Stamp Magazine

The Smart Way To Buy Stamps

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

13 Nov 2014

Holy Stamps - Stamp Collection of Vatican City

‘A nation within a city’- this is just one of the many descriptions that one can read about Vatican City. The Vatican is found within the city of Rome, and considered as the smallest nation in the world. This state which is the seat of Catholicism is even smaller than the National Mall located in Washington DC. The Vatican officially gained its independent status from Italy on February 11, 1929 through the Lateran Pacts, and it was at that time when a set of commemorative stamps were issued to mark the event. It was on August 1, 1929 that the government of Vatican City issued its first batch of stamps.
In 2008, Vatican City once again observed another landmark celebration, the 80th anniversary of its birth as an independent state. Another series of Vatican City-inspired... Read More

Stamp, Vatican, Postal History, Thematic

6 Nov 2014

Pigeon Post - Send Messages, No Stamps Required

Smart phones, e-mails and social networks or even mails with stamps may be the choices when it comes to sharing information and communications, but there was a time when pigeons were the traditional messengers of information. About 2000 years ago, pigeons were used to send information and the practice has persisted through the years, even in the face of emerging technologies in communications. In fact, during World War I, these birds were used as carriers of messages and have helped change the tides of war.

Persian roots and Military Use

What makes pigeons effective carriers of information is their honing capabilities. A pigeon can be transported from a certain place, and when it's released from the cage, it will instinctively return to its cage that it considers her home... Read More

Stamp, Postal History, Pigeon Post