FEPA News

FEPA NEWS 45 61 The World of Research Jesús Sitjà Prats - Pacific Steam Navigation Company Mail 1840-1854 326 pages in English and Spanish. Published in Madrid in February 2024. Price €25. Obtainable from the Real Academia Hispánica de Filatelia e Historia Postal – C/ Esparteros, nº 11, 4º, 7º– 28012 Madrid /Tel: (+34) 913 663 985. Email: info@rahf.es – more information at the Royal Hispanic Academy’s web- site: http://www.rahf.es Reviewed by Mike Roberts FRPSL, President of the Royal Philatelic Society London As I document in the prologue to this book, Jesus Sitjà and I have been on a parallel path for some time. We have both developed a collecting and serious research interest in the Pacific SteamNavigation Company [PSNC]. This book, which very commendably is formatted in both English and Spanish, is a concentrated and detailed work of the period between 1840 and 1854 when the PSNC used a number of handstamps originally intended for their own ships. It was a period when the Company was in constant negotiation with the Governments of many countries on the western coast of South America, particularly those of Chile and Peru. The background, and in particular the historic students of the PSNC - Percy Bargholtz, Herbert Moll and Brian Moorhouse amongst others - are all worthy of mention. The author goes into great detail regarding the agreements, the various di�erent hand stamps used and the relevant postage rates. A great deal of time has obviously been spent in bringing together all the information from a number of historic sources, something I was able to contribute to at the end of last year. The sources include nearly all of which I am aware, apart from the PSNC archive in Liverpool. As a result, the book is as up to date as it is possible to be. We just wait for new information to emerge from our readers. I think it worth reiterating the format of the book. The author’s first language is Spanish but he has taken the trouble to publish in a duplicate format with English on the left and Spanish on the righthand page. This will help to widen the readership and make the subject matter clearer to a number of collectors who would otherwise be excluded. He should be congratulated for that alone. see how it could be improved to gain a higher medal, the main reason for it being competitively judged was to gain publicity. My view remains that this book succeeded in its own terms of purpose and certainly satisfied its compilers. I feel that philatelic book publishing would be much advanced in its quality and balance by further dialogue along these lines and I suggest that some forum, a seminar perhaps, for useful discussion is desirable – perhaps something that FEPA or AIJP might host? _______________________________________________________________________________________________