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

December 2007

All these News stories, and others, can be read in full in the December 2007 Philatelic Exporter

Lister ceases new issues
David Lister of John Lister Limited has announced that with effect from October 1 2007 John Lister Limited ceased to provide a new issue service ... The new issue business has been acquired by Harry Allen, which will now also act as distributors of issues from Anguilla and Croatia, and for whom John Lister Limited remains the United Kingdom agent ... enquiries@harryallen.com

Philatex "best for years"
Dealers at Autumn Philatex on November 1 to 3 were mostly delighted with the attendance and spending ...

Night Mail collector’s edition
As a result of a partnership between The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA), the British Film Institute (BFI), and Royal Mail, a new digitally remastered collector’s edition of Night Mail was released on December 3 2007 ... www.postalheritage.org.uk/shop

'Colossus' decoding computer comes alive
To commemorate the return to action of the 'Colossus' computer on November 15, Bletchley Park post office issued a 'Smilers' stamp featuring the rebuilt decoding machine ...

Bhutan to issue world's first CD stamps
... In 2008 the kingdom will commemorate the centenary of its monarchy, the coronation of a new king, the nation's first democratic elections, and Bhutan's long-term commitment to the environment in documentaries on mini CD-ROM discs - the world's first CD-ROM postage stamps ...

Independence for Kosovo?
Following his victory in the parliamentary elections in mid-November Hashim Thaci, the former guerrilla leader, declared he would seek independence for Kosovo ...

Also ...

Guernsey yearbook
Faroes bureau moved
Canadian auction debuts
Korea Post Tower opens
Italy delays Fiume stamp
And now the racing results
Falklands album from Seahorse
Conservation centre at BL opens
Luxembourg's first self-adhesives
Stamp comes top in Which? survey
Belated start for South Africa's 2007 stamps

Special features this month

Scotex - Chad Neighbor: Second day of Scotex survives but changes could be on the cards.

Exchange Rates of the currencies of the world.

Regulars:

About People

What's happening in your life - tell the editor!

Around the Rooms

Auction action in the salerooms of Postiljonen, Grosvenor, and Warwick & Warwick.

Auction Diary

Public stamp auctions around the world in December 2007, January and February 2008.

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

Back Stamps

What was in The Philatelic Exporter this month in 1950, 1963, 1976, 1987, and 1993.

Crime Column

Braintree show theft ... Caledonian PS library missing ... Beware 1951 Festival hv fdc.

New Issues

Hundreds of new stamp issues from around the world.

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

Obituaries

Elizabeth C Pope ... Mary Rainey ... Maynard Sundman ... Patricia Harris ... Clive Feigenbaum ... David Birtwell.

Trade Diary

What's on in the UK and overseas - events in the UK in December 2007 and January 2008, and international events up to 2010 are listed in the December 2007 Philatelic Exporter.

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

Your Letters

Am I the only ranter? ... When is a stamp fair unfair? ... Bhutan record stamps ... Botswana considers GB warning.

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

From our contributors:

Albert Boerma - Europe

German Post mean with philately
Questions from philatelists that could not be answered by Ulrike Bohm, chief of the department for postage stamps in the German Ministry of Finance, on June 29 have now been answered by the German parliament ...

Also:
Revival of 'classic' philately? ... Princess sells from Thurn & Taxis archive ... PIN finds ideal partner ... Slip-up by Austrian Post.

Read the column in the December 2007 Philatelic Exporter.

Tony Buckingham - Cover to Cover

Trains and Boats and Planes - the trials and tribulations of Tony Buckingham.
I often get asked why I came back into this crazy world of commemorative covers. After the last few months I begin to wonder myself! Everything I am writing about in this article is true, even if it does sound incredible ...

Also:
A380 ... Eurostar ... Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Victoria ... Concorde ... Boeing Dreamliner ... England's failures cause Royal Mail relief ... How to solve the postal dispute.

Read the column in the December 2007 Philatelic Exporter.

James Skinner - Great Britain

Whither the humble postage stamp?
II seems that the common or garden, every day Machin definitive postage stamp is under attack. And ironically its very future is being threatened not by outside competition, but by Royal Mail, its producer! Why is this iconic item so seriously endangered and what are the implications for the stamp world? ...

Read the column in the December 2007 Philatelic Exporter.

Liz McKernan - Postcard World

Lead theft causes fire at popular venue
I was only half-concentrating on my local television news on Tuesday October 16 when the words "Shoreham Centre" grabbed my full attention. There on the screen were the blackened remains of the popular Shoreham Community Centre's main hall, so familiar to postcard dealers and collectors who have visited it ...

Also:
Daily Mail series hard to complete ... Cabin closes  ... King Tut returns ... McGill at War ... Tower Bridge exhibition ... Gloomsbury ... Fair diary.

Read the column in the December 2007 Philatelic Exporter.

David Rennie - New Books

All reviewed in the December2007 Philatelic Exporter.

Glen Stephens -Australasia

SG polls future of Stamps of the World
My column about how Stanley Gibbons often loses the plot with catalogue issues caused much comment ...

Also:
Junk box find sells for US$165,000 ... Australia KGV hoard.

Read the column in the December2007 Philatelic Exporter.

Les Winick - USA

Lawrence and Manning dispute settled
Ken Lawrence, one of the owners of Collectors Advisory Team, a consulting business that offers a wide range of services to the collector and exhibitor, has settled a lawsuit filed against Greg Manning and the Escala Group for a consideration of $100,000 ...

Also:
Maynard Sundman ... Disney stamps approach 40 ... 3000 designs aspiring to 'stamphood' ... Coupons create customers ... Join up! ... Unusual strategy ... APC failure.

Read the column in the December 2007 Philatelic Exporter.