'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.

January 2009

All these News stories, and others, can be read in full in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter

Presidential inauguration souvenir

To mark the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as America’s 44th president on January 20 2009, the United States Postal Service has produced this official inauguration souvenir ...

Jigsaw stamps piece together Darwin's theory
The bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth will be marked by six self-adhesive ‘jigsaw’ design stamps and a Galapagos-themed miniature sheet.

  

The stamps, to be issued on the actual anniversary of his birth February 12 2009, feature a portrait of the world’s greatest naturalist (1st) and a further five stamps ...

Grand tour of UK ends in Wales

Royal Mail’s grand tour around the UK comes to an end with 'Celebrating Wales', the fourth and final miniature sheet in its series 'The Four Countries of the UK' ...

ThematiX dates confirmed
Dates of the inaugural ThematiX fair have been confirmed as Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27 2009 ...

New two-day fair in Yorkshire
Elsecar Heritage Centre in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is the venue of a new two-day stamp fair on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21 2009 ...

Trafford splits sales
In 2009 Trafford Books is separating its book, postcard, and stamp public auctions into two sales, one for books and postcards, the other for stamps, postal history, and signed covers ...

This Ft100 stamp has been voted the most attractive Europa stamp of 2008, when the theme was 'The Letter'.

Also ...

Royal Mail to go Dutch?
APTA celebrates 60 years
Art of Disney in new book
USPS a ‘Most Trusted’ company
Philatelic Fantasy League Table
Spain asks USA to indict Greg Manning
Award-winning collections of Turkey on offer
Nearly half of Europe offers personalised stamps

Special feature this month

Exchange Rates of the Currencies of the Postal Administrations of the World.

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 Apex, Cavendish, Grosvenor, Warwick & Warwick, David Feldman, and Sotheby's.

Auction Diary

Public stamp auctions around the world in January and February 2009 are listed in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

Auction houses
If you would like your public stamp auctions included in the magazine please let the editor have your 2009 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 1953, 1963, 1970, 1982, and 1993.

Crime Column

Credit card scams ... Philatex losses ... Missing from Melbourne.

New Issues

Hundreds of new stamp issues from around the world are listed in the January 2009 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 January and February 2009, and international events up to 2016, are listed in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

Event organisers
If you would like your stamp exhibitions or fairs included in these listings please let the editor have your 2009 schedules.
For more publicity for your events why not advertise them in the 'Philatelic Exporter'?

Your Letters

Royal Mail compensation claim process is lengthy and aggravating.

Have you got a view to express about any aspect of the 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

90 years of Baltic issues
The three small republics by the Baltic sea - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - celebrated the 90th anniversaries of their first stamp issues at the end of 2008. After the Russian Empire broke up in WWI, they each declared their independence and installed their own postal systems. Many interesting sets were issued until they were reoccupied in WWII. Their airmail values with low printing numbers are especially sought after ...

Also:
More Austrian extras? ... Wanted: Liechtenstein's imperf ms 2008 ... Rapp record ... Spanish forgeries from 150 years ago ... Rockets and Zeppelins in January

Read the column in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

O J Hill - Great Britain

A new discovery?
Following on the theme of my article in the September PE 'You never know what's coming', I recently stumbled across a variety on a relatively common surface-printed stamp, the 4d vermilion (SG93/95). Although I have handled many hundreds of these over the years, this being the then standard postage rate to Europe, as well as being used extensively on telegrams, particularly plate 12, I have never noticed this variety before. The plate number on the right hand side features the two numerals which, being so close to each other, are actually joined in one place ...

Also:
Symmetrical beauty ... Void postmarks ... Black and Blue ... This credit crunch ... Be H.A.P.P.Y!

Read the column in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

Liz McKernan - Postcard World

Blooming Bloomsbury fails to be derailed
Although the celebrated Bloomsbury Postcard and Ephemera Fair now has slightly fewer dealers than in the past, it is still the most popular monthly fair in Britain for both dealers and collectors ...

Also:
Greetings from China ... Dear Mr President ... Nazi naval collection ... Expensive spinner ... Kangaroo connection ... John Jeeves ... Fair Diary.

Read the column in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

David Rennie - New Books

All reviewed in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

Glen Stephens - Australasia

Canberra, Casablanca, Cuba - Glen goes globe-trotting
Stamp-wise, 2008 was a very exciting and interesting year. Thanks to all readers for the many phone calls and emails with comments for, and against, what has been written here! I travelled a lot as always this year - over 100,000 miles. Full details and photos are on glenstephens.com/travel

Also:
Railways catalogue arrives.

Read the column in the January 2009 Philatelic Exporter.