The Republic Stamp Issues of China (1927)
Monday, August 11th, 2008: "Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal", Articles, Asia, China, Philatelic Publications, Top Ten ArticlesFirst published in Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal (June 1, 1927) and written by Gordon A. Clayton. The Chinese have, for many centuries past, been in a very lethargic state of mind: their rulers have been able to overawe them, and ...
Stamps of Greece: The First Olympic Stamps (1896)
Friday, August 8th, 2008: Greece, Olympics on Stamps, Stamp Profiles, Top Ten Articles, Topicals or ThematicsThe first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in April 1896, and Greece issued a series of twelve stamps to mark the occasion. The designs, by Professor Gillieron, were based on ancient Greek art and architecture connected with the ...
Stamps of Monaco: 150th Birth Anniversary of Jules Verne (1978)
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008: Authors on stamps, Europe, Monaco, Stamp Profiles, Top Ten Articles, Topicals or ThematicsThere were eight fascinating designs by Pierre Forget, printed in gravure, celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of the author, Jules Verne and his works:
Stamps of Hong Kong (China): Panda Issue (July 1st 2008)
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008: Animals on Stamps, Asia, China, Hong Kong, Pandas on Stamps, Stamp Profiles, Top Ten Articles, Topicals or ThematicsHong Kong recently issued a set of stamps featuring a pair of Giant Panda cubs. The promotional material reads: "Le Le and Ying Ying, a pair of giant panda cubs, arrived in Hong Kong in 2007 as a gift from ...
Stamps of Poland (German Occupation): Hitler’s 55th Birthday (1944)
Friday, August 1st, 2008: German Occupation, Hitler, Poland, Stamp Profiles, Top Ten ArticlesWilliam Cochrane. These three blocks show the three issues commemorating Hitler’s 55th birthday. They were issued on April 20, 1944, for use in Poland, whilst still under German occupation. These stamps are inscribed "Generalgouvernement".
Slow boats from Danzig to China and back
Thursday, March 13th, 2008: China, Danzig, Germany & Colonies, Military, Postal History, Top Ten ArticlesGiles du Boulay. The message from Danzig on the back of this card is a simple enquiry: why has it been so long since we have heard any news from you? The writer’s anxiety may well have been heightened when the ...
The Lost Islands of Oceania
Friday, February 22nd, 2008: "Philately from Australia", Booklets, Kiribati, New Hebrides, Oceania, Philatelic Publications, Top Ten Articles, TuvaluJeremy A. Lifsey. Where did the Gilbert and Ellice Islands go? They’re gone. I can’t find them on current maps. I can’t find them in travel books. They’re in my stamp album and they’re in my stamp catalogue. So they must ...
The Royal Australian Navy in Zanzibar
Thursday, February 14th, 2008: Africa, Australia & Dependencies, Postcards, Ships, Top Ten Articles, ZanzibarWilliam Cochrane. Recently I was in a country bookshop and looking through a shoebox of old postcards. I started going through it, examining the reverse sides of the cards looking for any stamps of interest. Most stamps had been removed, but ...
Australian 1932 Postal Stamp Forgeries
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008: Australia & Dependencies, Forgeries, Top Ten ArticlesAlan Sparks. Many forgeries of Australia’s rare stamps exist and this forging is still going on today. For the most part, they are intended to cheat the collector but in 1932, there was an attempt to cheat the Australian Post Office ...
WIPA 1933
Saturday, December 29th, 2007: "Philately from Australia", Austria, Designers, Exhibitions, Philatelic Publications, Top Ten Articles, WIPA, ZeppelinsWilliam Cochrane. This piece of research began as a small article on the WIPA labels of 1933. But like ‘Topsy’, it grew! I was pleased to discover that the RSPV Library is fortunate in owning two of the very detailed WIPA ...