The TOPICAL CHALLENGE

This Contest is open to members of the Ottawa Philatelic Society, however, online visitors are also encouraged to submit one-page exhibit entries.  (Visitors - please notify the Webmaster through the "Contact us" heading and let us know your intent - please include your name and e-mail address. )

 

This will be held in conjunction with our regular exhibit evening at the OPS.  OPS members are invited to submit exhibits on any topic or size for an open competition/discussion with winner(s) being voted on by the OPS members present.  Provisions will be made to have each of these exhibits posted onto the "OPS EXHIBITS" section of this website.

 

The Topical Challenge consists of three parts and partipants are encouraged to step up to the highest difficulty level.

 

 

LEVEL ONE.......FOR THE FUN OF IT

 

 

Level 1 requires participants to submit one stamp representing each a series of ten "topical challenges".

 

Example : Stamp with an Olympic theme.....

 

The Topics are:

 

1. A stamp from the country in which you were born.

2. A stamp from the year in which you were born.

3. A stamp depicting something Canadian that is NOT on a Canadian stamp.

4. A stamp that is NOT triangular or rectangular or square in shape.

5. A stamp older than 1900.

6. A stamp issued in 2011

7. A cover with three or more different stamps on it.

8. A stamp showing a plant or animal that starts with the first letter of your first name.

9. A stamp smaller than a standard Machin definitive

10. A stamp with a red cancellation.

 

These items should be presented on a stocksheet.

 

In addition, participants must select one of the found stamps and submit a one-page exhibit.  This featured exhibit may also contain upto four (4) additional items relevant to the theme of the original stamp.

 

ALL PARTICIPANTS who have submitted their nine stamps on a clear stocksheet/vario page and one stamp in a one-page exhibit will have their names enterd into a draw.  The winner will receive a $ 25.00 Gift Certificate for the Postilion Online Marketplace.  The one-page exhibits will then be scanned and posted onto the OPS website.  A private online ballot will determine the winner, which will be announced at the annual OPS Christmas banquet on Thursday, December 15.  Online visitors may also submit  one-page exhibit(s) reflective of the above ten "Topical Challenges".  These exhibits will be in direct competition with those produced for the Level Two participants.

 

 

...................TYPICAL ONE-PAGE EXHIBIT.............. ...................TYPICAL ONE-PAGE EXHIBIT..............

LEVEL TWO......LOOKING FOR A REAL CHALLENGE

This level is designed for those seeking a more significant challenge and who think that they really know their stuff !

 

Participants must provide examples of the ten topical challenges outlined in LEVEL ONE but must, in addition, provide an example for as many of the following challenges as possible:

 

11. A stamp depicting a bird's egg.

12. A stamp depicting a handshake.

13. A stamp with or depicting a philatelic error

14. A stamp with Four (4) or more languages on it

15. A stamp showing a children's toy

16. A stamp depicting an Octopus or Squid

17. A stamp depicting a shipwreck

18. A stamp with a green cancellation

19. A stamp with an elf or fairy

20. A stamp depicting a bone

21. A stamp that deals directly or indirectly with the War of 1812

22. A stamp depicting the "Wright Flyer" (plane)

23. A stamp depicting or making mention of a philatelic catalogue

24. A stamp with an umbrella or parasol 

25. A stamp depicting a trumpet (musical instrument)

 

In addition, the above stamps must also be accompanied by a one-page exhibit on any one of the relevant stamps .  The exhibit may also have four (4) additional elements included as per LEVEL ONE.  All participants of LEVEL TWO who have submitted their twenty-four stamps on a stocksheet and one stamp in a one-page exhibit will have their names eneterd into a draw. The winner will receive a $ 50.00 Gift Certificate for the Postilion Online Marketplace.

 

The one-page exhibits will then be scanned and posted onto the OPS website. A private online ballot will determine the winner, which will be announced at the annual OPS Christmas banquet on Thursday, December 15. Online visitors may also submit one-page exhibit(s) reflective of the above ten "Topical Challenges". These exhibits will be in direct competition with those produced for the Level One participants.

 

ANY PARTICIPANT may submit as many one-page exhibits as they wish towards the online vote.

 

 

LEVEL THREE....FOR THE CRAZIES

The following consists of Extreme Topical Challenges (provided by Jack Gray**). The winning names drawn will win either the $25.00 or $50.00 gift certificats and an additional $3.00 will be added for each of the following items found. (i.e. if you find two of the following and win the $25.00 gift certificate which will be upgraded to $31.00. ($3.00 x 2) (maximum $24.00)

 

The Extreme Challenges are:

 

Extreme 1 : A pitcher plant

Extreme 2: A centaur

Extreme 3: Charles Lindbergh's cat Patsy

Extreme 4: "The Green Monster" (NOT a green monster)

Extreme 5: Latin motto: “Pro Filatelia”

Extreme 6: A single stamp depicting two or more British monarchs

Extreme 7: The quote “Honi soit qui mal y pense”

Extreme 8: Eyore

 

Best of luck !

 

** Jack Gray has provided the list of Extreme Challenges and in some instances only a single stamp has been known to have been issued depicting the theme. While Jack has provided the impetus for this element of the competition, we hope to have him actively participate in the Level One or Level Two competitions as he has been exposed to the contest simultaneously with the membership.