The Philatelic Database – Archive of Stamp Collecting Articles

This article tracks the first ten years of Chile airmail, from the inaugural pioneer official airmail services between Santiago and Valparaiso in 1927 to the subsequent links to the United States and Europe.

In 2009, the Finnish postal service depicted the traditional sauna in a five-stamp self-adhesive booklet.

The following article was first published in Australian Stamp Monthly (December, 1952) and written by Alec A Gavin. THE little Registered Label (R6 in P.O. phraseology) plays a very important part in a vital post office activity, and the collection and study of these items of Commonwealth postal stationery has attracted the attention of a [...]

The American Topical Association (ATA) has released a second printing of its popular Watercraft on Stamps handbook. The first (smaller) edition of the book has been out of print for several years. To honor multiple requests for the book, a second printing in an expanded size format has been made.

The National Museum of Reykjavik was 100 years old on February 24, 1963 and on the occasion of this anniversary the Icelandic postal authorities placed on sale two commemorative stamps.

This very attractive issue was designed by Pierrette Lambert and engraved by Eugene Lacaque. It was released November 7, 1991. 127, 000 blocks were sold.

This little hunt for butterflies in West Africa requires neither net nor mosquito repellent, so forget your pith helmet and take a relaxing look at the beautiful and exotic stamp issues of Gabon.

Let’s go back in time some 60 years. World War II had just ended and many countries were busily rebuilding their ruined economies. Family life was slowly coming back to normal after many years of privations during the war.

This issue designed by V. Pimenov consisted of two values: 40k. blue and 60k. purple. It features a carrier pigeon and celebrated the International Correspondence Week

This handsome 1d. red-brown and yellow green stamp was recess printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and depicted the Symbol of the Protectorate.

This 40k. black and ultramarine stamp designed by A. V. Zavialov was issued 20 May, 1960 and celebrated the 150th birth of composer Robert Schumann.

This attractive set was the third bird series issued by Sri Lanka May 18, 1987. Designed by G. Ratnavira and printed by Questa. Perf 14.

Given that we have just published a stamp profile on Laotian Butterflies, I thought this may interest our many topical collectors…

This attractive set of Laotian Butterflies was designed by by M. Leguay.

Astrophilately was born soon after the launch of the first ever earth orbiting satellite, the Soviet Union’s Sputnik on 4th October 1957, reached its peak during the Apollo mission years 1969—1972.

This imperf sheet issued for the NABA Stamp Exhibition measured 61 x 75 mm. 4 x 50c. red, black and blue. It sold for 3f and released March 11, 1971. It was designed by E. Schnell. (With a name like that he probably worked fast!). Printed typo PTT, Berne. A must for the stamp on [...]

This attractive issue was designed by E.Pizzi and consisted of three stamps 10l. yellow, lake and seoia, 25l. yellow lake and dull violet and 35l. yellow, lake and grey-black (pictured). It was released May 29, 1954.For information on Piux X, see the Catholic Encyclopaedia entry: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12137a.htm

Given recent events in the Vatican I thought this video quite apposite. It is the first film of a Pope and for collectors of Vatican stamps of some interest…:  

In my first year in junior high school I discovered a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandra Dumas at my local library. I still vividly remember how…

In 1909 ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev began to produce a series of ballets which were to bring international fame to the dancers Pavlova, Karsavina and Nijinsky. They have been immortalised on numerous stamp issues ever since.

Prior to 1938 there was little or no necessity for stamps since mail went to Denmark free of charge. Stamps were produced at Thule, the cryolite mines of West Greenland, and a linocut air stamp was produced in 1932 by the Universal Film Co. while shooting S.O.S. Iceberg on location.

Here’s another video from the collection  promoted by the American Philatelic Society: