The Society maintains an extensive library of many thousands of titles. From a selection of stamp catalogues, magazines and journals, and specialised monographs there is a wide selection to chose from to help in your research of things philatelic.
The library has been built up over many years and has had substantive donations of material from a number of well known collectors including;
Isabel Hunt, Laurie Franks, Robin Startup, Gerald Ellott, Bob Watson, and NZ Post. The library has sections on;
- New Zealand
- NZ Post Office *
- The Pacific
- Antarctica
- Airmails
- Australia
- British Commonwealth
- Great Britain
- USA
- Other Countries A to Z
- General Magazines
- Thematic topics
- Cinderellas and revenues
- Postcards
- Postal History
- Postal Stationery
- Philatelic Exhibitions
- Exhibit Copies
- Robin Startup Memorial Archive of NZ Postal History **
* This section consists of Post Office Guides and Postmaster General Reports to Parliament. and other official Postal books available only for viewing in the library and not for borrowing.
** The Society was gifted Robin M Startup’s enormous archive of research, notes, and books accumulated over 50 years of his work on New Zealand’s postal history. It is housed in a separate section of the library and is available for research purposes only in the library.
Robin Startup Memorial Archive of NZ Postal History
Details on accessing it are on this link ACCESS DOCUMENT
Over many years Robin built a major New Zealand postal history collection and researched extensively in the subject and it’s background, recording a considerable amount of the history of the postal services. He wrote widely producing many monographs and books as well as over 2000 articles as Editor of “The Mail Coach”, the journal of the Postal History Society of New Zealand from 1964 to 1987. In 2000, he received the FIP (Federation Internationale de Philatelie) Research Medal, and in 2009, he signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and many other awards and honours.
Library Nights
The library is open for members’ use and borrowing of books on meeting nights (2nd Tuesday of the month) and specifically on Library Nights on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Other times, the library can be opened by arrangement.
