Over the years I've heard a few different people refer to a dramatic postmark error that occured in Sleaford, Lincolnshire in or around 1919. I am keen to hear more about this error and, if at all possible, see a photo or scan of the error.
We hope this checklist will prove a useful reference for thematic stamp collectors who specialise in "people on stamps". Each name that has featured on a GB Stamp is linked to the relevant person's Wikipedia page to help collectors quickly get information to help with writing up their collections.
Work is underway here at GB Stamp.co.uk to build a catalogue of web pages featuring top British stamp dealers who maintain online shops. Our aim is to highlight dealers who have a well established track record for supplying top quality stamps and covers backed up by a proven excellent customer service record.
I guess one of the most common questions dealers and experienced stamp collectors get asked is to confirm whether a stamp displays the charecteristics of a rare variety or error.
Just a fun post to display a piece of ASCII art that forms an image of the 1840 Penny Black (the world's first postage stamp).
The Post Office in Pictures is an exhibition of photographic images taken from The Royal Mail Archive which will run until 5th November 2011. Venue for the free to enter exhibition is The Post Modern in Swindon.
2012 dates have been announced for both the Spring and Autumn Stampex exhibitions during Olympic Year in London.
A new two stage issue of 26 first class stamps by the Royal Mail will eventually provide an A-Z of well known UK landmarks with the first 12 stamps just issued on 13th October 2011.
In the philatelic world a cinderella stamp is usually defined as something which resembles a normal postage stamp that was not issued for official purposes by an official postal administration. As they are best defined by what they DO NOT represent, cinderella stamps can be broken up in to many specific sub-types of collectable label including poster stamps, propaganda labels, commemorative stickers, stamps issued by unrecognised nations and/or governments, court stamps, charity labels, Christmas seals, telegraph stamps, railway stamps, local stamps etc.
Stanley Gibbons Group plc which trades in rare stamps, historical documents, rare coins and military medals for collecting and investment has announced the official opening of Stanley Gibbons (Asia) Ltd in Hong Kong.
As the 300 days to go milestone approaches until the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Royal Mail have announced details and revealed the designs of four new British definitive stamps which are currently in production ready for issue early next year.
Penguin Books is scheduled to publish "Masters of the Post", a complete history of the Royal Mail, on 3rd November 2011. Based upon the comprehensive archives of the Royal Mail, Masters of the Post details the great personalities and amazing stories from the postal services history over some 500 years.
Post Restante is a universal free service offered by Post Offices virtually everywhere in the world.
Stamp collectors the world over have probably heard the outrage expressed when a "lazy" postal worker has used a biro to cancel the stamps on an envelope that has somehow escaped the attention of the normal postmarking system. The word "defaced" is often used to make the act seem more one of vandalism than anything else. So it was a pleasure recently to see a collection of these so called "defaced" items well written up.
A recent email and discussion got me to thinking about the way we're building GBStamp.co.uk and what new ideas we could incorporate. Our aim is to provide more than just endless listings of stamps and covers for sale by building a database of articles, news, features and opinions. So here's an overview of how the GB Stamp website was planned and is planning to see if it spurs any constructive feedback and ideas about the future.
The web has undoubtedly given stamp dealers a global reach to help sell stamps, postal history and first day covers but, in my opinion, collectors have been slow to see the potential for exhibiting items - or even entire collections - online and thus do their bit to encourage interest in our great hobby.
