Philately Blog

Great Britain Revenues

2010-03-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

GB QEII £1 Land Registry PROOF IMPERF UMM

Ownership of land, and permitted use there of, was controlled by
the Land Registry; changes of owner ship or use required
prepayment of fees by stamps SCARCE

1877 Telegraphs Colour Trial 3/

1877 Telegraphs Colour Trial 3/- dull claret, very fine mint corner block of 9 with Sheet Number ‘523’ (Boxed), overprinted SPECIMEN, Type 8, Spec Page 429, Cat £990 as singles, rare multiple.

1877 Telegrphs Colour Trial 3/

1877 Telegraphs Colour Trial 3/- grey-green (PE-SG), very fine mint corner block of 12 with inscription, overprinted SPECIMEN, Type 8, Spec Page 429, Cat £1320 as singles, rare multiple.

Samoa

2009-06-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

1886-1900 Palmtrees

Perf 11 2/6d purple vertical strip of 3 from the base of the sheet

Imperforate Between the First Two Units SG 64ba, part o.g.,

undercatalogued at £450+. Similar strip sold

for £747 at auction in 2003]

SOLOMON ISLANDS

2009-06-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

1907 Large Canoes

½d to 1/- imperforate plate proof blocks of 4 in the issued

colours on ungummed unwatermarked paper, vibrant colours.

[Absent from John Darnell's collection. Colonel Harrie Evans' two sets

of singles sold for $403 & $426 respectively

£ 1000+ Retail Guide Price

MALAYA

2009-06-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

MALAYA - Straits Settlements

1936 Survey Department essays 15c Sailing Vessel on ungummed

unwatermarked paper highly surfaced on both sides comprising singles

with four different KGV portraits (plus one extra) in black, se-tenant

strip of the four designs in carmine & a similar strip in black & dull rose.

Very attractive group. [All have neat pencil notations on the back indicating

they were from Lot 635 in Robson Lowe's auction of November 1950

£ 600+ Retail Guide Price

SOUTH AFRICA

2009-06-07T15:44:00.001-07:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

1863-64 De La Rue Triangles 4d deep blue SG 19 corner

block of 8 (4x4), margins large to enormous, deep rich colour,

large-part o.g., Cat £1440++. A magnificent exhibition item.

Cat Value under priced in my personal opinion .

£ 2000+ Retail Guide Price

Togo

2009-06-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

1914 (Oct) Overprints on German Togo

Narrow Setting (Lines 2mm Apart) & 'Anglo-French' 16mm Long 1mk

red SG H23 (Gibbs #23), well centred, "Harmer Rooke" pencilled on the

reverse, Cat £7000. One of the great rarities of World War I British Occupation Issues.

Gibbs at page 190 states "Approximately 40 were issued. The majority of the recorded examples are used...About 10 unused examples are known, one of which is in the Royal Collection."

£ 7000.00 Retail Guide Price

ZANZIBAR

2009-06-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

ZANZIBAR 1936 New Currency 50/- Dhow

1936 New Currency 50/- Dhow imperforate die proof in dull orange

with margins 3-5mm, affixed to a small piece from the De La Rue day book

which is endorsed "26 Oct 1935" & in pencil "Approved" but also with

"This value was never issued". A beautiful item & a "must" for

the serious KGV collector, Superb very rare item .

£ 4500.00 Retail Guide Price CV much Higher

ZANZIBAR 1908-09 Sultan Ali bin Hamoud Essay

1908-09 Sultan Ali bin Hamoud stamp-size essay for a 2a value

comprising the printed frame in bright blue - highlighted with Chinese

white - superimposed over photographic vignette of the Sultan affixed to thin

card (90x114mm), endorsed "C" & dated "July 18th 97" at upper-right,

further endorsed "approved for the anna stamps down to 3:", initialled &

with date h/s '25JUL197' [sic] at lower-right, some very minor/insignificant soiling

that does not affect the stamp. A stunning essay!

Ex De La Rue Archives and Ian Borrie. De La Rue prepared three essays,

this being the approved version. However, the Zanzibar currency changed from

annas to cents in early-1898, requiring amended designs.

£ 750.00 Retail Guide Price CV much Higher

MAURITIUS

2009-06-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

MASTER DIE PROOF 1900-05

1900-05 New Colours & Values master die proof for the rupee values with

blank value tablet in black on glazed card reduced to stamp-size & affixed to a

small piece from the De La Rue day book (49x54mm) endorsed "Dec 31/60 leads

& six/extra" & in red "Ap 30 97" showing that the die was prepared five years

before the rupee values were issued.

£ 500.00

Australian 1882 Large Chalons & Proofs

2009-06-06T05:24:00.000-07:00

IMPERFORATE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD

10/- blue-green imperforate pair on thick wove paper handstamped 'SPECIMEN.' in rosine across the two units, with a higher faint impression that was probably applied first. [Basset Hull at page 159 refers to a single of the 10/- in blue-green "overprinted [sic] 'SPECIMEN' horizontally in black in large sans-serif capitals, probably extending over three stamps". This may well have been derived from the same sheet as this item & the h/s may be the same, as its length of 27mm is sufficient to appear on 3 units]

AUD$ 1000.00

IMPERFORATE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD

10/- blue-green complete imperforate sheet of 30 (5x6) with 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS &c. LONDON' imprint below units 2-4 on the bottom row, "on yellowish wove paper of medium thickness" (Basset Hull's terminology) & affixed to a piece of thin board. An exceptional exhibition item that fits neatly on a standard page. It appears that the imprints were burnished-off the plates before the main print-runs commenced in Brisbane. Apart from the imperforate proofs, only a few perforated stamps handstamped 'SPECIMEN' are recorded with part-imprint.One of the most outstanding items from the Bradbury Wilkinson Archives and the only such sheet in the sale: sold for £5175 at auction in 2000. The Robson Lowe "Encyclopaedia" states "Plate proof sheets of the 2/- 5/- 10/- & £1 appear also to have been included in the consignment forwarding the steel plates." Clearly, this particular sheet was retained by the printers & may have been the only such sheet kept for their archives. Very few other complete proof sheets have survived: Sir Gawaine Baillie's set of sheets were all defective.

AUD$ 12500.00

2/- die proof in black on thin card

reduced to stamp-size with margins good to large.

[Basset Hull recorded the 10/- only but states

"Similar die proofs may exist for the other values"]

AUD$ 5000.00

DIE PROOFS

Master die proof with blank value tablets below the Queen's portrait

& in the four corners, in black on thin card (55x60mm) recessed behind a

larger piece of grey card (120x114mm) to which is attached a printed
'ENGRAVED BY BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO. LTD.' label, a few insignificant

tonespots on the Queen's neck otherwise very fine.

A dramatic item of the highest level of importance. Ex Bradbury Wilkinson Archives.

[This most beautiful of all Australian Colonial designs was engraved by Herbert Bourne]

Superb Very Rare aprox value AUD$ 15000.00

Australian Essays & Proofs

2009-06-06T05:03:00.001-07:00

APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

6d Die II imperforate marginal block of 6 (2x3) in

bright yellow-green on thin card, margins good to huge.

APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

4d Die II imperforate marginal block of 12 (4x3) from the

lower-right of the sheet in yellow-orange on thin card, margins close to large.

Ex Wm Knight, JH Chapman & Colonel Harrie Evans: sold for $2688.

Multiples of this size - and quality - are rare.

APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

2d Die II imperforate marginal block of 4 from the base of the sheet on crudely gummed watermarked paper, margins close to huge, endorsed "[E]lectrotyp[e]" in red pencil in the margin, minor stain & small scissor-cuts between the units at top & right. Ex Wm Knight, JT Chapman & Colonel Harrie Evans: sold for $784.

APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

2d imperforate pair in bright ultramarine on thick wove paper,

margins good to large. Rare colour.

APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

2d imperforate block of 4 in dull blue on thin card,

good even margins. Ex Slade-Slade.

Australian Essays & Proofs

2009-06-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1880 essay for a ½d+½d reply postal card with two impressions of Bell's ½d essay Type C (with void background and corrected 'Q') both on the face, the divided address panel endorsed 'NAME & ADDRESS OF PERSON TO WHOM SENT' at left & 'NAME & ADDRESS OF SENDER' at right and also 'Before reposting please obliterate this address' at lower-left & "Over" at lower-right, the reverse also divided & headed 'MESSAGE TO BE SENT' at left & 'REPLY' at right and also 'When no reply is required both Spaces may be occupied' at lower-left & 'The Card must not be cut' at lower-right, manuscript "Essay 1880" in the upper margin, a couple of insignificant blemishes on the reverse in no way detract from this extraordinary item. Ex Ron Butler: sold for £3525 at auction in 2005. Almost certainly modeled on a private essay for a British ½d+½d reply postal card on which both stamp impressions were also on the face. Neither of these innovative, but confusing, ideas was adopted.

WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1877 Void Background with Corrected 'Q'

(Type C) ½d imperforate plate proof in carmine-pink

on ungummed watermarked paper, margins close to large,

'SPECIMEN' handstamp diagonally in blue.

[The only colour recorded by Robson Lowe,

who also recorded the h/s in violet only]

WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1877 Void Background/Vertically-Lined Background

both with Reversed 'Q' (Types B/A) ½d imperforate

plate proof se-tenant pair in blue on ungummed watermarked paper,

margins close to large. [This colour unrecorded by Robson Lowe]

WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1877 Void Background/Vertically-Lined Background

both with Reversed 'Q' (Types B/A) ½d imperforate
plate proof se-tenant pair in plum on ungummed watermarked paper,

margins close to large except at upper-right where a little cut-into.

[Such pairs were unrecorded by Robson Lowe,
and he also had not noted the Reversed 'Q' on Types A & B]

WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1880 Vertically-Lined Background

with Reversed 'Q' (Type A) ½d imperforate plate proof

in orange on ungummed watermarked paper

(unusually with the Watermark Upright),

marginal example from the top of the sheet,

margins large to humungous. [Unrecorded by Robson Lowe]

WILLIAM BELL ESSAY

1880 Vertically-Lined Background with

Reversed 'Q' ½d imperforate plate proof in plum

on ungummed watermarked paper,

large even margins.

[Robson Lowe recorded Type A proofs in black & purple only]

WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1880 Vertically-Lined Background with

Reversed 'Q' (Type A) ½d imperforate plate proof in black

on thick wove paper, margins good to large.

WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES

1878 2d plate proofs in pale turquoise

or purple-brown on white wove paper, close even margins,

both affixed to small pieces of thin card.

The first is Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie

WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES

1878 2d plate proofs in black-brown on buff

or in dark blue on blue wove paper, close even margins.

[Coloured papers not recorded by Robson Lowe]

WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES

1878 2d plate proof in black on white wove paper,

Very Unusual proof.

WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES

1878 2d die proof in a delicate shade of grey-purple on thin wove paper (30x32mm). Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie . [This colour is unrecorded by Robson Lowe]

Newfoundland 1865 24c SG no. 30 imperf. plate proof

2009-05-17T03:11:00.000-07:00

Newfoundland 1865 24c SG no. 30 imperf. plate proof

in dark blue on India paper in a bottom-marginal horizontal strip of

three showing the A.B.N. Co, New York imprint below the centre stamp

and mounted on card, with good and well balanced margins on the other

three sides and displaying extremely sharp impression, in absolutely

perfect quality, delightfully fresh and truly beautiful, all in all

an exquisite and rare item,

very seldom seen.

2009-05-17T02:43:00.000-07:00

Monaco 1891-94 second issue imperforated proof without the figure

of value in the value tablet and printed in black on light buff cardboard

of medium thickness and of a rather silky texture, of obviously very high

quality for that period, ungummed and with good and equal margins all

around, creating a wonderful aspect which is enhanced by the outstanding

quality as well, without any faults or defects whatsoever and truly pristine

in all respects, the sharpness of the impression is absolutely remarkable,

much better than that of the issued stamps and of impressive finesse, from

the aesthetic perspective, this proof is a true work of art in itself, and from

the philatelic point of view it is indeed a very rare item which very rarely

surfaces the market, a great item destined for a knowledgeable philatelist

with an eye for wise investments.
Monegasque philately, although fascinating valuable and most decorative,

is a very straightforward one, with a very limited number of spectacular

varieties or variations from the basic, issued stamps, even during its classic

period. Hence, the undenominated proofs for the second and first issues of

Monaco are most probably amongst the most interesting

(if not “the” most interesting) Monegasque items available, and the vast

majority of the already extremely few existing proofs for the second issue

are printed on normal paper. Those on cardboard, like this one is, are virtually

non-existent and constitute the supreme refinement as far as distinguished

classics of Monaco are cconcerned, and also such proofs are missing from

most collections.
Another such proof for the second issue of Monaco is being currently offered

by the French auctioneers Behr (http://www.behr.fr) in their Net Price Sales

no. 87 for €800 (~ $ 1,040) – lot no. 3075 –

but that is inferior as it is on normal paper.

