Stamp Collector

Expert advice and guides to help you build your collection

Stamp Collector1 min read
Stamp Collector
Published by Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, Bourne, PE10 9PH Publisher: Claire Ingram [email protected] Editor: Alison Boyd Designer: Mike Carr Contributors: Brian Austin, David Bailey, Christer Brünstrom, Michael Burzan
Stamp Collector10 min read
Stamp Update
The FEPA Board have awarded the following FEPA Medals and Certificates of Appreciation for 2023. The FEPA Medal for Exceptional Service to Organised Philately 2023 has been awarded to Eli Weber (Israel). Eli Weber has served as president of the Israe
Stamp Collector6 min read
New Stamps
This year marks the centenary of the first two flights, by seaplane and landplane, around mainland Australia. On 21 May, Australia Post honoured these feats of Australia’s intrepid early aviators, who pushed the boundaries of flight and helped galvan
Stamp Collector2 min read
Welcome to Stamp Collector
INCORPORATING COIN COLLECTOR This month’s welcome starts with a sincere apology for the mistake on our part in the distribution of the free souvenir sheets for EuroPhilEx last month. Unfortunately, we put too many souvenir sheets in the newsstand cop
Stamp Collector2 min read
In Brief
Issued on 29 June, a new set of eight stamps from the Isle of Man capture the island’s Tynwald Week. Centred on the historic Tynwald Ceremony on 5 July, where new Acts are solemnly enacted into law amidst centurie-sold traditions, Tynwald Week holds
Stamp Collector3 min read
Crypto A Rise or Fall for Philately?
Six years have passed since Gibraltar issued the ‘world’s first crypto currency stamps’ on 15 May 2018 and then anther in 2021 (Figure 1). In consequence, a rising number of postal administrations have followed this trend, including Austria (Figure 2
Stamp Collector6 min read
Dogs
A new ten-stamp set issued by Royal Mail on 6 June celebrates man’s best friend – the dog. Dogs have shared our lives for thousands of years – working, hunting, guarding and being our friends. Over this time, many different breeds have evolved and de
Stamp Collector2 min read
In Brief
Nordia 2024 took place in Langesund, Norway, from 31 May until 2 June. The big winners were: Grand Prix Nordia (Championship Class) – Benny Winther (Denmark), ‘The Classic Stamps of Denmark 1851–1863’; Grand Prix Nordic – Kai Nieminen (Finland), ‘Gra
Stamp Collector2 min read
The ‘Official’ Penny Black
It is well known that the world’s first postage stamp was Great Britain’s Penny Black, which officially came into use on 6 May 1840. It was accompanied by the Twopenny Blue. These stamps were to prepay the postage on letters sent by the public. Howev
Stamp Collector3 min read
The Stamp Dealer, the Retailer and Registered Stationery Envelope
In last month’s ‘Market Insight’, we took to the Oil Rivers of Nigeria to highlight the philatelic wonders of an unused, overprinted and surcharged 1893 10s on 5d dull purple and blue (SG 41) from the Peter Horlyck collection of Nigeria. Continuing w
Stamp Collector7 min read
Auction Update
A key lot in the David Feldman auction series of 20–22 June was an 1849 registered letter from Angers (Maine et Loire) to Dole (Jura), with a franking of 2f (corresponding to double the rate for a letter from 15g to 100g) made with an exceptional têt
Stamp Collector1 min read
Diary Dates
Hill Farm, Hemyock, Cullompton EX15 3UZ www.somersetstampauctions.com Benson Parish Hall, Sunnyside, Benson, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6LZ provincialphilatelics.co.uk 21 West 38th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA siegelauctions.com 2 Co
Stamp Collector1 min read
Inverted President
A stamp with an inverted centre is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular errors in philately. Many are great rarities; others are affordable but very few are common. The Republic of Liberia in West Africa has produced quite a few inverted centres,
