October 2012

Issue: 5

Volume: 43

Inside the October issue of Gibbons Stamp Monthly, John Kimbrough MD reveals the dramatic story behind the De La Rue stamps of the Confederate States and Richard Breckon examines the postal history of Australia’s Bass Strait Islands.

Contents October 2012

Contents to Volume 43, Number 5


Newsdesk

The latest news from the stamp world


Society News

Reports from philatelic societies


Diary Dates

Forthcoming Fairs and Auctions


Around the Houses

News of recent auction results


New Collector

John Holman presents another eclectic mix of philatelic advice for new stamp collectors


GB News

More developments on Royal Mail’s next-day Gold medal stamps, including breaking news of a Paralympics version


Triangular Marks of Great Britain Revisited

Harry Layne BSc cracks the meaning behind Britain’s Telegraphic codes


Machin Watch

John Deering reports on the latest developments in the world of Machin collecting


GB Specialised Catalogue

The latest supplement to the Great Britain Specialised Catalogue


The De La Rue Stamps of the Confederacy

John Kimbrough MD reveals the dramatic story behind the De La Rue stamps of the Confederate States


Palestine: The Typographed Issue, 1918

Ashley Lawrence FRPSL, presents the latest instalment in his ongoing series on the stamps of Palestine


Dear GSM

More readers have their say, courtesy of the GSM postbag


Sultan Seyyid Hamed-bin-Thwain Issues of Zanzibar 1896–1898

The concluding part of George T Krieger’s article looks at the postal use and associated stationery of this troublesome Zanzibar issue


Birds, Famous People and Stamps

P J Lanspeary reveals how to add a new dimension to your thematic collection


Digital Microscopes for Philatelists

Dr Geoffrey Eibl-Kaye FRPSL delivers a review of some of the latest microscopes available for philatelists


The Postal History of Australia’s Bass Strait Islands

Richard Breckon looks at some background stories involving these frontier islands


Into The Heart of Darkness—The South Sandwich Islands

Steve Pendleton heads to the politically-charged South Sandwich Islands to reveal more fascinating postal rarities


The Value of Science in Philately

Can science silence the critics when it comes to new errors of colour? Abed H Najjar looks at the latest technology available


Almost a Crash Mail

Rob Holley’s presents a piece of postal stationery that offers a useful insight into the early mail routes of Perak


Stamp Hunting

Nimrod highlights some important stamps of Gibraltar


The Postmarks of Seychelles during the King George VI Period, 1938–1954

David Horry presents another selection of highly collectable cancels to look out for


Rummage Around

John Moody reveals some philatelic treasures discovered in some unlikely places


Bookshelf

More philatelic publications are read and rated


The People’s Stamps—First Past, the Post!

Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS looks back on Royal Mail’s contribution to Britain’s Olympic legacy. Will collecting new British stamps ever be the same again?


Shore to Shore

Island Hopper reports on stamps from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man


Stamp News in Brief

A summary of recent and forthcoming issues from around the world


Panorama

Dean Shepherd investigates the history behind some recent new issues


Unissued QEII/Catalogue Column

The story behind an unissued stamp of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, plus Hugh Jefferies’ latest comments as SG catalogue editor


Catalogue Supplement

A 17-page update to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue