Stamp Collector

4 SEPTEMBER 2019 At times like these, discussing our hobbies may seem trivial or inappropriate – obviously our health and safety takes priority over everything. But whilst we’re stuck indoors, spending time on our hobby could well be a welcome distraction and, as I write, there are still many ways you can buy and sell your stamps. It could be a good time to start on those albums you’ve always wanted to write up, work through your check-lists, and get your collecting organised like never before. As I sit in my make-shift home office, we’re about to launch a new weekly email, a podcast, and we’re adding a host of new content to our website (allaboutstamps.co.uk ) all to help you keep collecting during this really tough time. Be sure to visit the website and sign up to our email newsletter to keep updated; most importantly of all stay safe and, if you can, reach out to those of us who will appreciate help or company (even if it’s a phone call). Of course, regular readers will know that this issue was intended to be our London 2020 special, with the official show catalogue included. Obviously the plans for the international exhibition have changed (find out more on the website) and the catalogue has been put on hold. We’re so sorry we couldn’t bring you this publication, we were really enjoying working on it with the organisers, and I hope we’ll be able to return to the project in 2022. Thank you to everyone involved, including the many traders and auction houses who supported the catalogue, and to Frank Walton, the Chairman of London 2020 who has handled a very very difficult situation very very well. We’ll get through this together and what a fantastic celebration the eventual London show will be. Until then, enjoy the magazine, be sure to visit the website and sign up for the newsletter, keep calm and (if it’s safe to do so) carry on collecting. Matt Hill, Editor matthewh@warnersgroup.co.uk MAY 2020 WELCOME 8 STAMP UPDATE London 2020 postponed. Websites to keep you collecting from home. Roll of Distinguished Philatelists signatories announced. Plus, new stamps update 20 GB STAMPS We preview the new Romantic poets set. Plus, WIN the stamps! 22 MARKET INSIGHT Your guide to the stamp market, the latest auctions, internet sales and more. 30 SOCIETY NEWS The latest from philatelic societies 31 STAMP STORIES Who was Bernado O’Higgins and why did he appear on stamps? 64 GB ABNORMALS Your guide to the intriguing Queen Victoria ‘Abnormals’, a range that includes Britain’s rarest stamps 68 CLASSIC ALBUMS Junior stamp albums from the 1930s to 1960s give us a welcome glimpse back to the heyday of collecting and a dose of nostalgia as Ed Fletcher explains 73 NEW! PHILATELIC FOCUS Your expert guide to the world of philately, including insights and profiles of renowned collections 80 COLLECTING FRANCE Starting a collection of French stamps is a daunting prospect, but Richard Tarrant suggests a novel approach 83 JOIN STAMP COLLECTOR With the shops currently shut, this is a great way to keep reading! 84 POSTAL HISTORY We explain the journey of an intriguing postcard sent in 1903, and examine Lancashire postal history 90 THEMATICS A TO Z This month’s thematics guide takes a very welcome look at stamps with a ‘happy theme! 92 STAMP MISCELLANY Christer Brunström details four unusual Peruvian Olympics stamps 95 CLASSIFIED ADS Buy, sell and swap your stamps! 98 ADVERTISER INDEX Your A to Z guide to advertisers featured in this issue. Be sure to mention Stamp Collector ! CONTENTS LOCAL NEWSAGENT JUST SHUT UP SHOP? Switch to a subscription or a digital edition of Stamp Collector today! We’ve introduced some special deals to keep you reading and keep you collecting. See page 83 for more details or visit www.allaboutstamps.co.uk