What is a Max card ?

Max card (or Maximum card) is arguably the most beautiful philatelic item to have. The hobby of collecting max card is called Maximaphely. It is one of the eleven recognized classifications of philately. Max cards are very attractive because of beutiful illustrations on the post cards.

Max card consist of the following three components.
1. The postage Stamp
2. The picture post card
3. The postmark or the cancellation

These three above elements are joined together (with close visual relation) in a fascinating way to create a max card.









The above three elements of Max cards should confirm to the following characteristics.

Postage Stamp: A valid postage stamp should be affixed only on the view side of the picture postcard. Only one postage stamp should be affixed. However, when the subject is spread out on several se-tenant stamps making a panorama, the set can appear on a single postcard.

The picture postcard: Its size must confirm to the UPC regulations. However other sizes are allowed provided their size allows them to be laid out on a A4 sheet at a rate of two per sheet. Out of respect for its designer, it is strictly prohibited to reduce the size of the postcard by cutting it.

The picture must offer best possible concordance (visual) with the subject of the postage stamp. Full reproduction of the image on the stamp is prohibited. The picture must emphasize the subject of the postage stamp. The postcards available on the market are acceptable as they are. My interpretation is that, It is acceptable if you print postcards using computer if you are not able to get relevant postcard from the market (this is usually the case in India). Margins or text relevant to the subject is acceptable. The picture should be at least 70% of the space on the view side. Postcards with multiple pictures as well as holograms are prohibited.

The cancellation or postmark: The pictorial design or the text of the cancellaiton as well as the place of cancellation should have a connection with the subject of the postage stamp and of the postcard. The closer the connection between the subject and the picture /text of pictorial cancellation, the better is the concordance. The ordinary cancellation without illustration is valid provided that the concordance of the place is respected. The cancellation should be carried out within the period of validity of the stamp and as close as possible to the date of issue. The closer the date is, the better the max card is.

The concordance of the place requires a connection between the name of the place or locality written on the postmark and the postage stamp.

• For monuments , landscapes and sites there is only one place that gives the required concordance. It is the one where the monument, the landscape or the site is located.
• When the subject is a personality, the cancellation should be made in a place in connection with an event which concerns him/or her: birth, death, burial, work or aspect of his/her activity, posthumous homage etc. When the postage stamp commemorates explicitly one of these events, cancellation of the place where it happened is better.
• In the case where the postage stamp commemorates an event, the cancellation should be made in a place related to it.
• When the postage stamp shows for instance a plane, a train or a ship, the cancellation should be made in a place where there is an airport, a railway station, a port or an on-board post office related to the subject.
• The maximum cards showing sporting activities are better if they are cancelled in places where these sports are practiced.
• The maximum cards showing works of art such as paintings, sculptures, mosaics, enamels, leaded glass windows, frescoes, tapestries, and, generally, all objects in museums or collections, should be cancelled either in the place where they are to be found, or in the place where they were created. Cancellations of other places are allowed on the occasion of local exhibitions and other events if they are in connection with the work (signature or portrait of the artist, portrait of the model etc.).
• In case of postage stamps showing subjects located in a country other than the issuing one, the above-mentioned dispensation applies to personalities and to themes related to cosmos. The cancellation should be from a locality of the stamp-issuing country where an event related to the purpose of the issue has been organized.
• When the postage stamp commemorates an event or shows a landscape or a monument of another country, the realization of maximum cards is impossible as there is a total lack of concordance of place.

Let me know if you have any doubts on this. You can look at FIP regulations on creating max cards here : http://www.maximaphily.info/Articles/Regulations/MXLY%20regulations%20approved%20in%20Malaga%20conference.%20English%20version.pdf

-Ahmed.