Stamp Collector

Stamp Collector gives you all the information, news, expert advice, market insight and inspiration you need to build your stamp collection and get the most from your hobby. Every issue features the latest prices, expert collecting advice, in-depth guides giving you the lowdown on classic stamp sets, new stamps, postal history, first-day covers and much more. Our stamp stories shed light on intriguing stamps and why they were produced, and our stamp sidelines pages provide an insight into postmarks, first-day covers, Cinderellas, Post & Go and Europa stamps.

Stamp Collector

WELCOME TO STAMP COLLECTOR

WRITING IN THIS ISSUE

STAMP UPDATE

IN BRIEF

Simon Carson • The Chairman of The Philatelic Traders’ Society talks to Stamp Collector about collecting, trading, the UK’s most prestigious stamp show and the joys of a lifetime spent in philately

NEW STAMPS

IN BRIEF

PRO JUVENTU TE…for the youth • In December 1913, the official ‘Pro Juventute’ series of Swiss stamps began. Over the decades it has developed into an attractive and popular collecting field in its own right, as Michael burzan explains

Stamps for Shirley • Nobody does it like Dame Shirley Bassey, writes Tina Jackson, as the glittering new set of Royal Mail special stamps displays

The final conflict • The Royal Mail’s latest Harry Potter Special Stamps showcase the book and film series’ epic final battle between good and evil

Post & Go, gone • RichardWest isn’t surprised the stamps seem not to face a future, but he’s still sorry to say a quiet farewell

MARKET INSIGHT

A key Red Cross stamp • Our philatelic private eye spies another stamp set that’s likely to go up in value

DIARY DATES

INVERTED JENNY SET TO FETCH $2M

5 ISSUES FOR £5!

LATEST INTERNET SALES • Your quick reference guide to recent online sales, in association with delcampe.net

PHILATELIC UPDATES DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX • The regular All About Stamps emails are packed with stamp collecting news, advice, price updates and offers… all the info you need to improve your knowledge and your collection. And they’re completely free.

First Christmas issue • In his latest market update from Europe, Michael Burzan gets ready for the festive season and examines the prices a rare trio of Swiss precursors, often considered Christmas stamps

North Borneo’s 1902 pictorials • In his latest price guide, Christer Brunström evaluates a pictoral set in use from 1909 to 1923 that was most likely aimed at collectors right from the start

COLLECTORS’ CORNER

Travels in Denmark • If you’re passionate about railways as well as stamps, railway parcel stamps will hold a particular fascination. Denmark offers rich pickings for collectors in this field, as Christer Brunström details

The stamps of Germania • Germany’s longest-running definitive set was used by both an Empire and a Republic. David Bailey offers a collector’s guide to the stamps and what to look out for.

Lifesavers and murderers • Chris West looks at the history behind a stamp showing a medical pioneer whose lifesaving work was used as a ideological metaphor by an evil regime

Context philately: an introduction • Keeping up with the most recent trend in our hobby adds to its fascination, says David R Beech MBE FRPSL as he outlines how concept philately can offer new stories and insights into the background of what we assemble in our stamp collections

Select bibliography of the five examples

Harrison & Sons • David Bailey continues his behind-the-scenes look at the companies that printed British stamps from 1840 onwards, this time focusing on Harrison & Sons

Collect smarter with Stamp Collector

Nelson Mandela on stamps...