New Lighthouse Gold-Plated, Pointed, Stamp Tongs / Tweezers

These real gold-plated stamp tongs will make a great gift for the stamp collector in your life! They are standard shape stamp tongs, straight / narrow and pointed. They are a standard length of 12 cm (4 3/4"), and are quality gold-plated and designed to last a long time.

 
They're very elegant, hypoallergenic and suitable for most individuals with nickel allergies.
 
Click here to purchase gold-plated stamp tongs from www.boscastlesupplies.com

If you need to find out more about stamp tongs in general, such as "Which Stamp Collecting Tongs Are Best For You" - check out this article by Boscastle Supplies.

Stamp auction is expected to set new world record in Hong Kong and China Stamps

Hong Kong will hold its largest stamp auction at the Park Lane Hotel from Saturday to Monday, with 3,000 lots and a presale estimate of over $6.45 million, according to the organizer.

The auction will include both rare Classic China stamps from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and 600 lots issued at the beginning of the People's Republic of China.

A three-strip of the $5 inverted surcharge from the 1897 Red Revenue series, which is valued at $619,000-710,000, is expected to set a world record to become the most expensive Classic Chinese stamp multiple ever sold at auction.

Another highlight is the unique four-block 1968 "Chairman Mao's Inscription to Japanese Worker Friends," with presale figures estimating it at up to $1,032,000. The issuance of the stamp was cancelled later but a few had been released from a post office in Hebei, according to the organizer. The owner of this stamp, Ng Siong Tee of Singapore once won a Gold Medal at the International Stamp Exhibition in Beijing in 1999, with his own collection of Cultural Revolution (1966-76) issues.

"As a philatelist, we are seeing in the People's Republic stamps a level of interest and excitement that is absolutely breathtaking, with many increasing 200 percent or more in value in the past two or three years in this white-hot market," said Jeffrey Schneider, the founder of Interasia in Hong Kong, the organizer of this auction.

Last year, the two-day auction realized $7.35 million with 1,940 lots for auction.

Source: http://life.globaltimes.cn/art/2011-02/626561.html

Lindner and Lighthouse Stamp Collecting Supplies On Sale

Need to top up your stamp collecting supplies?  Maybe you're looking for new tongs, a watermark detector, perforation gauge or a new stamp album or stamp album pages, or a large stockbook?  Boscastle Supplies has a sale on all Lighthouse and Lindner stamp supplies check out www.boscastlesupplies.com - this offer is valid until February 28th, 2011.

This $400,000 stamp cover from Mauritius could be David Feldman's latest triumph

David Feldman has one of the strongest reputations for rare stamp auctions in the world, with a variety of records held including that for the overall highest price for a stamp (the Treskilling Yellow).

One area it has certainly made its mark in is the field of early Mauritian stamps, selling the world-famous collection of Hiroyuki Kanai and providing Vikram Chand with the centrepiece in his collection.

Mauritius was the first country in the British Commonwealth other than Britain itself to begin issuing stamps, initially in quite small numbers.
 
In David Feldman USA's latest auction, there is a classic on offer. It isn't one of the very earliest ('Post Office') varieties, but it is a fantastic piece just the same: a Superb "Post Paid" Set on Cover.

Mauritius Post Paid stamp pair on cover

The early Intermediate Impression 1d Dull Vermilion (Position 9) & 2d Deep Dull Blue (Position 6), both with good to large even margins all round, rich deep colour and clear sharp impressions, neatly tied by "3" in circles with octagonal boxed "Souillac DE 18 1851" & "MAURITIUS / DE 19 1855" crowned circular date stamp below, appear on a folded inland cover to Port Louis.

This is a magnificent item for any collector of superb world rarities; most certainly it is one of the most beautiful & important items of classic Mauritius. Described by the auctioneer as a 'Crown Jewel' of Philately it should make an excellent investment.

The Holcombe certificate states, "The 3d. rate was a charge for a letter between branch offices (2d.) but if the letter was to Port Louis and had to be delivered a further charge of 1d. was made. Such letters are extremely rare, especially so bearing the two different values."

It is listed at $300,000-400,000. David Feldman's auction takes place in New York on March 4.

Source: http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/section.asp?docid=5906&n=160211

SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE WORLD PHILATELIC EXHIBITION, INDIPEX 2011 BEING ORGANIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

Lovely Speech to open Indipex 2011 -

I am happy to inaugurate the World Philatelic Exhibition - INDIPEX 2011. This is the sixth time that India is the venue for such an international exhibition. I congratulate the Department of Posts, the Philatelic Congress of India, as well as the Federation International Philatelic and the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately for organizing this exhibition, in which rare and precious stamp collections are being displayed.

I am glad to know that there are participants from many countries and I welcome them. I understand that as many as 70 countries are participating in the exhibition. I am sure all stakeholders - collectors and dealers, writers and publishers of philatelic literature, stamp designers and printers, and postal administrations, will make use of this platform for exchange of ideas on various aspects of philately.

The Exhibition will also be an opportunity for visitors to connect with the world of stamps, and I am confident that it will generate interest across all age groups.

Philately - the collection and study of stamps, began almost at the same time, as when stamps were first issued in the 19th Century. Stamps have been released on a range and variety of subjects by countries, in various sizes and shapes, and have evoked interest on account of their attractive designs, as well as historical value.
Stamps tell the story of their own evolution, as well as of important occurrences and personalities in the lives of nations, since they are a significant mode of commemorating, celebrating and promoting national heritage and events. W.B. Yeats, the famous poet, described the designs of postage stamps "as silent ambassadors of national taste". Stamp making is a comprehensive exercise involving the administrator, stamp designers and printers. It requires many aesthetic and technical inputs ranging from design concepts, selection of paper and printing processes to be used. All this makes each stamp unique in itself, an item to be cherished. Indeed, stamp collecting is both educative and informative, with many numerous thematic options and choices. People can have collections of a certain period or a specific country, or of subjects like art and architecture, traditions and crafts, rail and maritime heritage, science and technology and flora and fauna among others. Philatelic bureaus and organizations can encourage, as well as guide people about how to start and sustain collections. In India, the National Philatelic Museum established in 1968, after completion of ongoing renovation, should be even more useful in connecting people with the amazing range and beauty of stamps.

