July 2010
SCOTT 2011 STANDARD POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE VOLUME 2: COUNTRIES C to F of the WORLD. Scott Publishing Co, 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365-0828 USA www.amosadvantage.com Received 20th May 20109 ISBN 978-0-89487-449-9 $79.99 £56-50.
There is whopping total of some 30,000 price alterations in this volume, with some 10,000 of them relating to the China area including Taiwan. Gains vary between 5% and 20% and occasionally higher in the pre-revolution period which is very active, but only about 450 in Taiwan reflect the relative inactivity in this area. For the Peoples Republic there are modest increases in the earlier issues, but some of the se-tenant blocks, of Physical Exercises (for example), break this rule as do the Cultural Revolution era issues. A number of unissued items have been recorded and priced, at some remarkable levels, and more notes have been added.
Other countries showing many price changes include Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia and French Offices Abroad. These vary and the Editor in his introductory review highlights where and by what magnitude they may be found.
Scott is now listing stamps with different date imprints below the design separately, and this accounts for a number of new items, and some scarce items to check.
Cilicia has been radically updated to include and price the many Inverted and Double overprint varieties in the 1919/20 issues, and in this respect have stolen the march on both Gibbons and Michel.
A further 4 volumes will complete the series, but please note that in order to create a more equal pagination total in each volume the letter breaks will vary from the previous edition. (This volume is about 1500pp).
MICHEL ÜBERSEE-KATALOG Volume 1 part 2, MITTELAMERIKA (CENTRAL AMERICA), 2010 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 15th May 2010 ISBN 978-3-87858-799-6 €62. £62
The last edition, (see Exporter August 2008), sold out some time ago, and this latest, with the re-designed cover style, includes new issues for these countries, mostly to November or December 2009, but Belize and Nicaragua to July 2009, and Panama only to April 2008. It is still in black and white.
Prices generally show some increases, and the editor particularly mentions the latest Mexican Definitive series. There is a special listing of the long running Mexican Air mail issues to enable collectors to easily locate a particular item.
The Belize 1981 75c unissued item is now listed, (below Rotary International, Mi Block 31), but not priced.
It is still illustrated in black and white, and now stretches to over 900pp, in the new style binding and cover design.
MICHEL EUROPA-KATALOG Volume 1, MITTELEUROPA (CENTRAL EUROPE), 2010 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 15th May 2010 ISBN 978-3-87858-890-0 €54. £54
This latest edition with the new style cover design, (see Exporter July 2009 for previous edition review), includes new issues into 2010 for all the countries; January for Hungary and Slovakia, February for the Geneva and Vienna UN Offices, and March for the remainder. The chapter for Western Hungary had been fully revised, and rising prices here reflect increased demand from collectors from both Austria and Hungary.
In Switzerland, more quantities have been added for issues up to 2006.
The Czech Republic issues with blank labels attached are now priced separately.
Price increases are noted for other Hungarian interest areas, and also some of the early varieties in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The section about Expertisation is included, and also the list of specialists with contact details, and e-mail addresses.
THE COLLECTORS GUIDE (to FDCs): 1924-1970 The Sterling Issues Tony Buckingham, Buckingham Covers, Warren House, Shearway Road, Folkestone CT19 4BF www.buckinghamcovers.com Received 23rd May 2010 No ISBN £5
Despite the title, this 48pp A5 booklet only deals with Great Britain First Day covers for the Commemoratives issued between the 1924 Wembley Exhibition and 1970 Christmas sets, but unusually, and sensibly, also includes the overprinted commemorative issues for Morocco Agencies, Bahrain, Kuwait etc. It also includes the relevant Postal Stationery.
Tony provides illustrations of covers, postmarks etc, and prices as necessary, and since he is selling at these prices (when in stock) it is worth reading carefully.
There are additional notes concerning the issue circumstances and use of FD postmarks, especially valuable when dealing with Forgeries and posthumous items.
It’s well worth reading Tony’s article “Collecting Commemorative Covers,” though this is easily missed, being placed right at the end of the book.
Deadline problems and other items have conspired to make this a rush job, but nevertheless well worth obtaining a copy at this price, in the knowledge that a second edition will be forthcoming, after the volume dealing with the definitive issues has been published.
June 2010
FAKES, FORGERIES, EXPERTS Publ. Postiljone, Købmagergade 2, DK-1150 København K, Denmark www.ffejournal.com ISSN 1604-262X, ISBN 978-87-990127-6-3 £50
It is almost twelve years since the first issue of this respected journal appeared, and Knud Mohr in his Foreword reveals that there have been 469 articles written by some 370 different authors, three of whom, who wrote articles in the first issue, again write articles in this one. There are no less than nine first-time contributors to this volume.
The spread of interest is one of the key factors in the success of this journal, dealing as it does with stamps, postal stationery, postal history, postmarks, and does not shy away from modern fakes and forgeries.
In this issue GB is well catered for with articles about the Blue-paper Victorian high values, the EVII £1 “Lowden” forgeries, Medicine Tax items, and the modern Machin 24p, 2nd (class) forgeries including booklet items.
Further afield are articles about Faroes surcharges, Sicily “Bombas” , Brazil, Norway 1975-forgeries FDCs, Portugal 1926-28 Independence issues, Ecuador 1894 card, Philippines 5c & 10c of 1858-1862, Newfoundland 1933 Balbo items, and Hamburg.
This issue also contains full Subject and Author indexes to all 13 issues, and also a list of AIEP Members with their addresses and specialists.
The web site is well worth a visit since it repeats the Indexes, and provides short illustrated synopsis of the published articles issue by issue.
SCOTT 2011 STANDARD POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE VOLUME 1: USA, UN and COUNTRIES A to B of the WORLD. Scott Publishing Co, 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365-0828 USA www.amosadvantage.com ISBN 978-0-89487-448-2 $79.99 £56.50
Despite a relatively flat market, there are some 30,000 price changes in this volume, the first of the new 2011 series. Demand for better material and scarce varieties etc. remains high and this is reflected in these items showing increases. However, “demand for the more common material is quite lethargic” and some items show decreases.
The editors have taken the opportunity to look at some of the less volatile countries in depth, and in particular Argentina (4221 changes), Australia and the States (1273), Brazil (4173), Bulgaria (3963) and French Andorra (1085). There are about 4250 price changes in the United States listings, and the editor draws attention to some earlier classics, already adjusting since the USA Specialised was published, (see Exporter January 2010).
The page of Number Changes and Additions indicates a whole host of new varieties now being listed in countries such as USA, Argentina, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Bahamas, Barbados, Bechuanaland, Belize, Bermuda etc.
Stamps with year dates shown as an imprint below the design are now listed, and priced, individually.
New issues etc, mean that this volume now extends to over 1400 pages, but the price remains as before. Later editions will follow in due course in the 6-volume set, but note that the letter splits in volumes 4, 5 and 6 will be different to those in the 2010 edition.
MICHEL DEUTSCHLAND SPEZIAL 2010 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Volume 1 1849 – April 1945 ISBN 978-3-87858-050-8 €72, £72
Volume 2 May 1945 to date ISBN 978-3 87858-051-5 €72, £72
Last year’s edition (see Exporter June 2009) sold out quickly. This year may well follow suit. Now in full colour throughout, both volumes have numerous editorial amendments and updates.
In Volume 1, there has been a complete revision of the German Empire issues from Mi. no. 338, plus Bohemia and Moravia; with updated captions, valuations for upper margin pieces (flat plate/rotary) and lower margin pieces with HAN (job numbers), and better illustrations of plate flaws etc.
In volume 2 the Ulbricht series and registration stamps of GDR have been thoroughly revised. New issues are included up to April 2010 with many new colour illustrations. There are price changes in almost all areas! There are price cuts in the early years of Berlin, FGR and GDR, but there are some drastic price increases for Memel and Sudetenland. There are slighter price increases in many other areas, but with significant increases in specialized collecting areas such as proof prints, varieties, HAN, and rare sub types,
Volume 1 contains classic German stamps from the “Schwarzer Einser” of 1849 to the end of the Second World War: Old German States, North German Confederation and German Empire, Local issues of 1923, Foreign Post Offices, Colonies and ship post abroad, Occupation issues of both Wars, the Plebiscite areas, Belgian military post in the Rhineland; Gdansk, Memel, Bohemia and Moravia, General Government, Sudetenland, field post stamps, local issues, war and propaganda forgeries.
Volume 2 contains modern German stamps from the first issues after the end of the Second World War to the latest stamp issue in April 2010: including the Local issues of 1945, Allied Occupation and Zonal issues, the German Democratic Republic, West Berlin, Saarland, and the Federal Republic of Germany.
There are also survey tables of postal charges, and complete details of the Expertization Rules and Experts. Each volume is available separately.
ARTHUR MAURY: CATALOGUE de COTATIONS de TIMBRES de L’ex-EMPIRE FRANÇAIS d’AFRIQUE Edition 2010-11 Publ. Collections Arthur-Maury, 46/47 Passage des Panoramas, 75002 Paris, France www.arthurmaury.com ISBN 978 2918642-01-5 €34.90 £34
This is the first edition of this title produced by Maury after the union of Dallay and Ceres, and as the title indicates deals with all those former French Colonies in Africa. It is in full colour throughout with detailed and specialised listings including varieties, booklets and panes, Millesimes, and postmark information as well as historical and geographical notes.
It is a substantial paperback of some 986pp, and a real bargain at this price, when compared with the other title in the series dealing with the principalities and polar lands (reviewed in February 2010 Exporter) which only had a “mere” 670pp for the same price.
The original Dallay numbers are used, with the Ceres numbers shown in brackets alongside in red. In addition to the usual unmounted-mint, mint and used prices, many earlier items are priced as singles correctly used on covers. Varieties of all types are well illustrated when necessary.
There is much postmark information, with the French General Colonies issues being priced for each colony for the various early postmarks and cancellations in use. To aid the postal historian, there are numerous tables of both internal, external and UPU Postage Rates. There are useful area maps, which also show the main post office towns. The Morocco local issues are included. There are consolidated priced summaries of the various common designs or omnibus issues.
Of necessity to accommodate the huge amount of information, the font size is often too small for comfort, and the country individual introductory notes and histories are italicised which makes for tedious reading. Nevertheless, recommended; even if you can’t read French.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN STAMP COLOUR CATALOGUE 2010/11 (30th Edition) Publ. Tracinda Publications (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 413 877 Craighall 2024, South Africa. No ISBN. £52.
This is a quality paperback of some 380pp, with specialised listings, and with many price changes since the last edition. The un-named editor in his/her foreword makes several comments regarding the current markets, and future trends, for example; “Modern material across the board especially before 1995 has seen substantial price drops due to massive speculative quantities which overhang the market or previously inflated prices.”
Whilst demand for high-end varieties and rarities continues to inflate those items, the demand for general items, the poor value of the rand in the international currency markets, a continuing poverty of good designs coupled with too many formats “milking” the collector, see many items falling. Apparently only 4000 FDCs are now sold for South Africa, compared with 185,000 when they were at their peak.
The catalogue no longer lists single mint or used items where these are normally produced in bi-lingual pairs or units; has removed “sheets of 10”, maximum cards and privately produced items. Modern South Africa has been partially renumbered. Prices are now quoted without VAT. The used prices reflect the fact that many items are collected CTO rather than postally used.
Prices for the four provinces are untouched, but will be revised in the next edition.
The catalogue encompasses South and South West Africa/Namibia, the enclaves until name changes or independence, and the former Homelands, as well as the Rhodesias.
As well as postage and official stamps, and postage dues, the catalogue also prices FDCs, booklets, and many watermark and plate varieties. The Philatelic Foundation Miniature sheets of South Africa and SWA/Namibia are now listed and illustrated separately.
FARAHBAKHASH CATALOGUE OF 2010: THE STAMPS OF IRAN – QAJAR, PAHLAVI, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN. Publ. F. N. Farahbakhsh, 1399 valie-Assr.Amir Akram, Tehran 11336, Iran ISBN 964-91037-6-7 £21
The latest edition, (see May 2009 Exporter for previous review), of this well established catalogue includes all issues to February 2010. It is bilingual in Farsi and English in a user friendly 2-column format, albeit back to front according to western readers.
The early stamps are well documented with background information, including the Riester and Barre Essays. The extensive middle period with the many overprints is well covered, with some information regarding forgeries and reprints being given. The recent Personal and Advertising issues are included, as are the 1981 Parcel Post stamps. There are several pages listing varieties.
All stamps have the usual basic philatelic information and prices are given, for mint and used, and for sets, in Iranian Rials currency. For most issues after 1959, quantities printed are given when known. All stamp illustrations are in colour but at two-thirds actual size; overprints and surcharges are at actual size. It now extends to 480pp in the larger paperback format, and includes a perforation gauge printed on the inside front cover.
CUSTOMISED STAMP SHEETS of GREAT BRITAIN (2nd Edition) Publ. Ridgewood Publications, Ridgewood, Pine View Close, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 1RT. www.smilers-info.com ISBN 978-0-9555249-1-2 £24.95.
I reviewed the first edition in April 2007, when it came with a CD. This is a paperback in full colour, but with no single sequence of page numbers. This edition has been edited by Graham Howard, dateline Moscow.
