On October 2nd 2010, Hellman Auctions and the Philatelic Service of Finland will hold an auction where an incredible stock of postal covers will be sold.
The stock consists of 25 000 kilos of postal covers, sent to Finland from all over the world.
Archive for the ‘Stamp news’ category
25,000 kilos of covers for auction
September 5th, 2010Chinese stamps record
September 4th, 2010
The Formosa 1888 Horse and Dragon issues of the 20 cash Green and 20 cash Carmine stamps in complete unmounted mint sheets of 25 were both sold in Phila China’s auction held on 28 August 2010 for a record HK$10,120,000.
While the Carmine exists in 2 sheets, there is only one Green in existence.
The sheets are in the private collection of Woo Loyuan and offered for the first time in over 30 years.
Royal Mail invents internet stamp
September 3rd, 2010The Royal Mail wants to do away with its postmen who are prone to annoying things like striking by creating stamps that are more intelligent than they are. Not really – it’s a way for stamp collectors to head into the exciting world of the 21st century where you’re a mug if you seem to think you can have fun on anything that doesn’t have a screen.
Stamps do not always deliver top investment returns
August 23rd, 2010Returns on investing in stamps – even the rarest – can be little or nothing, despite some dealers’ claims
Excellent article from The Guardian on collecting stamps for investment or pleasure.
Full story at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/aug/07/stamps-gibbons-harmers-investment
One of America’s Most Treasured Artists Honored on U.S. Stamp
August 14th, 2010
Considered one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century, Winslow Homer is being honored on a U.S. commemorative postage stamp.
The new 44-cent stamp was dedicated here at the American Philatelic Society StampShow 2010, the largest annual postage stamp show held in the United States. It is the ninth issuance in the American Treasures series and features Boys in a Pasture, an 1874 oil-on-canvas painting by Homer. The painting is part of the Hayden Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA.
“The American Treasures stamps are amazing works of art, and today, we are very pleased to honor Winslow Homer and add one of his impressive paintings to this series,” said U.S. Postal Service Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President Ross Philo, who served as the dedicating official. “Indeed, it’s been said that Winslow Homer did for the United States what the French Impressionists did for Europe. He showed the beauty of a place and the people who lived there. His body of work continues to shine as a legacy to our great and beautiful nation.”
China 1897 cover sold for HK$2,990,000
August 2nd, 2010
A 1897 cover was sold in InterAsia Auctions 1 August 2010 Sale 14 for HK$2,990,000.
Known as the E.L. Mondon corner envelope card, it was used to Chinkiang, China bearing a pair of large figures surcharge 1½mm. setting on Dowager 1st printing 2c. on 2ca. green.
This is the only recorded example of the “Emerald Lady” on cover and the only recorded example of the “Emerald Lady” multiple.
Bogus Haiti charity stamps
July 22nd, 2010
After the Haiti earthquake, many charities have been about asking for donations to help the Haitians rebuild their lives.
Many scams were reported worldwide and stamp collectors were also spared the scams either. Shown below is a charity sheet that is reported to be a bogus issued by a company in Belgium.
There’s a possibility there are other stamps and sheets so beware.
Get the full story in the September’s issue of Scott Stamp Monthly.
Gallery of Philatelic Rarities added
July 18th, 2010
I have added a gallery to display philatelic rarities. The plan is to add a new rarity each day.
Click here to view the gallery.
USPS ‘Sunday Funnies’ Comic Stamps
July 11th, 2010
First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony of the Sunday Funnies 44-cent Commemorative First-Class stamps will be held at The Ohio State University,
Performance Hall at the Ohio Union on Friday 16 July 2010. The event is free and open to the public.
The Sunday Funnies pane of 20 stamps honors five of the nation’s most beloved comic strips: Archie, Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace, Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes.
July 10th, 2010
The U.S. Postal Service Governors on Tuesday proposed a 2-cent increase in the price of a first-class stamp, bringing the cost to 46 cents.
This proposed increase will be the second in two years. Last year, mail sent declined 17% .
Despite cost cutting measures, including the axing of 50,000 employees announced earlier this year, the post service is projecting a $7 billion deficit in the next fiscal year.
The change, if approved, will go into effect on January 2, 2012 is expected to raise $2.3 billion for the first nine months.
“There is no one single solution to the dire financial situation that the Postal Service faces,” Postmaster General John E. Potter said in a statement. “These proposed rate adjustments are moderate and part of a fair and balanced approach to insuring mail service for all Americans well into the future.”
