July 2020

Contents to Volume 51, Number 2

The latest philatelic news from around the world.

More reports from the nation’s Philatelic Societies.

Forthcoming auctions.

News of recent auction results.

Various philatelic agencies, including the Crown Agents, have played an important role in the stamp-issuing policies of former British colonies. Richard West looks at how things have changed.

Two very different national treasures are celebrated by the latest issues from Royal Mail: the sites and artefacts of Roman Britain, and the world’s longest-running soap opera, Coronation Street.

Last month Harry Layne gave guidance on how to correctly identify the London District Post cancels. This month he concludes with a focus on the supplementary postmarks issued from 1861 up to the 1890s.

Ken Mitchell of the TPO & Seapost Society provides a study of the early datestamps and postal history linked to the Holyhead and Kingstown packet service introduced in 1860.

John Deering provides a round-up of all Machin releases with an M19L date code and highlights some newly-found, non-tarrif M20L Machins to look out for.

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

Mail sent just before and during World War II can reveal the difficulties faced by postal services at the time. Douglas Muir RDP examines items of mail that bear witness to this dark moment in world history.

The latest book and catalogue releases read and rated.

We present the full results from Stanley Gibbons’ one-page, online competition.

Janet and Nick Nelson show us how to spot the various printings associated with the 1934 stamps of Brazil issued to mark the visit of Cardinal Pacelli to Rio.

Take an inter-stellar voyage with Katrin Raynor-Evans as she shares her enthusiasm for astronomy and her ever-growing astrophilately collection.

With more than 4800 different postage stamps and 180 souvenir sheets issued since the beginning in 1865, Ecuador can be quite a challenge for today’s collectors. Christer Brunstrom introduces the philatelic history of the country and its paradise possession, the Galapagos Islands.

Geir Sor-Reime continues his alphabetical listing of recent foreign postal stationery. This month he looks at the 2019 issues from Germany to Norway.

Stamps to look out for from Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika.

John Moody unearths the philatelic story behind another ‘dead’ country. This month he investigates the history and philatelic issues of Bophuthatswana.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

We highlight the latest new issues from Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

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

Win a £50 Stanley Gibbons voucher.

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

The latest 12-page update to the Stanley Gibbons catalogue.