Page 43 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1909: Japan begins 36-year occupation of Korea; cure for syphilis; Bleriot flies the English

Channel; B.P.'s forerunner incorporated; Indianapolis Speedway opens; Bakelite invented.

At the RPSL: Meeting held in which eighteen members each showed 'twelve interesting

stamps' to give those without large collections a chance to display. It was a great success.

RPSL President was H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. Membership stood at 275.

A MACHINE TO AUTOMATICALLY REGISTER

LETTERS IN PARIS IN 1909

From the collection of Chris Hitchen.

Member since 2013. Lives in England.

E. MAREUSE I

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A Hungarian inventor, Monsieur Fodor, succeeded in getting the French Post Office to trial his

machine for automatic registration in July 1909 at office 11 in the Rue Sainte Anne. The customer

franked his letter with normal postage, put 25 centimes in the slot and then placed his letter under a

flap which had opened and turned the handle. He received a receipt and the letter was stamped with

an R and number. When the machine was cleared the post office added a 25c stamp for the

registration and cancelled the cover. By December it had been withdrawn.