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A new stamp store opens in Portland, Oregon: Stamp Dealer VignettesJuly 30, 2016 09:00 AM
Uptown Stamp Show caters to a wide range of collectors, dealers, and resellers. From true philatelic rarities stored in an impressive, purpose-built safe to 10¢ pick books, the shop’s stock is diverse, deep, and constantly changing.
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Noted French artists produced Monaco’s early issues: Classic Stamps of the WorldJuly 29, 2016 05:00 PM
Despite deciding to reject the use of France’s stamps, Monaco was aligned with that country in so many ways, politically and economically, that it naturally turned to that source for help with its first stamp issue.
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In Chinese stamp market, early Taiwan issues strong: Tip of the WeekJuly 29, 2016 01:00 PM
Current markets for Chinese stamps are generally not as active as they have been in the recent and not-so-recent past. But as in previous years, there are still pockets of great strength, with strong demand for select issues.
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Sydney Views: the world’s first pictorial postage stamps, part IIJuly 28, 2016 01:00 PM
Under the leadership of James Raymond, postmaster general of New South Wales from 1829 to 1851, the postal service progressed from a largely improvised service organized and funded under a temporary act to a fully organized service with 79 permanent post offices serving a population of 150,000 persons dispersed over an area of more than 310,000 square miles, and growing rapidly.
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The story behind the airmail collection of one of the hobby’s leading ladiesJuly 27, 2016 05:00 PM
Recent Inverted Jenny developments, widely reported in major media outside hobby circles, reminded me of another Inverted Jenny once owned by a leading lady of our hobby that deserves to become better known.
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Swiss stamp honors round-the-world flight of solar-powered aircraftJuly 27, 2016 04:19 PM
The two Swiss pilots, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, began the journey of more than 26,000 miles on March 9, 2015, taking off from Abu Dhabi. With 16 stopovers along the way, including six in the United States, Solar Impulse 2 landed in Abu Dhabi July 26.
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More than 9,100 changes recorded for Vol. 5 of 2017 Scott Standard catalogJuly 27, 2016 01:00 PM
Nicaragua and Portugal are among the countries in Vol. 5 whose values reflect increases. Almost 360 value changes for the Central American country of Nicaragua reflect a healthy upward movement for these stamps.
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New UN souvenir sheet first to contain stamps in three different currenciesJuly 25, 2016 01:00 PM
In Fascination, philatelic bulletin 119, UNPA chief Thanawat Amnajanan reports that the first such sheet will be issued Aug. 10 for the 32nd Asian international stamp exhibition. This show will take place Aug. 10-15 in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Rio 2016 Games celebrated on stamps all over the globe: New Stamps of the WorldJuly 24, 2016 01:00 PM
Brazil, the host country of the 2016 Summer Olympics, began issuing stamps promoting these Games in March 2015 and of course will continue issuing Rio 2016 Olympics stamps right up until the opening day, Aug. 5, but several other countries have or will issue stamps commemorating their participation in Rio 2016.
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Stamps tell story of Tonga, the South Pacific’s last monarchy: Stamps Down UnderJuly 22, 2016 05:00 PM
Little islands in the South Pacific don’t get much attention. Tonga is certainly one of the lesser known of these islands, but historically it is pretty interesting, especially when you realize that it has the only remaining monarchy in an ocean full of former monarchies.
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Covers tell the story of Great Britain’s Decimal Day, Feb. 15, 1971July 22, 2016 01:00 PM
Finally. It had taken more than a century of discussion to have reached this point, but following many studies and committee reports, the announcement from the British chancellor of the exchequer came in March 1966 that the United Kingdom would decimalize the pound.
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Island issues its last stamps, USPS Pets stamp release on the way: Week’s Most ReadJuly 22, 2016 08:32 AM
Also this week, a stamp that flew past Pluto entered the Guinness Book of World Records, Norfolk Island's last stamps were the topic of the Monday Morning Brief, and WWI German war crime propaganda labels were profiled.
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Lick-and-stick Dark Side of the Moon stamps issued with Pink Floyd setJuly 21, 2016 06:00 PM
Great Britain’s Royal Mail has issued two versions of one of the stamps in its Pink Floyd set. The set, released July 7 to commemorate Pink Floyd’s 50th anniversary, includes six self-adhesive stamps showing album cover art and four moisture-activated stamps picturing live performances.
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Bahrain 1950 King George VI overprint variety valuable and in demand: Stamp Market TipsJuly 20, 2016 03:00 PM
A mint never-hinged example recently sold in an online auction for the equivalent of about $260. The normal stamp is valued in mint never-hinged condition in the 2016 Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940 at just $27.
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Born July 19: Edgar DegasJuly 19, 2016 03:30 AM
The French impressionist artist Edgar Degas was born July 19, 1834, in Paris, France. His father was French and his mother was from New Orleans. When the artist was in his late 30s, he spent several months living with relatives in New Orleans and completed some 20 paintings while there.
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Mystery and intrigue surround the Virgin Islands’ most famous rarity: Editor’s InsightsJuly 16, 2016 08:00 PM
The stamp is described in Vol. 2 of the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue and the Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940 as “central figure omitted,” but stamp collectors know it better by its nickname, “Missing Virgin.”
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When American history and culture are featured on world stamps: U.S. Stamp NotesJuly 15, 2016 01:00 PM
American history and culture have a worldwide reach, and it is no surprise that they are featured on stamps and other postal products of many countries. While no doubt some of these stamps were issued with the objective of raking in long green from American collectors, that isn’t true of all.
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End of an era: Norfolk Island has issued its final postage stampJuly 14, 2016 05:25 PM
On July 1, Norfolk Island became a regional council of the Australian state of New South Wales, and thus ceased having its own postal service and postage stamps. Australian stamps are now valid on the island, and Australia Post will issue separate stamps with a “Norfolk Island, Australia” inscription, similar to its stamps for the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
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International Federation of Philately jury system needs a clean sweep: Stamp Hobby ViewsJuly 14, 2016 03:00 PM
If proof were needed that the International Federation of Philately (FIP) jury system is broken, one has to look no further than last month’s results from the World Stamp Show-NY 2016 philatelic extravaganza in New York City. Some aspects beg for closer examination in bright sunlight.
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WWI German war crimes focus of appealing propaganda labels: Tip of the WeekJuly 14, 2016 11:00 AM
One hundred years ago, the world was engulfed in war. Although the United States would not enter the war until April 6, 1917, the major European countries and their imperial and colonial holdings had been busily killing each other since August 1914. Propaganda was integral to the war effort, and it was the heyday of the propaganda label. Many fascinating and attractive sets were produced.
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Prices for Jules Verne stamps often fluctuate wildly: Tip of the weekJuly 02, 2016 09:00 AM
Quite a few countries have issued stamps and sets commemorating Verne. These stamps are popular with several different groups of topical collectors, including not a few who specialize just in Jules Verne.
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