ABOUT THE BCCS

The Society currently has in excess of 200 members, several from overseas and growing all the time.  Established in 1995 by Juliette Edwards as a result of interest in her privately published book on British compacts, it is now chaired by an elected Committee. Juliette is also the author of a book entitled “Powder Compacts – A Collectors Guide”, published by Miller’s in 2000.

One of our aims is to promote the appreciation and collecting of powder compacts and all the many associated items, such as: powder boxes and bowls, vanity cases and carryalls, World War II and shipping souvenir compacts, advertisements and other related vintage glamour items; and to promote a better understanding of the social history and the changing 'faces' and roles of women that these romantic items epitomise.  

We welcome assisting, advising and working with groups and organisations such as museums, companies, publishers and broadcasters wherever possible.

Our membership comprises dealers and collectors, some who have been collecting for many years and have extensive and beautiful collections, and others who have just discovered the fascination of these vintage glamour accessories and maybe just have one or two. Some collectors like to specialise in a certain period, for example the Art Deco period of the 20s and 30s; some prefer to collect compacts with a particular design or by a particular manufacturer.  Whatever your personal preference there is sure to be something you will want to collect and treasure. Many members also collect other vintage glamour items so you will also find handbag enthusiasts, scarf collectors and costume jewellery lovers amongst our members.

Another aim is to put collectors in touch with each other and many friendships have resulted from our membership of BCCS.

• Access to our website with its pages of Questions & Answers and news about the Society. To find out more about the website, click here.

• Access to our new Facebook Group, with information, Q&As, chat, selling, and monthly show-and-tell themes.

• 3 issues per year of Face Facts, which you’ll receive in March, July and December, plus a Convention Special issue. Face Facts not only contains letters and news from members and reports on our annual Convention, but in-depth features about compacts and related themes. Past examples have included plastic compacts, lipsticks from Biba and beyond, and Innoxa and mechanical compacts.

• An electronic membership directory, emailed to all members who opt in after the beginning of each BCCS membership year. This contains contact information, including regional maps, and optional photos and collecting interests of fellow members.

• An invitation to our Annual UK Convention in October as well as to smaller regional groups throughout the year. These events (for which additional charges may be made) are exclusive to members and their guests.

Conventions have been held in: Windsor, Solihull, Blackpool, Slough, Warrington, Bristol, Ipswich, Sheffield, Cheltenham, Warwick, Bracknell, Peterborough, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Gloucester.

A fabulous variety of compacts are displayed - many of which are for sale - and we’ve enjoyed celebrity speakers from the BBC Antiques Roadshow, Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip and Flog It, including Eric Knowles, Ian Pickford, Katherine Higgins, Kate Bliss, Jonathan Pratt, Will Farmer and Charles Hanson.