March 2026

Contents to Volume 56, Number 10

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 final article charting the rise of Britain’s self-adhesive stamps, Richard West traces Royal Mail’s early booklet, rolls and business sheet trials, its ATM experiments and the first self-adhesive Christmas issue, all of which would reshape modern British stamp production.

John Winchester tells the story of an Afghan issue from the 1980s with a curious motoring mismatch.

Supersonic stamps take flight as Royal Mail marks 50 years of Concorde, pairing dramatic photography with retro design to celebrate the rise, reign and legacy of the world’s most iconic passenger aircraft.

Using patents, trial booklets and newly discovered coil and sheet material, Glenn Morgan FRPSL RNCP tells the story of Harrison’s little known Prestique trials, a hybrid self-adhesive experiment from a forgotten turning point in British stamp production.

John Deering casts a collector’s eye over the Stamps of Queen Victoria retail stamp booklet and p.s.b., and provides an update to his checklist of King Charles III counter sheet definitives.

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

Nicholas Oughton discusses one of the most decisive World War II campaign in the Pacific – the Battle of the Kokoda Track. Using philatelic material and personal stories, he highlights the endurance and sacrifice made during Australia’s hard-fought defence in Papua.

Mike Dovey charts the early 20th century ship cachets of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, highlighting scarce designs, unusual variations and a newly found discovery that proves that maritime postal history should never be taken for granted.

Michael Burzan discusses Holstein’s postal system during its brief moment of independence during the First Schleswig War, a period which produced some of the rarest classics in German philately.

Christer Brunström FRPSL shows how India’s feudatory revenue stamps offer a window into the power, personality and politics of the pre-independence era.

The latest books and catalogues read and rated.

Using worldwide stamp issues, Michael Peach provides an illustrated philatelic biography of Lise Meitner – one of the 20th century’s greatest physicists, tracing her overlooked role in nuclear fission and her substantial scientific legacy.

Fuelled by blockade-running trade during the American Civil War, growing commerce in the Bahamas led to a request for a new 1s denomination. However, what the colony received from De La Rue was not what was expected.

In the first of a two-part article, Neil Donen and Peter Gilmour chart the dramatic events and postal history of Kingsford Smith’s failed 1935 Trans-Tasman flight, revealing new archival insights into routes, rates and the rare saved mail.

Geir Sør-Reime returns with his annual survey of stamp booklets, beginning with Commonwealth issues.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

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

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

Stamps to look out for from Johore.

Guy Thomas reflects on the thrill of encountering philately’s greatest rarities at close quarters, arguing that battered condition and visual imperfections only heighten their mystique.

Enter the GSM’s competition for the opportunity to win one of five SG catalogue titles.

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

The latest 17-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.