January 2023

Contents to Volume 53, Number 8

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.

In his second instalment of articles looking at study and research opportunities, Richard West looks at what The Postal Museum and Post Office Archives have to offer philatelists when it comes to research.

This month we unearth Royal Mail’s latest stamp issue which marks the centenary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Robert Galland continues his study on the free franking system of Great Britain as he describes some of the circulars and wrappers produced by the Department of Land Tax Redemption.

John Deering looks at the elusive MA10 2nd class barcoded business sheet and shows how Remembrance has been commemorated through Post & Go issues.

2022 marked the 375th anniversary of Posten Norge and the 150th anniversary of the famous posthorn stamps. John Wright explores the history of Norway’s postal service and reveals the efforts postal workers went to in order to deliver the mail.

It might seem a simple task to find the first country to issue a Christmas stamp, but, as Julian Bagwell illustrates, not everything is that straightforward.

Jersey, Guernsey and Macao provide an overview of their 2022 annual issues.

The latest books and catalogues read and rated.

Nicholas Pertwee highlights the Japanese 50y. definitive stamp issues, which illustrate the 1400-year-old Maitreya Bodhisattva statue, and points out that several shades are not mentioned or inaccurately described in catalogues.

A rather unusual and tasty philatelic move by Die Post Switzerland caught Douglas N Muir’s attention recently which he decided to try out first hand.

Noel Davenhill picks out a few examples of where things have sadly fallen far short of making a beautiful or desirable stamp issue.

Continuing from a previous article for GSM, Clive Griffiths discusses the colonial use of the 1941 Brothers in Arms issue produced by Italy and Germany during World War II.

John Moody reveals the philatelic story behind postal services which no longer exist. In his latest instalment he looks at the United States’ Military Postal Service in the Japanese Ryukyu Islands.

Stamps to look out for from Natal.

John Davis FRPSL brings to a close his series of thematic articles on the different ways the mail has been delivered over the years with a final display of the ways mail has been transported through the air.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

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.

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

A 14-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.