A meeting at the headquarters of Saudi Philatelic and Numismatics Society (SPNS) recently turned into a walk down memory lane as the discussion shifted to recollections of how the group started.

Besides the discussion on SPNS’ projects, the members relished talking about how the society was started and gained membership while Usamah M. Al-Kurdi, SPNS chairman, listened wistfully with smiles escaping from his lips from time to time.

The memories were evoked with the entrance of 82-year-old Abdullah Saad Al-Mugrin. Walking with the aid of a cane, he arrived, enthusiasm writ large on his face and a collection of stamps tucked under his arm.

He talked of how the organization had started fifty years ago in Makkah. Although not one of the 12 original founders, it was he who suggested the idea of forming a stamp collectors’ group to Ibrahim Malibar, now 85 years old.

It is therefore understandable that he takes pride after the fact that his idea was turned into reality. The SPNS was founded and is doing well with the support of the Saudi government.

Initially, the group was under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs and then transferred to the General Presidency of Youth Welfare. Eventually, it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Information which forks over SR750,000 in subsidies annually.

“Ibrahim Malibari and I were working at the Saudi Post in Makkah. I used to collect stamps used in letters and packages from overseas and I suggested the idea of forming a stamps collectors group to him. I was not however, a member of the group initially,” Al-Mugrin said.

He exhibited a sharp recollection of names and dates regarding the beginnings of SPNS saying that even if he had retired from government service many years ago, he has retained his interest in stamps.

“Some time back, I met some Swedish nationals who became interested in my collection and I sold them some old stamps,” he said slowly breaking into a smile. He added that he has been admitted to an American philatelists’ group.

Malibari and Ibrahim Tobbal, 83, are the two remaining members of the original founders group. However, as they have become sickly they could not make it to the meeting.

Malibari, who is based in Makkah, was represented during the meeting by Mohammed Amine Al-Malibari, a relative, who is also based in Makkah. “He can still talk but can no longer walk or see,” the younger Malibari said.

Tobbal, on the other hand, was represented by a nephew, Omar Tobbal, who is an engineer based in Riyadh. He talked about his uncle’s involvement in the organization.

“It was my uncle who Ibrahim Malibari recruited first to form the organization. Ten others joined. They are the 12 original founders,” he said.

One founding member, Hasan S. Noory who died 30 years ago in Makkah, was represented in the meeting by a relative, Hussein Noory.

Usamah M. Al-Kurdi, SPNS chairman, said that they already know where the other original founders are and efforts are being made to get in touch with them.

The other founding members include Faisal Ajhuri, Seddiq Jamal, Hamid Jamal, Hasan N. Gari, Abdulrahman Kattowa, Ismail Shafei, Zaki Khogear, Hasan S. Noory, Ismail I. Attar and Omar Bukhari.