The Philatelic Database – Stamp Archive

New Zealand’s Revenue Stamps

Revenue stamps were introduced in New Zealand with the first series of imperforate long type Queen Victoria stamps inscribed stamp duty in 1867, and were finally removed from sale in early 1958 when the final series (the 1957-8) of social security wage tax were replaced by PAYE (pay as you earn) tax deductions effected by one’s employer. During the almost 90 year use of revenues in New Zealand perhaps the most ubiquitous were the 1880 long type Queen Victoria stamps and the largest sized were certainly the Victorian beer duty stamps – these needed to be large because they had to be affixed over the beer barrel bungs before they were sold by breweries.

Read more…

Australia: Koo Wee Rup Post Office, Victoria 3981 (2009)

Read more…

“Year of the Dog” on Stamps

Legend states that, when the great Buddha found enlightenment beside an old oak tree, he invited all the animals to his kingdom to celebrate. Only 12 animals arrived, and Buddha promptly rewarded them by naming each new year in honour of them. The order in which the animal arrived at Buddha’s side is significant, for he gave each a special characteristic. The Dog was the eleventh animal to reach Buddha and he was given the motto ‘I am loyal’ and stands for loyalty and justice.

Read more…

Review: The Australian Stamp Variations Catalogue

Most stamp catalogues are just a list of every issue. This catalogue is not. What a “voyage of discovery” it was to explore David Mallen’s 6th Edition of his Australian Stamp Variations Catalogue of decimal stamps. It was delightful to read every section and discover the extent of variations that Australia Post has issued over the years. I had no idea that so many imperforate, size and perforation variations existed!

Read more…

World’s Oldest Stamp Design – Norway’s Posthorn Stamp Still Going Strong

This is being written on Christmas Day 2006 – obviously there are different ways of celebrating the festive season. But sometimes it is relaxing to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas celebrations and spend some time exploring our stamp hobby.

On Christmas Day 1871 Norway released an entirely new kind of definitive stamp: the crowned posthorn. This is a design which has now been around continuously for 135 years – certainly something for the Guinness Book of Records.

Read more…

Senegal: Dakar Post Office (1932)

Read more…

The British Library Philatelic Rarities

As part of the London 2010 Festival of Stamps a year long exhibition The British Library Philatelic Rarities will be on show in the permanent Philatelic Exhibition area at the British Library, 96, Euston Road, St Pancras, London, NW1 2DB. Admission free.

Read more…

Coup for Prestige Philately

15th January 2010. Prestige Philately has announced that one of the firm’s English clients has decided to sell his collection of British Empire Stamps of the Reign of King Edward VII in Melbourne, on Saturday 6th March. The collection had been shown to several international heavyweights including Spink, Grosvenor and Feldman, all of whom expressed interest. For an Australian firm to be successful against this competition is seen as a real coup.

Read more…

King Edward VII Mourning Cover & A.R. Fowler (1847-1911)

This somewhat ordinary mourning cover reveals a story of considerable importance to the entire British Empire, particularly the State of Tasmania. The 1d Mount Wellington pictorial (with a ‘T’ perfin) is postmarked with a roller Hobart cancel dated 18.5.10 7-0 P/ Tasmania and it was addressed to A.R. Fowler Esq. 50 Charles Street Launceston. The vertical manuscript writing gives a clue as to its purpose: “Funeral Service Death of King Ed. VII May 20/10 (Figure 1).

Read more…

Prince Edward Island Stamps (1895)

The following article has been extracted from “The Stamp News” (October, 1895) and was written by A. A. Bartlett.

On more than one occasion I have deemed it my duty to champion the cause of these unfashionable, and therefore little understood, stamps, and again would I call the attention of those at all interested in the postal issues of the old colonies of British North America, to the fact that the fulfilment of the handwriting on the wall is daily becoming more apparent, and that these wretched little things, though far removed from being “things of beauty,” may still become “a joy for ever” to many a philatelic album.

Read more…