The number of sheets illustrated is more than double the first edition, and many new issues have been added. The Chapter headings are: The Smilers Story, Generic Stamp Sheets, Customised Stamp Sheets, Business Customised Stamp Sheets, Themed Sheets and covers, (this section not priced), Commemorative Stamp Sheets, Smilers for Kids Packs, Isle of Man customised Sheets, and Universal Mail Customised Sheets. In addition, there are three Appendices dealing with Smilers Stamps, Publicity and Dealers.
There is a twenty page index at the beginning of the book, which by a combination of colour coding and matching coloured thumb edges throughout the book help the user to locate the required item, providing he knows what he is looking at.
The STANDARD CANADA PRECANCEL CATALOGUE (6th Edition) Publ Unitrade Press, Toronto, Canada M6L 2CF. ISBN 978-1-894763-35-6 $C18.95 £13
Although many pre-cancel catalogues and lists had appeared from as early as 1911, it was in 1947 that H. G. Walburn took over as editor of this title, and it was under him that the present editor James Kraemer worked on the first Unitrade edition dated 1988. That edition was just 52 catalogue pages, but also included Walburn’s informative introduction to pre-cancels, now omitted from this latest edition. The last edition was published in 2004
During the period between, much work has been done, new discoveries have been made, scarcity ratings adjusted, and also prices altered to reflect current market values.
The bar pre-cancels have a section to themselves, followed by the main section which is in alphabetical order of town or city, and then chronologically within that town. Also included in a separate section, and listed by town/city are pre-cancels, which additionally have company perfins.
A major innovation this time is the inclusion of an extensive section detailing known overprint varieties - not the inverted and double overprints which were, and still are listed in the main section - but the many constant varieties in the overprints themselves, such as broken bars and letters.
The whole now extends to 87 catalogue pages, and is spiral wire bound, illustrated in “faded” black and white to show up the overprint.
May 2010
MICHEL HANDBUCH-KATALOG DEUTSCHE FELDPOST 1937-1945 (5th edition) Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de ISBN 978-3-87858-156-7 €69.80. £66.90
This volume details all the Field Post Offices used by Germany during World War two, and also includes the similar items from the Spanish Civil War in 1937-1939. It includes disguised cancels, censors, locals, provisionals, and unofficial issues. The postmarks are well illustrated, followed by cachets, censors items, registered etiquettes, and numerous covers, all in black and white.
As to be expected there are copious notes, so a good reading knowledge of German is essential to get the most out of this title. It is also a catalogue and items in the various sections are priced as covers throughout. In addition to the detailed contents Index, and three maps, there is an extensive Bibliography, also a five language glossary of relevant philatelic terms. The back endpaper has a logistical diagram to indicate the routing of the various types of mail and office.
A fine case-bound hardcover with printed boards, and containing 480pp
MICHEL GROSSBRITANNIEN-SPEZIAL 2009/10 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de ISBN 978-3-87858-175-8 €69.80. £66.90
The last edition was published in 2003 (see Exporter February 2004) and this edition has been fully revised and expanded, not only to include the myriad of new issues, but by expanding its scope. It now runs to 908pp, over 200 more than that last edition.
I commented last time that there was potentially a very large market for this title in the UK, which would be better tapped by including English translations for some sections, column headings, even the foreword and introductory notes.
Among other material, I noted the early line engraved Alphabet Letters are all illustrated in tabular form; the individual Plate Numbers of the 1840/1 1d blacks and reds are all priced mint, used and on cover, and plate registration dates are given; a range of distinctive Maltese Cross cancels are illustrated; plate varieties of the Edward VII are illustrated; a very wide range of shades for the George V issues are listed and priced; Specimen and Cancelled stamps are priced; the Machin definitive stamps section occupies 140pp; Booklets occupy about 270pp; the Regional issues occupy over 50pp, and Postal Stationery about 80pp.
This is in the familiar (but soon to change) Michel linen-look limp binding. All prices are of course in Euros. Almost all illustrations are in colour, the exceptions being some Queen Victoria stamps, parts of the booklets section, and chunks of the Postal Stationery section.
NEW ZEALAND POSTAL NOTES 1886-1986: A Priced Catalogue 2010. Jack Harwood, 3241 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota, Florida 34235, USA. e-m: Jharwood2@comcast.net ISBN 978-0-692-00154-7 $45 (+ $4 postage in USA, $13 elsewhere)
The Money Order system was introduced in New Zealand in 1862, but it was not until 1886 that Postal Notes, (known as Postal Orders in many countries), were issued. This volume gives a brief history and background, and then extensive details for all the different notes issued, including British Postal Orders issued in New Zealand.
The author is a noted collector and authority, and has conducted extensive research both in the archives, including the Government Printing Office Postal Note Production Record Book covering c1906-1944, a range of Post Office Guide books and among other collections. Frustratingly, the earlier records are sparse or non-existent, so Jack expects new discoveries and information to surface as a result of this first edition.
There is so little published, that this paperback 130pp volume is a must for any collector of Postal Orders. It is nicely laid out with clear detail, and colour illustrations throughout. The items are priced in US Dollars.
Produced in American Quarto size, unfortunately the gum used for the perfect binding is brittle and cracked when the review copy was opened, with many pages already coming loose. I understand this is being rectified.
The King George VI Collectors Society celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. As a result of changes in its Officers and some stocktaking, a small stock of the last Study Paper number 15 JAMAICA, written by H. A. H. James, has been discovered. It was a limited edition of only 250 copies.
Published in 1999, this is a substantial 170pp A4 paperback, and deals with all the GVI period issues of stamps and postal stationery. Following a Historical Survey of the Printing Orders, Part 2 deals with the Definitives printed by the two printers, De La Rue and Waterlow. It takes each value in turn, and provides comprehensive details of the various printings, noting differences in papers, gums and shades etc. Separate Appendixes deal with Plate Characteristics, Booklets and Coil stamps. Positional Plate varieties, enlarged, are illustrated in black and white.
Following chapters deal with the Commemoratives and Postal Stationery, and there is a small Miscellanea section which touches on UPU Specimens and Perfins. etc. A bibliography is provided.
ISBN 0-9535075-0-5 £20
Please note that all the Michel catalogues above this point are produced to a new specification, the cover particularly has a much smoother texture, with cleaner text and layout.
MICHEL MÜNZEN-KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND 2010 Publ Schwaneberger Verlag GMBH, Ohmstrasse 1, 85716 Unterschleissheim, Germany. www.michel.de ISBN 978-3-87858-047-8 €19.80
This comprehensive catalogue includes the coins that are or were legal tender in Germany or issued by the German authorities for other countries from the introduction of the Mark in 1871 to the common European currency of the Euro. It includes the States’ issues, the Colonies, Danzig, Saar etc, as well as the pre and post war periods, DDR etc. The Euro coins for Germany and the other countries, that have been legal tender in Germany since 2002, are listed in full.
The issues of the five German mints are listed and priced separately, and also give the quantities minted. There is a detailed introduction including a list of metals and alloys, detailed definitions of the levels of preservation, descriptions of edge inscriptions, specification of diameter, weight and designer, also a numismatic lexicon.
There have been significant price increases in precious metal prices, and this and an active market mean some dramatic increases. Some mentioned by the publisher include the €2 coin “Gracia Patricia” from Monaco, German blister sets “Treaties of Rose” and “10th Anniversary of the European Monetary Union” etc.
The clear layout provides illustrations of all coins, both front and reverse, and details of edge inscriptions. It is now in full colour (i.e. gold, silver or copper) throughout, has a striking bright cerise cover in the new style, and almost 400pp.
MICHEL ÖSTERREICH-SPEZIAL KATALOG 2010 Publ. Schwaneberger Verlag GmBH, Ohmstrasse 1, 85716 Unterschliessheim, Germany www.michel.de Received 5th March 2010 ISBN 978 3-87858-048-5 €52 £49.75
Stamp issues are now included up to February 2010 and to March 2009 for Postal Stationery for Austria; the page extent is now over 630, but the cover price has been maintained.
The publisher confirms that stamp prices are rising, particularly for varieties and Plate flaws which are much in demand for all periods; however the Dalai Lama stamp remains at €6000.
There is detailed information on vending machine stamps, coil stamps, stamp booklets, stamp packages, registered mail stamps, supplement values, judicial stamps, private order stamps, postage due stamps, premium labels, fiscal stamps used for postage, telegraph stamps, fee stamps and newspaper stamps. In addition there are 90pp devoted to postal stationery.
This has the new style cover in orange
MICHEL SCHWEIZ/LIECHTENSTEIN-SPEZIAL KATALOG 2010 Publ. Schwaneberger Verlag GmBH, Ohmstrasse 1, 85716 Unterschliessheim, Germany www.michel.de Received 5th March 2010 ISBN 978 3-87858-049-2 €52 £49.75
The latest edition of this popular title includes new stamp and postal stationery issues up to November 2009 for both Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The overprinted stamps issues for the United Nations; and the Campione issues are also included.
It contains detailed information on forerunner and interim issues, definitives and commemorative stamps, as well as vending machine stamps, booklets, coil stamps, official stamps, railway stamps, “Franco” labels, franchise stamps, postage due stamps, telegraph stamps, hotel mail, military stamps, field post, internee mail.
The catalogue provides specialized information on varieties, plate flaws, type differences, retouching, special franking, proof prints etc.
There are many price increases, particularly for the stamps of Switzerland until 1912 and then recent issues from 2005: and also the issues of Liechtenstein of the last 6 years.
In this country the 2008 400 Year Anniversary of Karl the First, imperforate miniature sheet (Mi Block18b), which was newly listed in the last edition has increased already from €250 to €400.
There are now 618 catalogue pages, in full colour, and which also include indexes, tables of postal rates, details of expertizing services etc. This has the new style cover in orange
MICHEL ÜBERSEE-KATALOG: VOLUME 7: AUSTRALIEN, OZEANIEN, ANTARKTIS 2010. Published by Schwaneberger Verlag GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 5th March 2010
ISBN 978-3-87858-061-4 € 79.00 £75
This volume has been extensively revised since the last edition in 2005. It contains stamps of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Ocean (including British, French and American territories), and the South Seas including the Falkland Islands and Antarctic Regions.
There have been many changes and editorial corrections, and with the five year gap, large numbers of price changes mostly upwards, the publisher particularly noting the period from 1990 to date.
Booklets are now included for many countries, and a new overview table for Australian booklets. It includes Dues and Officials (both perfins and overprints, but not the South Australian Departmentals)
It is one of the thickest Michel titles with 1788 catalogue pages, including a full country index for the overseas volumes. As well as the introductory notes and glossary, there are two area maps. Well over 100,000 items are priced, backed up by over 20,000 black and white illustrations. This has the new style cover in purple.
VLASTOS 2010 in 2 volumes sold together (Volume 1 GREECE: Volume 2 POSTAL HISTORY) Publ Orestes Vlastos (Publishers) Ltd, Π ΝΙΡΒАΝА 9, 152 31 XAΛАΝΔΡΙ, Received 15th January 2010 No ISBN visible. £25.99 for the 2 volumes, not sold separately.
2 fine quality larger format paperbacks: Volume one 480pp in full colour, Volume 2 102pp in black and white. Both are bi-lingual in Greek and English throughout, and are accompanied by VLASTOS 2010 TINY a simple diary size volume, listing and pricing sets, with no illustrations at all.
In Volume 1, prices are given for mint and used singles and blocks of four, and used on cover, for the Large Hermes; unmounted prices are included from the Small Hermes. From 1896 prices are only given for mint and unmounted, fine used and used on cover. FDC prices are provided from 1924, but from after the war only unmounted mint, fine used and FDC prices are given. Set prices are also given, showing a discount off the sum of the individual stamps.
Shades and printing varieties on the early issues are well covered, as are imperforates through to the 1930s. These are now only listed with Roman sub-letters. The layout is clear and easy to follow.
In Volume 2 prices are given for the three main types of pre-stamp postmark for each office of use, on cover, and also some variants and Greek POs abroad.
Six types of postmarks are listed and priced for use on single contemporary stamps, for each office until about 1908, also type V used in the New territories from 1912-1916, and Telegraphic postmarks fro a similar period where these were located in post offices.
The is a separate priced section dealing with First Flights from 1916 through to 1997, in chronological order of the flights, including Zeppelins, which give departure and arrival dates as well as the company details.
HERMES 2010: Stamps of Greece 1861-2009, Cyprus 1880-2009 and Postal History Publ. Hermes Philatelic Ltd, 32 Thiras St, 112 52 Athens Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 9060-85681-2-9 €24 £24
This is a hefty 700+ pp paperback, in full colour throughout and an absolute bargain at this price. It is mostly bilingual in Greek and English, apart from occasional notes. It provides a wealth of additional information, including history and background notes; notes on the Large Hermes and later Olympics issues, lists new stamps up to October 2009, provides separate indexes of 1960-1996 varieties, 1972-2009 sheetlets, 1967-2009 booklets, 1978-2009 Miniature sheets, 1962-1998 Exhibition miniature sheets, and Post Office Vending Machine labels.
Free Greece labels, Mount Athos commemorative issues are included, as are the New Territories overprints on Italian issues, French Post Office issues, Thrace, Crete etc.
The Postal history section lists the offices and prices their marks used on contemporary stamps, including the New Territories, Corfu, Crete and Asia Minor.
Cyprus includes all issues to November 2009 Christmas, as well as miniature sheets, booklets and sheetlets.
