SOFIZ 1, Serbian National Philatelic Exhibition

I am delighted to be informed that the Union of Philatelists of Serbia will be holding a National Virtual Exhibition, with international participation from 7 to 14 in December 2020. With Exhibits from eight countries, and Webinars for Collectors, it promises to be an excellent event. In the troubled and uncertain times, it is so essential that National Federations and Philatelic Societies provide avenues for collector dialogue, displays and Exhibition. I know Serbia has a long and honoured tradition of collecting an philatelic excellence. This is not the First World Virtual Exhibition in 2020 and I am sure that it will not be the last. I warmly extend my very best wishes to all exhibitors. I thank invited exhibitors for submitting their Exhibits for the added enjoyment of the public. The note that Jury is of a very high standard, and I’m sure will be very generous and provide additional supportive comments for all entrants.

I congratulate the Union of Philatelists of Serbia for their initiative. I am sure that all Serbian collectors will welcome it.

I wish the Exhibition every success. Please enjoy the scholarship that is presented by this opportunity.

And finally, a very Merry and Holy Christmas to you and your loved ones.

Bernard Beston
FIP President

On the way to the first SOFIZ

The teaching of Darwinian science is that those who do not adapt will die out. The whole world is facing this challenge this year. The C0VID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our ability to communicate, travel and socialize, not to mention the impact on the economy and the creation of new value that we all live on. In organized philately, apart from research and publishing, the main manifestations are exhibitions – national and international. Many exhibitions were planned in 2020, but all of them were either postponed or cancelled. In the spring, it already turned out that the disease will only be overcome with a vaccine, and that means months and months of living in isolation. What technology already made possible but was not necessary and was introduced slowly, quickly began to be practiced – work from home, video conferences, the virtual world in many aspects. The most innovative organizers in philately have also taken on the task of organizing a virtual exhibition. Apart from the Italians, who have been practicing it for years, this year they prepared a virtual exhibition in Spain (EXFILNA) and in Germany (NAPOSTA) – both as national ones.

SOFIZ 1 – the first Serbian virtual exhibition is thus the third in the pandemic year, but the first with international participation. An overview of the announced competition classes and the large number of registered exhibits shows that it is a very large exhibition with a complete assortment. With great interest, we are following this undertaking, which will give the organizers new knowledge and experience, and give support to the exhibitors, i.e. the opportunity to show their exhibits and receive useful feedback from the jury for further work. The innovative venture in the region of Southeast Europe is also a support for philately in a broader sense – both for individual philatelic federations and national post offices. Namely, continuous activity supports interest in philately – collecting and exhibiting, and selling novelties to the post office. Traditional philatelists fear that the reduction of close contacts will reduce cooperation between philatelists, dealers and postal administrations, as well as negatively affect their support for realistic and more demanding exhibitions. However, we are in a situation without an alternative. But – we will also notice the advantages of virtual exhibitions – the exhibits will be in the mood for observation and study by both the jury and the audience for a longer time. And that from the home office. Accompanying lectures will be available online instead of in a hall with the exhibition. Neither the exhibitor nor the followers will be physically in the same city and country! For all reasons, our desire is to overcome the infectious disease and return to normal life as soon as possible. And to meet again with old friends at one of the future philatelic exhibitions. COVID-19 is certainly changing our life, it will no longer be the same as it was before it. This also means that there will be more virtual exhibitions.

The organizers of SOFIZ are laying the foundation stone for the future platform of our exhibition meetings, I congratulate them and wish them every success in the realization of the undertaking.

Igor Pirc
Secretary of FEPA

SOFIZ I

RULE BOOK

Article 1

SOFIZ I – SERBIAN ONLINE PHILATELIC EXHIBITION, the first Serbian online national philatelic exhibition with international participation, will be held from December 7 to 14, 2020 and displayed on the website of the Union of Philatelists of Serbia philaserbia.com.

Article 2

The organizer of the exhibition is the Association of Philatelists of Serbia (SFS). The exhibition is technically realized by the Organizing Committee, which is appointed by the SFS Management Board.

Article 3

This exhibition has a national competitive character with international participation.

Exhibitors do not participate in the costs of the exhibition.

Article 4

All SFS members, members of other national philatelic organizations from abroad (members of FEPA and FIP) and individuals by invitation have the right to participate in the exhibition.

Article 5

The commissioner of the exhibition collects applications for participation in the exhibition on behalf of the Organizing Committee. Accepted applications are divided into the following exhibition classes:

A CLASS OF HONOR (exhibitors by invitation, jury members and others)
B COMPETITIVE CLASS
B.1. Traditional philately
B.2. Postal history
B.3. Postal packages
B.4. Aerophilately
B.5. Thematic philately
B.6. Maximaphilia
B.7. Fiscalistics
B.8. Literature
B.9. Single-case class (exclusively traditional philately, postal history, fiscal studies and postcards)
10. Modern philately (philatelic material after 1980)
11. Postcards
12. Youth class

Article 6

Exhibit format:

Sheet Size:

210 X 297 mm (A4) and/or
420 x 297 mm (A3)

All exhibits must be in jpg format. No other format will be accepted.

