The Philatelic Database – Archive of Stamp Collecting Articles

This historic picture postcard was prepared for the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago.

Having always had a love of ships and naval history, I suppose, as a philatelist, it was only a matter of time before I developed an interest into maritime postal history. Like many philatelic pursuits it has become quite an obsession! Recently I acquired paquebot postcard from the S.S. Homeric and I was determined to find out more.

This charming colour image of the post office at Orrs Island, Maine shows a woman in Edwardian dress at the entrance. Could she be the postmistress? It seems quite likely.

Given the cost of bananas in Australia at present, I was fascinated by this recently acquired Jamaican postcard. It was written in early 1925 and addressed to a young man in New Zealand. It bears an interesting slogan: COME TO JAMAICA: THE IDEAL TOURIST RESORT.

Here is an interesting picture postcard sent by a young Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) member to his family whilst attending the Nuremberg Rally of 1935. One wonders if he survived till the end of the war, a mere ten years later…

This fascinating postcard tied with a French Indo-China stamp and cancelled Tonkin 1904 depicts a view of the colonial Pho-Lu post office more than a century ago.

We publish this fine postcard by kind permission of the photographer. We hope to publish more of his work in the near future…

Recently I acquired a post card of the St. Petersburg post card in Florida and I was curious as to why the post office was called “Outdoor” post office.

I spoke with Phil Stager, who kindly sent me the following article.

The Palais Garnier is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time.

This postcard is an important and almost unique piece of Australian postal history. This naval vessel had a very small crew and so any mail sent from Zanzibar during WWI is necessarily rare.

This charming hand-coloured picture postcard depicts the Bank Street in Wallace, Idaho. Note the women in full-length dresses, hats and gloves. The telegraph poles appear to be a recent addition. The scene for a western movie…

Despite previous efforts of both the German and French armies to build armoured cars, it was Belgium, which produced the first effective ones during World War I.

This République Française Carte Postale has two red Western Australia 1d ‘Swan’ stamps cancelled with two duplex FREMANTLE / 4/ SP 15/ 02/ W.A postmarks with the P.O obliterator, and it is addressed to Monsieur A. de Speville, Banque Commerciale, Port Louis, Ile Maurice.

This fine looking stamp was issued 21st January, 1956 commemorated the 2ooth anniversary of the birth of Mozart. It was designed by R. Schober and engraved by H.T. Schmek. Recess printed. Perf. 14 x 13 ½.

This is an interesting picture postcard of the Port and Lighthouse at Alexandria in Egypt (c.1914). It was probably purchased in early 1915 by one of the vast number of soldiers stationed in Egypt, prior to engagements in places such as Gallipoli during World War One. Note the preponderance of sailing vessels and primitive steamers. [...]

Here is a splendid sepia-toned picture postcard depicting Sheffield Cathedral almost a century ago. What is particularly interesting is the double-decker tram in the foreground. One would have to be well-rugged on the upper deck in winter! External links BBC South Yorkshire: http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/panoramas/sheffield_cathedral_outside_360.shtml

TO and FROM is a tantalizing, new pictorial history of Poland as seen through the eyes of real people and their stories found on postcards.

This polar bear postcard was supplied by one of our contributors, Leigh Kinrade. It was sent to him by a friend from Svalbard, beyond the Arctic Circle. The polar bear stamp is tied with an Aalesund CDS and it also bears (no pun implied!) a pictorial postmark depicting a seal.

[Published by kind permission of the author.] The American fleet arrives at the head of Port Phillip Bay on its Melbourne leg in 1908. The eight postcards issued in 1908 to commemorate the visit of America’s “Great White Fleet” have a special fascination for collectors. These cards feature attractive multicolour designs which contrast markedly to [...]

The Queensland Card Collectors Society is “a club of approx. 100 members who collect postcards, trade cards and cigarette cards. Membership is mainly from within the state of Queensland but also includes people in most of the other states of Australia and several overseas countries.”

The West Australian Postcard Club interests cover “most paper ephemera including cigarette, playing and Trade cards, menus, sheet music, coasters, calenders, etc., but postcards are the primary interest. We have a magazine called Topics which comes out 6 times a year and includes a postal auction for all members.”

The Arizona Post Card Club is a non-profit organization. It’s purpose is to “promote interest in postcard collecting (deltiology) by encouraging the study, preservation and exhibition of postcards and related material; to cultivate mutual friendship and assistance among collectors, students and especially to encourge and assist beginning collectors.”

Postcard.org is a San Francisco based deltiological (postcard collecting) club whose mission is “to foster and promote postcard collecting in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and the World”.

The New South Wales Postcard Collectors Society formed in 1980 when “a small group of enthusiasts comprising collectors and antique dealers banded together to share their hobby of postcard collecting. Early meetings were held above the art gallery of Josef Lebovic at 294 Oxford Street, Paddington. The number of enthusiasts grew and meetings moved to [...]