Monaco 1885 first issue imperforated proof without figures of value in the

value tablets, printed in black on buff cardboard of medium thickness

ungummed and displaying large and well balanced margins all around, the

quality and sharpness of the impression are absolutely outstanding and

to describe this wonderful and immensely rare proof as “perfect” would

probably be an under-statement, not only it has no defects whatsoever

displays vibrant colour and superb freshness as well, a fantastic item,

Monegasque philately, although fascinating valuable and most

decorative, is a very straightforward one, with a very limited number

of spectacular varieties or variations from the basic, issued stamps,

even during its classic period. Hence, the undenominated proofs for

the first and second issues of Monaco are most probably amongst the

most interesting (if not “the” most interesting) Monegasque items

available, and the vast majority of the already extremely few existing

proofs for the first issue are printed on normal paper. Those on cardboard,

like this one is, are virtually non-existent and constitute the supreme

refinement as far as distinguished classics of Monaco are cconcerned, and also

such proofs are missing from most collections.

As reference, the French auctioneers Behr (http://www.behr.fr) are offering

a similar yet inferior proof (as it is on normal paper) in their current Net Price Sale

no. 87 for €4,000 (~ $ 5,200) – lot no. 3047.

Monaco 1885 first issue 1c block of twelve (4 x 3) with complete

gutter margin attached at right and with eight stamps

MNH rarely offered in general and almost never

available this fine, no. 1 in any catalogue, Yvert cat. value as

two blocks of four and four singles,

all hinged, is already €440 (~ $ 575), but this mostly unmounted

block must certainly deserve a huge premium over that value.

GOLD COAST 1904-6 2/6 OPT.

SPECIMEN MINT, SG 57s.

India 25 Rupee Victorian Telegraph Stamp

QV 1879 Perkins Bacon Essay

Ridgway designed 'Perkins, bacon & Co' essay. Imperforate example,

in grey-brown with gum. The 'W' check letter is the initial of the

designer W. Ridgway. Eventual contract was

awarded to de-La-Rue. Scarce item.

India Proofs

2009-05-16T03:39:00.000-07:00

HYDERABAD STATE INDIA 1908 PROOFS

Plate Proofs Unwatermarked on wove paper

scarse item

King Geaorge V Imperfs

2009-05-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

SG 441var 1934 rare Photo 1½d

Colour Trial in Bright Magenta marginal imperf example

on unwatermarked paper

SG 429 1/- bistre-brown

overprinted SPECIMEN, Type 23,

imperf, Spec N45t, Cat £110

SG 428 SPEC N44t 10d TURQUOISE

IMPERF OVPT SPECIMEN TYPE 2

IMPERF TRIAL WITH APPROVED HEAD

1d IN ROYAL-BLUE top marginal

(On ungummed paper)

Very Scarce

1934-36 King George V, Photogravure,

1 1/2d grey-green. imperforate

colour trial on watermarked paper

1d SG 357 IMPERF OVPT CANCELLED TYPE 24

BLOCK OF FOUR bottom gutter marginal

with pillar bars

5/-. SG 401

IMPERF PLATE PROOF IN ISSUED COLOUR

(dramatically underinked),

Very Unusual

SG 357 1d scarlet, imperf block of 4

overprinted SPECIMEN,

Type 26, Spec N16u, Cat £280+, scarce multiple.

KGV Royal Cypher 1/2d green

Specimen

KGV Royal Cypher 1d scarlet

Specimen overprint

SG 372 2½d blue

imperf "CANCELLED" example Spec N21v

Cv £160.00

1912 King George V, Downey head 1d carmine die 2 paper trial.

Imperf copy on John Dickinson

very white paper. S.G. Trial

GB KG5 1934 PHOTOGRAVURE 1½d IMPERF COLOUR TRIAL BLUE
1½d photogravure colour trial in ultramarine
imperforate on watermarked paper .