Stamps are usually printed on paper. For the first time in history, a special Khadi Stamp is being issued which is on Mahatma Gandhi, the Apostle of non-Violence, and I had the great honour of releasing it today. Khadi, a hand woven material, is connected with our sentiments and it occupies a very special place in our country, as it is linked with our freedom movement, which under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, was based on the principles of truth and non-violence. He chose Khadi as a symbol of the unity of India against the colonial power, and its use portrayed the self-reliance and dignity of the people of India.

The fabric still remains a tool of economic freedom and a means of livelihood with dignity for many, particularly in our rural areas. I am informed that over a hundred countries have issued stamps on Gandhiji, making him one of the most visible faces in the Philatelic world. This I believe is an acknowledgement of the universality and relevance of his message of peace and non-violence. With rising levels of strife and intolerance in the world, all endeavours should be made to spread his message far and wide, among as many people as is possible.

The Exhibition will also mark the centenary of the first official Airmail flight in the world, which took place in India between Allahabad and Naini on 18th February 1911. I am told that the Indian Air Force will re-enact this flight. The special set of stamps being released to commemorate this event, will add to the understanding about the development of postal history, so intimately connected with the usage of stamps.

Stamps, besides being of historical, aesthetic and cultural value, have since the very beginning had a utilitarian purpose, that is, for use as a token of payment of postage on mail articles. Advances in technology have resulted in people communicating with each other in diverse ways, whether it is fax or the internet or the mobile phone. Letters by post have seen a decline.

We should not lose the art of letter writing. While technological advancements may have provided many faster modes of communication, the intimacy of the letter and the legend of the stamp cannot be matched. I was, therefore, happy that letter writing competitions were organized by the Department of Posts all over the country to encourage children in letter writing. A postman is a popular figure in our country. I take this opportunity to recognize the work of India Post in rendering daily delivery service, across the length and breadth of our country, including in the remotest outposts over difficult terrain. Yet, it must continuously look at using technology for better public service delivery. I wish them good luck in this.

In conclusion, I convey my good wishes to the World Philatelic Exhibition for meeting its objective of celebrating philately and of attracting many visitors.

I myself am looking forward to viewing the exhibition.

Thank You.

Jai Hind!

Source: http://www.indiablooms.com/NewsDetailsPage/newsDetails120211d.php

Smithsonian's National Postal Museum Receives Donation for the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery

WASHINGTON, DC.- Alan and Sandy Whitman have donated $100,000 to support the National Postal Museum’s expansion to create the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery. Alan is a managing director at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and an active member of the museum’s Council of Philatelists.

The Smithsonian and the U.S. Postal Service recently signed a lease agreement for the additional space to build the gallery. This new space will be added to the museum’s existing 65,000 square feet and is scheduled to open in the next couple of years.

“Alan and Sandy’s donation reflects true passion for the hobby of stamp collecting,” said Allen Kane, director of the museum. “As a leading collector of Classic U.S. stamps, Alan understands what this new gallery will do to promote philately in an impressive and unprecedented way.”

“My wife and I have always felt compelled to give back, and helping the National Postal Museum encourage the stamp collecting hobby to a broad range of visitors is a wonderful way for us to do so,” said Whitman. “Stamp collecting has provided me tremendous enjoyment and seeing the museum create that same excitement for visitors around the world is truly inspiring.”

Maltapost evolving to serve growth in customers’ online shopping

Maltapost plc is in the throes of an evolution that will see its product offering and service delivery upgraded to meet the changing demands of customers increasingly turning to e-commerce and online shopping, chief executive officer Joseph Gafà told The Sunday Times.


In its performance review for the year ended September 30, 2010, Maltapost said it would continue to streamline and update its strategy to ensure it remained innovative, efficient and competitive.

Mr Gafà explained that the company aimed to foster innovation in its processes and services, while seeking to leverage potential efficiency savings to improve competitiveness and profitable growth.

The chief executive said Maltapost saw considerable growth potential for developing innovative ways to improve the standard and variety of services that meet customers’ constantly evolving requirements.

Innovation could include the development of strategic alliances with other postal administrations to create faster, more reliable and efficient solutions for online trading and shopping.

“It is vital that our commercial strategy and investment plans embrace the need to develop our staff,” he added. “Roles at Maltapost are constantly evolving: partly due to the need to compete, the increase in the use of new technology, and partly as we learn from our new partners and customers.

“We are also undertaking significant investments to ensure a robust ICT infrastructure to continue supporting and improving our service levels, facilitate work processes and add value.

“This should ensure that a highly responsive service is offered to customers through our branch network, which itself continues to be improved through a comprehensive refurbishment programme.”

The postal company’s stock was the best performer on the official list of the Malta Stock Exchange last year, reaching the €1 mark towards the year’s end, a 42.9 per cent gain. At €3.2 million, pre-tax profit for 2010 maintained 2009’s record levels, resulting in earnings per share of €0.07.

Mr Gafà said the company’s board, management and staff were committed to increasing shareholder returns sustainably in the medium to long term. This aim should be achieved while the company’s operations were compatible with the “specific and unique” role Maltapost had in the community.

He said Maltapost hoped its share price reflected its achievements, its future potential, and the continued support of its 2,300-odd shareholders.

Maltapost’s year-end results were particularly attributed to increased cross-border mail and higher philatelic sales, which together compensated for lower volumes in traditional mail. Mr Gafà added revenue increases were principally due to continued growth in priority and registered international letter packets and parcels, mainly associated with e-commerce.

“Enhanced” philately offerings and products created by Maltapost to satisfy local and international collectors’ demands led to higher sales.

