Page 83 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1948: State of Israel proclaimed; Gandhi assassinated; W.H.O. established; Berlin Airlift

begins; Polaroid camera invented; Orville Wright died; Ozzy Osbourne & Prince Charles born.

At the RPSL: Membership numbers zoom past 800; first increase in membership fees

for 25 years raises Town Members to 5 guineas and Country Members to 3 guineas.

RPSL President was E.W. Mann. Patron H.M. King George VI. Membership 817.

MARION ISLAND COMMERCIAL MAIL

From the collection of Mike Parker.

Member since 2010. Lives in England.

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SOUTH INDlAN OCEAN
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The island, situated roughly midway between South Africa and Antarctica, was first visited by the

Dutch in the 17th century. It was called on by the French explorer Marion du Fresne in 1772, and

subsequently named after him. Britain assumed ownership from 1908 until the island was annexed

by South Africa in December 1947. The reverse of the above cover bears the insignia of H.M.S.A.S

GOOD HOPE and is dated 28th January 1948 by the sender, less than a month after the annexation.