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

LAST CHANCE! FIVE ISSUES FOR £5!

STAMP UPDATE

EUROPA THEME CHANGED TO PROMOTE PEACE

IN BRIEF

IN BRIEF

Paying tribute to the unsung heroes • Ten new stamps and a miniature sheet from Royal Mail illustrate the huge range of work women undertook during the Second World War, from code-breaking to farming, as our stamp review reveals

STAMP DETAILS

Machins need not be too daunting • In the last issue RichardWest looked at the new definitives with ‘barcodes’, the latest addition to the long long list of Machin stamps issued since 1967. As he explains in this month’s column, a collection of Machins can be as extensive and challenging as you wish

MARKET INSIGHT

Stamps and covers from Grenada’s Classics era • In his regular price guide, Ed Fletcher looks at the early history of Grenada, and examines some of its stamps and covers dating from the colonial years during the reigns of Victoria, Edward VII, George V and George VI

Marine Life in the South Atlantic • In the first of a new series, Richard Scott Morel FRPSL, Curator, the British Library Philatelic Collections, examines the design and production process behind Tristan da Cunha’s 1960-1961 ‘Marine Life’ definitive stamp issue

Letter from Andropov • This stamp was issued by the Soviet Union in 1985, writes Chris West. The story behind it takes us back to the Cold War, and has both a positive edge and overtones of sadness

Aspects of Monaco • Monaco is a tiny state with a population of just over 38,000, yet has issued over 3,500 stamps. That has sometimes led to criticism that it has little that is unique to the country that can be displayed on their stamps. The counter argument is the fact that Monaco produces stamps of the highest quality and with international interest. Richard Tarrant explains how an ‘Aspects of…’ approach can highlight the best of Monégasque stamps

COLLECTORS’ CORNER

IOM, the structure behind the stamps • Last month we looked at the stamps issued by the Isle of Man, writes Stuart Leigh, this time we’ll explore how these stamps are produced and numbered

Collecting France’s Empire • In the first of a two-part guide, Ed Fletcher describes how France acquired enough overseas possessions to match Great Britain as an empire builder, created an impressive postal communications network, and bequeathed to us numerous stamps from her round-the-world territories, protectorates, overseas post offices and colonies. You can still obtain many of them at surprisingly tempting prices

Your expert guide to the world of philately

EXHIBITION NEWS

Portugal 1898 Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the route to India • Portugal’s maritime history has been celebrated on a range of stamps, but there are few that recall such a significant moment in both the evolution of the country and the wider world as this set, as David Bailey explains

An odds-on favourite • According to surveys, around 33% of the population regularly gamble. That rises to 70% when it comes to big-prize events like the National Lottery. So, when it comes to thematics, gambling is a sure-fire winner.

Elections and the Post in the Great Reform Act Era • The ‘Great...