August 2001

• Alaouites, Latakia and Alexandretta - In his long running series of articles on "Forgotten Countries", Bernard Towler tells us this month about these stamps issued many years ago.
  
  
• Royal Mail's "Imps" - Dave Hill tells of the Integrated Mail Processors now used by Royal Mail as evidenced by the ink jet cancellations and bar codes that now appear on many of our letters.
  
  

• First Airmails - K. Austin describes some of the stamps specially issued to prepay rates of airmail postage.
  
  
• A Letter to Mary Phillips. An American correspondent, Michael Soper, who served in the US Navy, tells us of the research he undertook to trace Mrs Maiy Phillips, the senior member of a poor family, living in the USA early in the twentieth century. He discovered her plight and the efforts of her relations to make her life easier, following the acquisition of a letter in an old American cover posted in 1901. This item was purchased from a dealer s junk box at a philatelic exhibition. Subsequently he found two other covers addressed to this lady in 1905, by members of her family when she was still living at the same address in New York. These were sent to her by Registered Post as they contained money and enabled him to complete the story of her hardship.
  
  
• Spring STAMPEX - A special report on this year's exhibition.
  
  
• The work of the ABPS (Association of British Philatelic Societies) is given in detail and some of the many benefits of membership are explained.
  
  
• British Philatelic Press. The checklist of articles, which have appeared in the British Philatelic Press for the 6 months July to December 2000.

• Comoro Islands. Bernard Towler in his regular column on "Forgotten Countries" describes the stamps of the French Comoro Islands, which are located in the Indian Ocean midway between the island of Madagascar and Mozambique on the African mainland. The first stamps appeared in 1892 as part of the French Colonies (General) series and the collection is completed with a commemorative to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana in 1981.
  
  

• Bavaria's Stamps. Eric Glasgow reflects on the history and character of Bavaria and its stamp issues.

• Pirates and Buccaneers. To encourage readers to celebrate the middle of summer we feature a well-illustrated article by Giorgio Migliavacca about 'Pirates and Buccaneers on the stamps of the British Virgin Islands". Giorgio lives in BVI and is President of the British Virgin Islands Philatelic Society.
  
  

• Philatelic Fun & Frolics. David Sibley reports on StampEssex held in May 2001 and the souvenir cover produced by Sudbury Philatelic Society
  
  

• The Story behind a Cover (No2). Keith Tranmer reflects on the connections between the revolution that affected the Austrian Empire in 1848, a cover from Kremsier and Johann Strauss (father and son).
  
  

• Consignia. The "Letters Page" in this issue includes an explanation from Consignia (the new name for The Post Office Group) how and why this name was chosen for the new global brand name for Royal Mail/The Post Office.
  
  

• World History Stamp Atlas. David Sibley reviews the recently produced CD-ROM of the "World History Stamp Atlas". The original book has been out of print for a long time, but Sandafayre have provided a much needed substitute for the original work at the same price as was charged for the book when it was published in 1986.