Definition
MAXIMAPHILY is one of the various branches of Philately. Its aim is to collect postage stamps:
- Affixed to picture postcards complying with certain criteria of concordance.
- Postmarked under certain conditions of concordance.
The picture postcard should be as far as possible on sale before the issue of the stamp, or, if it has been published specially, it should reproduce an existing document. Following items cannot be used for maximum cards: cutting outs, private photographs and drawings. Picture postcards with mere reproduction of the stamps are forbidden.
Above left: Franz Schubert (1797-1828) - Austrian composer who was born and died in Vienna. Type of music: symphony, chamber, ballet, piano. Postmark: WIEN, 9.5.1997, 'Franz Schubert' International Choral Festival. Postcard published by Novitas, No. 9. Triple concordance: postage stamp, postmark and picture postcard.
Above right: August Renoir (1841-1919) - French Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born in Limoges, France. Postmark: LIMOGES, 11 June 1955, First Day Cancellation. Photo by Durand-Ruel. No publisher details or numbering. Triple concordance: postage stamp, postmark and picture postcard.
The pictorial design of the cancellation and the place of cancellation (name of the Post office) should have a close and direct connection with the subject of the stamp and of the picture postcard. The 'First Day Cancellation' can only be used when it is in accordance with the above mentioned condition.
The philatelic item thus constituted has been known as a Maximum Card. One of the interesting things about Maximum Cards is that they may be viewed from two perspectives: as a philatelic item and as an historical and sociological tool. Maximaphily is not only a collecting of philatelic items - it is concerned with research about the subject of the stamp, finding a good commercial postcard and securing the best cancellation.
Important Events in Maximaphily History
The earliest known Maximum Card may be from Portugal. This card consists of an illustrated
postal card and a stamp commemorating Prince Henry the Navigator. The item was postmarked in PORTO (the birth place) on March 4, 1894, the first day of issue
of both the stamp and postal card. [ Read more... ]
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Copyright 2004-2008 by Lucian Millis. This site is non-commercial and therefore survives on content. We do not sell postcards, maximum cards or philatelic material. If our site is worthy, feel free to link to any page on this site. We do not permit the direct linking to images. That is stealing. All MCs in this gallery from the private collection of Lucian Millis.
Site Last Modified: March 20, 2008