Stamp Collector1 min read
Price £ Watch
France, block of four 1930 3f stamps, ‘Catéhdrale de Reims’ (type III), MNH with dated sheet corner Great Britain, King Edward VII, 1903 £1 dull blue-green, MH (SG 266) Great Britain, 1913 10s indigo-blue Seahorse, MLH (SG 402) Sudan, Official 1m bro
Stamp Collector3 min read
1924 Olympic Games in Paris
A century ago, the first French Olympic Games stamp set with four designs was issued on 1 April 1924, promoting the event in Paris. International catalogues list the quartet as SG 401/4, Scott 198/201, Yvert/Maury 183/86 and Michel 169/72. Complete s
Stamp Collector6 min read
Bermuda 1953 Definitives
As someone once wrote: ‘Pigs on stamps are rare. Pigs on coins are rarer still. But pigs on coins on stamps? That’ll be Bermuda.’ The Bermuda archipelago was first discovered in 1505, but the islands were not permanently settled until 1612. Maritime
Stamp Collector1 min read
Stamp Incorporating Coin Collector
Just £4.99 a month* ◗ The latest stamp and coin news and releases ◗ Expert advice, updates and guidance to take your stamp or coin collection to the next level ◗ In-depth collecting guides that analyse classic stamp sets, postal history, first-day co
Stamp Collector1 min read
Collect With Confidence
Make sure you’re signed up to the free All About Stamps newsletter. Let us help you build your knowledge… and your collection. • The latest offers from trusted stamp dealers • Collecting advice and price guides • Get info on stamp competitions first
Stamp Collector7 min read
How to Collect Argentina
Ever since Argentina declared its independence from Spain in 1810, relations between the South American nation and Great Britain have been more than strained, mainly due to the conflict involving the Falkland Islands and other British Antarctic terri
Stamp Collector4 min read
World’s First Greetings Cards and Postcards
When excavators began digging in Al-Bahnasa, south of Cairo, they stumbled across something remarkable: a cache of ancient papyrus books, letters and documents, dating from the 3rd century BC. However, the Oxyrhynchus papyri cache, as it is known, is
Stamp Collector6 min read
Book and Roll Stamps on Cover
Although nowadays books of stamps are standard and sold in a wide range of retail outlets, historically most GB stamps were issued in sheets. However, in the early-20th century, alternative formats were introduced – books in 1904 and rolls from 1912.
Stamp Collector3 min read
The Woman who Rumbled Rockefeller
Are all true American heroes (of either gender) born in log cabins? Ida Tarbell was – in Pennsylvania in 1857 (Figure 1). Two years later, oil was struck in that state. Her father took advantage of this and set up a company building oil storage tanks
Stamp Collector6 min read
Belgium’s First Stamp Issue
Chronologically dated between the first issues of France and of Bavaria in Old Germany, the kingdom of Belgium brought its first stamps into circulation on 1 July 1849 (Figure 1). It took more than eight years for the realisation of the issue from th
Stamp Collector3 min read
Just One Small Thing
The sad loss of Dr Michael Mosley and the discovery of a diminutive entire, sadly lacking its contents, at Philex in Paris spawned both the title of this article and set a hare running on the theme of Sunday deliveries of the mail. On its face, the l
Stamp Collector7 min read
Back Of The Book
Fiscal or revenue stamps have a history that is much older than that of the postage stamp, which first went on sale at British post offices on 6 May 1840, writes Christer Brunström. Stamps for Horse Duty were issued by the British Stamp Office in 177
Stamp Collector9 min read
Palaeontology on Stamps
Palaeontology is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene Epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present day). It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms’ evolution and interactio
Stamp Collector1 min read
A Celebration Of British Stamps!
£12.99 or just £9.99 for Stamp Collector subscribers With guides to notable stamps issued by Britain over the years, and a special guide to the monarchs featured on GB stamps, this unique album is perfect for stamp collectors of all levels. BUY NOW A
Stamp Collector1 min read
Next Month in STAMP COLLECTOR
INCORPORATING COIN COLLECTOR ON SALE 9 AUGUST Build your knowledge… build your collection with the UK’s only stamp and coin magazine DISCOVER THE COLLECTION OPTIONS OFFERED BY ETHIOPIAN STAMPS EXTRACTING FACT FROM FOLKLORE THROUGH PHILATELY HOW A SHO
Stamp Collector2 min read
Welcome to Coin Collector
In this month’s edition of Coin Collector, we include a fascinating article about the Seaton Down Roman coin hoard, which is on display at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. The discovery of this large hoard, comprising over 22,000 coins, un
Stamp Collector8 min read
Coin Update
Every three years, the members of the British Numismatic Society (BNS) vote to award the Sanford Saltus Medal for outstanding scholarly contributions to numismatics. In May, they were delighted to present Barrie Cook, curator of medieval and modern c
Stamp Collector7 min read
Auction Update
A British Empire spotlight sale from Heritage on 16 June included a ‘convict’ love token from Australia (lot 22001). Popular in Great Britain in the early-19th century, when prisoners were being sent to the new British colony of Australia to serve th
Stamp Collector1 min read
Price £ Watch
Belgium, 20 francs, Leopold II, 1867, gold coin, XF Italy Former States, Venice, scudo della croce, 140 soldi silver coin, Alvise Contarini, 17th century Bavaria, Germany, silver half taler, 1627, Maximilian I, Munich, VF French Guinea, French West A
Stamp Collector5 min read
Reaching for Olympic Gold
A favourite among the most collected modern thematic coins are editions minted to commemorate the Olympic Games. Generally speaking, many categories of collectables issued for present events are of most interest when the occasions they were designed
Stamp Collector3 min read
The Future of Actual Money
While attending the recent Long Beach Coin Exposition in California last month, it was time for an afternoon coffee break. The concession stand at the convention centre offered a sparse offering with just the basics. When it was time to pay for my $5
Stamp Collector3 min read
Introduction Of A Cash Limit In Europe
They’ve actually gone and done it: the EU has decided to impose a cash limit. From 2027, cash payments over €10,000 will be banned across Europe, with individual countries retaining the right to introduce an even lower limit. Many Eurozone countries
Stamp Collector4 min read
Seaton Down Roman Coin Hoard
When two metal-detectorists discovered a hoard of over 22,000 Roman coins in a field near Seaton, they unearthed a major piece of Devon’s archaeology. It sheds light on a particularly troubled period in Roman history and gives us clues as to life in
Stamp Collector5 min read
The GSA Hoard of Morgan Dollars
Morgan Dollars are icons of American numismatics (Figure 1). Many collectors have encountered the GSA Hoard dollars in their characteristic black boxes and plastic slabs, therefore, in this article, we will look into the history of this hoard and how
Stamp Collector10 min read
Kings Of All England
Under the rule of Alfred, a status quo had been achieved. Following his successes at the Battle of Edington in 878 and treaty with Guthrum in 880, breathing space had been achieved against the marauding Scandinavians. A ‘levelling up’ of the country
Stamp Collector2 min read
The 3rd Century AD
By the start of the 3rd century AD, Rome was in decline, China was embroiled in coups and civil wars, and the Sasanian Empire had yet to re-establish Persia as a major power. Yet, in Africa, one kingdom was still in its ascendance. The kingdom of Aks
Stamp Collector7 min read
New Coins
The latest in the 2024 USA Women Quarters series features Dr Mary Edwards Walker (1832–1919) – a Civil War surgeon, and a women’s rights and dress-reform advocate. Walker relentlessly pursued her desire to serve as a surgeon during the Civil War, and
Stamp Collector2 min read
In Brief
The latest special coin to celebrate the world-famous Isle of Man TT Road Races has been released by the Isle of Man government. The reverse of the £2 coin depicts a rider as they navigate the corner by the famous Creg-Ny-Baa pub. The event was first

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