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.
One of the most prized stamps in GB stamp collecting should be about to sell on eBay. The rare 1935 Silver Jubilee Prussian Blue with a BPA Certificate.
Issued just a few days after the better known but less valuable Penny Black, the GB 1840 Twopenny Blue stamp has proved to be a real investment worth holding in the last few years.
The specialist collectables auction website Delcampe will be attending The Picture Postcard Show 2009 in London between 3rd and 5th of September.
A UV lamp is an essential item for serious Machin stamp collectors. So what's the difference between short-wave and long-wave UV and what do these specific lamps reveal?
During the reign of Queen Victoria, and the early part of the Edward VII era, GB postage stamps were overprinted for use by Government Departments and bodies like the Royal Household. These have become collectively known as Official Stamps although the first "official" was produced but not issued as early as 1840.
Issued 17th April 2001, the SG PM2 Submarines booklet quickly earned a high catalogue value being the first of the Royal Mail self-adhesive retail booklets series that feaured two contemporary commemorative stamps along with four first class NVI (no value indicator) machin definitives.
It is obviously a matter of record that a Penny Blue stamp was never issued in Britain during the 1840s so why do we sometimes hear references to such a stamp?
Meeting place, meeting times and contact details for the Ashford (Middlesex) Philatelic Society.
While most particpants in our hobby try to build comprehensive stamp or cover collections covering a defined era, stamp type, topic or country, investors are looking to achieve something fundamentally quite different.
Before Postage Due Stamps were issued for use in Britain during 1914 handstamp markings were applied to postal items indicating an additional fee was payable on delivery by the receiver.
The schedule of stamp fairs we understand are due to take place during October 2009. Wherever possible we have provided organiser contact information for collectors who want to confirm any details before travelling.
The Hawick Stamp and Postcard Society has organised a stamp fair this Sunday in Jedburgh Town Hall.
The internet has proved to be an extraordinary medium for helping people share information about subjects of common interest and there's certainly no exception when it comes to stamp collectors and philatelists.
A prestige stamp booklet from Royal Mail titled "Treasures of the Archive" features some of the amazing items held by the British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA).
In July 2008 a Devon based stamp dealer was held up at gunpoint by two men posing as undercover police before they stole his collection valued at £400,000 a court has been told.
Despite the relatively short reign of King Edward VII - stamps bearing his portrait were only issued between 1902 and 1913 - his stamps continue to be a very popular era for British stamp collectors and investors.
eBay has become one of the busiest all day, every day venues to buy and sell stamps and there are some useful tips all eBay sellers should take on board to maximise the profits they can earn online.
As eBay celebrate their 10 years in the UK it seems few stamp dealers have managed to seriously compete with the auction giant to attract collectors and generate volume sales online. So why isn't there a better online sales platform for stamp dealers?
Specialist Auctions are a 'Person to Person' auction and sales venue a little like eBay except they concentrate on specialist collectables rather than the whole range of product possibilities.
