Stamp Collector

We shouldn’t take his website name too literally; the ‘Punk Philatelist’ (see interview, page 12) isn’t on a mission to add anarchy to your albums or chaos to your collecting, he just wants the hobby to be all inclusive, without the rules of more traditional collecting getting in anyone’s way. ‘Do your own thing,’ he advises, ‘don’t let anyone tell you that there’s a correct way to collect stamps.‘ And who can argue with that? Of course, there are standards we should try to follow to ensure our stamps are kept in the right condition, and when it comes to exhibiting stamps and postal history there are clear guidelines to follow, but when it comes to what to collect and how to collect it, it’s your choice. And that’s what…

ROYAL MAIL REVEAL IRON MAIDEN STAMPS Royal Mail are kicking off 2023 with a new set of stamps and a miniature sheet dedicated to heavy metal band Iron Maiden, who formed in 1975 and have released over 40 albums. The new stamps still bear the silhouette of the Queen, suggesting they were planned and produced before the Queen’s sad passing in September, and show the band performing at a variety of concerts throughout their long career. The value of each stamp is shown in a font reminiscent of the band’s familiar logo. The four-stamp mini sheet is dedicated to the band’s mascot Eddie, who regularly appears on the band’s artwork. A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: ‘Unmatched and renowned for their onstage shows, the main stamp set celebrates Iron Maiden’s live performances; featuring…

ROWLAND HILL MEDAL WINNERS The Museum of Philately awarded its Rowland Hill Medal to three prize-winning stamp exhibits at the Monarcophil stamp show on 25 November. The online museum founded the Rowland Hill Medal this year to celebrate outstanding exhibits that inspire, educate, and promote stamp collecting and illustate the exciting diversity of this engrossing hobby, with members of the public invited to vote for their favourite exhibit. The three Roland Hill Medals were awarded to: Iva Mouritsen for A Royal Ménàge a Trois and its historical consequences; John Davies for Penny Postage Jubilee: A Jubilee Reminiscence, and Simon Martin-Redman for The First Forty Years: 1858-1898. All the winning exhibits can be viewed online at www.museumofphilately.com, whilst a selection of the entries were also showcased in the December 2022 issue of Stamp Collector. ‘Whilst…

A new version of the book The United States Postal Service: An American History has been published by the USPS, with the online edition of the 162-page guide available to download and read for free. The ambitious history covers a range of subjects including Steamboats, The Pony Express, Postmasters in the 19th Century, The Postwar Boom, Mechanization and Early Automation, and 21st Century Innovation. Writing in the introduction, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy states that the book: ‘tells the story of our ever-changing and improving institution – from its expanding delivery network, to its growing suite of services and technological innovations, to its proud legacy of workforce diversity and service to the American people.’ You can download the book via the All About Stamps website, just visit: www.allaboutstamps.co.uk/stamp-guides…

Belgium’s stamp schedule for 2023 has been revealed, with an eclectic mix of subjects set to be featured, including the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Berlin’s 2023 Special Olympics, the world breakdancing championships, the 95th birthday of film-maker Raoul Servais, and the Europa common theme of peace. The organisers of the Boston 2026 World Expo have announced that Graham Beck has joined the exhibition’s Advisory Board. Graham is well known for his ‘Exploring Stamps’ YouTube channel which features videos covering many facets of the hobby. Meanwhile, the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) has appointed FIP Vice President Reinaldo Macedo as FIP Consultant to Boston 2026. A set of postage stamps to honour Korean boy band BTS are set to be issued in 2023, according to reports. The news…

Royal Mail and a host of philatelic bureaus around the world have revealed their annual products for 2022, bringing together the stamps issued over the last year. Royal Mail’s selection of annual products includes the 2022 yearbook, which includes every stamp and miniature sheet issued in 2022 and a dedicated chapter for each stamp issue, is limited to 5,000 copies, and retails at £218; a 2022 ‘Year of Presentation Packs’ set featuring all 15 special stamp presentation packs issued in 2022 (£198); and a ‘Year of Miniature Sheets’ set (£185). Jersey’s 2022 stamp programme has been brought together in a hardback yearbook, which includes the Platinum Jubilee stamp and the nostalgic FA Cup issue by Roy of the Rovers artist David Sque. All stamps and miniature sheets from 2022 are mounted in…