BALE SPECIALISED CATALOGUE OF ISRAEL POSTAGE STAMPS 1948-2010, 22nd Edition. Publ Chariot Global Marketing Ltd, PO Box 10824 Ramat Gan, Israel www.bale-catalogue.com Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 965-90289-1-1 £75
This is a fine, if somewhat expensive, printed-board case-bound volume of some 288pp, in full colour throughout: however a new edition is not anticipated for several years. Careful reading of the notes regarding prices is recommended, and in the absence of any statement to the contrary I assume that these are still given in US$, as in earlier editions.
Chapters deal with the Interim Period, which includes JNF overprinted issues, Local stamps, interim postmarks and postal rates.
The Definitive Specialized chapter follows, which treats each issue in turn. This is pretty exhaustive and includes tabbing, perforations, papers, provides details of Serial Numbers, varieties including the imperforate between items, imperforate to the margin tab in all positions, plate blocks, etc.
Next, the chapter dealing with all Israel issues including the Definitives again in simplified form and the commemoratives, followed by a chapter on Sheets, and another on Machine Vended Labels.
There is an introductory chapter on Postal Stationery but the listings for these are carried on to the web site. The International Reply Coupons have extensive notes.
Finally there are sections of Postal Rates, including a “summery” (sic) and then more detailed tables, with destination specifics which are priced for plain or tabbed frankings.
April 2010
BENELUX: STANLEY GIBBONS STAMP CATALOGUE Part 4; 6th Edition. Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 27th January 2010 ISBN 978-0-85259-753-8 £39.95
Now with 389 catalogue pages in the larger “Concise” format, and with most illustrations for issues after 1910 in colour, this latest edition includes issues to October 2009 for Belgium; August 2009 for Aruba and Netherlands Antilles, but only to May 2009 for Luxembourg and Netherlands: (see Exporter September 2003 for review of 5th Edition).
There are new Design Indexes for Netherlands, and Netherlands Antilles, and that for Belgium has been updated. The Netherlands Provincials issued in 2002 in connection with the Amphilex 2002 International Exhibition are included and priced in their own section.
Since the last edition, prices have of course been revised for all the territories, but the Belgian Congo and Ruanda Urundi, which remain popular with collectors, show some very significant increases.
In Belgian Congo, some Perf. 15 varieties have been added to the 1910 and 1915 issues, and priced. In fact, apart from new issues, the only new varieties added to the previous listings, are in those two countries. Have there really been no new discoveries worthy of catalogue status, for any of the main countries in the last seven years?
The latest set of Guidelines to SG catalogues, and the International Philatelic Glossary are also included.
STANLEY GIBBONS COMMONWEALTH STAMP CATALOGUE: BRUNEI, MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE (3rd Edition). Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 978-0-85259-734-7 £22.50
Although this is the third edition, (the last was in 2004), it is only the first time I have had a copy for review. As with the other Commonwealth Sectionals, (are they going to number them?), the QV to 1970 detail has been extracted unaltered from the recent “Red Book,” but the later QE issues have been re-priced and extended in this volume.
There are 220 catalogue pages in full colour, in the “Concise” two-column format printed on non-glare paper.
The latest issues are February 2009 for Brunei, May 2009 for Malaysia, and August 2009 for Singapore.
Varieties added in various “red books” are consolidated here, and this includes the notes and listings of the thin striated papers used for some BMA issues overprinted on Straits Settlements issues and, also occasional Malay States values.
The publishers’ illustrations of varieties, often showing the relevant section of the design enlarged, have improved over the years, but there are still some where illustrations are required.
One area where SG scores over other publishers, are the listing and pricing of fore-runners such as Siam and Federated Malay States stamps with Kedah or Kelantan postmarks, and Malacca, Penang and Singapore numeral cancellations on Indian stamps.
The revised introductory notes are included, and also the multi-lingual Philatelic “Glossary;” (actually a Dictionary since meanings are not explained).
STANLEY GIBBONS KING GEORGE VI STAMP CATALOGUE 8th edition Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 28th January 2010 ISBN 978-0-85259-739-2 £34.95
This volume was one of the titles reviewed by me during the first few months after I started reviewing books for the Exporter (see Exporter April 2001) and indeed one of the first catalogues I owned as a schoolboy collector back in the 1950s.
The latest edition has been reformatted into the larger “Concise” size, and is now in full colour on non-glare stock. Prices are taken from the latest “Red Book,” and compared with the 2001 prices throw up some startling price increases during the period. It is worth noting that there are some sixty-five varieties now listed and illustrated, which were not in the 2001 edition. Many of the illustrations of these show enlarged sections of the relevant stamps, and the use of arrows greatly assists the collector.
SG seems to have rationalized the policy for carrying forward GV period stamps. For example the two shilling and three shilling Arms issues of Bahamas, and the Bermuda halfpenny, sixpence, and one shilling and sixpence values which continued in use well into the reign of GVI and were never replaced by GVI portrait designs are listed before the Coronation issue in those countries. The full sets currently in use at the beginning of the reign of the independent States (Indian and Malaya), and other territories such as Maldives, Palestine, Sudan etc. are fully listed, and the GVI collector then has all the information needed to decide what to collect.
Similarly the New Zealand 1936-1942 and South Africa 1930-45 unhyphenated and 1933-48 hyphenated sets are fully listed, however the Newfoundland 1932-38 pictorials seem to be the exception, with the new 48c issued in 1938 SG228c being notable for its absence.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the King George the Sixth Collectors’ Society and tribute is paid to Richard Lockyer, OBE, immediate Past President, who has contributed information about many of the new varieties in this volume. A special closed meeting of that Society took place at the RPSL on February 27th, when some six-hundred pages of material from the Royal Philatelic Collection were on display.
SCOTT 2010 CLASSIC SPECIALIZED CATALOGUE of STAMPS & COVERS 1840-1940 Publ. Scott Publishing Co., 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365-0828, USA www.amosadvantage.com Received 20th January 2010 ISBN 0-89487-447-5 $129.99 £87.50
The last edition won a gold medal at the APS Annual Stamp Show in 2009. This edition has some major editorial enhancements, exemplified by the requirement for no less than three pages of 6-column listings for new numbers.
Many new British stamps used abroad have been included for Gibraltar, Haiti, Hong Kong, Ionian Islands, Lagos, Macao, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
French Parcel Post stamps are now included and the 159 major numbers take up two pages; and there are almost 800 new minor varieties in the various French Colonies, as well as thousands of unmounted mint prices in this area as well.
There are some 240 new minor listings in Cilicia, 123 in Fiume and another 40 in Memel.
In the Indian States, Scott becomes the first major publisher to list the rare issues of Kotah and Tonk. Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi have also been revised. 25 Postal fiscals have been added in Russia, and Thrace has 8 new major numbers and no less than 140 minor lettered varieties.
Significant price reviews have been undertaken, with many new prices for unmounted mint in Hungary, Italy, in addition to the French Colonies already mentioned. Nearly all the Trident overprinted values of Ukraine have been re-priced. A further 15 countries now have listings and prices for on-cover usage including Chad, and other French African Colonies, Ethiopia, Crete, Greenland, Memel, and Vatican City.
A fine hardcover, bound in blue leatherette, with over 1250 catalogue pages.
211 DAYS IN SPACE: ANATOLI N. BEREZOVOY; THE DIARY, MAIL AND HISTORY. Dr Silvia Vaccari, Publ Vaccari, Via M Buonarroti 46, 41058 Vignola (Modena) Italy www.vaccari.it Received December 2009 ISBN 978-88-96381-05-2 €15
The adventures of Man's pursuit of flight and the Conquest of Space have always aroused great fascination in men's minds. Forty years after the first steps on the Moon, men still have an intense bond with Earth and the extracts from the diary of the commander of Elbrus mission, Anatoli Berezovoy support this.
Berezovoy was commander of the Elbrus mission on board the Orbital Space Station Salyut-7 from 13 May to 10 December 1982, and spent 211 days in Space. His diary is an intimate and fascinating account of his experience; shows the real human side of living in Space. He describes the sadness of the solitude and the distance from one's family; the weight of daily tasks and the worry over health problems: even a bitter description of the difficulties of surviving the breakdown of equipment on board and the misunderstandings with his flight companion and with those responsible for links between the Earth and the station.
Letters are important, and in several pages Anatoli expresses the joy he feels upon the arrival of the supply ships and the subsequent opening of the bags containing newspapers, magazines and mail. He lingers on the preparation of the philatelic material, letters, postcards and documents to be carried back to Earth.
The Diary itself was sold by private treaty late last year for an undisclosed sum. This 54pp A4 booklet, which summarises the events, and reviews the diary including extracts etc, is nicely produced in full colour. It includes a Biography and Bibliography. English or Italian editions are available, and the review copy came with a strip of the 1983 issue celebrating the 211 days in space.
MICHEL EUROKURSMÜNZEN-KATALOG 2010 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 1st February 2010 ISBN 978-3-87858-046-1 €6.90.
This annual publication now lists all the Euro coins up to end of 2009, plus some already announced Year packs for 2010. The format remains as before with the coins listed by value within which each year’s issue, and are priced in three grades of condition. Quantities minted are also given. German coins are listed for each of the five mints.
There are some significant price increases, especially for the 2 Euro commemorative coins because of high collector demand.
Another increase in page extent to 208pp, but the publisher has maintained the cover price for a third year in succession.
I am grateful to Vera Trinder Ltd, who provided my review copies of the following 4 titles.
NORGESKATALOGEN 2010 (catalogue of the Postage Stamps of Norway) 62nd Edition Publ Oslo Filatelistklubb, Frydenlundgate 14, NO 0169 Oslo, Norway www.oslofilatelistklubb.no Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 978-82-997618-2-6 N.Kr 375 £45
It is almost nine years since I had a copy of this title to review (see Exporter August 2001), and this latest edition includes all issues to November 2009. It is a full-colour quality paperback of some 468pp. There is a new Thematic Index, and the Cover table now includes the 1855-1909 period.
Many of the prose notes in the catalogue are bi-lingual with English, including the Foreword and the extensive Introductory Notes, (which include Printing Processes, Postmarks, Forgeries, etc.). There are articles dealing with the “Posthorns” from 1892 and stamp production at Knudsens to 1937; another when the contract was switched to Moestue in 1937 and the issues through to 1974; the stamp production at the Bank of Norway from 1962 to 2000, and also paper types from the 1990s.
There are also two long bi-lingual articles dealing with Forged postmarks on 1938-1985 issue; the Postmarks of 1845 -1855, then a third, in Norwegian only, dealing with the “Posthorn og Løve dyptrykk 1937 issue when the Photogravure process was introduced for printing Norwegian stamps, by Peer-Christian Ånensen.
There is an extensive Norwegian/English/German vocabulary which helps make the catalogue listings themselves easily available to the non-Norwegian reader.
Unusually, the prices listed are for “sale/exchange of single stamps between collectors.” Bulk prices or poorer condition items will be less; over the dealer’s counter, higher. The editors note increases for desirable items, but a slack, even falling demand, for general material except for modern used material, and classic FDCs. Recently a large influx of Skilling-franked covers indicates a buyer’s market for these items until they become absorbed.
Finally there are Tables of Postal Rates and a list of Philatelic Societies in Norway.
FISCHER KATALOG POLSKICH ZNAKÓW POCZTOWYCH 2010 (15th Edition) VOL 1 Publ Firma Handlowa-Usługoawa Andrzej Fischer, 41-902 Bytom, Rynek 11, Poland www.fischer.pl Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 83-88352-17-2 47zt, £16.25
This is the first time I have seen this title, even though it is the 15th edition. It is a 448pp paperback, with additional advertisements, in full colour and nicely produced, printed with a sans serif font on white non-glare stock.
The introduction and other notes are also translated into English and German, and there is a table of abbreviations with the explanations translated, (which also has French equivalents).
As well as the stamps to November 2009, it includes FDCs, miniature sheets, booklets, stamps on cover, officials, postage dues, etc. The lists are expanded to include perforation, paper, and watermark varieties; forgeries, imperforate issues, gutter pairs, tête-bêche issues, proofs, major colour and other errors.
Of particular interest to specialists will be the priced list of Polish Numeral cancellations found on Russian 1860 issues stamps, and also illustrations of Austrian and Prussian issues used on covers from towns now in Poland. There follows a detailed section identifying the various 1919 overprints including both overprint and plate varieties and later a similar treatment of the 1944/5 overprints. Plate varieties throughout the book are usually illustrated enlarged in a magnifier motif to aid identification.
Throughout the volume there are yellow background blocks of notes below each issue with additional information.
An extensive 35pp text section in Polish only, provides much additional information about the stamp’s subject, particularly people. Further sections provide details of Postal Rates, Cross-reference to Michel numbers and details of philatelic dealers in Poland.
CHINESE STAMP CATALOGUE ILLUSTRATED IN COLOURS 2010 Publ. Japan Philatelic Society Foundations, Mejiro 1-4-23, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo 171-0031, Japan http://yushu.or.jp Received 15th January 2009 ISBN 978-4-88963-714-4 Ɏ2000E £22.75
This deals only with the stamps of the Peoples’ Republic, in a handy pocket size paperback of some 338pp, and includes all the issues from October 1949 to October 2009, illustrated in full colour at half size. The post hand-back issues of Hong Kong and Macau are also included.
This is produced for Japanese collectors but the stamp titles throughout are also in English. It provides prices, in Yen, for mint and used (but note “used” here, means “cancelled to order”), and for FDCs.
