Innehållsförteckning för August 2024 från Stamp Collector

INCORPORATING COIN COLLECTOR This month’s welcome starts with a sincere apology for the mistake on our part in the distribution of the free souvenir sheets for EuroPhilEx last month. Unfortunately, we put too many souvenir sheets in the newsstand copies, and we were then unable to include them in the subscriber copies. There weren’t enough sheets to go into all the copies because the print run of the sheets was set before Coin Collector was incorporated into Stamp Collector, resulting in a larger print run for the combined magazine. This error was regrettably not noticed until the magazine was ready to be distributed. We have now rectified the print run for future souvenir sheets, and all subscribers and those who purchase at the UK newsstand should have a copy of…

SOLD FOR £1,256 France, block of four 1930 3f stamps, ‘Catéhdrale de Reims’ (type III), MNH with dated sheet corner SOLD FOR £823 Great Britain, King Edward VII, 1903 £1 dull blue-green, MH (SG 266) SOLD FOR £496 Great Britain, 1913 10s indigo-blue Seahorse, MLH (SG 402) SOLD FOR £455 Sudan, Official 1m brown and pink, with ‘ARMY OFFICIAL’ overprint, MH (SG A4b) SOLD FOR £1,190 Italy, registered airmail cover franked with complete ‘Crociera Italiana 1924’ issue, cancelled ‘CROCIERA ITALIANA NELL’AMERICA LATINA/1924’ (with certificate) SOLD FOR £711 Belgian Congo Lado Enclave, postcard from Loak franked with Sudan 3 mil, cancelled ‘WNTP/14.2.1909’ to Antwerp SOLD FOR £468 Belgium, 1921 20f ultramarine blue Railway, MNH SOLD FOR £272 USA, 1867 3c rose, used (with certificate) (Scott 85c) SOLD FOR £926 Spanish Guinea,…

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When excavators began digging in Al-Bahnasa, south of Cairo, they stumbled across something remarkable: a cache of ancient papyrus books, letters and documents, dating from the 3rd century BC. However, the Oxyrhynchus papyri cache, as it is known, is by no means unique. Personal correspondence from Anatolia, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Rome has survived the passage of time – and goes to prove that old adage that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Indeed, while today, we may prefer virtual greetings to paper ones, the practice of sending friendly missives to mark special events is very old indeed (Figures 1–3). The first greetings cards originated in ancient China and Ptolemaic Egypt. Those mementos of foreign travels – the picture postcard – first appeared in the 1870s (Figure…

Sanford Saltus Medal awarded to Barrie Cook Every three years, the members of the British Numismatic Society (BNS) vote to award the Sanford Saltus Medal for outstanding scholarly contributions to numismatics. In May, they were delighted to present Barrie Cook, curator of medieval and modern collections in the department of money and medals at the British Museum, with his Sanford Saltus medal. Barrie has made an enormous contribution to the field through his many publications, ranging from publishing hoards and coin finds to his research on medieval and Tudor coinage. The gold Sanford Saltus medal is the society’s premier distinction. It was established in 1910 and is named after the American numismatist John Sanford Saltus (1854–1922), a former president and benefactor of the BNS. John Sanford Saltus was also very…

A favourite among the most collected modern thematic coins are editions minted to commemorate the Olympic Games. Generally speaking, many categories of collectables issued for present events are of most interest when the occasions they were designed for are taking place. A strong collectors’ market in the country where they are located, as well as in the homelands of winning teams or athletes, will soon stir interest and demand up to their possible maximum sales numbers and market prices. But in the following years, new events and issues will be in the focus. IMPORTANT BASIC DATA When once coveted collections come to sale in the years and decades after a historic event, prices may have come down. This is the moment when material and weight may decide more about the…

By the start of the 3rd century AD, Rome was in decline, China was embroiled in coups and civil wars, and the Sasanian Empire had yet to re-establish Persia as a major power. Yet, in Africa, one kingdom was still in its ascendance. The kingdom of Aksum or the Aksumite Empire, as it’s sometimes known, emerged out of the D mt Kingdom around 150 BC. This vibrant civilisation monopolised trade across the Indian Ocean, with access to markets in Egypt, Greece, India and Persia. As many African nations tended to trade with their immediate neighbours, currency on the continent followed its own path for a long time, with gold and copper ingots, and trade items like cowrie shells and salt being used in place of coins. The Aksumite Empire, which…