The real impact of Maltese consumers’ increased activity online on Maltapost’s business translated into a nine per cent growth in parcel and packets activity. International letter post volume was up by six per cent over the previous year, while there was a corresponding increase of eight per cent in the total weight of international mail processed.

“This is a reflection of the changes in international commerce which is resorting to e-commerce at an increasing rate,” Mr Gafà pointed out. “The international postal industry is responding and adapting to this shift by offering existing and new supporting services to enable it to efficiently supply a quality and timely delivery service.”

Major investments last year included the expansion of the parcel unit at the company’s Marsa head office, which is nearing completion.

The Pietà, Birkirkara, and Għajn­sielem branches have been refitted while a new branch on the University campus in Msida will be opened soon.

Security in branches has been upgraded with the installation of new counters featuring reinforced glass.
Maltapost’s board recently approved the acquisition of the company’s head office and another building in central Valletta to host Malta’s first postal museum.

Behind the scenes, Maltapost boasts a healthy balance sheet with €12.9 million in shareholders’ funds and €5.2 million in financial assets, while it seemingly maintains a zero debt policy.

The chief executive officer explained that the company’s strategy was to adopt a policy of investing in potential opportunities with a medium to long-term growth profile: these opportunities would be funded from internal cash flow and through debt finance. Each investment assessed on its own merits.

There had been mention of longer-term plans for the introduction of low-cost financial services when the company launched its initial public offering in 2008. Mr Gafà would only say that the company was focusing its attention on exploring new areas, including the introduction of such financial services, where it could work together with its parent company Lombard Bank to develop new services and continue to benefit from being part of a larger group.

“Announcements would be made at the appropriate time,” he said.

Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110206/business/maltapost-evolving-to-serve-growth-in-customers-online-shopping

Amelia Earhart cover could soar at Ron Leith's vast Canadian stamp sale

In spite of the lingering United States recession and Bank of Canada interest rate warnings, stamp sales remain impressively strong with record prices seen at all major North American auctions over the past year.

That is set to continue at Ron Leith's auction in Canada.

The auction will again be held in conjunction with the RICHPEX 2011 Stamp Show scheduled for Friday and Saturday March 18-19 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond. The conversion to one sale per year has resulted in their largest auction to date.

Postal History auction highlights includes the entire Tripo Costello Postcard Stock along with his famous Santa Clause Collection, the Wally Gutzman Canada Fancy Cork Cancel Collection, the "Calgary Collection" of Postal Artifacts comprising over 200 Canada postal hammers, part one of the Lila Walcer lifetime collection of British Royalty Memorabilia noting signed photos of King George-V and Queen Mary, a scarce group of USA General McClellan Civil War Patriotic Covers.

For aviation collectors there is a rare Amelia Earhart autographed cover (lot #782), and part one of the Donald Rogan Railroad Collection of RPO cancels, maps, books, and ephemera.

The section concludes with two massive dealer stocks comprising over 150,000 worldwide covers & postcards in 580 wholesale collection lots.

Stamp auction highlights: the Canada section includes the "Vernon Collection" of Superb Mint and Used Canada Classic Stamps, an extremely rare Newfoundland 5 Pence Favour "CANCELLED" Stamp that resulted in a British political scandal (lot #2476).

The finest collection of Canada Coil Start and End Strips that Ron Leith has ever offered, a fully operational USA Schermack Experimental Coil Vending Machine, the massive stock of recently retired packet dealer Hank Vander Veen, the Bill Anderson Precancel Collection listed as one of the top 10 collections in the Precancel Survey, and an outstanding collection of Canada Christmas Seals that includes many of the rare proofs are all available.

 The worldwide section has two huge worldwide stamp collections packed in 27 Minkus Supreme Global albums, and much more. The sale concludes with 396 wholesale stamp lots noting extensive intact collections of Canada, Newfoundland, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Yugoslavia.

Ron Leith's auction takes place in Washington, Canada and online on March 19, 2011.

Source:  http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/section.asp?docid=5819&catid=26

Canada Post adds Royal Wedding to 2011 stamp line-up

This is good news as I was wondering why Canada Post "doesn't do" Royal Occasions.

OTTAWA, Feb. 4 /CNW/ - Canada Post today announced that it has received approval to issue two new stamps to celebrate the much-anticipated wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The new stamps will be issued on May 2, 2011, just days after the wedding and will be available in post offices across the country.

"Our stamps are a reflection of who we are as a nation," said Mary Traversy, Senior vice-president, Transaction Mail, at Canada Post.  "The Royal Wedding is one of those rare occasions that will touch us all and we are pleased that we will be able to offer our customers a memento of this event."
Designs of the Royal Wedding stamps will be available shortly.

Putting a Canadian Stamp on Chinese New Year

Those few times when I queue up at the postal counter to buy stamps, I always ask the same question, "Do you have any pretty ones?"

It's been years, decades actually, since I collected stamps. Back then, it was a slower world when I would hunch, carefree and happy, tweezers in hand over colourful squares of paper at the school stamp club.

Armed with our albums and packets of cellophane hinges, my small gang of equally non-athletic classmates carefully added new finds to our collections, creating personal "galleries" of miniature works of art.

This was in Salisbury, Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. My favourites were stamps from other African countries like the exquisite little wildlife paintings from the Ghanaian postal service.

But having now seen the sumptuous new Canada Post stamps to commemorate the 2011 Chinese New Year this month, I find myself longing to return to the post office counter, whether I need to or not.

This month especially, Canadian envelopes will be vibrating with colour.

Illustrated by Ontario artist Tracy Walker, these stamps celebrate the year of the rabbit with delightful prancing herbivores leaping across a floral red and gold tapestry.

Like fine jewellery

Walker's distinctive, vibrant designs have graced everything from grocery store shopping bags and cookie tins to magazine covers, children's books and billboards.

I've left supermarket shelves disheveled hunting for her gorgeous contemporary tissue boxes with their swirling florals and arresting colours; the kind of packaging you refill rather than throw out.

