title: Association of British Philatelic Societies
text: # Association of British Philatelic Societies
  
  The Association of British Philatelic Societies, commonly known as the ABPS, is the British national association of philatelic societies, regional philatelic federations, and specialist philatelic societies.
  
  ## Aims
  
  The aims of the ABPS are:
  
  * To represent the hobby both nationally and internationally.
  * To encourage the growth of philately.
  * To support events and, if required, offer support and advice to Federations/Society events.
  * To provide workshops locally or nationally on various aspects of the hobby.
  * To provide a directory which serves a compendium of information useful to the Society Secretary and its members.
  * To publish books, papers etc of value to the members.
  * To assist in the organisation of an annual congress which acts as a national focus for philately within the British Isles.
  * To issue at least 4 times a year a journal, ABPS News, which publicises the work of affiliated Federations and Societies at a local and national level and reports on developments within philatelic. (sic)
  * To work with the International bodies in the creation of regulation for competitive entries.
  
  ## Activities
  
  Each year the ABPS holds the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain. The first congress was in 1909. At the Congress, the Congress Medal is presented and the new signatories to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists sign the Roll. Awards of Merit are also made.
  
  A quarterly journal, ABPS News, is issued and the ABPS closely supports the Stamp Active Network which aims to promote youth philately within Britain.
  
  Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions and Stanley Gibbons are dealer patrons of the association.
  
  ## Legal status and governance
  
  The ABPS is incorporated as The Association of British Philatelic Societies Limited, a company limited by guarantee registered at Companies House. A subsidiary, A.B.P.S. Exhibitions Limited, organises philatelic exhibitions.
  
  The association is run by an executive committee.
  
  