Discover Topical Stamp Collecting For Fun and Profit

Gretna Green Topical Postmarks on First Day Covers

Today I will share with you a cross blog post that I wrote on Scotiana.com website (…) After reading Iain’s such informative article “Married at Gretna Green!“, I simply could not resist to google away in search of philatelic collectibles about this very unique romantic little town! Results from the Web were fascinating and I’m excited to feature some examples below: Great-Britain, First Issue of Occasions stamps, Set of 5 , 2001 On BFDC ‘s website (an acronym for Bradbury … Continue reading →

Great Photography Inside The Canadian Royal Wedding Keepsake Kit

Upon checking into the Post Office, I noticed on the counter a display advertising the “Royal Wedding Keepsake Kit”. This packet being sealed, I could not see what was offered inside. The postal clerk informed me that it contained a souvenir sheet of two stamps, a collectible postcard and a pre-addressed postcard that could be sent to the Royal Couple, Prince William and Catherine, to offer them best wishes. See images below. Inside this special Keepsake Kit is the … Continue reading →

Birds Stamps: the Yellow-shafted Flicker from the Woodpecker Species

Imagine my surprise when I discovered this morning a Yellow-shafted flicker woodpecker working out his nest in a dead branch of the maple tree in our backyard! Wow… I grabbed my camera and quickly shot this video. Click on the arrow below to check him out! He knows I’m there but still continues to peck… Isn’t he gorgeous? As you may guess, I immediately asked myself if this beautiful bird was depicted on postage stamps. 😉 I googled the term … Continue reading →

Netherlands Guilders Silver Stamp on Cover!

. When I went to pick up my “snail mail” today, I noticed in the pile of letters an envelope with a particular stamp on it… !?! . At first glance, its silver color got me thinking it was an hologram stamp, but checking it out more carefully revealed it was a stamp printed on silver foil. Imagine my excitement, as you don’t get this kind of mail every day! 🙂 . . I continued on the Web my investigation about … Continue reading →

Birds Stamps on Cover from Singapore

Inside my “snail” mailbox today, was this beautiful envelope from Singapore, bearing stamps from the 2007 flora and fauna definitive issue. Many thanks to the sender for taking time to affix these gorgeous stamps, avoiding by the same token, the use of postage meter labels. The Stork-billed Kingfisher, the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and the Crimson Sunbird stamps are so colorful! These stamps are part of the Flora and Fauna definitive stamps issued in 2007, consisting of 14 denominations ranging … Continue reading →

Las Vegas Statue of Liberty Shown in Error on USA Stamps

I came across Reuters web site today and thanks to Jonathan Allen ‘s reporting, found out that a stamp collector advised USPS that their recent First Class Coil stamp issue, picturing the USA Flag and Statue of Liberty, showed the Las Vegas replica statue instead of the New York’s landmark…! .. “The USPS has previously issued 23 other stamps featuring the Statue of Liberty, and officials said all of them show the actual statue — they think.” (Source: Reuters.com) What a great start for a … Continue reading →

Yuri Gagarin First Manned Flight 50th Ann Featured on Marshall Islands Stamps

On April 12 1961, aboard Vostok-1, Yury Gagarin navigates around the planet Earth in 108 minutes and finalize his great odyssey with one second in advance of the soviet engineers calculation ! “Traveling over 25 times the speed of sound, Cosmonaut Yury Gagarin made a complete orbit around the planet in 1 hour and 49 minutes. After re-entering the atmosphere, Gagarin parachuted to safety some four miles above Earth, bringing to a close the most exciting round-the-world trip of … Continue reading →

Life Picture Puzzle Features a Mosaic of Postage Stamps (Jigsaw Puzzle)

It’s not each day that we stumble upon a jigsaw puzzle featuring colorful worldwide postage stamps! That is why the above Life Picture Puzzle caught my attention, as it makes such a great gift for a stamp collector, as well as being a superb stamp collecting memorabilia or collectible item. This jigsaw puzzle also introduces a challenge : there is 13 differences between the illustration on the box cover and the finished puzzle. Can you spot the differences? (Answers on the back of the box 😉 … Continue reading →

Stamp Collecting In The News: Sunflowers Issue Reveals a Canadian Première!

