'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.

May 2009

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

Azerbaijan, Malawi, Uzbekistan report illegals
Postal authorities of Azerbaijan, Malawi, and Uzbekistan have reported the existence of illegal stamps in their respective names to the Universal Postal Union ...

SG's robust reaction to recession
Commenting on the final results of the Stanley Gibbons Group Limited's year ended December 31 2008, Martin Bralsford, non-executive chairman, said: "Our business remains robust and has a market position that cannot be easily replicated by our competitors ... "

Åland, Finland, Sweden recall 1809
On March 26 2009, a joint presentation pack from Åland, Finland, and Sweden was issued to mark the memorable events of 1809 when Finland and Sweden separated to become independent countries ...

BPMA's second London 2010 postcard
The British Postal Museum & Archive has published its second postcard in the 'London 2010: Festival of Stamps' series. It has been produced in a limited edition of 5000, and will be distributed at shows organised by member federations of the Association of British Philatelic Societies around the UK throughout 2009.

Linn's on-line for $9.99
North America's leading stamp publications, Linn's Stamp News and Scott Stamp Monthly are now available digitally, packaged together for $9.99, in a digital stamp library that also includes access to the Scott Catalogue Valuing Supplement ...

Kids showing increased interest
Interest in stamps by young collectors is rising rapidly, according to Kidstamps. Not only did the number of entries in the Stamp Active Competition at Spring Stampex go up by 10%, but recently the Kidstamps Club has enrolled nearly 70 more members ... This increase in new members has placed a great strain on supplies and it desperately needs more covers, sheetlets, etc ... There must be many dealers with surplus material so please send it to Kidstamps, 46 Moorfield Road, Rothwell, Kettering, NN14 6AT.

International Stamp Traders Directory and Handbook
Have you ever been abroad on holiday or to a different town and wondered if there are any stamp companies, shops, or auction houses in the area? With the publication later this year of the International Stamp Traders Directory and Handbook, this and many other problems will be solved. This invaluable reference guide will be the ultimate directory containing upwards of 2000 stamp dealers, philatelic auction houses, postal administrations, and philatelic societies from around the world www.stanleygibbons.com/directory ...

Collector set to sue over trashed "£20 million" stamps
South Lanarkshire Council has repudiated a claim by a Westwood, East Kilbride, collector who alleges that its employees removed thousands of stamps from outside his flat, mistaking them for rubbish ...

The scent of the sauna
Experience the scent of birch leaves with Finland's May 6 issue of five stamps devoted to the sauna.

They incorporate microscopic scent capsules which, when rubbed, burst and give off the pleasant aroma of birch leaves.

Also ...
Jersey Post restructures
Next UPU Congress in Qatar
French magazine reaches 100
Postal sector feeling the pinch
Philatelic Fantasy League Table
SEC charges Escala; Escala settles
Universal Mail produces London stamps

Regulars:

About People

News about stamp people from around the world.
What’s happening in your life - tell the editor!

Around the Rooms

Auction action in the salerooms of Argyll Etkin, Mowbray, and Warwick & Warwick.

Auction houses

If you would like your public stamp auction results mentioned in the magazine let the editor have details of any noteworthy items.

Auction Diary

Public stamp auctions around the world in May and June 2009 are listed in the May 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

Auction houses

If you would like your public stamp auctions included in the magazine please let the editor have your 2009 schedules.
For more publicity for your auctions why not advertise them in the 'Philatelic Exporter'? Contact our advertising department

Back Stamps

What was in The Philatelic Exporter this month in 1959, 1962, 1971, 1981, and 1991.

Crime Column

Stolen in Sydney, and east London ... PUC £1 warning.

Great Britain

Of myths and legends ... Gentleman on Stamps ... Post bus routes axed in Scotland ... MailRail to reopen as rubble rail?

New Issues

Hundreds of new stamp issues from around the world are listed in the May 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

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

Trade Diary

What's on in the UK and overseas - events in the UK in May and June 2009, and international events up to 2016, are listed in the May 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

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

Your Letters

Scan and Sell ... Postmark and Pen ... KEVIII Abdication ... We're in Good Heart.

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

Then contact the editor.

From our contributors:

Michael Burzan - Europe

Unissued Hepburns four and five for sale in May
Remember the German 'Hepburn' discovery in 2001? To recap, the Ministry for Finances prepared a surcharged stamp issue for social organisations which showed the famous film stars Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and Jean Gabin. Two further designs with Audrey Hepburn, and Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman were also printed, but as Deutsche Bundepost could not obtain copyright permission the already produced stamps had to be destroyed, with the exception of some archive sheets. Audrey Hepburn was replaced by Greta Garbo. In due course a few used examples of the Hepburn stamp appeared on the market, discovered by collectors in kiloware. It seems that they may originate from three sheets that disappeared in Berlin and obviously had been used on mail in error ...

Also:
Sheets from Bulgaria ... Regionals for Mount Athos ... European Council on stamps ... A philatelic feast for French regions.

Read the column in the May 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

Liz McKernan - Postcard World

When postcards posed a privacy problem
In March a headline on the Daily Mail website caught my eye: '"Sending a postcard is safer than e-mailing" says Security Minister'. The minister concerned, Lord West of Spithead, is quoted as saying that those who use email are telling more people in the world what they are writing than if they wrote a postcard and stuck it in the post box. He added "That's a reality." This may indeed be true today - after all, the minister is in charge of security - but it made me smile because when the postcard was first introduced, the general public was appalled at the lack of privacy afforded by sending a postcard compared to a letter in an envelope ...

Also:
Black sheep ... Modern publisher features Dr Who ... Dealer retires to collect ... DIY postcard lantern ... Patron saint for postcard collectors? ... Last Russian coronation ... eBay rip-off ... May Fair Diary.

Read the column in the May 2009 Philatelic Exporter.

David Rennie - New Books

All reviewed in the May 2009 Philatelic Exporter.