Some tables of Postal Rates are also provided.
The AUSTRALIAN COLONIES STAMP CATALOGUE 2nd Edition Publ Seven Seas Stamps Pty. Ltd. 5/7 Clearview Place, Brookvale, NSW 2100 Australia www.sevenseas.co.au Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 0-9591933-3-2 £10
This handy A5 booklet is a useful first guide to the stamps of the pre-federation States. There is an informative introduction dealing with the early postal history of the individual colonies; then two pages illustrate all the watermarks.
Each State is dealt with on a simplified basis, but includes distinct colour differences, coloured papers, different colour overprints for the Officials. Postage Dues and Postal Fiscals are also included. Useful notes below each issue flesh out the basic information as necessary.
For only 37 catalogue pages it is a bit pricey, even allowing for the full colour printing throughout.
March 2010
SICILIA 1859: Comparative Plates of Stamps Paolo Vaccari. Publ Vaccari s.r.l. Via M Buonarroti 46, 41058 Vignola (Modena) Italy www.vaccari.it Received November 2009 ISBN 978-88-96381-01-4 €140
Many collectors recognise the distinctive portrait of King Ferdinand II, and the even more idiosyncratic deferential cancellations, known popularly as “horseshoes” but, looking more like the frame of a decorative mirror, found on the stamps of Sicily.
Some will know him as King Bomba, a nickname given to him when the shelling of Messina continued for hours after the rebels had surrendered, in 1848.
It is just over 150 years since these distinctive stamps were issued, and 105 years since the milestone of Emilio Dienna’s great treatise on them was published in 1904, copies of which are like the proverbial hen’s teeth. Even the later 1969 reprint, and Enzo Dienna’s 1989 Italian version are difficult to find, and little more in detail has been published in the interim, a tribute in fact to the great philatelic expertise of Emilio and the quality of the original research and publication.
This exceptional volume and its folio of colour plates, now brings the study of these stamps into the 21st Century with superb stochastic colour printing, and analysis of the plate varieties and characteristics for each of the now fifteen plates, (the original only dealt with thirteen), used to produce the seven values. The folio contains the fifteen plates showing a complete sheet on each.
The extensive introductory pages to the book provide a Preface, Presentation details, historical and design details, before going on to deal with each plate individually. Nearly eighty pages are then given over to a detailed analysis of each plate, which are each treated in four blocks of twenty-five impressions, with many additional individual illustrations of the plating flaws and characteristics. The major plating flaws’ details are then listed, and the sheet positions where they may be found. There are additional notes on the printing and colour variations as appropriate.
There is a small bibliography, which by its nature shows how limited are the resources for the collector wishing to study these issues.
The two volumes are housed in a fine printed slip case, and are available in English or Italian editions.
ABERDEEN PHILATELIC SOCIETY 1910-2010: A History of Philately in Northeast Scotland. Jeffrey Stone, Publ Aberdeen PS. Received 5th December 2009 ISBN 978-0-9509891-1-2 £12 (+ £1.50 p&p).
At the height of its popularity in the 1950s, over 300 collectors were members of this society: now there are only about half this in total for the 4 societies in the whole of the Grampian area: a situation, which is probably true of most societies and areas, so it is important to record a Society’s history, especially when reaching the centenary milestone.
This informative volume of nineteen chapters covers such topics as places to meet and the agenda for meetings, the library, the exchange packet, auctions, membership, the achievements of its members on the national scale and the participation of the Society in the wider philatelic scene in Scotland.
It also records the names of all those members who have held official offices in the Society: Presidents and Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers and Packet Secretaries of course, but also the less often recorded: Auctioneers, Publicity, Library, Archives and Newsletter Editors etc. The Permanent Exhibitions Supervisor disappeared in 1983, the Junior Superintendent even earlier in 1972.
This 165pp paperback includes numerous illustrations of people, events, programmes and other ephemera, many of them in colour, made possible by financial support from the British Philatelic Trust, and Awards for All Scotland.
SCOTT CATALOGUE of ERRORS on U.S. POSTAGE STAMPS (15th Edition). Edit. Stephan R. Datz. Publ. Scott Publishing Co, 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365-0828 USA www.amosadvantage.com Received 1st December 2009 ISBN 978-0-89487-459-8 $49.99
It is three years since the last edition was published (see Exporter February 2006), and this edition sees some important changes and updates.
The Imperforates section is mainly as before, but there is now a separate section for Error-Like imperforates, in which are now found items such as imperforate plate proofs, and clandestine issues not sold over the Post Office counter and the like.
The other main sections are Colour-Omissions, for which the latest entry is the August 2008 un-denominated Bell pane from the Forever Booklet, and which also includes Postal Stationery: Inverted Centres which also includes Revenues; and Printers’ Waste.
There are more than 100 new listings, including some older items going back to the 1912 7c Washington irregular imperforate block salvaged from the printer’s waste.
The prices have been revised in the light of recent market and auction realizations, and further information is provided via footnotes to many items concerning condition and provenance of certain items. Prices are also given for blocks or usage on cover, where appropriate.
Commenting on prices, the editor notes that modern errors have fallen away slightly, probably due to the present financial climate, but that the classic key items continue to soar ahead, especially for those copies in top-grade condition.
This is a good quality 218pp paperback, in full colour throughout, if a bit expensive.
MICHEL INTERNATIONALES TASCHENBUCH DER POSTGEBÜHREN (Pocket Book of Postage Rates) Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 2nd December 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-177-2 €19.80
This handy pocket size volume includes the popular German collecting areas beginning with German Empire and also mail to France, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland and United States.
It includes postage rates for covers, printed matter, postcards and the more popular, ad-on services such as registered letters, express mail, registered letters with return receipt and late fees for delay.
The rates for local service, for national long distance service and for international service are noted for each country in similar order: letters, printed matter, postcards and then the additional services.
The listings are in chronological order within each category, beginning from the date the service was first offered. International fees are listed from the date the individual country entered the Universal Postal Union.
Newcomers in collecting covers will find this a handy first guide, while advanced collectors of letters will have a quick reference to postage rate periods and dates of change.
There is a small bibliography.
MICHEL JUNIOR-KATALOG 2010: Der Kleine Deutschland-Katalogu in Farbe) Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 2nd December 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-843-6 €9.95. £9.50
The latest edition follows the revised format of the previous edition, but has some additional information to assist collectors. The addition of stamp sizes will enable the correct mount to be selected. There are now three summaries for year sets of GDR, Berlin and FRG with catalogue price sums and an additional price column based on dealers offers for complete year sets. There are also summary tables of the modern definitive sets to enable quick location and pricing.
The editor comments that there have been numerous “and sometime high price changes.” This is expecially true for the highly-active market for Plebiscite Zones, Gdansk, and Memel, but there are also inescapable price reductions for post-war issues from 1949 to 1955.
It contains classic States and modern German stamps from 1849 to November 2009, German Empire:- Foreign POs, Colonies, Occupation issues of both wars, Plebiscite areas with Saar, Gdansk, Memel, Bohemia and Moravia, General Government, Sudetenland, also Field Post Stamps, Local issues, and Allied Occupation Zonal issues.
Graham
I have included a sample page, downloaded from Michel’s blurb, which might make a change from just the covers.
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STANLEY GIBBONS COMMONWEALTH SIMPLIFIED STAMP CATALOGUE 2010 Edition Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 978-0-85259-743-9 £55.95
Apart from the SG GB Concise, this is probably the one single catalogue most suitable to grace the library shelves of a local society, covering as it does the most popular collecting areas. The latest issues included are usually for 2008, but sometimes into 2009, for the majority of issuing countries. Even at a club discounted price, it is not cheap, but on past evidence will have shelf life of several years; (the last edition was published in early 2007).
It contains all the Commonwealth issues as listed in the recent Stamps of the World catalogues, (see Exporter Dec 2009). The publishers advise that almost one third of the items listed in the previous edition have been re-priced, and there are now almost 26,000 full colour illustrations. Descriptions have also been enhanced to make the volume more useful to thematic collectors.
The catalogue order has been reorganised, so that the Territories and States, (Indian and Malayan), are listed within their main country listings, albeit it that this still produces a few annoying anomalies such as New Guinea and Papua after Australia, and Papua New Guinea in its correct alphabetical position.
As with the SoW, the newly revised Introductory Notes, multi-language Glossary (they mean Dictionary), and the new How to Identify Stamps sections are all included at the front in a 40pp section before the main catalogue, which itself now occupies almost 1300pp. The Contents list is on page “v” and there is a volume index to the full Stamps of the World catalogue at the end.
I was pleased to see that the full list of sectionals is now included, though this is immediately rendered out of date by the arrival in the same parcel of the new 4th edition of the Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore catalogue, (which I will review next time).
THE DIRECTORY: INTERNATIONAL STAMP TRADERS’ DIRECTORY & HANDBOOK 1st edition 2010 Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 15th January 2010 ISBN 978-0-85259-729-3 £9.95.
This claims to be the first edition, but Graham Phillips, Editor of the Exporter, mentions the 1996 edition in his Foreword, though not then published by SG. There is of course the annual IFSDA Handbook of Dealer Associations and their members: that is ordered by the country of the Association and lists all paid-up members of that individual Association irrespective of their location.
This volume is presented differently, so that the dealers are presented by their area of location, which are divided as follows: Africa; Asia & Middle East; Australia & New Zealand; Canada; Europe; Latin America; UK, and finally USA. Most areas are also divided between Dealers and Auctioneers.
There are indexes by Company Name; Specialists in Postal History; Retailers; Thematics, and Accessories/Publications. There is also a list of Societies and Associations, mainly specialist or national groups.
In total there are some 1200 stamp dealers listed, but this is really a small proportion of the total numbers who trade around the world, and presumably entry is left to the dealer to make his presence known. Many dealers, who have done this, have taken additional space to expand on their Specialities and background in order to give the reader a better idea of what they can offer, rather than just being a name in a Handbook.
It’s useful, but there is plenty of scope for expansion both in numbers of dealers and in the width of coverage, especially when compared to the information already on the internet.
My review copies of Malta, Canada and Jury’s New Zealand were kindly provided by Vera Trinder Ltd.
The JB CATALOGUE of MALTA STAMPS & POSTAL HISTORY 2010 (20th Edition) Publ. Sliema Stamp Shop, 91 Manwel Dimech St, Sliema, Malta SLM2005 www.sliemastampshop.com.mt Received 12th November 2009 No ISBN. €16, £15
This catalogue is of course the price list of the island’s major stamp shop. All stamps and miniature sheets issued to September 2009 are included. Prices are for lightly mounted mint to GV, unmounted mint for GVI and QE, and for fine used throughout.
All the major collectable items are included: Year Packs, FDCs, Sheetlets of 10, Postal and Maximum Cards, GB stamps used in Malta, Village Postmarks (though this section has been omitted from the contents page), Special Hand-stamp cancellations, Specimen Stamps, major varieties
Comparison with the last edition (see Exporter March 2008) reveals that many mint prices and some used have been reduced; probably more to do with the strong Euro, than any reduction in demand in the market. By comparison, however, many modern FDCs go up in price.
Major varieties, especially for Queen Victoria to King George the Fifth items such as Double Overprints and Watermark varieties show significant, even spectacular increases.
Since the first inclusion of the Malta Revenue stamps in the last edition, there has clearly been a lot of interest in these issues. There are major price changes, both up and down.
The Postal Stationery sections, particularly the Queen Victoria items also show price changes. However the sections for First Flights, Zeppelins, Balloon flights, Disinfected mail, Village postmarks, Postman’s Hand-stamps all seem unaltered.
This good quality paperback of 244pp in full colour throughout, is an essential volume for serious collectors of this island, and well worth the cover price.
The UNITRADE SPECIALIZED CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN STAMPS 2010 Publ Unitrade, Toronto, Canada M6L 2CF. Received 12th November 2009 ISBN 978-1-894763-34-9 $C42.95 £25
My last review of this title was for the 2006 edition (Exporter December 2005), so it is not surprising that this has been expanded by some 65pp to accommodate new issues until July 2009, plus some new sections.
The Introduction has been expanded, particularly in the items relating to Grading, Tagging, Pre-cancels, and Errors & Freaks. All users are recommended to read this Introduction before using the catalogue.
New sections include UN stamps with Canadian currency, Uncut Press Sheets, and Special Event Covers. There is now a Topical Listing in summary form, which is “work in progress” and eventually will become a Design Index. There is also a Definitive Stamp Identifier, enabling the user to find the particular definitive set more easily by its Scott numbers.
Although the editor comments that prices have generally remained static, it is clear that the demand for top grade early and classic material, especially in very fine lightly mounted condition is continuing with many of these being marked upwards. The same comment applies to varieties, and also Proof material. In this respect, many new illustrations of listed varieties are now included, making these easier to identify.
All the Provinces are included, as are the sections devoted to Four and Two-Ring Cancels, and Squared Circle Postmarks. There is a 25pp section dealing with Canadian, and a small section for Newfoundland Postal Stationery. Reply Coupons are also included. Canada Post Souvenir items, Annual Collections, Thematic Collections occupy several pages.
Page edges show the date ranges or products making location easier, and a new and very useful innovation, is the bottom edge basic postage rate designation – “48ȼ/65ȼ/$1.25 era (2002-2003) (for example).
A substantial wire-coil bound quality paperback in large format, in full colour throughout. Recommended.
