THE latest speaker was Bernard Symonds, of Southam, who gave a display of New Zealand stamps and postal history.

Mr Symond's talk started with the first issue of New Zealand stamps in 1855, known as ''Chalon Heads'' after the artist who painted the picture of Queen Victoria, which formed the basis of the stamp design.

This popular issue was often forged and the display included both forged and genuine stamps.

New Zealand was the first country to advertise on stamps, although not on the face.

These advertisements were printed on the reverse under the gum.

Mr Symonds displayed copies of complete sheets showing that different advertisements appeared on the back of the stamps of each sheet.

The first half of the evening covered stamp issues from 1855 to the recent circular kiwi stamps, but with many unusual specimens, proofs, printers' samples, colour trials, forgeries and errors.

The second half comprised a display of New Zealand stamp booklets from the earliest in 1902 to modern QEII booklets.

Each one was enlarged to show the advertising pages, as many of the early booklets carried local advertising specific to one of the major cities.

Society secretary Fred Pritchard thanked Mr Symonds, on behalf of the large number of members and non-members present for the entertaining display and presented him with a certificate of appreciation.

The next meeting is a stamp bring-and-buy to be held on Monday, November 6, at St George's Community Hall, St George's Road, Redditch at 8pm.

Non-members welcome. For more details, call Alan Godfrey on 01789 764098.