May 2026

Contents to Volume 56, Number 12

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.

Richard West examines Britain’s cautious approach to charity stamps, from early royal objections and abandoned proposals to the experimental Health and Handicap issue of 1975 and the 1989 Christmas surcharge stamps that tested public support for postal fundraising.

We take a look at Royal Mail’s cinematic Lord of the Rings stamp set, complete with hidden UV details, as well as the new tariff issues introduced alongside the recently updated international postage rates.

Robert Galland FRPSL concludes his study of World War II explanatory censorship slips, including several previously unrecorded types. This month, he illustrates examples returned with POW mail, letters to unoccupied France, incoming parcels, damaged correspondence, and items requesting prohibited goods.

New tariffs take centre stage as John Deering examines three new King Charles III definitives. He also looks at the mixed definitive pane from the Stranger Things p.s.b. and the issue’s generic sheet, and showcases the revised covers for 4×1st definitive retail booklets.

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

Lars Jørgensen explores Greenland’s first stamps—the 1905 Pakke-Porto parcel issues—examining their design, printings, perforations and printers, as well as their postal and fiscal use.

Peter Chadwick examines the letters sent by a senior officer during Napoleon’s 1912 Russian Campaign, which offer a unique perspective of the ambition, hardships and eventual failure of Napoleon’s biggest military blunder.

In the first of a two-part article commemorating the birth centenary of HM Queen Elizabeth II, John Winchester explores her early stamp portraits, from youthful Commonwealth depictions to worldwide Coronation issues.

Simon Carter recounts a remarkable 1947 cover misdirected from Avonmouth to Auckland, revealing how a simple addressing error created a 26,000-mile postal journey to the other side of the world and back.

Manuel Praest goes beyond traditional catalogues and conventional philatelic boundaries as he explores the delights and challenges of collecting ‘A Stamp From Everywhere’—with the goal of obtaining a stamp from every issuing entity.

As Sir David Attenborough reaches his 100th birthday, Katrin Raynor traces his remarkable legacy through the stamps depicting the wildlife and landscapes he has brought into our homes for more than 70 years.

This month’s tale explores the 1901 Cook Islands overprint, where a crude overprint transformed an everyday stamp into a controversial commemorative.

Michael Peach explores the philatelic career of industrialist, philanthropist and master collector, William Beilby Avery, who during his lifetime formed one of the finest classic stamp collections ever known.

John Winchester examines Ceylon’s striking 1938 2r pictorial, exploring its Buddhist-inspired guardstone design, wartime printings, and enduring appeal as an accessible Commonwealth classic.

Geir Sør-Reime concludes his latest annual survey of foreign stamp booklets.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

GSM 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.

Stamps to look out for from Papua.

A century after the landmark Ferrary sales, Guy Thomas explores the rise, unrivalled scope and ultimate dispersal of the greatest philatelic collection ever assembled.

Enter the GSM competition for the opportunity to win one of five SG catalogue titles.

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

The latest 17-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.