The Canada Post commission has been the most exciting of her career so far — and the most difficult to keep secret, says Tracy, who lives in a rural community north of Toronto, just down the street from me, as it turns out.

"I wasn't allowed to breathe a word for the two years it took to get the stamps to press," she says, likening the detailed work on the inch-square paper to making a piece of fine jewellery.

She's not kidding. In fact, the stamps bear the kind of texture and detail that is only visible under a magnifying glass, including finely engraved hairs on the rabbit's white haunches.

This is Chinese

For inspiration, Walker combed through Chinese art books and visited Chinese malls looking at packaging and, yes, stamps.

Rabbit people

The Year of the Rabbit is the fourth in the cycle of the Chinese New Year, occurring every 12 years. This year it begins on February 3, 2011, and runs until January 22, 2012.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit have exceptional taste. They are gifted, expressive and value a sense of honour. When it comes to making a match, they should gravitate to those born under the sign of the Ram, Pig, or Dog. The Rabbit will be unable to cope with the arrogance and criticism of the Rooster, their patience will be exhausted by the tantrums of the Tiger, and for them, the Horse is too hot tempered and fickle. Rabbits don't need the grief. They are survivors—and can deal with anything life throws at them as long as they are at peace with themselves.

One tiny shop in the Pacific Mall, a popular shopping venue north of Toronto, gave her particular inspiration.
"The store was only a couple of feet wide and crammed with Chinese collectibles," she told me.

When her stamp eventually came out she took it to show the owner. He didn't speak English, but with the help of a passerby Tracy was able to explain her connection to the new stamp.

The store owner turned and pointed to the display cases of some previous Chinese New Year stamps and shook his head. "These not Chinese," he said frowning.


"Then he grabbed my sheet of stamps and grinned," says Tracy. "'This Chinese,' he said firmly, giving me a thumbs up. It was very moving."

Chasing rabbits

Work on the stamps, which include illustrations for a cover envelope as well as for domestic and international stamps, involved collaborating with a designer, a calligrapher, an engraver and a Chinese embroiderer.

The stamps are designed in such away that when two or more are placed side by side it looks as though the rabbit is hopping from one frame to the next. The full sheet produces the illusion of chasing rabbits.

"The illustration is lovely and is proving very popular with collectors already," says Jim Phillips, the director of stamp services at Canada Post. He is confident that post offices will quickly sell out the five million print run.
That sounds like a lot of stamps and a lot of envelopes in the age of email.

But according to Phillips it's only a fraction of the billion stamps sold in Canada every year.

Is it possible that stamp collecting, that uber-nerd hobby of yesteryear is enjoying a resurgence? I wanted to know.

According to Stanley Gibbons, the world's leading philately association, the economic slump has encouraged a return to old-fashioned hobbies like knitting and collecting — and even stamp clubs in schools.

"Stamps have an appeal as an alternative asset and many stamp organizations are encouraging young people to start collecting," Colin Avery, an associate director at Stanley Gibbons in London, U.K., told me on the phone.

His company is even helping school clubs cover some of their start-up costs.

At Canada Post, Jim Phillips thinks that it is baby-boomer collectors who are driving the stamp revival.
"If you look at the themes of new stamps in North America and Europe, they're of musicians, comic heroes and iconic figures who appeal to boomer tastes," he points out.\

The bright red and gold celebration colours on Tracy Walker's rabbit stamp should add to its appeal among Chinese collectors.

But another thing that appeals to collectors and enhances the value of a stamp as a little work of art is when the artist — or anyone else involved in the stamp design process — adds their signature. In tiny writing of course.

Tracy Walker will be doing a few signings of her stamps around Ontario in the coming weeks. I'm only hoping that by the time I make it to my local post office they will still have some left.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2011/02/02/f-vp-kozma.html#ixzz1CvB3ZOhE

Block of Rare 16x "Columbian Blue Error" USA Stamps Revealed, Sold Privately

A block of 16 stamps of the rare four-cent "Columbian Blue Error" (Scott 233a) issued in 1893 and not previously known to exist until now has surfaced 117 years after it originally was bought at an Ohio post office. 

The stamps were mistakenly printed in the wrong color ink, and this new discovery is a world class rarity: the largest multiple known of these stamps and the only plate block ever found.

The block was sold to a major collector at a January 2011 private auction, according to one of the participants who wants to remain anonymous.

The block contains a total of 16 stamps printed in dark blue rather than the normal bright ultramarine color that was used for the four-cent denomination of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition commemorative issue. It is believed the error was caused when the printers mistakenly used a batch of ink intended for the one-cent stamp of the same Columbian issue.

After the Columbian Issue the printing of United States stamps was taken over by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

The Columbian Blue Error was discovered in September 1893 by John V. Painter, a railroad and banking magnate who lived in Shaker Heights, Ohio. During the late 19th century, Painter was an avid stamp collector. He was also a friend and business associate of another world-renowned stamp collector and banker from Cleveland, George H. Worthington.

Painter reported finding 200 of the errors. He sold some to collector friends, including Worthington. In 1901 John W. Scott, the New York stamp dealer and catalogue creator, offered single copies of the error for $10 each. It was believed that Scott acquired all of Painter’s supply.

Prior to the appearance of the plate block of 16, the only known examples of the "Columbian Blue Error" with the plate imprint and number were two strips of four from the bottoms of two different sheets. Plate blocks are highly prized by stamp collectors, and this discovery is the only known complete plate block.

A few cancelled examples of singles are also known, indicating that some of the error stamps actually were used on mail.

Philatelists carefully record every known example of rare error stamps. For example, each of the 100 U.S. 24-cent "Inverted Jenny" errors (Scott C3a) has been accounted for and tracked through sales. The appearance of a previously unknown plate block of the rare Columbian Blue Error so many years after issue is an extraordinary event in philately.

