July 2017

Contents to Volume 48, Number 2

The latest philatelic news from around the world.

More reports from the nation’s Philatelic Societies.

Forthcoming fairs and auctions.

News of recent auction results.

John Holman continues his look at the early George VI definitives of the Empire with the issues from western and southern Africa. Also, as we reach the 20th anniversary of the changeover to Chinese rule in Hong Kong, John looks at the ‘changing face’ of its Queen Elizabeth II issues.

Royal Mail’s new Windmills and Watermills issue plus the new colourful Machin head Post & Go stamps.

Ray Simpson explains why the reappearance of the obsolete gauge 16 perforation on 1d. and 2d. stamps in 1857–58 is now the subject of much study and debate.

John Deering dissects the Machin 50th anniversary p.s.b. and reveals several rare Post & Go items from the recent Scottish Congress in Perth.

Robert Galland continues the story of Britain’s first low value surface-printed postage stamps by describing the examples overprinted ‘Specimen’ or ‘Cancelled’.

The latest supplement to the GB Specialised Catalogue.

From 1865 North Borneo was administered by the British North Borneo Company, but in 1946, after the difficulties of World War II, the territory became a Crown Colony. Peter Cockburn explores this philatelically-rich era.

As Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary, John Hillson looks at the security printers who were charged with printing the country’s stamps for the first 30 years of its history.

From 1869 foreign mail from packet ships was sorted by rail from Plymouth to Bristol. Keith Morris describes the introduction of the service and the various postmarks that it employed.

In his final article on the pioneering flights across the Empire, Pradip Jain highlights the establishment of regular airmail routes, in particular to the Middle East and India.

With no stamps available to facilitate the new Empire rate introduced on 1 January 1891, the Falkland Islands were forced to bisect its 1d. definitive. Michael Roberts talks us through this emergency provisional issue.

Nimrod highlights some desirable stamps to look out for from Jamaica.

Geir Sør-Reime continues his alphabetical listing of foreign issues from 2016 by covering Germany to Poland.

Reviews of the latest philatelic publications.

Having already looked at the Japanese steam tank engines as shown on stamps, Nicholas Pertwee now turns his attention to country’s impressive tender engines.

Combining his two passions of philately and geology, Joseph Charrach takes us on a thematic tour of mankind’s fascination with elemental mercury.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

New issues from the Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey.

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 faux philatelic fun from the Hedley Adams Mobbs collection.

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

Your 13-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.