Issued on 29 June, a new set of eight stamps from the Isle of Man capture the island’s Tynwald Week. Centred on the historic Tynwald Ceremony on 5 July, where new Acts are solemnly enacted into law amidst centurie-sold traditions, Tynwald Week holds a special place in Manx culture. The stamps feature images from renowned contemporary photographer Martin Parr, who is known for his witty and perceptive documentary photography. His distinctive style, characterised by vivid colours and candid portrayals, captures the essence of Tynwald Week and the surrounding festivities. Parr’s lens offers a unique perspective into the cherished traditions and spirited celebrations of Tynwald Week and captures events such as Viking re-enactments, military pageantry and traditional Manx cuisine. As well as the stamp set, there is an exhibition of Parr’s…

A stamp with an inverted centre is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular errors in philately. Many are great rarities; others are affordable but very few are common. The Republic of Liberia in West Africa has produced quite a few inverted centres, errors, which add a lot of excitement to this collecting area. In 1909, Liberia released a most attractive set of definitive stamps printed by Perkins Bacon in the UK. The 2c value featured a portrait of President Arthur Barclay (1854–1938). He was born in Barbados, but in 1865, his family moved to a new life in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. Young Barclay trained as a lawyer but entered politics at an early age, occupying several important positions in government. In 1892, he served as Liberia’s postmaster general. In…

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Although nowadays books of stamps are standard and sold in a wide range of retail outlets, historically most GB stamps were issued in sheets. However, in the early-20th century, alternative formats were introduced – books in 1904 and rolls from 1912. Non-philatelic usage of stamps originating from these is an area that is often overlooked, but covers turn up fairly frequently and are well worth keeping an eye out for – either as a topic in their own right or as a supplement to a collection of the mint stamps. Stamp books were initially intended for customers who wanted to carry a stock of stamps in a convenient format, and they were sold over the post office counter. From the 1930s, there were also smaller ‘booklets’ made available via vending…

INCORPORATING COIN COLLECTOR ON SALE 9 AUGUST Build your knowledge… build your collection with the UK’s only stamp and coin magazine How to Collect Ethiopia DISCOVER THE COLLECTION OPTIONS OFFERED BY ETHIOPIAN STAMPS Post Riders in Seven-league Boots EXTRACTING FACT FROM FOLKLORE THROUGH PHILATELY The Norfolk Token Project HOW A SHORTAGE OF SMALL CHANGE LED TO A FASCINATING SERIES OF 17TH-CENTURY TOKENS Bicorporates on coins THE MYSTERIOUS COINS FEATURING ANIMALS WITH ONE HEAD AND TWO BODIES From Forger to Banknote Engraver THE DESIGNS OF CZESŁAW SŁANIA AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD NEWSAGENTS OR DIRECT FROM WWW.ALLABOUTSTAMPS.CO.UK…

A British Empire spotlight sale from Heritage on 16 June included a ‘convict’ love token from Australia (lot 22001). Popular in Great Britain in the early-19th century, when prisoners were being sent to the new British colony of Australia to serve their sentences, the token is a farewell keepsake from Thomas Jasper (only 18 years old at the time) to his parents, with the engraving Dear Parents/When This You See/Remember Me & Have Me In/Your Mind, Let Others/Say When I Am Away/Speak Of Me As You/Find’ on one side and ‘Thos Jasper/Born 29 May 1800/Banished For 14 Years/17th June 1818’ on the other. The State Library of Queensland Convict Transportation records confirm that Jasper was sent to New South Wales, Australia, as ‘one of 150 convicts transported on the ship…

While attending the recent Long Beach Coin Exposition in California last month, it was time for an afternoon coffee break. The concession stand at the convention centre offered a sparse offering with just the basics. When it was time to pay for my $5 cup of coffee, the teenage cashier told me they did not except money and were cashless. Without a credit card, my required caffeine intake would have to wait. The irony of a convention based on selling money in all its forms having a concession that did not take money was quite amusing. In the last few years, vendors of all kinds in the United States are moving away from excepting cash in any form (Figure 1). This seems to have started during Covid-19 when the idea…

Nordia 2024 took place in Langesund, Norway, from 31 May until 2 June. The big winners were: Grand Prix Nordia (Championship Class) – Benny Winther (Denmark), ‘The Classic Stamps of Denmark 1851–1863’; Grand Prix Nordic – Kai Nieminen (Finland), ‘Grand Duchy of Finland 1856–1875’; Grand Prix International – Eivind Lund (Norway), ‘Ecuador – The First Perforated Issue 1873–1881’; and Grand Prix National – Klaas Biermann (Norway), ‘Norway — the First Issue 1855’. The US Postal Service has appointed Alicia Cheng, a graphic designer and educator, to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC). Members are appointed to the committee by the postmaster general to make recommendations for future stamp subjects. Cheng is currently head of design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. On Wednesday, 14 August, this season’s…

