February 2016

Contents to Volume 46, Number 9

Catch up with all the latest news from the philatelic world.

As Stampex reaches its diamond anniversary, GSM looks back at its history and development.

More reports from the nation’s Philatelic Societies.

Forthcoming fairs and auctions.

News of recent auction results.

John Holman concludes his survey of the career of stamp designer Jennifer Toombs and records Britons featured on recent overseas stamps.

Royal Mail celebrates its 500th anniversary in style.

During World War I a special posting box was set up at the censors’ chief London office in order to fast-track mail to foreign destinations. Graham Mark examines its operation.

In the Victorian period, only four stamp dealers produced illustrated envelopes for sending stamps and philatelic literature to their clients. Edward Caesley tells their story.

John Deering looks back at 2015’s custom retail booklets, examines the Star Wars p.s.b. and gives a checklist of ’15’ year-coded Security Machins.

The latest supplement to the GB Specialised Catalogue.

As Royal Mail celebrates its 500th anniversary, Jeff Dugdale provides a history of the organisation from its royal origins to a nationwide service for all.

In the first of a three-part article, Glenn Morgan reveals the history of gravure printing and offers a step-by-step explanation of its procedures.

John Moody examines the overprints, cachets and propaganda covers produced in the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia following the infamous Munich Agreement of 1938.

Hyderabad, otherwise known as the Dominions of the Nizam, was one of India’s largest feudatory states. Christer Brunstrom talks us through its stamps issues from 1869 until postal duties were taken over by the Indian Post Office in 1950.

Nimrod highlights some desirable stamps from Malaysia.

The stamps of Hong Kong have proved to be popular with collectors since they were first issued in 1862. As they are one of his favourite collecting areas, Hugh Jefferies is ideally placed to provide an overview.

Inspired by Concorde’s 1986 round-the-world flight, Babs Hawkins reimagines the journey as if taken in 1886. Join her as she flies around the globe taking in the best that the world had to offer the supersonic Victorian traveller.

In another superbly illustrated article, Edward Klempka discusses the issues of Ukraine from its independence in 1818 to its entry into the USSR in 1921.

The unscrupulous trade of creating fakes and forgeries has always been a part of philately, with some perpetrators even earning celebrity status. Michael Peach brings to light the shady behaviour of one such gang operating in 1880s London.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

The latest issues from Britain’s island bureaus including: bailiwick life on Guernsey, Jersey’s SAR tribute and the new multinational issue from the Isle of Man.

Another chance to win a £50 Stanley Gibbons voucher.

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

More fun from the Hedley Adams Mobbs collection.

Hugh Jefferies announces an important discovery from New Zealand and reveals new evidence surrounding the issue date of St Lucia’s first George VI issue.

Catalogue Supplement