How to look after your Collection – A Basic Guide
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008: FeaturesDavid R Beech FRPSL Curator and Head of the Philatelic Collections at the British Library Based on a Paper given at the 87th Philatelic Congress of Great Britain, Derby on 8th July, 2005 Introduction Many philatelists understand that they are the guardians ...
When an Auction is Not an Auction
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008: Features, InvestmentGary Watson. The essence of an auction is that two or more people compete on equal terms against one another to acquire goods for which the ...
Quality v. Quantity: No Contest
Friday, May 9th, 2008: Features, InvestmentGary Watson. Based on my 25 years experience in the collectibles market, I can confidently make the following statement. One of the biggest mistakes made by new collectors is to assemble their new collections too quickly. While enthusiasm for their new ...
‘Not Quite Right’ - When Defective is Better
Monday, April 28th, 2008: Features, InvestmentRodney A. Perry. There can be few pursuits outside of philately where imperfect items can be more sought after by enthusiasts than the perfect. While a printer would regard with a degree of mortification stamps he produced with an error such ...
The Selection of Investment-Grade Stamps
Thursday, April 17th, 2008: FeaturesGary Watson. There are three common misconceptions that cloud people's judgment when it comes to assessing the quality of classic and antique stamps. First, that all old stamps are valuable. Second, that anything that's old should be expected to have defects. ...
Philatelic Research at the British Library
Sunday, March 16th, 2008: Collections, FeaturesBy David R Beech, FRPSL Head of the Philatelic Collections at the British Library The three key elements of the Curator’s job are: to collect, to preserve and to make available. In many ways that of making available is the most difficult ...
Understanding the Elements of Stamp Grading
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008: FeaturesJude Koch. Stamp collectors are faced with a myriad of terms and symbols to describe the stamps they are considering for purchase. And when operating within a modern landscape of online dealing and often internationally thanks to the www, a further ...
The Philately of the Edwardian Era as shown in its Literature
Friday, February 1st, 2008: Features, Top Ten ArticlesDavid R Beech, FRPSL. A Paper presented on the occasion of the 88th Philatelic Congress of Great Britain, Renfrew, on 7th July, 2006. The Congress marked the Centenary of The Caledonian Philatelic Society. As this Paper is being given in 2006 no ...