Okay, I know, everyone is doing it and most Twitterers are probably just like me who doesn't really know why I'm doing it yet!
For one reason or another the time usually comes when a stamp, first day cover or postal history collection has to be sold. Good collections often arouse interest among other collectors who may see an opportunity to capitalise and significantly expand their own collection
The actual condition of British stamps is very important to the real value and investment potential of your future GB stamp collection so it is vital to understand the commonly used terms for stamp condition.
The Royal Mail has recently unveiled a new series of stamps being issued to commemorate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in the United Kingdom for the first time since 1948, the first games following World War 2.
The specialist collector's auction website Delcampe displays nearly 25 million items listed from the various countries that participate. With more than 20 Million items actually sold now, the growth at Delcampe has been very impressive and means the site really is becoming a true competitor to eBay for buyers and sellers of stamps and other collectables.
Smilers offer you, me or anyone else the chance to get a photograph printed in a sheet format alongside valid postage stamps that you can choose. These stamps together with your personalised labels can then be used on regular mail, greetings cards etc. The Royal Mail also produce "generic" Smilers sheets and stamp industry names once primarily associated with only First Day Covers are also now producing customised sheets for collectors.
Essex firefighters have involved themselves in the promotion of the latest Royal Mail stamps which pay tribute to the Fire Service.
Stamp collectors in Redruth have met after a busy summer and displayed the latest additions to their collections.
London 2010: Festival of Stamps is being billed as "a year-long programme to mark the centenary of the accession of George V - the philatelist king - and in celebration of stamps, stamp design and postal heritage". So what's in store for us?
The four printings of the King George 5th 'Seahorse' High Value stamps can prove difficult for collectors to properly identify so here we provide a handy checklist of the characteristics for each printing and stamp value.
From the very start of British postage stamp history errors have been made to create some of the most rare, most visually striking and most desirable stamps to fascinate philatelists and tempt shrewd investors.
The latest set of British commemorative stamps to feature military uniforms is scheduled for release by the Royal Mail on 17th September 2009. The set of six stamps depict more than 200 years of tradition and development in the uniforms worn by the Royal Navy which proudly claims the title of being the UK's Senior Service.
The Penny Red is the longest running stamp to be used in British postage stamp history. The first imperforate Penny Reds were issued in February 1841 and they continued in use, later in perforated form, until November 1879. It is said that, in all, well over 20 Billion Penny Red postage stamps were issued.
It was more than a year after King Edward VII died that the first stamps bearing a portrait of King George V were released on the same day as his Coronation. There has to be something of interest to virtually any philatelist from the era of George V. Shades, varieties, watermarks, perforations, diverse printers and errors all combine to make this one of the most fascinating periods ever for British postage stamps.
Many of the GB surface printed stamps issued during the reign of Queen Victoria were printed on sheets containing panes of stamps meaning several of them were abnormal in size due to a so called "wing margin". Checking stamps for repoerforation can sometimes require a lot of experience and a well trained eye. So how can a less experienced collector check their own stamps?
Whenever items are widely collected and significant cash values become involved there will inevitably be problems that people need to watch out for. Regumming of old postage stamps to appear like more valuable mint examples is one such abuse to be aware of.