Focus On Stamp Collecting Software

2009-05-14T03:43:00.000-07:00

Download your free 30 day trial - HERE Full working trial

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Countries: USA, Canada & Provinces, Australia, Germany, GDR, German States,

Great Britain (SCOTT#1-1000)Aden, Australian States (Victoria, New South Wales,

Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia), Cuba (1855-1958),

Confederate States and the U.S Possessions: Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines,

Canal Zone, Hawaii, Ryukyu Islands, Danish West Indies, United Nations.

You can use our Postage Stamp Identifier to find the catalog number, issue date and

other info related to the stamps you own.

Simply type in the stamp subject, denomination or other identifying text found on

the stamp. StampManage will return all the relevant stamps.

You can then pick the varieties you own and use the Quick Add button to add them

to your collection database.

You will be able to inventory hundreds, even thousands of your stamps in a fraction of the

time that would be needed if you had to look up each stamp in a stamp catalog.

Do you Want to Know how much your Stamp Collection is Worth?

StampManage contains the latest Market Values in several different grades,

including Mint Sheets & Plate Blocks where applicable.
Many of the more valuable stamps have a NH (Never Hinged) percent which

will calculated and automatically added to the base value of mint stamps.
You can browse the values database and StampManage will even show how

many of each stamp you own!

Create Stamp Album Pages

StampManage includes reports that let you create your own professional looking album pages directly from StampManage. The screenshot below shows U.S. Air Mail stamp album pages that were automatically generated in seconds from the StampManage database & image repository.
You can easily change the layout using our integrated Report Designer.

Create and store as many different Album Page layouts as you wish.
Easily print the pages on your printer. You may want to use the high-quality

Archival Printer Paper available directly from SCOTT.

Create your own reports

Use our new, integrated report designer to create and edit your own reports.
Easily create reports with graphs, stamp images, totals and more.
Save and print the report, or export to one of many different formats,

including PDF, HTML, Excel, RTF, XML, text and many more.

View your stamp collection in many different ways

Our Stamp Collecting software makes it easy to view and

analyze your collection in many different ways.
The screen shot to the left shows how the Year of Issue is displayed for

all the stamps currently in a user's collections. The user has chosen to

view all the stamps owned from the year 1863.
View all stamps purchased from a particular dealer
Execute queries you have created
View stamps by month/year of purchase or sale.
View all the stamps on your Sell list.
View all of your stamps grouped by Year of Issue, color, grade and more.
Use the Output Report Using feature to create reports with only the stamps

currently displayed as input to the selected report.

Use the Stamp Data Manager to add new stamps to the program database.

Add data & images for new countries
Edit existing stamp variety data.
Delete data from countries or categories you don't collect.
We use it when making additions to the StampManage datab

What a great product! I've been looking for a while. The demo software convinced me. I love the ease of use. MS Access & Windows aspects. Ability to create my own collection... The annual updates. I'm excited to get started entering my collection - John M. B. from Moraga, California

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History Of Stamp Collecting

2009-05-14T03:19:00.000-07:00

Great Britain issued the first adhesive
postage stamp to prepay for the delivery of mail on May 6, 1840. Postage stamps were the idea of Sir Rowland Hill, as part of Great Britain's introduction of standardized postal rates. The first postage stamp, commonly referred to as the "Penny Black", helped eliminate a number of problems that the British Post Office had experienced up to that date. The idea of prepaying for delivery of mail was so successful that by 1860 more than 70 countries were using postage stamps.

Stamp collecting began at the same time that stamps were first issued, and by 1860 included thousands of collectors and a number of local merchants catering to their desires. Originally referred to as "timbromania" ("stamp madness"), it swept through Europe and quickly spread to the European colonies worldwide. How stamps were collected was as varied as the people that collected them. One Parisienne was supposed to have wallpapered her bedroom with sheets of an early issue from France - a stamp issued in sheets of 100, and that now sells for up to several hundred dollars each!

As more and more people began collecting stamps, businesses specializing in selling just stamps began to appear. By 1880, there were dozens in every major country. Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., founded in 1856 and now located in London, England, is the oldest continuously operated business to specialize in selling postage stamps and supplies. The first stamp albums were printed and sold in the early 1880's. Copies of these albums can still be found from time to time.
Stamp collecting is less popular a hobby today than it was in the past, but an estimated 25 million people collect stamps in the United States alone. Worldwide, there are more than 200 million collectors. They are supported by more than 125,000 dealers, supply manufacturers, catalogue and other print media publishers, and thousands of clubs and associations. Stamp dealers sell millions of dollars' worth of stamps and supplies annually. There are more than 4000 stamp shows and exhibitions in the United States each year, and large international exhibits can attract more than 100,000 visitors a day.

The grandson of Queen Victoria began collecting stamps with the help of servants who handled the mail at Buckingham Palace, and it quickly became his passion in life. When he became an adult he was one of leading philatelists in world and also known as King George V, who was asked to become a member of the Philatelic Society in London. He soon became a very a very active member and was later elected as the president of the Society, but later when he became the King of England he gave the club a new name, which was the Royal Philatelic Society of London. As King, he assembled what would turn out to be the greatest stamp collection
in the world. He would present parts of his collection to the club as their annual program and this tradition still continues today for members to view his massive collection.With the introduction of commemorative stamps came an increasing popularity in the hobby. The very first United State stamps that were issued for commemorative stamps, which were designed to remember and honor the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus was during 1893, while a few of those stamps are extremely valuable today.There have been many changes in stamps since their first introduction in 1840, which includes that they have been perforated, coiled, and are now being printed in a variety of colors, types, formats, and designs. During the years that lead up to the horrible Great Depression collecting stamps had become one of the most popular hobbies in the world, which is continuing to be popular among children and adults. Stamp collecting is accessible for just about anyone without them having to spend major amounts of money because there are few stamps that are exceptionally valuable.With the increase of postage stamp values came a large increase of the number of stamp collectors, which was the result of older stamps being saved in such good condition. During the 1930s, many American collectors stockpiled stamps that were issued in the 1920s, which quickly rose in value, with hopes of eventually selling them for a sizeable profit later on. However, this never occurred. More than sixty years later, these stamps can still be found in mint condition. Souvenir sheet from various countries are extremely popular with collectors and any hard to find plate number coils, plus any stamps with errors are always going to be popular. So when you begin your own collection determine exactly what type or theme you desire and start collecting.

Many stamp collectors arrange their collections according to the type of storage they use for those collections. Most collections are housed in commercially-manufactured albums, and the collectors arrange their collection - in fact, frequently limit their collections - according to the arrangement of the particular stamp album they use. Others make their own album pages, and arrange their stamps in a way that pleases them. This type of collecting is becoming extremely popular with the advent of modern personal computers, which allow greater flexibility in page layout and design! All of these collections have a few things in common: someone took a great deal of time and trouble to find out what material was available, and determined how to organize that material in a way to express a central theme.

For most worldwide stamp albums, stamps are arranged according to the issuing country, and then usually chronologically, for either all of the stamps issued, or for each group by type, within each country. People who collect stamps representing a single theme or function are called "topical collectors", and their theme is referred to as a "topic". Such people may arrange the individual stamps within a topic by sub-topics. For instance, a collector of birds on stamps may break down their collection by species, or group them by the type of habitat they live in, the area they're natural to, or divide them by some other grouping. Such a display is much more interesting and informative than one that has the stamps arranged haphazardly, with no identifiable characteristics.

Many collectors today collect the stamps of a particular country or group of countries, and arrange their collections according to the albums they use. Others collect stamps that reflect a single topic or group of topics, and either arrange the stamps according to the album they own, or they create their own album pages and arrange the stamps on them to please themselves. It doesn't matter what an individual collects, or how they arrange their collection - a collection, after all, is created to satisfy the individual, not some arbitrary rules or standards. The concepts expressed in the example above aren't "carved in stone", but they do provide some very good guidelines on how to change an ordinary accumulation of similar items into a unique expression of the individual and their time.

Here's a good link to purchase a wide range of world stamps .

