Kidaphilex ?

OK you cover experts. What do you make of this.
Was at an estate auction over the weekend, and picked up a few things.
In a folder of covers were two of these envelopes. They appear to be commemorative covers from a high school anniversary, King David High School, Linksville? Johannesburg I believe (our South African friends feel free to correct me)
They are post marked May 27, 1982 in Senderwood.
I can only assume that KIDAPHILEX stands for King David Philatelic Exhibition. Perhaps the school had a stamp club. The covers are numbered in the lower right corner (101 and 115) so I assume they were a limited set.
I've sent the school an email (thanks Google!) and hope to find out more about them. Meanwhile, any alumni out there? What can you tell me?




Chime in all!

No one has any thoughts on this cover? I'm shocked!

Here's my best guess. Anyway, the logo on the cover matches this website:

http://www.kdps.co.za/

Yes that's the adjoining public school.
I'd already found the high schools web site

http://lh.kingdavid.org.za/

...but there's no mention of a stamp club 29 years later.
Oh well, can't say I didn't try.

Nice James, very interesting and ideal for some 'Sherlock' activity !

I have written to the South African Philatelic Federation and hope for some news.

Will you be putting these up for sale ?
Just wondered.

Had a very nice and quick reply.
Here it is:

--------

Dear Michael

Thank you for an interesting enquiry. I am copying this to a member of the Society of Israel Philately and hope he will be able to assist. I am also copying the query to Janice Botes, Production Editor of our house journal, The SA Philatelist. Hopefully, someone will be able to give an answer.



Sincerely

Jill Redmond

Secretary: Philatelic Federation of SA

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So we'll see if we can get some answers.
All good fun isn't it.

Isn't it?

Londonbus1

Thanks Londonbus! I haven't heard from the school, I'd sent them an email. But it was almost 30 years ago (the covers, not the email) and a look at their web site shows they don't have a stamp club now, not that's mentioned anyway.
Yes I'll probably put them up for sale, but I wanted to find out more about them first, like how many number envelopes there were.

They no longer have a stamp club, which is sad.
But the good news is the following email I have received from that member of the Society of Israel Philately.
----------------------------------------------------

For Michael Hide

I have no reference for an "Official Exhibition" held at King David High School in Linksfield . I can but presume that it was a school induced exhibition because at that time there was a reasonably active philatelic group which had school staff blessing.

Sadly, this is no longer the case.

The following may be of interest to you insofar as support data is concerned.

King David High School Linksfield is one of three King David Schools servicing mainly the Johannesburg area but does draw pupils from all around the country and offers secular education within a Jewish environment with an orthodox background. Classes are from kindergarten up to matriculation, education is co-ed and the total enrolment is well over 2000 pupils. There are other "jewish" schools both to the religious left and right of the King David schools.

If you e-mail me copies of the covers I could take them to the school, which is near where I live, for further information.
-------------------------------------------------------------

James, you have my email address now, if you can email me scans of the 2 covers I will pass them along to him.

I would just like to say that it never ceases to amaze me how helpful and thoughtful those in our Hobby can be. It really gave me a lovely warm feeling reading that email this evening. Someone who I do not know, will most likely never meet, offering to find out some information for a total stranger by going to the school in person.
I will be sending him an invitation to join our forum and a link to this thread.
It would be nice if he were to accept.

Londonbus1

Michael, that's brilliant. I got no response from the school itself. I'll scan both (the only difference is the number lower right corner) later this evening. Have to feed the kids now, and do some chauffeuring around.
I sent you package off today, so keep an eye on your mail box.
Cheers
James

Scans received and passed on.

Thanks.

Michael, was looking at these again. Have you heard anything from your detective work?
Always curious.
James

Yes James...hot off the press !

Kidaphilex was an effort by the school to raise funds and had no connections with any official Philatelic body in South Africa.

The Senderwood cancel refers to the name of the local Post Office near the school.

No other details are known at the school as records cannot be found giving more detail, including the number of covers made.
There is no one left at the school who was involved in the event, as it happened 30 years ago.

So unless we can find someone outside the school who was involved [and we have no names to go on], then we are most likely at a dead end.

Once again, I thanked Mr Daniels for his wonderful help and interest.
Aren't 'stampies' just great people.

What next James?

I would still like to buy one of those covers

Londonbus1

You're on. I'll send you and email