'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.
February 2008
All these News stories, and others, can be read in full in the February 2008 Philatelic Exporter
No early opening at Spring Stampex
Spring Stampex, organised by the Philatelic Traders' Society, will be held at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 (close by Angel Tube Station) from February 27 to March 1. As the earlier opening at the last Autumn show did not seem to encourage attendance the timings have been changed for this event:
Wednesday February 27 - 11.30 to 19.00.
Thursday/Friday February 28/29 - 10.30 to 18.00.
Saturday March 1 - 09.30 to 17.00.
Entry is free on all days. www.philatelic-traders-society.co.uk
Healthy Philatex near to full capacity
About 115 dealers, a quarter of which are from overseas, will once again be at the Royal Horticultural Society's Lawrence Hall, Westminster, London SW1, on Thursday to Saturday, February 21 to 23 for the first Philatex show of 2008. This is, of course, a week prior to Stampex, which many Philatex dealers also attend. Opening times are:
Thursday, 11.00 to 19.00.
Friday, 10.00 to 18.00.
Saturday, 10.00 to 17.00.
Admission is free. www.stampshows.net/philatex
Merger creates Feldman & Frey
David Feldman has merged his Geneva, Switzerland-based auction house with Dr Markus A Frey’s rare stamp trading company, based in Zurich. Together, they form the Feldman & Frey Philatelic Group, which will develop the ability to buy, sell, and hold the world’s rarest stamps while continuing the auctions which have set world records in every sector of philately for almost 30 years ...
British monarchy series launched
Royal Mail is embarking on a significant range of new stamps this month with the launch of The Houses of Lancaster and York, the first in a series of six annual sets entitled ‘Kings and Queens’, which celebrates the royal houses of the British monarchy ...
British postal rates up again
To reduce the losses - £178m last year, or 6p per item - generated by stamped mail, postage stamp prices in the UK are to be increased on April 7 2008, a year after they were last increased ...
Philanthropists are Australia's 2008 'Legends'
Five of Australia’s most generous and respected philanthropists will join the exclusive ranks of great Australians to feature on postage stamps in their own lifetime ...
Also ...
CISCo to BaCSCo
Vaccari News goes daily
Eastern Europe warning
Finland's 'Most Beautiful'
New Stonehamat Philatex
Finland to honour Räikkönen
Petition presented to Royal Mail
Machin exhibition returns 'home'
Shields moves nearer Melbourne
More images on BL philatelic site
Post early for Christmas - in India
"12,200" stamp dealers in the world
Breast Cancer stamp extended to 2011
French president's "passion" for philately
Scots want Commonwealth Games stamps
USPS announces Chinese New Year series
Flying start for IoM's first business customised sheet
Special features this month
The UPU publishes its world postal statistics for 2006.
'The Sign of a Reliable Dealer'.
King George VI faked cancels reappearing.
Regulars:
About People
20 people mentioned this month - What's happening in your life - tell the editor!
Around the Rooms
Auction action in the salerooms of Stanley Gibbons and Warwick & Warwick.
Auction Diary
Public stamp auctions around the world in February, and March 2008 are listed in the February 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, 1964, 1973, 1986, and 1997.
Crime Column
Four consignments missing in the posts.
New Issues
Hundreds of new stamp issues from around the world are listed in the February 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 February and March 2008, and international events up to 2010 are listed in the February 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
No Toning ... Blacklist the Charlatans ... Stamps Created for Collectors.
Have you got a view to express about any aspect of the postage stamp trade?
Fancy a moan, a gripe, or a groan?
Perhaps a complaint or compliment, a bouquet or brickbat?
Want to get something off your chest?
Then contact the editor.
From our contributors:
Tony Buckingham - Cover to Cover
All's well that ends well
... At that point, the big Post Office area boss, Gerry Hooke, arrived. “There is no need to get worked up”, he rallied as his PSR started retching again, “It always comes together in the end”. No sooner were the words out of his mouth then, as if by magic, the coach arrived and all was well that ended well ...
Also:
2008 - what sort of year will it be? ... RIP for yet another old stamp shop ... Investors in People ... Getting autographs.
Read the column in the February 2008 Philatelic Exporter.
O J Hill - Great Britain
The Twopenny Blues - sorted!
Many dealers are bewildered when trying to solve the problem of sorting Twopenny Blues by using the specialised catalogue, so I hope that the following hints may be a useful guide ...
Read the column in the February 2008 Philatelic Exporter.
Liz McKernan - Postcard World
Mystery of the man in the mask
On January 2 2008 there was a two-page spread in the Daily Mail featuring the story of Harry Bensley. Most people are not familiar with this name although if you were to say "The man in the iron mask" to any postcard dealer, the chances are they would immediately remember having seen postcards depicting this colourful character ...
Also:
Stamps and postcards amalgamating ... New Year Day confusion ... New postcard exhibition planned ... Judge's expanding ... Brighton 'Boomerang' ... Fair Diary.
Read the column in the February 2008 Philatelic Exporter.
David Rennie - New Books
All reviewed in the February 2008 Philatelic Exporter.
Les Winick - USA
APS survey shows 60% buy on eBay
Peter Mastrangelo, director of The American Philatelic Society, had an interesting column in The American Philatelist, January 2008, that may concern you as a dealer ... Here is another figure that surprised me since I didn’t realise just how big this trading site has become: 60% of members and non-members buy stamps on eBay.
Also:
Dress sensation ... Is it worth the effort? ... 3.8 million hits on SG ... Holiday planning ... Time to evaluate.
Read the column in the February 2008 Philatelic Exporter.