Page 98 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1963: JFK assassinated; Martin Luther King's '/have a dream' speech; Kenya achieves

independence; Beatles & Rolling Stones reach worldwide fame; quasars & Valium discovered

At the RPSL: Selections from the Society's collections sent for display at a series of regional

meetings with great success. Bust of first President, Sir Daniel Cooper, acquired.

RPSL President was H. R. Holmes. Patron H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. Membership 1038 - 987.

ADDRESS CODING TRIAL AT LUTON

From the collection of John Lush FRPSL.

Member since 1985. Lives in England.

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The British Post Office had aspired to photo-electric sorting of mail as early as 1934, but it was not

until the early 1960s that they were able to conduct trials, initially at Luton using a vertical line of

phosphorescent marks representing an address code derived from the address on the envelope. The

code consisted of up to fourteen marks at the right of the envelope, the central twelve positions

representing the address, with a start mark at the bottom and a parity mark at the top if needed to

ensure an odd number of marks.