the development of the chosen theme, according to the material known and the narrowness of the treated theme. |
4.3 | Knowledge and research A total of 35 points is allotted, 20 for the knowledge and 15 for the research.The exhibitor being judged by the way he/she has selected the maximum cards of his/her collection, his/her exhibit should clearly demonstrate his/her knowledge of the chosen theme, of the postage stamps, of the postal markings and also of the picture postcards when necessary.
The knowledge of picture postcards is judged according to its concordance with the subject of the postage stamp, its quality and the rarity of the edition. The research in Maximaphily is based on the observance of the three concordances: of subject, of place and of time. The concordance of subject is the essential characteristic of a real maximum card. This concordance between the illustration of the postage stamp and the one of the picture postcard must be as close as possible and visually verifiable. The concordance of place requires a connection between the name of the place or the locality written in the postmark and the subject of the postage stamp and of the postcard. The “first day cancellation” can only be used when it is in accordance with the above-mentioned condition.
Nevertheless, in judging exhibits about “works of art “, considering their universal nature, the jury should allow the cancellation of the issuing country. However, in the case where the same work of art is shown on postage stamps of different countries, the maximum card with the stamp and the cancellation of the country where this work of art is to be found will be better. When a Work of Art is an integral part of a monument (sculpture, fresco, stained glass window, mosaic, etc.), the preferred cancellation is that of the nearest post office to the place where the monument is located.
The concordance of time is defined by the date of the postmark, within the period of validity of the postage stamp. |
4.4 | Condition and rarity of the material A total of 30 points is allotted, 20 for the rarity and 10 for the condition of the items shown.The rarity of a maximum card depends on:
The antiquity is defined by reference to three periods: A. Before 1946, date marking the first publication of the maximum card definition. |
4.5 | Presentation Five points can be given for the presentation.The presentation of an exhibit should be well finished and give a good general impression.Therefore the exhibitors should conform to following conditions:
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5. |
Judging of the exhibits |
To get a consistent evaluation the judges for Maximaphily exhibits should complete the evaluation sheet and make some observations for the exhibitor and give him some advice on improving the exhibit.As forgeries are not acceptable in an exhibit, exhibitors are advised to have their doubtful items certified. | |
6. |
Conditions of application |
These “Guidelines for Judging Maximaphily Exhibits” have been unanimously accepted by the FIP Maximaphily Commission Conference held in Jakarta on June 22, 2012 followed by clarifying paragraph 3.1 with simple and clear terms, accepted by the members of the FIP Maximaphily Commission Bureau on November 9, 2013 and approved by FIP Board in Rio de janeiro on November 23, 2013. |