LEN JURY CATALOGUE OF NEW ZEALAND STAMPS 2010 (40th Anniv edition). Publ Len Jury, Box 4400, Auckland 1140, NZ www.lenjury.com Received December 2009 ISBN 941-6421-13026-3 £6
A.C.S. NEW ZEALAND STAMPS 2010 (33rd Edition). Publ. Auckland City Stamps, David Holmes Stamp Dealer, PO Box 27646, Auckland 1440, NZ. www.aucklandcitystamps.co.nz received January 2010, ISBN 941-6973-19980-0 $NZ10 £5
These two publications arrived more or less at the same time and are very similar in format, both being A5 booklets with 96pp and 100pp respectively. Both are full colour throughout and are the respective dealer’s price list when published.
Price comparisons are difficult especially for the early stamps through to GV, since condition parameters vary, and so to, do the add-on premiums for well-centred copies. Both catalogues are simplified listings only with no acknowledgement to different perforations, watermarks, dies and plates etc.
It is no part of this reviewer’s function to recommend one dealer over another: my review of comparative prices over a wide range of issues from GVI onwards, showed variances up and down on both sides, even for different conditions, (UM or FU), of the same set.
Both dealers give discounts for ordering above a certain total cost, and Len Jury offers a monthly prize draw, as well as a one off annual draw for all orders, the prize being a 1996 Teddy Bear UM.
The layouts inside follow similar patterns with officials listed after the appropriate postage issues, which also show miniature sheets and FDC prices; however the ACS prefers to list the Health and Xmas issues in separate dedicated sections.
Both catalogues include Ross Dependency.
Feb 2010.
ITALY & SWITZERLAND: (STANLEY GIBBONS STAMP CATALOGUE Part 8); 7th Edition. Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 2nd December 2009 ISBN 978-0-85259-718-7 £42.50.
Almost six years to the day since the last edition, this latest is now in the larger “Concise” format, which actually means a slight reduction in the page extent, now at 475pp. Issues for Italy and Liechtenstein are included up to June 2009; San Marino, Switzerland, UN Geneva office and Vatican City to May 2009.
New design indexes are now included for Liechtenstein and San Marino, and those for Italy and Switzerland have been revised and extended for the new format.
Italian States, Colonies to independence, Post Offices and other interest areas, such as Fiume, Trieste etc, are covered extensively.
With such a long gap between editions, it is not surprising that some 90% of the prices have been revised since the last edition, and there are now almost 5000 illustrations, mostly in colour, but the 19th Century issues are still mainly in black and white.
The latest five-language “Glossary” is included, though in fact it is a Dictionary, since no explanations are given. Rather foolishly the full page tear out questionnaire is printed on the verso of the last page of the Vatican City listings, though a copy can be obtained via e-mail on request.
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COLLECT BRITISH STAMPS 2010 (61st edition); Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 2nd December 2009 ISBN 978-0-85259-736-1 £12.95
The latest edition has been completely re-set, and is now published in the larger “Concise” format. This change actually means a slight reduction in page extent, now 194pp plus the introductory sections, but a £3 increase in cover price. Still good value at this price
It includes the latest November Christmas 2009 issue.
The Commemorative Design Index (still split between £sd and £p issues), has been updated and revised for the new format, and sensibly appears at the beginning of the book.
The introductory section has been revised and now includes advice on how to build a collection and look after it, how to understand catalogue pricing, and what may make a stamp valuable, and how to follow SG numbering system and catalogue layout.
It also contains a useful introductory article on the Machins, including design and technical changes, the latest measures taken to prevent forgery and re-use of un-cancelled stamps.
Jennifer Flippance, the Project Officer for the London 2010 Festival of Stamps has contributed an article detailing the thinking behind this year-long event, and the particular events taking place as part of it.
Although this is a basic catalogue, it does cater for watermark and perforation differences, as well as listing the visible plate number different QV issues. It does include Postage Dues and Officials, as well as Regional issues. It also prices Presentation Packs, First Day Covers and PHQ Cards, and additionally the Year Packs, Year Books and Miniature Sheet Collections. Gutter pairs and Traffic light gutter pairs are priced where collectable. Prices appear to remain in line with the basic issues in the “red book,” or the “Concise.”
Nine Philatelic Numismatic and Medallic covers were issued in 2009 (2 more than in 2008), and the minimum price for any item in that section going back to 1993 is still £20!!
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COLLECTING BRITISH FIRST DAY COVERS 2010: 29th edition. A. G. Bradbury, 3 Link Road, Stoneygate, Leicester LE2 3RA www.bfdc.co.uk Received 8th December 2009 ISBN 978-95407-10-8-0 £14.75
Subtitled “the complete guide to the variety of first day covers and postmarks available for each Royal Mail stamp issue,” this latest issue includes the stamps to October 2009. Naturally the major section deals with the Commemoratives and Special issues, but the Definitives section is equally as complete with sub-sections for booklet panes, coils, Regionals, Postage Dues etc. etc.
Not all the variations of postmarks/covers can be illustrated in the book, but these can be seen, and down-loaded at the publisher’s web site www.bfdc.co.uk/postmarks, which is fully searchable. However the lists themselves remain fully comprehensive with the prices given in two columns, (plain or illustrated covers for earlier items, ordinary or official/sponsored covers from 1967.) Phosphor and non-phosphor prices are also given side by side.
The publisher, though not a retail dealer tries to indicate realistic prices for all the latest commemorative issues, including various price ranges as appropriate. A quality paperback, now with 260pp, and excellent value at the same cover price as the previous edition.
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MICHEL FAR EAST CATALOGUE Part 9, Volume 2: 2010 (Japan, Korea, Mongolia etc.) Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 2nd December 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-795-8€52. £49.75
Set of 2 volumes 1 & 2 £85.00
Volume 2 has been extended by the inclusion of the former Russian Republics which are located in this region, namely: - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nogorno-Karabakh, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
In addition the pricing for South Korean FDCs now goes back to 1967. More booklets are also included.
Japan issues are listed to September 2009 (and include extensive listings of the WWII Japanese Occupation issues of South East Asia), North Korea and Uzbekistan issues to August 2009, Armenia to July 2009, Azerbaijan to June 2009, South Korea and Mongolia only to April 2009, and Georgia only to March 2009.
There have been the usual editorial revisions, and as a result the page extent now reaches 1192pp
Many prices are higher than the last (2008) edition, especially the former Soviet Republics.
The whole is still in black and white
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MICHEL CEPT-KATALOG 2010 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 2nd December 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-888-7 €44. £
This remains the reference work of choice for specialists of the Europa issues. Aside from the main CEPT issues, the catalogue also includes forerunner issues, official stamps for the Council of Europe, EFTA, Helsinki Accords and NATO issues, the Scandinavia joint issues and Europe issues as well as the stamp issues celebrating 50 years of Europe Stamps.
There were sixty-three issuing authorities for the main Europa issues during 2009, (Georgia’s last issue was in December 2008).
The catalogue listings follow the previous format with each year showing all the issues for that year in alphabetical order by country, and include type differences, colour and perforation varieties, FDC prices, gutter pairs, postal stationery, official souvenir sheets and special prints.
Editorially the printing figures figures have been extended, there are detail improvements to some of the captions and last but not least, some new subtypes added.
Prices have been reviewed, in what is now a much more stable market.
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MICHEL UNO SPECIALIZED CATALOGUE 2010 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 2nd December 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-176-5 €49.80. £
This is the “Official Catalogue of the United Nations” and bears the UN flag and UNPA emblem and is bilingual in German and English throughout. It brings together the stamps of the United Nations from seven different standard Michel catalogues and provides much more information than the general catalogues in terms of content. It thus provides the ideal basis for the systematic establishment of a specialised collection.
In addition to the issues - now listed to October 2009 - of the main New York, Geneva and Vienna offices, plus the fore-runner overprints on Swiss stamps there are some seventeen other sections for particular organizations and peace-keeping forces around the world.
The Postal Stationery is also comprehensively covered.
Since the last edition, some 220 Michel main numbers have been added in the stamps sections alone, plus the addition of newly discovered varieties. Last day of sale dates have been added for the last five years. There is a warning of false stamps and stamp booklets of Kosovo.
Significant price increases are noted for rare and required Post Office Label Sheets, and also further price increases for some UNMIK issues. There are now some 29,000 priced items, and with over 2700 colour illustrations, numerous look-up tables and a Colour Glossary, occupy 669pp.
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I am grateful to Vera Trinder Ltd. for providing my review copies of the next 3 titles.
KPC KOREAN POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE 2009-10 (30th edition) Publ. Korean Philatelic Company Ltd. www.woomoon.com Received 12th November 2009 ISBN 978-89-93538-00-7 £18
The title is misleading since the 272pp devoted to the Stamps, are followed by another 142pp devoted to the Postal Stationery. In full colour throughout, this is an excellent value at the cover price, with the one drawback that most of the information and notes are in the Korean text.
However the catalogue is easy to follow, with an English contents list, and the names of the issues are also given in English. However since the last edition I reviewed, (see Exporter April 2006), many of the basic philatelic headings are also shown in English.
The regular stamps are sectionalised into series, but the commemoratives are fully chronological. Semi Postals and Air stamps are separate, as are the Christmas and “My Own Stamps” issues.
The postal stationery includes the early Proof and Presentation sheets and then the Cards, Aerogrammes and Christmas Seals in separate sections. However the 40+ Advertising Postal Cards and 800+ Local Advertising Postal Cards issued after August 1998 are not illustrated, and have no English translations.
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JAPANESE STAMP SPECIALIZED CATALOGUE 2010-11 Vol. 2: Japan 1946 – (October 2009) Publ. Japan Philatelic Society Foundation, Mejiro 1-4-23, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0031 Japan www.yushu.org.jp Received 12th November 2009 ISBN 978 -4-88963-711-3 3200y £31
The Contents page is written in English, and there is a Japanese/English Glossary of philatelic terms, however a good reading knowledge of the Japanese is required, and the specialized notes and tables are incomprehensible to the non-Japanese reader. As it is, a basic stamp can be identified fairly easily, but even with an appropriate English volume beside me I found it difficult to understand some of the more specialised listings.
However, that said, this volume deals in great detail with the issues mentioned in its title. The Definitives are divided into their various serious and the Commemoratives, National Pak series, New Years stamps are separate. The Prefecture issues have thir own section. The BCOF issues of 1946-7 and the 1948 Election stamps are at the end of the stamps section.
About 80pp deal with the postal stationery of the period. In all a 600pp A5 size paperback, black and white illustrations throughout, and a marginal thumb guide to the sections.
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ARTHUR MAURY: PRINCIPAUTÉS & TERRA POLAIRES: Edition 2010-11 Publ. Arthur Maury, 5 Bld. Napoleon 1er, f95290 L’Isle Adam, France www.arthurmaury.com Received 12th November 2009 ISBN 978 291864-200-8 €34.90 £34
This volume includes the Principalities of Andorra (both Spanish and French issues) and Monaco, plus Saint-Pierre & Miquelon, and the Antarctic and Australasian Territories, plus a small section which details and prices Europa issues in year sets. All territories have issues listed more or less to the end of 2008.
A Maury catalogue appeared as long ago as 1860, however with the merger of Dallay, Ceres and Maury in 2007, this catalogue has emerged as a favourite of collectors not only in France but further a-field. Both Dallay and Ceres numbers are given for every entry. There is a good historical introduction for each country, however I would have preferred this non-italicised in a larger font size, to make for easier reading, as would a matt-surfaced paper.
In Andorra and Monaco, Carnets, Millesime pairs, Pre-cancels and Postage Dues are included where issued, and also Monaco and TAAF Postal Stationery.
Early issues include details of different types, papers, and shades etc. The general French Colonies issues are priced with St Pierre postmarks before the country specific overprinted issues were produced in 1885, and similarly Andorra postmarks on French and Spanish issues. The Andorra local issues of 1890 are included and priced unused. Monaco Telegraph and Telephone stamps are listed and priced.
Prices are usually given for Unmounted mint, Mint, Used and Used on cover. Additional philatelic information is provided including printing quantities and sheet formats, set prices etc. Year prices are often usually totalled at the end of the year in question.
There are many tables of Postal Rates, with new entries when a rate has changed.
The whole is a hefty full colour quality paperback of some 670pp.
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STAMPS & POSTAL HISTORY of LUNDY ISLAND (5th edition) Edited by Jon Aitchison, Publ. Tithehall Publishing, Old Tithe Hall, Start Hill, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 7TF (e-mail: britishlocals@aol.com) Publ 1st November 2009 ISBN 978-0-9544817-2-8 £24
The latest paperback edition now includes the Postal History Catalogue as well as the stamps, hence the larger page extent, now 240pp, and the price increase. It is still in black and white throughout.
The original sections have been updated and of course prices revised to reflect the current market, meaning some items have gone down, but many have increased as the popularity of this island grows.
Some new sections have been added including Selection Packs, officially produced Lundy covers and cards, Lundy Coins. New information on how to identify transfer types has been provided to make this easier. Essays and Printers’ Presentation cards now have individual numbers. Quantities have been revised to reflect more accurately the total allowing for wastage, officially destroyed, usage for overprints etc.
Many new varieties, errors, postmarks and cachets have also been added. The postal history section has been revised so that meter-marks are now listed separately. FDC cancels accompany the relative stamp issue.
