January 2011

Contents to volume 41 issue 8

Lady Mairi Bury collection fetches over £3million; Falklands presentation; Irish watermark discovery

Reports from philatelic societies

Forthcoming Fairs and Auctions

News of recent auction results

John Holman explains a philatelic term (compound stamps), looks at Upper Volta, Upper Yafa and Paquebot postmarks and reports on a reader’s response

New Royal Mail issues: Classic Locomotives miniature sheet, Garden Birds Post & Go stamps

Souvenirs of Derek Connell’s visits to the exhibitions that took place as part of the London 2010 Festival of Stamps

John Holman brings together the philatelic aspects of this controversial king’s short reign

A supplement to the Great Britain Specialised Catalogue

Alan Sacks continues his philatelic tour through Dickens’ life and times

Wallace and Gromit Christmas stamps, recent booklets and Post & Go varieties are reviewed by John Deering

Readers’ correspondence

With the forthcoming issue of Gerry Anderson stamps from Royal Mail in mind, Jeff Dugdale recalls some memorable children’s television programmes illustrated on stamps

David Horry provides a general introduction to the many cancellations available to postmark collectors from the Dominion of New Zealand during the years 1937 to 1953

Probably second only to Sir Rowland Hill in the field of postal reform, von Stephan was instrumental in the eventual establishment of the Universal Postal Union. Michael Peach looks at the stamps issued to commemorate his achievements

A roundup of Yearbook products

Reviews of recent books

In the first of a two-part article, Rob Holley explains how the UPU’s colour-coding scheme caused problems in Malaya

Since the late 1800s Sweden has benefitted from private local posts; Christer Brunström looks at those introduced since state monopolies ended in 1994

A special report by Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS, on a recently discovered postcard carried by air

Nimrod suggests stamps worth looking for from Belize

Island Hopper looks at Guernsey and Alderney Christmas stamps, Jersey Coaches and a Royal Engagement miniature sheet from the Isle of Man

Dean Shepherd investigates the background to some recent new issues

Hugh Jefferies reports from the Catalogue Editor’ chair

A 13-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue