The 1869 Pictorial stamps of the United States are highly sought after by stamp collectors due to their rarity, significance as firsts, and unique printing errors. These stamps were printed during President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration but were conceived in 1868, a time of political turmoil following the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. The 1869 […]
Many collectors are passionate about the first Mauritian stamps. They are among the most sought-after stamps and letters in the world. This article covers the letters Mauritius collectors dream of the most. The Postal Department of Mauritius has a rich history, dating back to its establishment during the French colonial period in 1772 by Pierre […]
The British Guiana 1-cent magenta stamp of 1856 is one of the most famous and valuable stamps in philatelic history due to its extreme rarity and legendary status. It is believed that only one example of this stamp exists, making it highly sought after by collectors. The stamp was printed as an emergency provisional supply […]
Issued under local authority of occupying Nazi German forces as fundraising (like semi-postals) stamps for the benefit of Danish Legion forces (Danish volunteers fighting, mostly on the Eastern Front, on the side of the Germans). Such stamps are listed by the Michel Catalog. Great caution must be exercized when purchasing such stamps as some excellent […]
The First Croatian Storm Division was established on October 9, 1944, as an elite unit aimed at halting the advance of the Red Army into the country. It was formed in collaboration with the German armed forces. In support of this division, stamps were issued on January 9, 1945. The stamp release had a very […]
Hungary before and after Trianon The post-World War I period in Hungarian philatelic history, particularly between 1918 and 1920, is characterized by complex events and shifting geographic borders, culminating in the signing of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920. This era is reflected in the philatelic issues of Hungary, which feature overprinting of stamps to […]
Perforations, which are small rows of holes punched between stamps, are essential for easy separation. The number of holes or teeth within two centimeters is measured using a perforation gauge. For instance, if a stamp has 11 perforations in 2 cm, it’s referred to as “Perf 11.” Here are some steps on how to measure […]
Perfins, or perforated initials punched into stamps, form distinctive patterns of letters, numbers, or designs, serving as a security measure to prevent theft and unauthorized use of postage stamps. While the belief that stamps should be in perfect condition is common, perfins represent a unique area of stamp collecting that embraces imperfections. Perfins were first […]
Soaking Now that you have gathered some stamps from envelopes that came through the mail how are you going to get the stamps off the envelopes? First you should decide if you really want to remove the stamp. Perhaps there is a special cancel or image on the envelope that appeals to you — in […]
To carry out stamp grading accurately, a degree of specialist philatelic knowledge is required. But even if you enjoy collecting stamps as a hobby rather than as an investment, you can still learn about the many different factors that must be considered when trying to determine a stamp’s value. The best philatelic experts use a […]