The year 2014 marked the 50th anniversary of the first year of operation of the Germany & Colonies Philatelic Society following the amalgamation of the Germany & Colonies Stamp Club (established 1947) and the Stockton German Study Group (1960).
The G&CPS celebrated its inaugural year in 1964 with the first Germania Posta philatelic exhibition held in Stockton.
80-90 years have passed since the discovery of the Witu stamps etc and very little has changed since. In 2020 I suggest very few collectors have even heard of Lerche but controversy surrounding the Witu stamps continues. Those who study the philately of East Africa are I believe in agreement that the Witu issues were at best locals but there seems to be plenty of evidence that they were manufactured by the Denhardts for their own profit. Lerche was present when the accumulation was found after the death of Denhardt and he wrote the article introducing the stamps to the philatelic world in the belief some say that they were genuine. Most would now agree he had been deceived.
