The first Congress was held in 1909 in conjunction with a stamp exhibition at Hulme Town Hall in Manchester.
The business of the first Congress included the formation of a National Society or Federation, the desirability of a Collectors’ Catalogue, unnecessary issues, deceased collector’s stamps and an encyclopaedia of philatelic literature.
Papers are given on philatelic subjects, for instance at the 88th Congress in 2006 David Beech of the British Library gave a paper on "The Philately of the Edwardian era as shown in its literature".
[4] The medal is not for philatelic excellence, but for voluntary endeavours particularly at a national level.
[2] The winner is selected by the Awards Committee of the Association of British Philatelic Societies (ABPS) and must be nominated by an officer of a philatelic society affiliated to the ABPS.