It's a subject I've discussed many times socially and I've found there always seems to be various views about when the line is crossed between hobby trading - where already taxed income is used to buy and sell stamps now and again in order to reinvest in a personal collection - and actual stamp dealing for profit.
Royal Mail have issued a special commemorative Post & Go stamp issue at each of the last two Stampex exhibitions and it seems likely another will be planned for Autumn Stampex this year (Business Design Centre, London, between 26th-29th September 2012). What should this potential issue commemorate?
I am trying to locate an example of a cover produced by The Royal Artillery Range Hebrides back in 1990 so I thought I would try posting details along with a little history of St Kilda and highlight some connections between the archipelago's wildlife and recent Royal Mail Post & Go stamp issues.
How many letters have you received bearing a Post & Go stamp? Chances are it's not many, if any, yet and I believe this should be seen as a tip in itself to start collecting commercially used Post & Go covers as they are part of our future postal history.
Some of the UK's most renowned fashion designers are showcased by ten new first class GB stamps issued today. The designer names being featured include Hardy Amies, Norman Hartnell, Granny Takes a Trip, Ossie Clark, Tommy Nutter, Jean Muir, Zandra Rhodes, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Alexander McQueen.
The British Antarctic Expedition 1910, more popularly known as the Terra Nova Expedition, was led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott. The main aim of the ill-fated expedition was to be the first to reach the geographical South Pole.
Here's a quick preview picture of the forthcoming Royal Mail miniature sheet produced to "welcome" the London 2012 Olympics on July 27th this year. Each of the four stamps contained in the sheet depicts an Olympic sport alongside a well known London landmark.
A redesigned Post and Go faststamp version of 2001's Union Flag stamp is being issued by Royal Mail on 21st May 2012 in honour of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Here's a preview of the design...
The Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, will be opening the Scalloway Museum in the Shetland Islands on Thursday 17th May 2012 and a special Royal Mail postmark has been sponsored by the Shetland Bus Friendship Society to mark the event.
Prince William celebrates his 30th Birthday on June 21st this year and, on 8th May, Guernsey Post issued a set of six stamps to mark the milestone.
A special Royal Mail postmark dated 5th May 2012 has marked the unveiling of a bronze statue at Elland Road of former Leeds United manager Don Revie forty years after the team last won the FA Cup final.
2012 marks thirty years since the invasion of the Falkland Islands and subsequent war between the United Kingdom and Argentina and a special postmark is available from Royal Mail's London Special Handstamp Centre to commemorate the anniversary.
In celebration of HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is opening a new exhibition in Clerkenwell, London tomorrow.
Stanley Gibbons are currently offering for sale a Master Die Proof for the Penny Black, the world's first postage stamp, which is one of only two complete examples in private hands from a total of five known examples in the world.
The single example of the ultra rare "plate 77 Penny Red" being offered by Stanley Gibbons has now been sold.
A preview of the ten special first-class stamps celebrating Great Britain's Fashion icons due to be released by Royal Mail on 15th May 2012.