Matrimonial Cause Fee Stamps

2009-05-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

Matrimonial Cause Fee Stamps 1866
Overprinted Specimen

In 1858 the court of divorce and matrimonial cause was set up, taking over duties of the former ecclesiastical courts and for the first time in England & Wales divorce could be obtained through the courts. In the 1800's divorce was hardly fashionable and frowned upon and as a result used stamps of this type are rare.

Available to collect

1858 Embossed revenues of 1855 on blued paper
Overprinted MATRIMONIAL CAUSE FEE.
Watermark VR, Imperforated, Very rare.

1858 Watermark PM, perforated,
as the blue stamps below but lilac in colour, rare.

1866 Watermark PM, perforated.
As below , rare.

1881 Matrimonial Cause Die Proof 10/

Collecting Accessories

2009-05-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

MATRIMONIAL CAUSE

2009-05-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

1861 MATRIMONIAL CAUSE COURT DIE PROOF

OF £1 IN MAUVE ON GLAZED CARD

(these were done for the 1867 Paris Exhibition)

Super Rare Item

Great Britain College Stamps

2009-05-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

GB 1879 Hertford College Oxford, imperf sheet of 35

The first Oxford college to issue stamps was the newly founded Keble in 1871. Other Oxford colleges then followed suit: Hertford (1875), Merton (1876), Lincoln (1877), Exeter (1882), St John's (1884) and All Souls (1884). Due to the suppression of the issues by the Post Office, stamps prepared for Balliol in 1885 were never issued and Corpus Christi got no further than the design stage. Keble, Hertford, Merton and Exeter also issued prepaid envelopes or postcards (Keble continuing till the 1890s). The suppliers were mainly local stationers, Emberlin and Son and Spiers and Son. Early Keble and Merton stamps and all postal stationery were embossed; all the remaining stamps were lithographed, except the Lincoln issue (designed by Allan Wyon) which was recess-printed.The first Cambridge college to issue stamps was Selwyn in 1882, which were supplied individually separated. Only two other colleges issued stamps: Queens' (1883) and St John's (1884). All the stamps were lithographed. They were supplied by a local stationer W P Spalding. It has recently been discovered that prepaid envelopes were issued by Jesus (1871) and proposed by Clare (1879).The designs are typically based on the college arms. Only the Lincoln stamp bears a value (one penny); other stamps and stationery were charged from ½d to 1¼d. Some original designs, dies and plates exist. Die proofs survive for most issues, though many are reprints produced in the 1890s. Many of the lithographed issues and the recess-printed stamps of Lincoln have been plated.Though stamps were often cancelled by a pen mark or left uncancelled, Keble initially used a five dots obliteration and Hertford a cross. Oxford covers are scarce and Cambridge rare. Used postal stationery is also rare.The best book on the subject is Lister's "College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge" 1966, reprinted 1974. The stamps only are listed in Gibbons specialised catalogue.Another Oxford issue of this period are the penny stamps overprinted or underprinted O.U.S. (vertically between wavy lines) for the Oxford Union Society from 1858 to 1882. These stamps are also listed in Gibbons specialised catalogue.Keble issued a stamp for its centenary in 1970. Labels with college stamp designs were produced for Philatelic Congresses at Cambridge in 1938, 1967 and 1990.

Focus on Delcampe

2009-05-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

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GB MATCH TAX PROOF REVENUE

2009-05-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

QV 1871 IMPERF MATCH TAX PROOF PAIR REVENUE TAX FISCAL

THESE STAMPS WERE PREPARED FOLLOWING AN 1871 PARLIAMENTARY BILL THAT PROPOSED TO TAX MATCHES AT 1/2d PER BOX OF 100 MATCHES. SELLING MATCHES WAS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE MANY POOR OF THE COUNTRY AND THIS PROPOSAL RAISED SUCH A LARGE POPULAR OUTCRY THAT IT WAS ABANDONED. HOWEVER BY THIS TIME THESE PROOFS OF THE STAMPS HAD ALREADY BEEN PREPARED.
MATCH TAX HALFPENNY BLUE 1871 REVENUE STAMP PAIR IMPERF1871 MATCH TAX HALFPENNY BLUE IMPERF PAIR: Trials for the match tax proposed by Sir Robert Lowe but not actually issued. Printed in sheets of 240 with ten panes. Mint pair.

Superb scarce item available at http://worldclassstamps.co.uk/