David Sumpter our speaker today displayed his collection of Gibraltar. David started by giving us a brief history of Gibraltar from the Muslim Moorish rule in 711 AD, explaining that it was permanently settled for the first time by the Moors and was renamed Jebel Tariq – the Mount of Tariq, later corrupted into Gibraltar. At the end of the Spanish Succession war, Spain ceded the territory to Britain under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. Since then, the Spanish have tried to repatriate Gibraltar but in a referendum in 1967, Gibraltar voted 12,148 votes to 44 against in staying with GB. Gibraltar is largely self-governed, with its own parliament and government, though the UK maintains responsibility for defence and foreign policy.
David displayed a collection consisting of postage stamps, mint and used from the first issue in 1886 up to the 1950’s. The used stamps illustrated the history of Post Office dates and locations. Specimen stamps were shown along with variations and flaws. We also saw, Active Service Covers, Airmails and Parcel Post items. David showed a large envelope dated during WWII which was used for troops sending back silk stocking to their loved ones!