Stamp Magazine

26 May 2014

Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s Stamp Collection

Nelson Mandela is one of the greatest people this world has ever known. He has become famous worldwide for his role towards the eradication of the apartheid in South Africa, and known as well for inspiring similar movements in different regions. To mark the death of this great man and to celebrate his great achievements, the Government of South Africa issued stamps to commemorate his life and achievements.

South Africa’s other personalities were also featured in stamps

The first democratic election in South Africa was held in 1994, with Mandela’s National Congress winning with absolute majority, thus making Mandela the first black president of South Africa. The first stamp was issued to commemorate this important event. From here on, the stamps were of great quality and... Read More

Stamp, Commemorative Stamps, Nelson Mandela, Postal History

12 May 2014

Newspaper Stamps

Postage stamps are not just used on mails and envelopes; these can be seen in newspapers and documents as well. The postage stamps that are used in newspapers are called newspaper stamps, and these are used to cover the cost of mailing these newspapers and periodicals so that they will reach the target audiences. These types of stamps were popular during the 19^th century but started to fall in terms of popularity in the 20^th century when newspaper publishers and mail services started to a arrange a ‘cheaper’ alternative of mailing newspapers through bulk handling.

Different Uses for Newspaper Stamps

There are different uses for newspaper stamps, and their actual use will depend on their value. For example, the small-value postage stamps are usually... Read More

Stamp

8 May 2014

Maori-Inspired Stamps - Most Popular Stamps in New Zealand

The bulk of the stamps used in New Zealand are inspired by the Maori designs. The Maori are a group of indigenous people from Eastern Polynesia that settled in New Zealand in the 13^th century. This group of people arrived in the country through their canoes, as part of a huge group of Polynesians who settled in different parts of North and South Pacific. The country was different compared to the islands where they come from. For starters, New Zealand is known for its four-season climate and its natural resources. A new Maori culture was thus formed, when the group began to use animals, hardwoods and minerals to their benefit. This culture and their arts and crafts have served as the inspiration for many postage stamps printed and released in the country.

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Stamp

1 May 2014

Guide to Commemorative Stamps

Seasoned stamp collectors and hobbyist know the value and importance of commemorative postage stamps. But what are they, and what are the different types of commemorative stamps that are worthy of collection and further studies? In philately, a commemorative stamp is a special edition stamp that is released to commemorate an important event, anniversary or can be used to honor a person, event or place. These stamps will feature the name of the person (or the event or place) that is honored, which is different from definitive stamps where only the subject, country and denomination are printed on the stamp. Another difference is that the commemorative stamps are normally printed in limited numbers and sold for a limited time, or until the printing runs out.