“For the first time since the flower series began, Canada Post decided to take a different approach to securing images of the sunflowers that appear on these stamps. In the past, we had relied on various public farms and gardens, particularly those tended by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), as well as the expertise and generosity of various botanists, horticulturalists and gardening groups. This time, we once again consulted with experts at the AAFC’s Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, … Continue reading →

zPix 200 USB Digital Microscope for Computer Savy Stamp Collectors

A GREAT TOOL FOR THE STAMP COLLECTING HOBBY! Would you like to view a magnified image of a postage stamp or a stamp sheet right on your computer screen to spot check printing errors, oddities and philatelic freaks? You can do just that with the zPix (TM) 200 (MM-740) from Carson Optical. It’s a powerful Zoom Digital Microscope that connects to the USB port of your computer. With the impressive 26x-130x zoom magnification, you can now see details on stamps or any other … Continue reading →

Deepak Chopra Appointed To Manage Canada Post’s Vision of Postal Services

On the first page on the Canadian Stamp News that came in today, my eyes were drawn to the headline: ” Canada Post names new CEO” and the first sentence: “Canada Post has a new boss, Deepak Chopra..” What? Deepak Chopra?!!?? The author known worldwide for his books on the subject of self-development and wellness? Wow..did not know he had this type of business skills! When speaking to my friend over the phone, I announce the news and shared my … Continue reading →

Alderney Peter Pan in Neverland Stamps

Peter Pan Wendy flying to Neverland J.M.Barrie by Chas Buchel 1904

Alderney Peter Pan in Neverland Stamps Remember the classic tale of Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up and Wendy, the girl who runs away to the Neverland? The mischievous fairy called Tinker Bell, the brave Lost boys, the wicked Captain Hook and a very hungry crocodile…. ? I’m sure you do 😉 , as it is a story that has brought delight to generations of children and adults alike. Children of the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London … Continue reading →

Queen Elizabeth II’s Head To Be Chopped Off from Royal Mail Postage Stamps?

United Kingdom, the only country in the world to not carry the country’s name on their postage stamps, are faced with financial difficulties leading them to consider the privatization of the Royal Mail’s operations. Under the actual rules and regulations, the new owner(s) is not obliged to keep up with the tradition in place since 1840 of printing the queen’s head profile on the Royal Mail postage stamps. What a reaction that announcement caused when the news hit the media! Enough so, that members of the British Parlement … Continue reading →

Can You Crack The Code In Sherlock Holmes “Curious Case Of The Alderney Bull”?

For all “budding super-sleuth” and topical stamp collectors, I have quite a treat today: a mystery story and a philatelic premiere with.. The Sherlock Holmes Mystery Pack! This superb presentation pack was issued in 2009 by the Guernsey Post Office in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birth. “Where in the world is Guernsey?” Guernsey is a group of islands in the English Channel, dependent of the British Crown. Part of the Guernsey bailiwick and situated at the … Continue reading →

How Do I Remove Self-Adhesive Stamps From Envelopes? (Video)

The latest issue of the American Philatelic Society’s (APS) Special E-Delivery newsletter just arrived 🙂 and a frequently asked question in the “Questions Asked and Answered” section caught my attention: How do I remove self-adhesive stamps from envelopes? It is indeed a challenge! Since the issuance of self-adhesive stamps by worldwide postal administrations in the 90’s , stamp collectors and stamp dealers had to find techniques to successfully remove the stamps from the envelopes on which they were tied to without damaging them. It is therefore great … Continue reading →

John E. du Pont, owner of the Rare 1856 British Guiana Magenta Stamp Dies in Prison at 72…

John E. du Pont, famous stamp collector and philatelist, owner of the rare 1856 British Guiana One Cent Magenta Stamp (bought at auction for US$ 935,000) sentenced to prison in 1997 for the irrational murder of an Olympic wrestler, David Schultz, died in prison Thursday morning, December 8th, at the age of 72. “Mr. du Pont was found unresponsive in his cell at Laurel Highlands State Prison near Somerset, Pa., a prison spokeswoman told The Associated Press. “He had had some … Continue reading →