December 2023

Contents to Volume 54, Number 7

Included in this month’s collection of the latest philatelic news, we look at The Postal Museum’s final Post & Go inscription and report on some worrying news regarding the future of the stamps of some British Overseas Territories.

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

Forthcoming fairs and auctions.

News of recent auction results.

Following the introduction of the Penny Black in Britain in 1840, the idea of the pre-payment of postage with adhesive stamps soon spread around the world. Richard West examines how other countries had caught on to the idea during the early 1850s.

Royal Mail gets us in the festive mood with the release of its 2023 Christmas stamp issue, which this year takes its inspiration from the age-old traditions of carols and carolling.

Robert Galland provides an in-depth study of Britain’s first three low-value surface-printed stamps, in particular the extremely rare used marginal examples with plate numbers and current numbers.

Christer Brunström, FRPSL highlights the latest new issues from Lundy, a small island in the Bristol Channel.

In his latest column for modern GB collectors, John Deering brings some festive cheer as he sees what Royal Mail’s latest Christmas stamps have to offer collectors, and takes a seasonal look back at Christmas booklets issued during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

The latest supplement to the Stanley Gibbons Great Britain Specialised Catalogue.

Noel Davenhill returns with the latest instalment in his series on British Commonwealth and Empire stamps. This time he examines the history and the stamps of Zanzibar and neighbouring Pemba up to the 1964 Jamhuri Independence overprints.

An attractive and historically important issue marking the centenary of the end of slavery in the British Empire is discussed by Christer Brunström FRPSL.

As we mark the 50th anniversary year of the death of prolific Spanish artist, Pablo Ruiz Picasso, Michael Burzan explores three collecting opportunities that presented themselves when the world of fine art crossed over into the world of philately and postal history.

Christer Brunström, FRPSL, offers advice on starting a general collection of worldwide revenues.

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

In another of his regular articles looking at the stamps of ‘dead’ countries, John Moody reviews the early philatelic history of Slovakia.

The latest books and catalogues read and rated.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

Stamps to look out for from the Falkland Islands.

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

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

Don’t miss your chance to win a £50 Stanley Gibbons voucher in our regular competition.

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

The latest, 15-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.