It is essential to read the introductory notes, and the section on the Postal History of Lundy details the changing fortunes of various individuals associated with Lundy stamps. There is a section of useful contacts, and a well researched bibliography; also a Currency Converter.
The publisher intends to publish a Supplement later in 2010, which will be supplied free to any owner of the catalogue requesting it and providing their address.
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STANLEY GIBBONS GREAT BRITAIN SPECIALISED STAMP CATALOGUE, Volume 2: King Edward VII to King George VI (13th Edition) . Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 30th October 2009 ISBN 978-0-85259-713-2 £39.95.
This volume has been completely revised and reset into the larger “Concise” size, now in a basic two-column format, with a clearer sans serif font, and is now hardbound with printed board covers. This means that at 278pp it is over 200pp less than the previous edition published in 2005 (see Exporter September 2005), however as always new information is included.
This is particularly true of the section for the popular Seahorses, which incorporates and draws on the researches of Bryan Kearsley, with better diagrams for distinguishing the differences between the printers, and some new shades. There are other additions in the Edward VII section, as well as more proofs, trials and essays in the Georges sections. The booklets and booklet panes listings throughout have been expanded with more explanatory notes etc.
Prices have been thoroughly revised and reflect the continuing popularity of the issues for each of these reigns, especially for varieties and rarities, but also for Controls, booklets and panes etc., where there have been many, and often significant increases.
The usual Appendices relating to Perforators, Pre-cancels, Specimen & Cancelled overprints, Postage Rates and Channel Islands issues have also been updated or revised as necessary.
The publisher has introduced blue coloured backgrounds to the tables of many of the listings, particularly the basic price sections, the checklists for booklet panes, Controls and Cylinder Numbers etc. With alternating light and dark shades, this makes reading the prices across the column easier.
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AUSTRIA & HUNGARY: STANLEY GIBBONS STAMP CATALOGUE Part 2; (7th Edition). Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 30th October 2009 ISBN 978-0-85259-741-5 £34.95
It is over seven years since the last edition was published in the middle of 2002 (see Exporter, November 2002). This new edition is in the larger “Concise” size, and is mostly in colour, although the Austrian issues to about 1920 are still in black and white. White non-glare stock has been used
Latest issues included for Austria are April 2009, for Hungary June 2009, but for the UN Office in Vienna only October 2008. A design index is provided for each of these issuing authorities.
It is worth noting that this is the only single volume English catalogue to include both Austria and Hungary
The publisher advises that about 90% of the prices have changed, hardly surprising with such a long gap between editions. The two perforations of the 1903 Austro-Hungarian POs in the Turkish Empire, (French currency issue), are now listed and priced separately. There are some major price increases in early Hungary.
A number of new varieties have been added in Hungary including the 1931 Graf Zeppelin imperforates, 1958 Philatelic Federation perforation 11 variety in the miniature sheet, and the 2003 Accession to Europe tête-bêche items. The Machine Labels issues of Austria are now included.
The International Philatelic Glossary is also included.
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SCOTT 2010 SPECIALIZED CATALOGUE of UNITED STATES STAMPS & COVERS Scott Publishing Co, 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365-0828 USA www.amosadvantage.com Received 18th November 2009 ISBN 978-0-89487-446-8 $79.99 £52.50
Last reviewed in the December 2008 Exporter, this volume has some 11,000 price changes, over half of which are in the postal issues, some 1500 in the Revenues and the others spread through the other sections, notably FDCs, Booklet Panes, Locals, Proofs, Canal Zone, Hawaii, Philippines and the UN sections.
Although as usual classic rarities and varieties in fine condition are up, many mint stamps from 1870 are down including the Columbians, Mississippi and other sets, with 20% decreases not being unusual. By contrast fine used copies of the early classics and the popular sets show increases
In the modern era prices are relatively stable, but many Plate Blocks show increases, particularly the very modern issues with water-activated gum.
There are several editorial changes. In particular the terminology and listing of modern tagged issues with “mottled” appearance has been revised, with some items now being relegated to footnotes, and main numbers only given to those stamps printed with embedded tagging on uncoated paper.
There are many new error listings including the recently discovered 1¼c imperforate Palace of Governors coil, found 49 years after it was issued. Some important additions in the Essays and Proofs sections include listings of the 1861-63 2c-90c Definitives on goldbeater’s skin, and 1867 “Z” grill experimental essays.
As usual James Kloetzel’s informative editorial letter gives more details, and page 85A the specifics of actual Scott numbers affected.
Some 2500 new colour scans have been incorporated in this edition, some replacing previous black and white, or poor colour impressions, others now illustrating items not previous illustrated.
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MICHEL CHINA-KATALOG Part 9, Volume 1: 2009/2010 Published by SCHWANEBERGER VERLAG GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 12th November 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-794-1 €52. £49.75
The latest edition has been expanded to include the Japanese Occupation of China issues. It also contains the stamps of China, Taiwan, the Peoples’ Republic of China (incl. FDC valuations from 1974 onwards), Hong Kong, Macau, Manchukuo, and Tibet.
New issues are included to April 2009 for Taiwan, August 2009 for the Peoples’ Republic, May 2009 for Hong Kong and June 2009 for Macau.
The early local issues from the Imperial period are expanded to include Amoy, Chefoo, Chinkiang, Chungking, Hankow, Wuhu, etc.
There have been some significant price increases in all areas for post-1995 issues, but especially for expensive rarities, however earlier issues remain more static.
There are two maps, one of middle-Asia, the other of China showing its provinces etc. in all some 686pp, about 8000 black and white illustrations throughout, and 44,000 prices.
(Volume 2 for Japan etc. should arrive shortly at the same price, but both volumes ordered as a set will be £85)
In a separate note, Michel advises that they have published a new professional software program “MICHELsoft Vol 9” (no details or price given), with data for Europe. This version includes data and pictures of all MICHEL Europe Catalogues published in 2009 and allows for the compilation of stock and wants lists for the European collecting area.
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I am grateful to Vera Trinder Ltd who provided my review copies of the Zumstein & Sassone titles.
ZUMSTEIN GANZSACHEN SCHWEIZ 2010 Publ. Zumstein & CIE. PO Box 3011, Bern, Switzerland www.briefmarken.ch Received 12th November 2009 ISBN 978-3-909278-33-7 90 S.Fr. £59
As part of its centenary programme, this catalogue is now published in full colour throughout. Although the introduction and notes is given in French, German and English, the remainder of the catalogue is in German, easy enough to follow, but the value of the notes is lost to the non-German reader. This appears to be the eleventh edition, but previous publication details are not given.
The contents divide into three main sections: Official Postal Stationery, Service stationery, and Printed to Private Order. Within each section the specific items such as Envelopes, Postcards, Postal Orders, Parcel Labels etc. have their individual listings; which themselves list varieties of size and layout for the various items as they occur.
There are separate consolidated tables in alphabetical order of illustration, of the 1935-40, 1943-48, 1949-58 and 1961-64 period picture card sets, which also provide tick-box facilities for the collector.
The Service section includes the Swiss Railway official issues and the Post, Telegraph & Telephone Administration issues.
Within the PPO section, notes are provided for the 1798-1803 Helvetik items, and comprehensive coverage of the 1803-1848 Cantonal issues which are well described, illustrated and priced. Also in this section are the Universal Reply Coupons.
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ZUMSTEIN SCHWEIZ/LIECHTENSTEIN 2010 Publ. Zumstein & CIE. PO Box 3011, Bern, Switzerland www.briefmarken.ch Received 12th November 2009 ISBN 978-3-909278-88-6 32 S.Fr. £24.50
It is some years since I last reviewed this catalogue (see Exporter November 2005) but the essential features remain the same. It is full colour throughout, with edge coloured pages for the various sections, making location quick and easy.
The Introduction pages are in French, German and English, and later in the book the multi language Glossary and Lexicon are also included. The Quick Search section leads easily to the page or catalogue number for definitive issues, Europas etc. All the catalogue entries are bi-lingual in French and German and there is a handy Zumstein to Yvert conversion table.
New issues are now included to September 2009 for Switzerland and the United Nations, and to November 2009 for Liechtenstein.
The prices are of course in Swiss Francs, and are given for mint and used throughout. Additionally prices are given for on cover, for used blocks of four, for First Day Covers. In the United Nations Geneva section, prices are also given for mint blocks of four. Quantities issued or printed are provided up to 2003 for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, but almost to date for the UN issues.
It is accompanied with the now usual CD allowing quick searches, and collection management facilities, with the facility to view in either French or German.
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SASSONE CATALOGO SPECIALIZZATO DEI FRANCOBOLLI D’ITALIA e DEI PAESI ITALIANI (69th edition).Publ. Sassone SRL. Via Alfonso Rendano, 7-00199 Roma, Italy www.cataloghisassone.it Received 12th November 2009 ISBN Volume 1 ANTICHI STATI ITALIANI; REGNO D’ITALIA, SAN MARINO & VATICAN (each to 1945); TRIESTE, COLONIES & OCCUPATIONS etc. (Hardcover) €35 £31
Volume 2 ITALY, SAN MARINO VATICAN & The SOVEREIGN ORDER of MALTA each from 1945 to date). (paperback) €20 £18
No ISBNs given. Price if ordered together is £42
I last reviewed these in January 2007, when both volumes were paperbacks. The internal format remains the same, two columns; full colour on pastel blue coated stock.
The issues to about 1900 are priced for mint, used, used on cover; for the States additional prices are given for unused stamps without gum, and used stamps on piece. Prices for early mint Italian issues are also given for unmounted mint, either as a separate table or within the individual listing. Prices after 1945 are for unmounted mint, and from 1948 FDCs are also priced. In many instances additional pricing is provided for well centred copies.
The specialist is well catered for with numerous shades, prices for pairs, blocks of four etc.
As well as the basic definitive and commemorative issues, there are many other sections. These include Air stamps, First flights, lists of items for specific Pilots, Zeppelins, Officials, Dues, Parcel stamps etc. Postal stationery with adverts, BLP issues; other stamps with adverts or propaganda labels are included. Various Occupation issues are included such as Albania, Lubiana, Cefalonia, Itaca, Fiume, Crete and Corfu etc.
Within the Colonies sections, the British and French Occupations and post war administration issues are included; also Somalia to 1950, Libya to 1966.
There are three essential indexes to be found after page 1065 in Volume 1, and after page 692 in Volume 2, which reveal just how wide ranging are the contents of these two volumes.
Excellent value and recommended.
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SASSONE BLU 2010 (Catalogue of Italy including the States etc.) Publ. Sassone SRL. Via Alfonso Rendano, 7-00199 Roma, Italy www.cataloghisassone.it Received 12th November 2009 ISBN Not given €15 £14
This is the simplified catalogue which includes the States and Italian issues to July 2009, San Marino to June 2009, Vatican City to March 2009, and the Sovereign Order of Malta to June 2009, as well as Trieste etc.
It’s a hefty paperback, running to almost 500pp, in full colour throughout, though the illustrations are at a reduced size.
Prices are provided for mint and used stamps, miniature sheets and modern mini-sheetlets only, with set prices also. Little philatelic information is provided, but perforation and watermark different sets (e.g. the 1950, 1955-7 Occupations) are included separately. A Design Index for Italy is included.
This is the only Sassone volume to include the Euro currency issues from 2002 onwards.
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100 YEARS of the PHILATELIC CONGRESS of GREAT BRITAIN 1909-2009 Colin Searle, Publ. Association of British Philatelic Societies, Mill Close, Hickling, Norwich, NR12 0YT. Apbs.phil@elics.co.uk Received 11th September 2009 ISBN 978-0-9561905-0-5 PTCF
This is one of those fascinating nostalgia books which at the same time seeks to record important landmarks in the development of its subject title, whilst at the same time being informative, entertaining and presenting enough material to whet the appetite of any budding collector looking for a new field to collect.
This deals with all 91 Congresses held to date, providing potted summaries of the events at each, supported with illustrations of Congress Handbooks, souvenir labels, tickets, invitations, menus, photos etc. In addition there are more extensive articles dealing with specific events.
These include the first four Congresses by Martin Robinson; Newcastle and Harrogate in 1920 and 1921 by Colin Searle, which lead directly to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists being established in 1921, which itself has a detailed section by Dr Alan Huggins, MBE.; the events in London and Bournemouth in 1940 by Francis Kiddle. The Congress Medal, by Susan Oliver, and the Award of Merit by Neil Russell both receive individual treatment.
Additionally there are sections dealing with Congress Memorabilia, How to Organise a Congress, Congress Personalities etc.
At the most recently reported 2008 Congress when this title was being written, Richard Winter presented an enthralling PowerPoint illustrated talk about the William Hooper letter written during the War of Independence and which provided important postal history information about the North Carolina post office at that time, and this is detailed here.
A fine 176pp A4 paperback, profusely illustrated mostly in colour.
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MICHEL EUROPA-KATALOG: VOLUME 7: OSTEUROPA 2009/10. Published by Schwaneberger Verlag GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 9th September 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-887-0 €52, £49.75
Another thirty pages since the last edition (see Exporter November 2008) this edition includes new issues for the main countries: Ukraine to April 2009, Moldavia and Poland to June 2009 and Russia to July 2009. As with the earlier volumes this year, the booklet panes are now listed with the main issue, rather than in a separate section.
