March 2023

Contents to Volume 53, Number 10

A collection of the latest philatelic news from around the world.

More of the latest reports from the nation’s philatelic societies.

Forthcoming fairs and auctions.

News of recent auction results.

For the last stop in his tour of places where stamps and postal history can be seen and studied, Richard West highlights the important collections held at the Bath Postal Museum.

Royal Mail returns to the Marvel comic book universe for its latest pop-culture issue which celebrates the mutant superheroes, the X-Men.

In another round-up of news for modern GB collectors, John Deering digs up some philatelic treasures after finally getting his hands on the delayed Tutankhamun prestige booklet, and makes even more barcoded Machin discoveries.

Ever since introducing the Penny Black back in 1840, Britain led the way in stamp innovation and evolution. As David Leathart explains, many of the features were born out of the necessity to protect Post Office revenue in this pioneering age of stamp production.

With early issues that are hard to distinguish, perforation irregularities and rare high values, this little-known Indian Feudatory State offers some unusual and interesting challenges for the collector. Thankfully, Christer Brunström is on hand to help.

More readers have their say, courtesy of the GSM postbag.

Steve Pendleton presents some very elusive and unusual postal history items connected to this small group of scarcely habitable islands located in the Antarctic Ocean.

John Davis FRPSL continues with the second part in his three-part study of the tin can mail service of this remote island. Covered this month are cruise ship souvenir covers, a royal commemoration and World War II covers.

The background story and postal history of the deployment of troops to Vladivostok to support the White Russians in 1918 is retold here by Philip Wooster, a son of a soldier on that mission.

In order to overcome the varying and complicated postal rates between postal authorities in Europe, in 1847 delegates met and established a new Postal Union. Michael Burzan reveals how a simplified transit of post was established which led to the creation of the first stamps of several states.

Geir Sør-Reime returns with his annual survey of stamp booklets. This month he looks at the Commonwealth issues.

In another article on postal authorities which no longer exist, John Moody looks at the overprinted stamps created for use by the British military in former Italian territories during and after World War II.

Another selection of postal stationery items from around the world is highlighted by Peter van Gelder.

Stamps to look out for from Grenada.

The latest books and catalogues read and rated.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

We highlight the latest new issues from Guernsey Jersey and Isle of Man.

Alison Boyd investigates the stories behind some of the latest stamp issues from around the world.

Don’t miss your chance to win a £50 Stanley Gibbons voucher.

Hugh Jefferies offers more thoughts from the Catalogue Editor’s chair.

A 14-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.