Only 300 dpi quality is required. Exhibits scanned in a different resolution will not be accepted.

In case the dimensions of the sheet are 210 X 297 mm (A4), the file size per sheet should not exceed 1 MB.

In case the dimensions of the sheet are 420 x 297 mm (A3), the file size per sheet should not exceed 2 MB.

The files have a name that corresponds to the numbering of the exhibit sheet, namely:

exhibit of 80 pages 210 X 297 mm (A4): numbering 1-80
exhibit of 128 pages 210 X 297 mm (A4): numbering 1-128
exhibit of 40 pages 420 x 297 mm (A3): numbering 1-40
exhibit of 64 pages 420 x 297 mm (A3): numbering 1-64
single display case 210 X 297 mm (A4): numbering 1-16
single display case 420 x 297 mm (A3):: numbering 1-8

Article 7

The exhibitor is obliged to submit the exhibit in the required jpg format and in the required 300 dpi quality.

No alteration / alteration / modification of scanned items in any way will be allowed or accepted.

The jury reserves the right to review the submitted exhibit and decide on possible rejection, if the exhibit does not comply with the rules.

In case of any dispute, the decision of the jury and the organizers will be final.

Article 8

Each exhibitor can register an unlimited number of exhibits.

Exhibits from abroad will be accepted if they deal with topics from the area of the Western Balkans (the area of the former Yugoslavia), except for classes 5, 6 and 12.

Exhibits must be in the Serbian language or in the language of one of the former Yugoslav republics or in one of the official FIP languages.

Article 9

The online format of the exhibition is available via the Internet, and in this sense the organizer is not responsible for copying, duplicating or further use of scanned pages of the exhibit or any of its parts.

Article 10

By submitting the application to the commissioner, exhibitors accept all the provisions of this rulebook.

An exhibitor who does not exhibit the registered exhibit, that is, rejects the jury’s evaluations, will not be able to participate in exhibitions during the next 3 years.

Article 11

The decisions and evaluations of the jury are final and are published publicly.

Diploma in the rank of a large gold medal – from 95 to 100
Diploma in the rank of gold medal – from 90 to 94
Diploma in the rank of large gold medal – from 85 to 89
Diploma in the rank of gold medal – from 80 to 84
Diploma in the rank of large silver medal – from 75 to 79
Diploma in the rank of silver medal from 70 to 74
Diploma in the rank of silver-bronze medal – from 65 to 69
Diploma in the rank of bronze medal – from 60 to 64
Diploma 59 and less points.

All diplomas (including the Grand Prix SOFIZ) will be awarded to participants in the form of an electronic certificate.

The Grand Prix SOFIZ is awarded by the jury among the holders of the large gold medal.

A special diploma will be awarded for the best exhibit in the youth class (B.12.)

Article 12

Time schedule:

Submission of exhibits by November 15, 2020.
Forwarding the scanned exhibit by November 30, 2020.
Exhibition December 7, 2020 – December 14, 2020

The results will be published on the website of the exhibition on December 14, 2020, and the Organizing Committee of the exhibition will notify each candidate by email.

Article 13

The Union of Philatelists of Serbia will save all participating exhibits in the archives of its website, if the competitor agrees.

Article 14

All additional information can be obtained by the exhibitors by direct contact via the exhibition email: sfs.sofiz@gmail.com

• Zoran Stepanović
• Bogdan Petrović, Commissioner of the Exhibition
• Svetislav D. Jelic
• Vladimir Milić
• Daniel Morotvansky, technical support

• Zoran Stepanović (FIP)
• Dragoljub Jovanović, member
• Dragos Petrović

December 7, 2020 at 7:00 p.m
Ceremonial opening of the exhibition

Monday, December 7, 2020 at 7:05 p.m
Prof. Dr. Milan Radovanović
Dutch mercy in the Great War
WATCH THE VIDEO

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 7:00 p.m
Bojan Bračić
Class “Postcards” – experiences during evaluation in Slovenia
WATCH THE VIDEO

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 6:00 p.m
Miomir Arsic
Serbian pre-philately
WATCH THE VIDEO

Thursday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m
Peter Suhadolc AEP FRPSL
Thematic philately
WATCH THE VIDEO

Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 7:00 p.m
Slobodan Shotra
Sanitary cordon and post office disinfection
WATCH THE VIDEO