In last month’s ‘Market Insight’, we took to the Oil Rivers of Nigeria to highlight the philatelic wonders of an unused, overprinted and surcharged 1893 10s on 5d dull purple and blue (SG 41) from the Peter Horlyck collection of Nigeria. Continuing with this thread, and from the same collection, we take a closer look at a British Protectorate Oil Rivers 1892 2d ultramarine registered stationery envelope, which has been franked with a stamp from the same series of adhesives. It is an 1893 1s on 2d grey-green and carmine (SG 37) (Figure 1). What is particularly eye-catching about this cover, apart from the obvious use of these fascinating surcharged stamps, is the name of the recipient ‘Frank Godden’. As well as being well known for producing rather nice leatherbound…

13 July – Somerset Hill Farm, Hemyock, Cullompton EX15 3UZ www.somersetstampauctions.com 14 July – Provincial Benson Parish Hall, Sunnyside, Benson, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6LZ provincialphilatelics.co.uk 16–18 July – Robert A Siegel 21 West 38th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA siegelauctions.com 24 July – Brian Reeve 2 College Fields, Prince Georges Road, London SW19 2PT www.brian-reeve.com 26 July – Martello 4b Prospect Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 5NN www.martelloauctions.com 4 August – Oxford Botley Women Institute, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford OX2 0LT www.oxfordstampauctions.com 6 August – T&T New Barn, The Estate Yard, Eridge Green, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9JR tandtauctions.com 10 August – Bil & Co Washingborough Community Centre, Fen Road LN4 1AB www.bilandco.co.uk 12 August – Plumridge Sunbury Cricket Club, Kenton Court Meadow, Lower Hampton Road, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5PS…

As someone once wrote: ‘Pigs on stamps are rare. Pigs on coins are rarer still. But pigs on coins on stamps? That’ll be Bermuda.’ The Bermuda archipelago was first discovered in 1505, but the islands were not permanently settled until 1612. Maritime traffic increased during that time, and the main island became a stopping off point to take on food and water – and an occasional refuge for shipwrecked mariners. Hogs were introduced in 1563 by Don Pedro Menendez de Avila, a Spanish captain en route for Florida. He thought that he might need a source of fresh meat on his return voyage. The pigs settled in nicely and the population soon grew. ‘Hogge Money’ was used by British settlers from 1612–24. The coins feature an image of a hog…

Ever since Argentina declared its independence from Spain in 1810, relations between the South American nation and Great Britain have been more than strained, mainly due to the conflict involving the Falkland Islands and other British Antarctic territories that Argentina lays claim to. The conflict erupted into full-scale war in 1982. The islands were occupied by Argentinean forces from 2 April until 15 June of that year. Argentina withdrew from the Falkland Islands and South Georgia after having suffered considerable losses but nothing much has changed. The government in Buenos Aires still maintains that the Falklands (which they call Islas Malvinas) are part of Argentina despite the fact that the vast majority of the Falklanders prefer to remain British. On 22 April 1982, the Argentinean postal service released a 1,700-peso…

Palaeontology is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene Epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present day). It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms’ evolution and interactions with each other and their environments (their paleoecology). Palaeontological observations have been documented as far back as the 5th century BC. The science became established in the 18th century as a result of Georges Cuvier’s work on comparative anatomy and developed rapidly in the 19th century. In other worlds, palaeontology, is a science about extinct animals based on fossil record. The main goal of palaeontology is reconstruction of life’s evolution on Earth, and to understand its origin and development (Figure 1). Scientists who study fossils are called palaeontologists (Figure 2). Fossil can…

In this month’s edition of Coin Collector, we include a fascinating article about the Seaton Down Roman coin hoard, which is on display at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. The discovery of this large hoard, comprising over 22,000 coins, unearthed a major piece of Devon’s archaeology and is of great significance. Its display in Exeter means that the local population, as well as visitors to the area, can learn about the history of the hoard near to its point of discovery. A similar story in ‘Coin Update’ highlights the Viking Age ingot now on display at the Manx Museum in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The discovery on the island of this ingot, which was used as part of a dual economy, has helped in understanding how…

Under the rule of Alfred, a status quo had been achieved. Following his successes at the Battle of Edington in 878 and treaty with Guthrum in 880, breathing space had been achieved against the marauding Scandinavians. A ‘levelling up’ of the country thus began, with Alfred as its de-facto ruler following his assumption of the title ‘King of the Anglo-Saxons’. Social identities were beginning to change, while economic, legal and educational reforms were pushed through. These were balanced by the construction of local fortifications (burghs), creation of standing mobile garrisons and improving the royal fleet. THE SCANDINAVIANS RETURN The relative peace and stability achieved through the 880s was abruptly interrupted in 892–93 when Scandinavian incursions resumed. Two expeditions made landfall in Kent, though these were markedly different in character to…