'The Philatelic Exporter' is the only independent magazine in the world for the international postage stamp trade, having been published every month since it first appeared in May 1945.

August 2008

All these News stories, and others, can be read in full in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter

London 2010 Bulletin now ready
The first Bulletin for international stamp exhibition, London 2010 - Festival of Stamps is now available ... www.london2010.org.uk

Bogus police raid dealer's home
Stock valued at £400,000 was stolen by two men posing as armed police after forcing their way into a Torquay dealer's home on July 21 ... They escaped with several albums containing stamps worth up to £5000 each, including Penny Blacks and other QV material. These are all shown on www.british-stamps.co.uk
The two men are described as being in their early 30s, about 5'6" tall and round-faced, and spoke with a Midlands accent. They fled in a turquoise Toyota ... Any information to DC Andy Devey, 01803 841589, crime reference FT/08/6034, or the PTS.

Prague and Vienna stage September internationals
Two major international philatelic exhibitions will take place about 250 miles apart in September: in the Czech Republic, Praga 2008 is on September 12 to 14, while Austria will stage WIPA 08 in Vienna on September 18 to 21 ... www.praga2008.cz and www.wipa08.com

Australia's third Olympic Gold Medal stamps
Having pioneered the process at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and repeating it at Athens in 2004, Australia Post will once again produce sheetlets of ten stamps celebrating the successes of all Australian Gold Medal winners at the Beijing Olympics on August 8 to 24 ...

The template awaits Australian Gold Medal winners.

President Bush at the ball game

President George Bush (second left), with country singer Kenny Chesney (left), Frank Robinson (second right), and PMG Jack Potter, at the Take Me Out to the Ball Game stamp ceremony at The White House.

Five decades of Regionals
Fifty years ago saw the introduction of the ‘Regional’ (as they were originally known, much later renamed ‘Country’) definitives. Royal Mail is marking the anniversary with a miniature sheet and other commemorative products. The sheet, to be issued on September 29 and costing £3.24, features nine original Northern Ireland, Scottish, and Welsh definitives, reissued as postally-valid 1st class stamps ...

Also ...

Situation wanted
Farewell to Thematica?
Beware Falklands labels
yourStamp extended to UK
Treat 'UPS' emails with care
Olympic extras recall London 1908
Nutmeg employees charged with theft
Michel discontinues 'Jahresinventur'
All Åland exhibition stamps in a pack
Zimbabwe issues $100,000,000,000 note
Royal Mail definitive products to be issued on September 29

Special features this month
112 years of Olympic philately - Michael Burzan.
Stafford show's stamp of success - Andrew Fowler.
Think positively: attracting new collectors to the hobby - Adrian Bradbury.

Regulars:

About People

News about stamp people from around the world.
What’s happening in your life - tell the editor!

Around the Rooms

Auction action in the salerooms of Cavendish, and Warwick and Warwick.

Auction Diary

Public stamp auctions around the world in August and September 2008 are listed in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

Auction houses
If you would like your public stamp auctions included in the magazine please let the editor have your 2008 schedules. For more publicity for your auctions why not advertise them in the 'Philatelic Exporter'? Contact our advertising department

Back Stamps

What was in The Philatelic Exporter this month in 1956, 1965, 1977, 1982, and 1997.

Crime Column

Missing in mail: Munich to London; London to Palo Alto.

New Issues

Hundreds of new stamp issues from around the world are listed in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

Postal administrations and/or agents
If you do not already do so, send to the editor details of your new stamp issues for inclusion in the 'New Issues' listing. For increased publicity, why not advertise your new issues?

Trade Diary

What's on in the UK and overseas - events in the UK in August and September 2008, and international events up to 2016 are listed in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

Event organisers
If you would like your stamp exhibitions or fairs included in these listings please let the editor have your 2008 schedules. For more publicity for your events why not advertise them in the 'Philatelic Exporter'?

Your Letters

Have you got a view to express about any aspect of the postage stamp trade?
Fancy a moan, a gripe, or a groan?
Or a complaint or compliment, a bouquet or brickbat?
Want to get something off your chest?
Then contact the editor.

From our contributors:

Michael Burzan - Europe

Austria produces fastest-ever stamp
Post Austria has set a world record for the 'Fastest printing of a postage stamp' which has been ratified by Guinness World Records. Only 2 hours and 5 minutes after the final of the Euro 2008 football championships between Germany and Spain ended - shortly after midnight on June 30 - a sheetlet of ten personalised stamps went on sale showing the champions Spain, some details of the match on vignettes, and the Guinness World Records logo in the sheet margin.

Also: The 'Great Gatsby' of Europa ... Criticism of French stamp programme ... More changes at Michel ... Finance ... Minister shows Heart for Children ... More 'golden oldies' from Liechtenstein.

Read the column in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

Liz McKernan - Postcard World

The Golden Age '1908: Taking you back a century'
This year's Picture Postcard Show takes place at the Lawrence Hall, Royal Horticultural Society, Grey¬coat & Elverton Streets, Westminster, London SW1 ... the Postcard Traders' Association has put together a major exhibition to recall the Golden Age. '1908: Taking you back a century' will display cards not only commemorating the year 1908, but also cards giving a flavour of the era ...

Also: Small beginnings ... The collecting bug ... A fair too far? ... June Puttick ... Fair diary.

Read the column in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

David Rennie - New Books

All reviewed in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

James Skinner - Great Britain

Concise concluded
In the second part of my review of the Stanley Gibbons GB Concise Catalogue I look at QEII, Errors, Regionals, Postage Dues, Officials, and Booklets ...

Read the column in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

Glen Stephens - Australasia

What is 'superb used'?
I often get asked how does one accurately value older stamps that are in far better than usual condition. It is a complex answer, and there is no real tried and proven formula, to be honest, as this column will attempt to explain in a little more detail. My big speciality is superb used Kangaroos. For nearly 30 years I have kept arguably the best stocks in Australia of these issues, and my five gradings I set up in magazine page ads in 1980 are still the ones I use, and are regarded by many as very accurate ...

Read the column in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.

Les Winick - USA

Hotel in the sky
Hotel designer Jean-Marie Massaud is planning to create a 690-foot Zeppelin shaped like a whale - Manned Cloud - with a luxury hotel attached ... It was on May 6 1937, 71 years ago, that the Hindenburg exploded over Lakehurst, New Jersey. Of the 97 crew members and passengers aboard 36 were killed in that explosion which abruptly ended the use of rigid airships in commercial transportation ...

Also: Attract the women ... Hobby cats holding up ... "Sell abroad" ... Deutsche Post top earner ... Huntin' and fishin' errors.

Read the column in the August 2008 Philatelic Exporter.