The block was sold in a private auction held in January, and the buyer was Arthur K. M. Woo M.D. of Hong Kong, who is renowned in philatelic circles for his worldwide exhibits of rare stamps and covers. The price paid for the Columbian Blue Error plate block of sixteen was not disclosed.

A mint block of four of the Columbian Blue Error realized $115,000 in a 2009 auction, and one of the two known plate number strips of four realized $195,500 in a 2008 auction.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/stamp-collecting-in-long-beach/block-of-16-columbian-blue-error-stamps-revealed-sold

Canadian Stamp Sells for $425,000 at Spink Shreves Auction

The Black Empress of Canada - The Epitome of Perfection

Sc#3, 1851 12d. Black on laid paper, an astonishing quality mint example of this legendary classic rarity, being in a condition unmatched by any other in existence, featuring a spectacular overall freshness and brilliance, with intensely rich color and a sharp detailed impression on pristine paper, four incredibly large and well balanced margins (more than likely the margin at bottom is a partial sheet margin), and its reverse is equally impressive, displaying absolutely immaculate full original gum without a single bend or blemish, and most astounding of all the stamp is never hinged, a superb gem in every regard.
more ...

Rare $820,000 British Hong Kong Stamps Sold At Auction - Record Prices

A quartet of the most important stamps in Hong Kong philately sold Sunday for a record 6.4 million Hong Kong dollars (US$820,000) to an anonymous Asian buyer.

The extremely rare 1865 96-cent stamps in mint condition features a profile of Queen Victoria. The image is based on sketches made by Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, governor of Hong Kong from 1859 to 1865 (the city’s Robinson Road is named after him).

The block was sold by Spink, a London-based auction house, during a sale of rare stamps, coins, bank notes, bonds and shares Saturday and Sunday at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong.

There were other notable lots, including a unique $1 Qing dynasty bank note of Henan (or Honan) province that sold for HK$2.4 million — a world-auction record for a classic Chinese bank note. But the prize of the weekend sale was the Queen Victoria 96-cent foursome.

The block is noteworthy to collectors for three main reasons: It was printed in early 1865, when stamps and stamp collecting were in their infancy. Its color — olive-bistre, in philately-speak — was a mistake, due to an error by the printing company De La Rue in London. Because of the color error — they were supposed to be a brownish-gray shade — only 52 sheets were printed, which makes them rare: Only 48 unused examples of this particular stamp exist today, according to Spink. The other 36 are believed to be single stamps, and this particular block of four the only multiple set of unused examples.

This block, highly coveted by collectors of Hong Kong stamps, was previously owned by well-known philatelists such as George Burghard of New York, Ryohei Ishikawa of Tokyo and Richard C.K. Chan of Hong Kong. It has appeared at auction only twice before, the last time in London in December 1980.
The purchase of this block by an anonymous Asian investor is part of a massive shift of Chinese collectibles back to China from the West.

“The passion of these Chinese collectors is amazing to watch,” said Olivier Stocker, chairman and chief executive of Spink. “The Chinese stamp market has been vibrant for many years because since the beginning of the Communist era, stamp collecting has always been a hobby that was encouraged.”

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/01/25/the-820000-stamp/

Zodiac stamps a lucrative investment for Chinese stamp collectors

SHANGHAI : Commemorative zodiac animal stamps are proving to be a lucrative investment for collectors in China.

The mainland has been releasing the 12 zodiac stamps yearly since 1980 and they have all appreciated in value. This year's rabbit stamps are no exception.

The year of the rabbit is jumping ahead with China Post's release of the latest addition to its zodiac stamp series to commemorate the year 2011.

And if sales of the stamps are any indication of the year ahead, it's off to a hopping good start with most stores selling out within four hours of their release.

Wu Cai Hong, general manager, Shanghai Post Company, said: "The stamp industry is very prosperous this year. The value of all stamps has appreciated.

"The price of many old-edition stamps has increased a lot. It managed to put an end to the 13-year depressed stamp market, so collectors are very eager about purchasing the zodiac stamps this year."

And stamp collectors this year are especially excited about their investments. The 1.20 yuan (18 US cent) stamps appreciated threefold in just one day.

Zhao Shi Liang, a stamp investor, said: "... Many people have high expectations for the value of these zodiac stamps because the value of the first edition stamp has appreciated up to US$1,641 (11,000 RMB) each.

"Because of such enthusiasm in the zodiac stamp investment, the value has been climbing since the beginning of this year."

Mr Yang Ri Chun, who has been collecting stamps for the past 15 years, decided to invest in the first edition monkey stamps.

Mr Yang said: "This book includes all the zodiac stamps issued since 1980 and it's priced at US$1,940 (13,000 RMB). I love collecting stamps."

One of the stamps was only worth 0.011 US cents 30 years ago - today, it's worth US$761.

Last year's Tiger stamp has doubled its price, while the 2008 Ox stamp is worth 80 US cents today compared to 18 US cents 2 years ago. So it is turning out to quite a Happy New Year for stamp collectors this year. 

China Post began issuing stamps based on the Chinese zodiac signs in 1980, which was the year of the monkey. According to the All-China Philatelic Federation, there are about 20 million collectors in the mainland to date.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/1106668/1/.html

The Stamp Of Approval - Stamp dealer Stanley Gibbons had a good 2010 and is aiming for a great 2011.

From the Motley Fool - More on Stanley Gibbons and the stamp market - To most of us, postage stamps are nothing more than scraps of paper to be stuck onto an envelope -- a mere promise to deliver a letter or package.

However, to philatelists (stamp collectors), stamps are tiny works of art to be collected and treasured. What's more, stamp-collecting is far from being a peculiarly British obsession. There are estimated to be 30 million stamp collectors in China alone.

Googling 'stamps' or 'stamps collecting' brings up the Stanley Gibbons (LSE: SGI) website as the number-one entry. The iconic British firm, which dates back to 1856, has dominated this market since it became the world's first stamp dealer.

