Any intending Australian Exhibitor in any class should read the Guidelines in the Australian Philatelic Federation Handbook before beginning an exhibit.

Please check the latest guidelines as there are several minor changes recently.

A Maximum Card Exhibit must be exclusively composed with Maximum Cards. It can be a "Thematic" collection, a "Traditional One Country" or a "Specialised" collection. (A type of specialised collection could be "Errors on Stamps"). However, at present, F.I.P. rules only have one Point System of marking. And there is no allowance made for thematic development which is accounted for in "Treatment". I personally, would like changes made to clarify some points and to allow for the "development" of an exhibit as there is in Thematic Collecting.

Treatment and importance . . . 30

Knowledge and Research . . . .35

Condition and rarity . . . .. . . . . . 30

Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

As in Thematic Exhibiting the first PLAN page is essential to explain the collection and the development and structure whether it is a Thematic, Traditional or Specialised Collection - This first page should not just be an index, it must explain the collection - how the collection is presented and developed - and any facts you need the judge to know before looking at the rest of the exhibit.

1. Treatment and importance

This will be the concordance of the Title or in the traditional collection the Place with contents of collection. The structure and development of a thematic collection and specialisation and classification of traditional collections.

Creativity and originality in the way the collection is exhibited. Pre 1960 cards are desirable and pre 1940 a definite plus.

Bad Points are bad structure (development) of collection, discrepancy between material and title (theme) of collection. And material not relating to the plan.

And use of Non Maximum cards.

2. Knowledge and Research

This is shown by the concordance between the stamp, the picture postcard and the cancellation. An explanation should clarify any uncertain cancellations and the relationship between the three elements.

Unclear or incorrect annotation could mask the concord between the three elements.

Incorrect or poor concord of Maximum Cards will show lack of knowledge.

The exhibit should show some research - details that are not obvious to the judge. Annotation should show knowledge of the chosen theme. And the relationship between postmark and subject.

Cards produced for a stamp issue, although of good concord, will show lack of personal research.

3. Condition and Rarity

Cards should be in best condition possible. This must take into account that older cards went through the, post which may have decreased their condition but improved their rarity.

Any pre 1945 Maximum Cards that went through the post are rarities today. Maximum Cards realised from Cards that were on sale before the issue of the stamp are rarer than those produced for the issue of the stamp.

Negative points are:­

Dirty or torn cards or stamps - Cards that are merely copies of the stamp, or bear non related postmarks and should never be included in an exhibit.

4. Presentation

This should be pleasing to the eye. It is not easy to have variety with 2 cards to each page. There should never be more than 3 cards to a page. I never use more than 2.

The text should be self explanatory and easy to read. Without mistakes or obvious alterations.

I'-think mounted edges lift the cards off the paper so I mount my cards, but I noticed that not one Maximaphily Exhibitor in Bangkok 93' used mounted cards.

I use the thematic Plan page and the thematic method of page numbering. And I noticed that many international exhibitors did the same. It makes it easy for the judges to follow in any language.

Likewise the size and amount of text should be easy for the judges to read.

A negative point is the obvious inclusion of a complete set of post office produced postcards - used one at a time throughout the collection. This indicates padding and lack of suitable material. Also lack of research.

CONCLUSION – SIMPLE BASIC GUIDELINES OF MAXIMAPHILY

This is very basic and there is MUCH more to learn before starting an Exhibit

Maximum Cards are so called because there MUST be a MAXIMUM concord between the CARD - POSTCARD - CANCEL

1. The Picture Postcard - The Card must be commercially available and not privately printed, photograph, cutout or montage. (Bits of paper placed together to make a picture

Preferably no larger than 10.5 x 14cm or smaller than 9 x 14cm.

2. The Stamp - Must be postally valid. The Stamp and Card must be related BUT NOT IDENTICAL (PHQ Cards) The stamp must be on the view side of the card

3. The Postmark - Must be related to BOTH the Stamp and the Card. It may be a pictorial cancel, place or date of event. The cancel may be CDS (Cancelled Date Stamp) or a Slogan Cancel and must "tie" the stamp to the card.

Non Official cachets are not allowed.

FDI (First Day of Issue) cancels MUST also be related.

4. Appearance - The Card and Stamp should be in good condition and the Cancel should be readable.

In Thematics, even one bright modern Maximum Card per frame can overwhelm other material. But I feel that pre 1930 Maximum Cards, that have gone through the post, are rare postal history items. So enhance the collection and gain points for rarity.

Ideally the card should add more details that the stamp did not show as in the card in Figure 1, showing the laying of underwater cable.