May 2017

Contents to Volume 47, Number 12

The latest philatelic news from around the world.

Highlights from the show, including a very special, stamp-related world-record attempt.

More reports from the nation’s Philatelic Societies.

Forthcoming fairs and auctions.

News of recent auction results.

Nearly 80 years on from their first appearance, John Holman recalls the first definitive stamps of King George VI from Great Britain and the Dominions.

GSM gets an early sighting of Royal Mail’s ‘cheap’ and cheerful Songbirds issue.

Robert Galland continues his study of Britain’s first low value surface-printed postage stamps by describing the various colour trials produced.

In his latest column for modern GB collectors, John Deering looks at the new Machins brought in for Royal Mail’s tariff changes and highlights the various Post & Go incarnations surrounding the recent Mail Rail issue.

The latest supplement to the GB Specialised Catalogue.

Brian Livingstone continues the story of the King George VI Coronation Commemorative stamps with a look at the issues produced for the Dominions.

Michael Round presents the philatelic fallout from a less well-known victim of hyperinflation.

Geir Sor-Reime’s continues his annual survey of postal stationery from around the world by providing an alphabetical tour of the issues of the Commonwealth.

Readers have their say, courtesy of the GSM postbag.

When the 1949 Royal tour of Australia and New Zealand was cancelled, the commemorative stamps prepared to mark the occasion were ordered to be destroyed. David Smitham reveals how seven examples of one of the values managed to escape the furnace.

As Christer Brunstrom explains, most issues of Bhopal are affordable, but there are numerous minor and major varieties to keep you busy for a lifetime.

Anthony New offers some advice on how to build a thematic collection featuring the churches of Brazil.

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

Effective airmail routes were a key component to the success of the British Empire following World War I. Pradip Jain discusses the post-war experimental flights that paved the way and the special postmarks and chachets that were produced.

Michael Peach gives a detailed account of an infamous philatelic first.

Reviews of the latest philatelic publications.

Stephen Pendleton reveals how Pitcairn’s tiny prison proved to be a valuable source for rare island local mail.

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.

New issues from the Isle of Man, Guernsey 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 tongue-in-cheek fun from the Hedley Adams Mobbs collection.

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

Your 16-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.