In recent years, Stanley Gibbons has expanded into other collectibles, such as autographs, rare records and other memorabilia. As well as acting as a dealer and auctioneer, Stanley Gibbons has thriving mail-order and online retail outlets, as well as publishing several price indices for rare stamps.
Licking the market

Stanley Gibbons -- which is incorporated in Jersey -- became a public company over 10 years ago, joining the junior Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in September 2000. The past decade has been a very good one for both the company and its shareholders.

In the eight years from 2001 to 2009, Stanley Gibbons saw its pre-tax profit leap tenfold to more than £4 million. Over this period, its earnings per share (EPS) increased at an even steeper rate, rising from under 1.3p to 14.7p at the end of 2009. This substantial growth made the firm an oft-discussed candidate on our Growth At A Reasonable Price (GARP) discussion board.

What's more, the firm's shares have outperformed the wider stock market by a huge margin. From their float price of 18p, they soared to peak above 250p in June 2007.

However, Stanley Gibbons couldn't escape the credit crunch and economic downturn. After six years of double-digit earnings growth, the stamp dealer suffered its first setback since becoming a PLC. In 2008, profits dropped 18% and earnings slid 2%.

During the market meltdown, its shares dived to 80p in January 2009. This turned out to be a great time to buy, as today Stanley Gibbons shares are up 3.5% at 178p -- more than double their 2009 low.
Investing in stamps

Stanley Gibbons' success has come from positioning stamps as 'alternative investments,' placing them in the same category as art, antiques, coins, fine wines and vintage vehicles.

According to the dealer's GB30 Rarities Index, launched in 2004 and backdated to 1998, sought-after stamps have massively outperformed shares. In the 12 years to the end of 2010, this index shot up 275%, which equates to compound growth of 11.6% a year. Within this index, the value of individual stamps has risen between 131% and 540% since 1998.

In comparison, the blue-chip FTSE 100 index is below 6,000 today, almost exactly where it stood 12 years ago. Hence, Stanley Gibbons argues that stamp prices are largely uncorrelated with shares, property and other assets and, therefore, add diversification to portfolios.
How did 2010 turn out?

Stanley Gibbons makes nearly two-thirds of profits made in the second half of the calendar year, so its shareholders will be keen to find out how things turned out in July to December.

According to today's trading update, business has been brisk, with turnover ahead of market expectations and profits broadly in line with forecasts. This comes despite substantial investment in its websites, IT systems and marketing campaigns.

Likewise, cash generation was strong, helping to fund two earnings-enhancing acquisitions (M & N Haworth and the Benham Group) and the refurbishment of the flagship London store at 399 Strand (to be completed by April). Also, website and database improvements will be rolled out in the first quarter of 2011, aimed at bringing in more customers.

As for 2011, a strong order book from investment clients is expected to lead to higher profits, plus the group expects to benefit from increased sales activity and publicity surrounding the Royal Wedding on 29 April.

In the words of the chairman:

"Future growth in revenues and profits are anticipated... the Group's businesses are in a stronger position...than at any time in recent years."
The stamp of value?

Given the above statement, Stanley Gibbons seems sure to meet analysts' forecast of pre-tax profits of £4.5 million and EPS of 15.6p. This puts its shares on a price-earnings ratio (PER) of 10.4, and the anticipated dividend of 5.45p gives a dividend yield of 3.1%. (It's worth noting that the firm's EPS is flattered by Jersey's generous tax regime.)

However, one sign of a healthy, growing business is weaker than I'd prefer: cash generation is running at only half of pre-tax profits. Also, the group's cash pile declined from over £3 million at the end of 2009 to £1.8 million by June 2010, largely due to £1.3 million spent on new stock.

Clearly, Stanley Gibbons is an entrepreneurial little business making the most of a highly niche market. However, its shares are a bit too pricey for me, as they trade on a PER above 10. This isn't cheap for a micro-cap (sub-£50 million) AIM company competing with the likes of online auctioneer eBay.
One that got away

That said, I spotted the value in Stanley Gibbons during the market slump which ended in March 2003. I owned the shares for about four months, buying at 25p and selling at 40p for a quick 60% profit. Had I held onto them, they would have gone on to breach 250p by mid-2007.

In other words, had I had the patience to wait four years, Stanley Gibbons would have been a 10-bagger. Yet another mega-return that got away!

Source:  http://www.fool.co.uk/news/investing/company-comment/2011/01/18/the-stamp-of-approval.aspx

Stamp collectibles group Stanley Gibbons sales to top market expectations - Royal Wedding will give big boost

Rare stamp and collectibles specialist Stanley Gibbons said today turnover for 2010 is estimated to be ahead of market expectations, with profits broadly in line.

The company's interim results announcement on 6th August 2010 advised of the substantial one-off costs incurred during the year associated with the development of its websites, database asset management system and international marketing campaigns promoting rare stamps and historical documents as an alternative investment asset class. Despite this expenditure in creation of future growth strategy, Stanley Gibbons said it continues to grow current operating profits.

Operating cash generation for the year to end-December was strong, providing the ability to fund acquisitions together with capital investment in the refurbishment of the retail premises at 399 Strand and investment in websites and IT systems to facilitate future growth opportunities, all done from internal cash resources.

The new websites are scheduled for a phased launch in the first quarter of 2011.

The company said substantial additional profits and clients were generated through its new investment office in Jersey.

The have been developments of trading relationships in China and the related expertise in its rare stamps in order to gain access to this biggest stamp market in the world, (an estimated 30 million collectors). Stanly Gibbons completed of two bolt-on acquisitions during the year - the businesses of M & N Haworth and the Benham Group, both of which are expected to further strengthen the overall brand offering and provide additional predictable revenue and profit streams in future years.

Trading in the first quarter of 2011 is expected to benefit from a strong order book from investment clients following the success of various marketing efforts in December.

The launch of our new websites in the first quarter will build substantial new profit streams for the business over time through cost effective online trading channels, particularly appropriate for lower value stock items, the company said.