As with the Scott (see October Exporter) most value changes are in the Soviet Union and Russia, where there is still a general trend upwards, albeit slight, and following recent auction realisations on specialist material, some exceptional increases. The editors mention particularly, the 1961 1k Brown Bear perf 12½ Mi 2448C (up from €100 to €1000) while the other values in the set are now unpriced, the 1983 Tereschkowa sheetlet Mi 5283 (up from €25 to €220) and the 1987 Kremlin sheetlet Mi 5777 (up from €12 to €110)
In the case of Moldavia, Ukraine and White Russia, the editors have noted varying prices on dealers’ lists and have tried to take a reasonable course when setting these.
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MICHEL ÜBERSEE-KATALOG: VOLUME 3: SÜDAMERIKA 2009/10. Published by Schwaneberger Verlag GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 9th September 2009 Now in 2 volumes and available separately.
Volume 1 Countries A-I ISBN 978-3-87858-793-4 €52, £49.75
Volume 2 Countries K-Z ISBN 978-3-87858-797-2 €52, £49.75
This volume was last published in late 2004 (see Exporter February 2005) when it stretched to over 1800 pages. The extensive numbers of new issues, now mean it has had to be split into two volumes with 1088pp and 960pp respectively. New issues for most countries are included to the end of 2008 and for some such as Brazil, Chile, Peru, Surinam etc. the middle of 2009.
My prediction that this edition would be in colour was wrong, both volumes are still in black and white, and in this respect Michel now falls behind both Scott and SG. Indeed the SG single volume (see February 2009 Exporter) now seems even better value at less than the price of either of these two volumes.
There have been many editorial improvements and amendments throughout both volumes, the editors particularly drawing attention to items in Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana etc.
Prices have been extensively reviewed, but although the home market and dollar prices in the USA have been buoyant, possibly due to the thematic appeal of many of the modern stamps, a strong Euro means that these increases are not always apparent in higher Euro prices.
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FROM WEATHER GODS to MODERN METEOROLOGY: A Philatelic Journey. Publ. World Meteorological Organization, PO Box 2300, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland. Received 2nd October 2009 ISBN 978-92-63-11023-7 40Swiss Francs (including surface postage)
This is an interesting volume which deals with the weather and climate change in a thematic manner, whilst at the same time informing and educating the reader or collector. It is the result of collaboration between the WMO and the UPU with a Foreword from the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon. There is an Introduction by Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the WMO in which I learned that Benjamin Franklin for example invented the lightning conductor, and also plotted the course of the Gulf Stream. Mr. Jarraud also indicates that there are over 1000 stamps which can be incorporated in a collection of this theme, as well as miniature sheets, much postal stationery including airletters etc. and many postmarks.
In another Introduction by Edouard Dayan, Director General of the UPU, we learn that the UPU itself is actively looking at the impact of postal services on global warming and climate change and bringing this to the attention of the 191 member countries.
The editorial work has been largely undertaken by Raino Heino, a noted Finnish meteorologist and philatelist. The six chapters are: From Heaven to Science; Beyond Borders and Divisions; Taking the Pulse of the Earth; Be Informed, Be Prepared; Hazards and Disasters, Taking Care of Our Climate. Each are further sub-divided into sections which are introduced with a short commentary, and profusely illustrated with stamps, postmarks and other related material.
The final section entitled Where We Stand Today looks at the global effects of postal business and what the WMO and UPU are investigating, promoting or doing.
The whole is a fine 112pp landscape format volume, with illustrated board covers and includes a useful list of References.
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I am grateful to Vera Trinder Ltd for providing review copies of the following four titles.
SELLOS POSTALES ARGENTONIS 1856-2010: COLECCIÓN CON COMENTARIOS
Author & Publisher Daniel Hugo Mello Teggia, Larrea 871, 1° “A” – 1117 Buenos Aires, Argentina. ISBN 978-987-05-6394-5 £42.95
This is a new title, and despite the title includes details of Argentine stamps up to May 2009. It uses Yvert & Tellier numbers. It is quite comprehensive giving full philatelic details including shades, varieties such as Double Prints, imperforate issues, quantities printed/issued where known and overprint varieties etc. The various coloured papers of the Corrientes issues are listed and priced in detail.
Modern illustrated postal stationery, airletters, cards etc are included. So too are Officials, Telegraph stamps, Ministerial departmental overprints, certain private and semi-official stamps.
Prices are given in the local currency (based on the conversion rate of $3 = US$1).Prices are given variously for mint, later for un-mounted mint, fine used, also earlier items on covers, blocks of four, first day covers etc.
Although a Design Index is perhaps too much to hope for in a first edition, there are some useful priced tables of definite series at the end of the catalogue.
The whole is a substantial, well produced laminated cover paperback with some 534 catalogue pages. All face/value different stamps are illustrated in full colour, also miniature sheets and postal stationery, and the 2-column layout on semi-matt stock is easy on the eye, and easy to follow even for the non-Spanish reader.
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LAPE 2010 EROKOISPOSTIMERKKILUETTELO (FINLAD SPECIAL STAMP CATALOGUE 1856-2009. ( Including Åland). Publ. Suomen Filateliapalvelu Oy, Pl 5, 20251 Turku, Finland www.stamps.fi ISSN 1797-0644 £37
This is an excellent specialised catalogue; it is bilingual Finnish/Swedish throughout, but there are also substantial sections in English as well, including the Postal History and Postmark sections, many of the main definitive sections, as well as all the stamp issue headings.
There are detailed notes on the various printing process used, the various papers and how to recognise them. The earlier issues popular with English speaking collectors such as the Serpentine Roulettes, the Figure issues, the Ring-type issue, the Eagle types etc all have good English translations or notes. So too do the chapters for Karelia, North Ingermanland, Aunus, Tampere City Post etc.
Other areas covered by the catalogue include Booklets, Post-bus Parcels, Christmas Seals, stamps of the Shipping Companies, Railway Tax Stamps, Revenues, Perfins. Postal Stationery is also included, as well as the Russian items used in Finland. There are also Tables of Postal Rates.
This catalogue is published every two years and a major revision this time includes the section dealing with the 1856 Ovals. The prices and listing of the 1917-27 Saaringen has also seen major amendments, so too the 1975 definitive, in advance of a new handbook being published about this particular issue.
As to be expected, prices are not only given for mint, unmounted mint and fine used, but also for on covers, First Day covers, numerous shades and other less often seen varieties such as marginal watermarks, misplaced perforations, partly perforated items, etc. Useful notes to aid the identification of forgeries, particularly those with postmarks appear as necessary, and are usually provided in English as well as the other two languages.
Over 850pp in a larger paperback format, in full colour throughout make this an excellent value, Much of it is in single column layout, giving plenty of room for the extensive notes about the commemorative issues, though these are only in Finnish and Swedish.
Reccommended.
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AUSTRALIAN STAMP CATALOGUE, 32nd Pocket edition Publ. Victoria Stamp Traders, 38a Stafford St, Huntingdale, Victoria 3166, Australia Author/editor Stuart Brown ISBN 978-0-9803186-2-3 £13
This is a simplified list of all basic Australian stamps and miniature sheets from 1913 to the end of 2008, plus the Australian Antarctic Territory. Items issued in se-tenant form are also priced singly and in the issued block. Modern Booklets when issued as part of a commemorative or thematic set are included. Postage Dues are not included. No philatelic information is provided except for Date of Issue, and commemorative title or theme. Watermarks and perforations, self adhesive formats are not mentioned.
It does include OS overprinted Officials, Frama labels (though these are priced only for the local letter rate face value at the time of issue). Prices up to decimalization are for mint, after decimalization for un-mounted mint, and for fine used throughout. Tick boxes are provided.
Although it is nicely produced in lie-flat ring binding, the landscape 2-column page layout would benefit from using a larger point-size for the main text listings. Full colour throughout.
An $A10 voucher is provided for use in local shops against the purchase of a “Lion” brand stockbook.
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HELLAS (GREECE) 2010; STAMP CATALOGUE & POSTAL HISTORY (5th edition) in 2 volumes. Publ A Karamitsos, 34 Tsimiski St, Thessaloniki, Greece. www.karamitsos.com ISBN 978-960-88964-7-5 €20, £20 per set.
As with the previous edition (see Exporter November 2008), Volume 1 deals with the Greek issues; Volume 2 with all the other “New Territories” and the Cancellations including pre-stamp and Municipal Posts. In volume 2 postal stationery is also included for these territories where it was issued.. Both are well produced paperbacks in full colour with English and Greek text throughout, including the all-important notes and introductions to the various sections and issues. Prices are in Euros, and as the publisher is also a respected dealer can be relied on as reasonable guide to present levels.
This is the only catalogue devoted entirely to Greece which is sent to us for review, and quite frankly, most collectors and dealers who have this set will not need any other. At this price, no collector should baulk at adding it to his library. There is so much additional information, both historical, postal and philatelic, as well as extensive details of postmarks, for the collector to discover.
The specialist is well catered for, especially in the early Hermes Heads, which occupy forty-five pages, and include enlarged illustrations of many plate varieties, lists of bisects, and tables providing cross references to the numbers of five major catalogue publishers, (not SG), and earliest dates of use. The Small Hermes take up another eighteen pages, plus eleven more for the 1900 period Surcharges on both issues.
New issues are included to June 2009, and there have been many additions for varieties in earlier issues, which are listed on page 9 in volume 1. Quantities printed or issued are provided and taken from official publications and reports or from Hellenic Philatelic Society publications. There is also a useful Bibliography.
Recommended.
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MICHEL EUROPA-KATALOG VOL. 6: WEST-EUROPA 2009/10 Published by Schwaneberger Verlag GMBH, Ohmstraße 1, 85716 Unterschleißheim Germany www.michel.de Received 15th August 2009 ISBN 978-3-87858-896-3 €52, £49.75
Volume 6 contains Belgium, Great Britain including the Channel Islands, Regionals, etc, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and remarkably most countries include issues up to June 2009, GB even to August. In addition for GB, the issues of the British Post Offices in Morocco and Levant plus the Middle East Forces etc are also included.
As well as the postage stamps and miniature sheets, all the other main categories, Officials, Postage Dues etc are well covered, as are the modern Counter and Machine labels which are priced in most cases. Perforation and watermark varieties, as well as numerous other plate varieties etc are also included and in most cases priced. Telegraph stamps are also included. FDCs are priced for most post-1948 sets, GB from 1924.
This catalogue also includes extensive details of booklets with all panes either in diagram form or in full colour making identification easy. As with the previous volumes issued this year, the paper stock has been changed to improve the quality of the colour printing.
Prices have again been revised, but since this catalogue is in Euros, and the conversion rate has fluctuated in the last few months, it is difficult to detect any specific trend. Comparison with the Year sets’ prices with those in last year’s edition only showed occasional changes, indicating that in the main changes have been for more specialist items, GB Mi 103AW and Mi 761 F II being two mentioned in the editor’s foreword.
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STANLEY GIBBONS STAMP CATALOGUE: 2010 COMMONWEALTH & BRITISH EMPIRE STAMPS 1840-1970 Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 19th August 2009 ISBN 978-0-85259-731-6 £72.50
The first thing to do when opening this year’s edition, is to read very carefully the Editor’s Preface on page iii. Next you should look at page vii where all the new numbers and number changes are listed. Finally read the Information and Guidelines section particularly the part which deals with “Papers” on page xiii.
Prices have been thoroughly reviewed in the light of the current buoyant market, especially for stamps issued before 1960. Key areas include India and Malaya, but virtually all other territories show increases, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, British West Indies, the Atlantic Islands, African Colonies etc. From 1960 the increases are much less obvious, Pacific Islands and Africa are flat, although even here French New Hebrides and Ghana show some gains.
As usual it is the sought after varieties, errors and scarcer items to which most attention is given. GB prices of course fall into line with the recently published Concise (see June 2009 Exporter), the significant increases since last year being for mint 1d Blacks and the Embossed 6d and 1/- values.
Comparison of prices with the Michel West-Europa reviewed elsewhere are difficult, since the SG prices are “SG’s estimated selling prices at the time of publication”, whereas Michel reflects the accumulated wisdom of dealers’ lists and advertisements, already published, auction realisations etc, and are priced in Euros, where of course the exchange rate has fluctuated in the past twelve months.
There have been a number of significant editorial revisions, notably relating to Chalky papers where the silver test is no longer regarded as satisfactory since it must involve some damage, albeit slight, to the stamp. They have now described and listed the Thin Striated papers in Bahamas and Malaya. SG mentions the Straits Settlements GVI Die II 2c orange (SG294) as the key stamp for comparison, which is fine. May I suggest that they also provide a list of unique key stamps for the other more difficult coloured papers of the GV and GVI period, and the early QE glazed and white papers etc.
A new policy regarding the Inverted Watermarks and Double Prints of the Australian States has been implemented, and users should read the notes at the beginning of the States section relating to this. Some, but not all, listed items have been removed. However there have been further watermark variety additions elsewhere including Hong Kong, India, Ireland Postage Dues etc.
The second “B” overprint on the stamps of Straits Settlements for use in Siam has now been illustrated, with five values having this added to their listing, and all priced for used copies only.
In Malaya a number of missing colours are now listed and priced for the 1960 Orchid issues from several states.
