If Ol' Blue-Eyes can do it, so can I!
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| Frank Sinatra (USPS) |
Don't get me wrong, the last 20 years have been interesting, exciting even, especially the innovation of the security printing on Machin definitives, which meant that - for the first couple of years at least - we never knew what was coming next with year codes and source codes dropping on us at random times during each year.
Follow that up with change to the source codes, peculiar fluorescence in the iridescent ink and even the colour ink, while on the country definitives the grid positions and primary sheet sizes seemed to be constantly changing.
Post and Go machines and branch Self-Service Kiosks kept us all engaged for many years - and there are still some surprises in store as our regular contributors report. But can you imagine the chaos that would have ensued had the museum machines continued through the era of two tariff rises a year? We had varieties enough when prices went up slowly!
Meanwhile the programme of 'special stamps' continues to astound and amaze. We're astounded at the audacity of some of the subjects, and amazed that Royal Mail continue to find it worthwhile to produce so many different stamps each year at ever-increasing prices although they will say that the change to 2nd & 1st class only will be a help. Yes, it is - but the 2nd class is only 13p shy of the £1 values that they were including, and the 1st class now only 20p shy of the £2 values. The change is simply a reflection of reality - or am I being too cynical?
On the Stampboards forum one dedicated member tracks the cost of new issues worldwide every year, and publishes the data weekly in a league table. Despite the plethora of junk being printed around the world from philatelic agencies exploiting thematic collectors in the name of third-world nations (see Commonwealth Stamps Opinion blog here and on many other posts), guess which postal authority tops the list?
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| Top of the league table for new issues, compiled by DJCMH 30 March 2025. |
Even if you take issue with the methodology, the inclusion of everything - 46 stamps, 3 souvenir sheets, 5 collector sheets and 1 prestige book - puts Royal Mail at the top of the list with a face value of £185.55 - or nearly £15 per week. (And even then he might have it wrong, because we've had 2 PSBs!)
SO what to do?
As I have shown on my other blog, I am actually more interested in the stamps being used.
And I've put into separate categories the definitive-sized stamps and airmail Post and Go stamps which are useful if you send postcards or small letters. Post and airmail letter or card for as little as £2.25 instead of the £3.20 Royal Mail now charge. Useful for Postcrossers.
On the subject of Postal History, I have been collecting stamps on cover, card and parcel wrapper for many years. When the Security Machins were rampant I put aside examples of the different source and year codes on cover. It was this that led to the conclusion that counter sheet stamps (at least for 2nd & 1st class) were far less common than booklet or business sheet stamps.
I never did sort them all out and make a selection for myself, but when I do that I am sure I will find a lot of duplication. If anybody else has been undertaking a similar exercise and has gaps to fill please let me know and I will try to help before I consign all the rest to kiloware. This could be especially useful for overseas collectors wanting domestic use of these stamps. The only cost to you will be the postage to get them to you.
For special/commemorative stamps there is less opportunity for adding to your collections as I have so few, but I do have some sets and odds of some commemoratives from 10-15 years ago. When I find them I'll let you know! Here's a taster pic:
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| 2014 set of 10 fishes used on covers. |
What about you and your collections?
It's quite clear that the readers of this blog do so because they are primarily interested in British stamps (and postmarks). But few collectors don't have sidelines, even if it is based on childhood collections.
In fact, now that some collectors have given up Great Britain new issues, aside from turning back to earlier issues they are looking for other things to collect. This might be something thematic, associated with another hobby or their work, or another country (or area), or picture postcards. I have them all!
Well no, I don't have every country and certainly don't cover the world with postcards and postal history, but I've bought all sorts of stamp, cover and card lots over 50 years and not had time to deal with them all (see paragraph 1!).
So if you have particular interests outside GB philately do let me know and I will keep a register of interests and contact you when I find anything significant. Or if you see something I post here or on either of my other two blogs (Great Britain Postal History or the embryonic World Postal History), email me at the usual address (please, not through the shop system as I can't easily reply that software) and we can proceed from there.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope you will join me in further interesting posts on the three blogs.
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