The recent acquisition of the Benham Group business has proved timely following the announcement of the Royal Wedding to take place in April 2011. This business stands to benefit from sales of associated first day covers and other commemorative collectible products marking the most exciting Royal event in recent years.

The Board is satisfied with the way management is implementing its strategy and believes there are substantial opportunities to continue to grow sales and profits in 2011 and beyond.

Martin Bralsford, Non-Executive Chairman commented: 'The result for the year is good, particularly having regard to the additional burden on management of longer term development projects whilst still meeting current profit growth objectives.

'Future growth in revenues and profits are anticipated from the valuable groundwork laid in 2010.

'Overall, the Group's businesses are developing in line with strategy and are in a stronger position to deliver continued growth to Shareholders in the future than at any time in recent years.'

For the full report from Stanley Gibbons themselves - http://www.stanleygibbons.com/corporate/shareholder-information/statements-and-announcements/regulatory-announcement---trading-update---jan-2011.aspx

Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

The stickier points of stamp collecting

It's a sticky problem.

Stamp collecting has been documenting Canada's postal history since the mid-1800s but technology and glue are threatening the old hobby.

It's one of the oft-discussed topics at the annual stamp show, held Saturday at Woodman Park Community Centre.

"Self-sticking stamps are ruining the hobby for collectors, said Jacqueline Cowper at the show.

The primary employee at the postal office in Dell Pharmacy, Cowper deals with a lot of collectors and she hears their complaints "all the time."

The sticky stamps are designed to stay firmly on an envelope so that users can't peel them off and re-mail them if they aren't cancelled but the glue has become the bane of collectors who, for decades, have easily soaked stamps off envelopes with nothing more than water.

"But there's a balance because other people who are doing mass mailings really like the self-sticking stamps because they don't have to lick them," said Cowper.

While some collectors get around the problem by purchasing special mint sheets that show the same collectible stamps without a sticky back, others have investigated methods to separate the stamps from their envelopes.

Carbon tetrachloride is one method, said Grant Reavely, but it comes with a warning.

"It's toxic, but I've heard it's the only way to dissolve the glue."

In the US, some have resorted to a chemical called Bestine and various lemon-flavoured aerosols.

But Cowper said her "best collector customer" has come up with a simpler dissolution solution.

Walter Hopfinger of Brantford, who collects British Colonial stamps, says he soaks the self-sticking stamps in hot water in the kitchen sink for about 20 minutes and then laboriously peels away the stamp from it's glue, trying to leave the now-white gum on the envelope.

"It takes a lot of patience, but you don't want to destroy that beautiful stamp," Hopfinger said.

The sticky problem has grown into a world-wide trend with many countries embracing the self-sticking stamp and many collectors can't be bothered dealing with the adhesive.

Those that love the stamps and hate the glue can still collect, says Hopfinger.

"If you have difficulties, cut around the stamp and put it in your album as it is," he advises. "It's still beautiful."

Stamp club president Bob Anderson said part of the goal of the stamp show is to get people involved in the interesting hobby.

While the club has always encouraged kids to participate with stamp giveaways and special contests, it also works to catch the interest of those in their 40s or 50s who have rediscovered a passion for the tiny collectibles.

"Kids are interesting because they're young and think outside the box, said Anderson. But people in their late 40s and early 50s have their kids leaving the house and are looking for something to do. They have the disposable income to collect."

All a someone needs to do to get the bug is to zero in on an interest in the hobby and there will be stamps to satisfy the need to collect, whether they are from a particular country, an era, a type like errors or postmarks --or an explicit topic like trains, dogs, famous people or sports.

One young collector, Amy Trakalo, 11, won the award for best junior exhibit at the show with a display on cats from around the world.

While the club also sells stamps at the ongoing meetings, the show gives collectors a much wider inventory to examine and, said Anderson, everyone tends to find some little gem that's perfect for their collection.

"It doesn't matter what the cost is as long as it's valuable to them," Anderson said, indicating that the collectibles can range from 10 cents to $250.

The Brantford show is always the first one of the new year in this area of Ontario, so plenty of patrons are out spending a bit of Christmas money on themselves. This year visitors were from Chatham, Waterdown, London, Kitchener, St. Catharines and Port Dover, although nasty weather on Saturday kept some from the Toronto area away.

The club meets on the first and third Tuesday nights of each month plus there's a Junior Stamp Club that meeting at the police station on Elgin Street on the third Saturday morning of each month from September to May.

"The meetings are always open to the public and drop-ins are welcome," said Anderson. He noted that at the evening meetings, teens younger than 16 should be accompanied by an adult.

The next meeting of the club is a sales circuit night offering stamps from members for sale, and there will be dealers, a silent auction, and guest presentations.

For more information, go to www.brantfordstamp.org.

Source: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2921995

Stamp collectors search for treasures at Clarksville Indiana show

A small but avid crowd of stamp collectors made it to the annual Southern Indiana-Louisville Area Stamp Collectors Marketplace at the Holiday Inn in Clarksville, Ind., over the weekend.

Dedicated philatelists pored over boxes and binders filled with stamps during the show on Saturday and Sunday, looking for the perfect ones to add to their collections.

Don Dillon, 80, said he has been collecting stamps off and on for about 60 years.

“I guess I have around 7,000 stamps,” he said. “That's really rather a modest collection.”

He said he prefers to focus on stamps that are no longer produced.

“They keep putting out so many new issues that it's almost impossible to keep up with them,” he said. “I focus on the pre-cancels. They don't really make new ones so it's easier to keep up.”

Some collectors look for particular countries or images, while others look for stamps within a theme.

Karl and Rosemarie Leasure searched for stamps related to World War II or having a military theme.

Karl, 69, has been collecting stamps since he was an 8-year-old boy in Germany.

“I buy the historic stamps and sell them at the gun show,” he said. “People go nuts for the World War II stamps. I always tell my customers I will turn them into stamp collectors yet.”

Another collector, Ernie Julian, 58, said “A collection is never finished.”

