‘The Stamp House’ was a well-known building (a pub actually) in North Bersted, near Bognor. The ‘Rising Sun’ pub’s owner, Richard Sharpe, collected postage stamps, and this was to form the basis of his future fame. As the years progressed, his stamp collection grew, and he began decorating a few picture frames with his spare stamps. Then, in 1882, a customer bet Mr Sharpe he … Continue reading ‘The Stamp House’
At least that’s the title of an editorial by Andrew Nelson that ran in the 5 June edition of the Wall Street Journal. ‘Of course,’ was my immediate reaction. Although it should come as no surprise to collectors, the hobby provides respite during troubling times (such as we are now experiencing on several fronts) and an opportunity to expend as much intellectual energy as you … Continue reading Why Stamp Collecting is Back in Vogue
The frequently cited ‘Spanish flu’ epidemic of 1918 has not been mentioned explicitly on European stamps, but I assume it was one reason (among others) for the numerous charity issues with surcharges for the benefit of the Red Cross and other welfare organisations. The most lethal disease affecting lungs until today is tuberculosis. The Global Tuberculosis Report of the WHO gives a number of 10 … Continue reading Red Cross and Anti-tuberculosis Issues
Just as this edition of PE was going to press, the news broke that Autumn Stampex was being replaced with a Virtual Stampex event. Continue reading Autumn Stampex replaced by Virtual Stampex 2020
With London 2020 postponed, Stanley Gibbons decided to launch an online, single-sheet philatelic competition aimed at bringing the philatelic community together during the current crisis. Titled the Stanley Gibbons Blue competition, the competition took its inspiration from prestigious institutions who award ‘Blues’ to those individuals who represent the highest level of excellence in their field. In the competition, a Stanley Gibbons Blue was awarded to … Continue reading Stanley Gibbons sings the Blues
In mid-April 2020, The Guardian newspaper in the UK ran an interesting article titled ‘Post modern: why millennials have fallen in love with stamp collecting’. This must-read article had an interview with the Chair of the prestigious Philatelic Trader’s Society (PTS) in the UK. The article got wide coverage, and I was sent the link to it by several clients, in case I had not … Continue reading Positive stamp article in The Guardian
The Postal Museum has launched an online hub, ‘Make a Connection’, to enable everyone to virtually enjoy the museum experience while its physical doors remain temporarily closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. For a limited time, everyone will be able to experience the museum’s star attraction – Mail Rail – from the comfort of their own home. Viewers of the ‘Mail Rail from Home’ virtual … Continue reading The Postal Museum launches ‘Make a Connection’ online hub
Star lot of the Robert A Siegel auction on March 3-5 in New York, was a well-centred example of the most famous of all US errors, the 1918 24c Inverted Jenny. From position 95 of the original sheet of 100 stamps, it sold for $230,000. Siegel described the stamp (pictured) as having rich colours and with better centring than many in the sheet. It has … Continue reading Position 95 Inverted Jenny sold for $230,000
Five years ago, on April 21 2015, Croatia issued a set of three Kn3.10 values honouring personalities. Mi 1175/SG 1247 is dedicated to the composer Luka Sorkočević (Luca Antonio di Sorgo, 1734-1789). The issued version shows his Italian name and details of his handwritten sheet music. What a surprise then, when an example of this value appeared with a different design at an auction in … Continue reading Croatia 2015: President Jefferson – Composer?
Although the picture postcard didn’t become widely popular until the final decade of the 19th century, events and personalities from earlier times still frequently appear on them. So it’s no surprise that devotees of the prolific and iconic Charles Dickens, the 19th century novelist, can build up a huge collection of images based on his life and work. In Edwardian days, postcard publishers couldn’t wait … Continue reading What the Dickens!
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