Stamp Magazine

18 Dec 2014

Wilding Series- Royal Watermarks for Philately

The Wilding Series of stamps is actually a series of stamps that show the photographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that were printed and in wide circulation from 1952 to 1971. These stamps were rated for their intricate designs, including the use of graphite lines. Also, these stamps featured the phosphor bands that promoted automation. The Wilding Series is cited for its value and through the inclusion of regional emblems.

Intricate and royal designs on the Wilding Series stamps

The focal point of the stamps is the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that was officially taken on February 26, 1952 by Dorothy Wilding. Miss Wilding has been a member of the Royal Court and authorized to take the portraits of the Queen. There were a number of designs that were considered for... Read More

Stamp, Royalty Stamps, Postal History, British Postal History

11 Dec 2014

Saved Hindenburg Mails and Stamps - Philatelic Gems for Stamp Collectors

On May 6, 1937, the German Hindenburg burst into flames while attempting to navigate the runway at Lakehurst, New Jersey. In a matter of seconds, the once-mighty German zeppelin that completed sixty-three flights, including round trip to the United States (1936) met its fiery end. Even though the airship became fiery wreckage, the lives of nearly 2/3 of the crew members were saved.

According to final assessment conducted by the authorities, thirty-five people died on-board the 803’10” long airship. Also, it was not clarified what really caused the disaster- some theories centered on generated electricity from storm that ignited the airship’s hydrogen to sabotage. Whatever the reason, the explosion took the lives of many and increased the interest of stamp enthusiasts. The reason... Read More

Stamp, Commemorative Stamps, Postal History, Zeppelin Mail

10 Dec 2014

David Livingstone Commemorative Stamps

A storm, undetected by most, has been gathering in Scotland in the past few months, with an ever growing rift appearing within the Scottish Philatelic Society, all because of some cute panda bears. And why?

The year 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of David Livingstone, a famous Scotsman. This anniversary was unfortunately deemed unworthy of a Royal Mail special stamp, disappointing his devotees who had to make do with an expensive commemorative Smilers sheet.

And if that was not bad enough, the Scots themselves opted to disregard Livingstone's anniversary, choosing the centenary of the Edinburgh Zoo as the main theme of all special items prepared for the annual Scottish Congress. And that is how we came to have pandas on post-as-you-go sheetlets and... Read More

Stamp

4 Dec 2014

The Mona Lisa of Stamp Collecting - Rediscovering the British Guiana-One Cent Magenta

In the world of fine arts, the Mona Lisa has managed to charm collectors and enthusiasts looking to understand history and the kind of arts that prevailed in the past, particularly during Renaissance. The mysterious smile, the expert craftsmanship and of course the story surrounding the portrait and the artist all helped in boosting the standing of the artwork, thus making it as one of the priciest works of art around. But did you know that this pricey artwork has its counterpart in the world of philately? There’s one postage stamp that is highly sought-after, rare and according to reports its value is expected to appreciate even further. It’s the 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta stamp that fetched $9.5 million when it was sold to the public. Roughly measuring one-inch by one-and-a... Read More

Stamp, British Postal History, British Magenta