by Rob Cook

RGSQ announces a new exhibition based on a program of souvenir envelopes that the Society promoted during 1944 - 1957.   

The exhibition has been curated by Pam Tonkin with assistance from the Collections Committee.

The exhibition consists of souvenir cover displays in RGSQ’s two display cabinets, a set of books from the Society’s library about topics covered in the exhibition and a continuously improving knowledge trove on the RGSQ website that can be accessed via a QR code within the exhibition.

Souvenir covers are well-known to stamp collectors, or philatelists. They are envelopes (cover = envelope) printed, usually to celebrate an event, and posted from a significant post office and on a significant date related to the event. There is a limited number of any cover posted and this makes them highly collectable.

Back then RGSQ was RGSA(Q) and under the then leadership of Danny O’Brien. Danny got RGSQ into the souvenir cover business in 1944. Although this was preceded by what now looks like a pilot in 1935 when the society printed a cover for RGSQ’s Golden Jubilee. 

Eighteen events were celebrated with RGSQ covers over a thirteen-year period, and some of the events and the covers have interesting stories to tell – hence the exhibition.

The RGSQ archives include an old and fragile album full of souvenir covers and other materials from the period – and amongst them are 49 examples of RGSQ-printed covers covering seventeen of the eighteen events.  These have been woven into a display highlighting some of the stories.

Of the eighteen events, seven celebrate centenaries of the exploits of some of Queensland’s famous explorers, and their stories are the focus of one of the display cabinets and the books display. Based on a map of Queensland, the display shows the path of the explorer’s expeditions and the towns from where RGSQ arranged for the covers to be posted – often several along each explorer’s route commemorating incidents and the opening of areas to development.

RGSQ was involved, along with other societies and organisations, with a program to erect cairns with commemorative plaques at each location and the covers formed part of the dedication activities. Several of the explorer covers have variants for the different towns along the routes.

The remaining eleven events lack a consistent theme.  There is one that celebrates Princess Elizabeth’s 21^st birthday, another - the centenary of the arrival of the migrant ship Fortitude into the valley now named after the ship, and another - the centenary of the founding of Cairns.  They appear rather random. These are the subject of the second display cabinet, along with some stories about post markers, first day covers and other matters that get philatelists excited.

Driven by Danny, about 165,000 covers were posted over the period. Quite a feat. The motivation is said to have been raising funds for an RGSQ building in Brisbane. But it may have been a result of Danny’s apparent strong philately streak.

The exhibition was launched on 23 August 2024 and will run for about six months. Please come and visit it. You can see it at any event held at RGSQ headquarters and whenever you visit.

An innovation in this exhibition is a QR code. If you follow the QR code your browser will be directed to a part of the RGSQ website where we are building a knowledge source of stories and information behind the exhibits. Who were these explorers? What happened to them? Why are the cover towns significant to them?  Who was Danny O’Brien, etc.

We are seeking volunteers to help build up the stories behind the QR code. It’s a fascinating journey. Please talk to Lilia at inf@rgsq.org.au or contact Rob at rob.a.cook@gmail.com if you feel able to help this exploration of our geographic past.

And finally, have a look for the most curious exhibit – the cover that was printed in 1945 to celebrate the RGSQ Diamond (60^th) Jubilee. What on earth happened here?