He said he has been collecting stamps since his grandmother started him in the hobby at age 9.

“I come to this show every year,” he said. “I never miss it.”

Julian owns two large U.S. collections and a six-volume citation foreign collection. But the pride of his collection is the U.S. portion of his worldwide zeppelin stamp collection.

“The money you put into it, you never lose,” he said of stamp collecting. “It's like putting money in the bank.”

While the stamps may not lose value, some of the vendors at the event indicated they probably wouldn't increase a lot, either.

“The market has been pretty flat since the 1980s,” said John Findling, a partner with Collector's Stamps Ltd. in Louisville since 1979.

“The hobby is changing,” he said. “The Internet is changing the way people collect. And fewer and fewer people are getting into the hobby.”

Ed Davidson, owner of Davidson's Stamp Service in Indianapolis, agreed.

“A lot fewer kids are getting into the hobby, which is a shame,” he said. “Kids get introduced to it and it's all fun and games, but they actually learn something along the way.”

He said he finds the hobby to be a great stress reliever, saying, “At some point along the way to adulthood, you find out there's an awful lot of stress out there.”

When he began looking for a way to relax, he remembered his childhood stamp collection and asked his mother to ship it to him.

“It became a passion,” he said.

Source: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110109/NEWS02/301100018/Stamp+collectors+search+for+treasures+at+Clarksville+show

The Queens Head is Saved! British Government Decision

This is a follow up to our story http://stampcollectingresources.blogspot.com/2010/12/off-with-her-head-queen-to-be-taken-off.html

Thank goodness the British Government acted quickly on this - can you imagine a GB stamp without the Queens head? Well I hope to be alive to see Prince Charles, or King Charles, as he will be known - one day!

Queen Elizabeth has appeared on postage stamps since 1967. Now Britain plans to privatize the Royal Mail. That caused fears that some foreign buyer could remove the queen from stamps. The government says it will add a condition to the sale: Elizabeth stays on stamps.

If you wish to leave a comment, we'd be delighted to hear from you - just fill out the form below.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/01/10/132800509/uk-to-make-sure-queens-head-stays-on-stamps

Sacramento's California aging stamp collectors keep the faith

Scarcity sells in stamp collecting. The older and less plentiful the specimen, the more it gets philatelists' hearts aflutter and sends interest and price soaring.

But when it comes to the demographics of this noble, if a tad fusty, hobby, a scarcity of younger enthusiasts – those yet to be targeted by the AARP – is cause enough to get dealers and collectors to look up from their magnifying glasses and take notice.

"Look around," said Jim Leer, 68, of Oroville, waving an arm around the room of balding gray pates bowed over bins at the Sacramento Stamp Fair on Saturday morning at the Knights of Columbus Hall. "Where are the young kids? Show me one. Wait, there's one – Gary. He's been a dealer for 25 years. That qualifies as the new guy around here."

Kidding aside, one might think that stamp collecting is in danger of being canceled out and shipped to the dead-letter office of popular hobbies. These days, young people are more apt to collect e-mails – or texts and tweets – than something so quaintly 20th century as stamps. Gee, Gramps, you mean people actually licked the backs of these things, stuck 'em on envelopes, put them in a box, and it took days to arrive someplace else?

Philatelist A. Keith Kaufman, 55, whose booth featured stamps from the British Colonial period selling for hundreds of dollars, says the future of stamp collecting is in Europe and Asia. The United States, he says, is not fostering the tradition. He blames the advent of electronic communication. He laments that kids just aren't exposed to the aesthetic pleasure of a finely designed stamp.

"There too many other distractions, like video games," says Kaufman, who lives in Southern California. "I don't see the end of the line for stamp collecting. But we have very little outreach to younger people, particularly on the West Coast.

"I gave a couple of talks a few years ago to my daughter's classes in Los Angeles, and the kids get really excited. They learn about history and geography. To this day, there are about 10 kids who still collect stamps. It's all about exposure."

Those hoping that stamp collecting might be subject to a retro revival among hip 20-somethings – à la knitting – admit it's a long shot.

But longtime dealer Bill Hontos, of the Oceanview Stamp Co. in Huntington Beach, says that once the younger generation ages, they might better appreciate the quiet satisfaction that comes from finding a precious stamp from long ago and far away.

"I've been doing this 25 years, and it's always been that way," Hontos said. "They might pick it up as kids, have a little beginning collection, then put it away for a while because they've discovered girls or have to work. Then, as they get older, they have more leisure time, and they'll pick up (the hobby) again."

Hontos says nearly all of his dealings with younger (under 50) collectors come via e-mail and Internet queries – "I guess there's a little irony in that," he says, ruefully – but the rarer stamps have drawn interest from young and old alike strictly as investment options.

"People like having their money invested in something like this, especially with currency discrepancies," he said. "There (are fewer) sales at the shows like this, but more on the Internet, especially overseas."

Despite their aging ranks, sales among stamp collectors have risen 89.7 percent since 2000, according to Stanley Gibbons, the world's top stamp dealership, based in London.

Prices of the rarest stamps, Stanley Gibbons reports, have risen 38 percent since 2008.

That could be one reason why dealers such as Leer are able to joke about the graying of stamp enthusiasts.
"The business is alive and kicking, even though the average age of the collector is 72," Leer said. "Listen, a collector who comes to these fairs is willing to spend about $1,000 (on stamps). You really think young people today have got that to spend?"

Indeed, 71-year-old hobbyist Don Parker of Folsom said he was happy not to have to elbow around youngsters with baggy pants and music leaking out of their headphones in order to find stamps issued by Pakistan shortly after it was partitioned from India in 1947.

"It's fascinating," Parker said. "Pakistan didn't have time to issue its own stamps, so it just printed the word 'Pakistan' over India's stamps. That's what I'm looking for."

Parker ended up not finding anything worth buying. But that's OK. Stamps are only one of his retro passions. He also collects typewriters.

Source:  http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/09/3310375/sacramentos-aging-stamp-collectors.html