Some new plate varieties and illustrations have been added to the ever-popular 1935 Silver Jubilee issues for Australia, Canada and New Zealand and also 14 new varieties in the “Windsor Castle” design. This issue seems to have increased by 9% mint and 13% used, according to the Silver Jubilee Study Circle website http://www.silverjubileestamps.com/
In Aden the 2½ Anna 1937 Coronation with watermark inverted has been added, and priced mint, (obviously a late addition since it does not appear in the Middle East catalogue reviewed elsewhere). A number of varieties have been added in various Indian States and in Rajasthan the Bundi stamps are now priced used, for the different coloured hand-stamps. Some more high values have been priced for fiscal use in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, Malaya and other areas.
Other new or newly illustrated varieties include the Montserrat “Tower” and “Plate Scratch,” the New Zealand “Chisel flaw,” and the Nevis “Crossed Lines on Hill.” More of the Newfoundland imperforate issues of the 1911-23 period are listed and priced in footnotes. Other countries to look at include Fiji, South Africa, Morocco Agencies, where issue dates have been revised, St Lucia, Petersburg and Tristan Da Cunha.
I continue to be amazed not only at the scope and detail in this volume, but by the continual flow of new information which comes to light and gets incorporated year on year. This year is clearly a significant volume both in terms of price updating and editorial improvement.
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STANLEY GIBBONS STAMP CATALOGUE: MIDDLE EAST: 7th Edition Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 19th August 2009 ISBN 978-0-85259-719-4 £42.50
Thirty-two additional catalogue pages since the last edition published in 2005 (see Exporter August 2005), represent both the new issues of the countries included in this volume, and also four new design indexes, for Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Syria. Those of Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have of course been revised to include new issues.
Latest dates vary considerably with Qatar up to March 2009, Israel up to February 2009, most others are varying dates in 2008, but Iraq, Oman and Yemen only to the last issues in 2007.
The catalogue is now virtually full colour with only a few black and white illustrations to be updated. It is in the three-column, A4 format as before. Booklets are included where issued, and so too are the Israel Machine Labels, but these are not priced.
Major editorial improvements include more postal history information, including priced listings of British stamps used in Egypt, Indian stamps used in Bahrain and Iraq, and other illustrated notes as necessary.
Following extensive research and suggestions from leading philatelists, 30 new varieties have been added to Egypt, 45 to Iraq in the 1970-1990s period, and 25 in Saudi Arabia. The new numbers are listed on the publisher’s editorial page, along with others in Bahrain, Palestine etc. Some numbers have been changed and a few in Egypt deleted.
Prices have of course moved on, and the publisher mentions significant increases in areas such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Iraq, Oman and Qatar.
The International Philatelic Glossary has been extended by the inclusion of an Arabic/English adjacent column listing, a feature I cannot recall seeing in any other catalogue.
Although Michel did an English version of their Gulf States catalogue some years ago, (see Exporter February 2006) the SG Middle East covers a much greater area and is the only English catalogue to comprehensively cover these issues. With 416 catalogue pages this large format paperback is good value, especially if the cost is amortised over another four years before the next edition.
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STANLEY GIBBONS COMMONWEALTH STAMP CATALOGUE: INDIA (including Convention and Feudatory States: 3rd Edition Publ. Stanley Gibbons Publications, 5 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 3SH www.stanleygibbons.com Received 9th September 2009 ISBN 978-0-85259-728-6 £22.50
Latest issue to be included is the May 2009 “Lifeline Express” and the design index has been updated to include all issues from 1947 onwards. This edition is in the more manageable “Concise” format, with two-column listings, and now in full colour throughout, apart from the odd black illustration occasionally in the states. There are 222 catalogue pages, plus the usual notes etc.
Prices have moved upwards since the last edition, (see Exporter December 2004), and also reflect a current relatively buoyant market where demand in the home country and other developing economies has grown rapidly. The Pre-Independence issues in particular are mentioned by the publisher with some seeing increases of up to fifty percent or more. The 10 rupee Gandhi of 1948 has rocketed over the period from £45 in the last edition to £160 in this, for mint
The Indian States also remain popular and in demand, and here again prices have risen by significant amounts.
Editorially there are numerous improvements. Additional priced listings are included for Indian stamps used in Bahrain, British East Africa, Iran, Iraq, Straits Settlements and Zanzibar. More watermark varieties have been added, but there is no summary page for new numbers etc, so the reader will just have to compare with the old edition to find them. As with the “Red Book” reviewed elsewhere, the Rajasthan hand-stamps now have a revised listing showing both mint and used for the various colours of hand-stamp.
Whilst many Indian stamps reflect Indian themes and personalities, it also issues numerous stamps relevant to other thematic collectors from film and music, to sport, roses, animals and bridges to mention just a few. India is popular with many club collectors, and societies should think about adding this volume to their libraries.
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SCOTT 2010 STANDARD POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE VOLUME 5: COUNTRIES P to Sl of the WORLD. Scott Publishing Co, 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365-0828 USA www.amosadvantage.com Received 31st August 2009 ISBN 978-0-89487-442-0 $79.99 £52.50.
As with the earlier volumes there have been many price changes, usually up, but sometimes down. Leading the way in total numbers is Peru with almost 3000 changes. Other significant numbers of changes occur in El Salvador (1800) St Pierre & Miquelon (1600) Philippines (1365), Russia (1300), also Rwanda (900), Serbia (700), Singapore (700) and Slovenia (almost 600). Most other countries include changes in smaller quantity.
A thorough review of Peru and El Salvador showed limited quantities in dealer stocks, and as a result the changes upwards have been quite substantial, particularly with the 19th century issues, but also more recent issues from 1970 onwards.
In Russia the large increases of recent years have slowed, apart from major rarities and varieties, but even so from 1992 onwards there are many small increases. One significant drop is the 1934 perf 14 5k to 30k Airship set which plummets to about half of last year’s value.
Some new minor letter varieties have been added in Russia, as well as a group of Postal Fiscals, (Scott AR1-25). There are quite a few new overprint and perforation varieties now listed in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Only 3 major numbers have been added, apart from new issues. These are Panama 766B, and Philippines 1690A,1690B. All the changes are shown on page 1221 in this 1296pp volume.
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NEWFOUNDLAND SPECIALIZED STAMP CATALOGUE 7th Edition Walsh & Butt, Publ Walsh’s Philatelic Service, 9 Guy St, St john’s, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 1P4 www.nfldstamps.com ISBN 978-0-9693434-7-9 Received 2nd July 2009 $C122. £78
Newfoundland was discovered as long ago as 1497 by John Cabot, although there is evidence to suggest that Norsemen landed as early as 1000ad. It was proclaimed as British in 1537 but was not permanently settled until 1729. In 1805 the first local postmaster was appointed at St. John’s, when the overseas mails were routed via mainland Halifax in Nova Scotia. It was not until 1840 however that a regular packet service was established between these two ports.
For a short time the British GPO assumed the responsibility for overseas postal services, but on 1st July 1851 the colonial administration reassumed control, and in 1855 Newfoundland became a self governing colony. It remained so until becoming a Dominion in 1917, which status it retained until finally merging into Canada in 1949 after a second ballot and a 0.5% majority in favour.
Stamps were introduced in 1857, at first printed by Perkins Bacon, then in 1865 with the introduction of the new decimal currency by the American Bank Note Company in New York until 1910. At this point a number of printers became involved including De La Rue who printed the first two “Publicity” issues in 1923 and 1928, however printing then reverted to Perkins Bacon until 1938 after which Bradbury Wilkinson, C.B.N. and Waterlow were engaged for various issues.
Most issues were recess printed and a variety of emblematic, royal and pictorial designs were produced. Collectors argue over the quality of some of the designs, often cramped by the need to fit in the long name and other information, but there is no doubt they provide scope for the specialist with the early imperforate issues; with the varied perforations and plate differences of the “Publicity” pictorial issues, with the airmail overprints and special stamps.
The first stamp to show the future King George the Fifth was issued by Newfoundland in 1899, and in 1911 a set appeared showing the then royal family including the five princes, Edward, Albert, Henry, George and John.
With only about three hundred SG main numbers it is possible to attain a high degree of completeness, only a handful of stamps being beyond the pocket of a serious collector. There are other aspects of Newfoundland philately attractive to the specialist, not least the various airmail pioneer and first flights, or the study of the seasonal post offices –“outports” – as they commonly known. Other popular collecting habits include matching corner plate blocks to make small “sheetlets.”
This well respected volume was first published in 1988 and has been regularly updated and expanded roughly every four years since. It also includes the stamps of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia; British Columbia; Prince Edward Island and Canada to 1951.
New in this edition are the Postal Rates of the BNA Colonies: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island; the Bahamas Special Delivery Stamps for use in Canada; Colombia SCADTA overprints as they relate to Canada. The semi-official airmail stamps of the private air companies in Canada are now included.
As to be expected the stamps in all sections are dealt with in great detail, and include proofs and colour trials, varieties, information and pricing for Plate and Imprint blocks, imperforates etc. Numbers printed, or quantities known are provided when available. Airmail stamps are treated in the same depth, and augmented with an extensive section covering first flights etc.
For Newfoundland, Postal Stationery (also Canada), Franking Machines, Perfins, Coins and Revenues are also well covered. There is an extensive section of some 80pp listing some 5000 Newfoundland. picture postcards. This is followed by a further 60pp section of Advertising Business covers and corner cards.
For the postmark collector and postal historian there are extensive lists of post offices for each of the Provinces, with opening and closing dates, types of canceller in use, and population numbers where known. TPOs and RPOs are also included.
All sections have been revised, updated and expanded in the light of new knowledge, information and research by many collectors. This now includes very detailed sections for each of the Provinces providing a vast amount of information about Postal Rates, for both internal mail, and worldwide destinations as well.
The whole is a 600+pp volume on matt stock, spirally bound to lie flat when open. It is profusely illustrated in full colour throughout, not only of stamps, but also proofs, varieties, covers etc.
All prices are given in US Dollars for mint, used and used on cover, and reflect current retail prices.
It comes with a magnifier, perforation gauge and a loose folded map of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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The OIL RIVERS & NIGER COAST SURCHARGED PROVISIONAL & BISECTED STAMPS. John Sacher CBE FRPSL. Published by The Royal Philatelic Society London, 41 Devonshire Place, London W1G 6JY www.rpsl.org.uk Published as a supplement to the London Philatelist March 2009 ISSN 0024-6131 £10 + Postage.
Many collectors would perhaps struggle to identify the exact location of the Oil Rivers Protectorate, both on the map and in the catalogue. They may be confused by the name, since mineral oil was not discovered in the region until 1956. They would perhaps be further puzzled that the only stamps issued with the name Oil Rivers are Great Britain stamps with Queen Victoria’s portrait and were soon super-ceded by those of the Niger Coast Protectorate in 1894.
The “oil” referred to is in fact Palm oil, first exported from the area in 1591, but by the 1890s accounting for about a quarter of the world’s production. The rivers are the Niger, with its huge delta and many outlets, plus others such as the Bonny, the Brass, (which was the cable head for use by the Royal Niger Company), and Old Calabar. There were in 1891, when the British administration finally established itself, about 200 Europeans living and trading in the area.
The Consulate-General and the vice-Consulates acted at first as a receiver/distributors of the mail until being recognised as post offices on 20th July 1892. The over-printed British stamps were issued on the same day.
Following negotiations, the postal rates for letters to the Protectorate had been reduced from 6d per half ounce to 2½d from the 1st October 1891, but the reciprocal arrangement was not implemented until later, probably July 1892.
As a result it became necessary in September 1893, to provide halfpenny stamps to be used as make-up values in conjunction with the 2d value. Probably to save money, but also to obtain supplies in a timely manner. This was achieved by hand-stamping “½d” twice on the one penny stamps, and using them bisected.
In December of 1893 further surcharges, of “Half Penny” in various types, appeared on the 2d and 2½d values in use. Most were apparently produced and used at Old Calabar, and the overprints come in a variety of colours, though vermilion or violet seem to have been preferred. Inevitably, as with many Provisionals, varieties occurred; either double or inverted as well as diagonal or vertical overprints. Many are scarce, some are extremely rare, and there has been much debate over the years regarding the circumstances of their issue, and the personalities involved; no doubt there are many philatelic items.
This 80pp booklet draws together previous information and published knowledge, with the latest research. The author has assiduously traced many copies in auction catalogues, dealers’ lists and major collections and has been given unlimited access to the RPSL’s own material, including certification records, as well as the Royal Collection.
Remarkably, John Sacher has been able to identify some 4700 individual surcharged stamps, and this figure includes no less than 113 covers. These latter, which include the major extant batches of correspondence – Griffiths, Russell, Briggs, Bowes - John has analysed both by their frankings and postmarks, their addressees, and also by a comparison of the senders’ handwriting.
In December 1893 values with surcharges between “One Shilling” and “20/-“ appeared, and the author questions the reasons for their existence. A block of nine of the 20/- has been reconstructed, but no copies are known used.
He also deals with the 1894 “½” and “1” surcharges issued at Opopo and illustrates the twelve different bar varieties of the former and seventeen different numerals for the latter. Finally for the Old Calabar provisional of August 1894, the ½d on 2½d blue settings are illustrated, including the “OIE” variety.
Many of these surcharges, especially the varieties, are great rarities. The book is profusely illustrated in full colour, to give a mouth-watering array. If you have only a handful of these Provisionals, you will almost certainly benefit from reading this book. It provides much information, and many pictures not included in the 1992 magnum opus The Postal Services of the British Nigeria Region Prior to 1914, by Ince and Sacher.
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