FEBRUARY & APRIL 2015

February 2015

• Stamp Booklets of the Republic of South Africa - After a 36-absence, South Africa reintroduced stamp booklets in 1987, and Chris Oliver describes in detail the  booklets that appeared over the ensuing years.
  
  

• Some thoughts on Austrian stamps used in Hungary - and on rivalry at auction - Keith Tranmer recalls his successful bid for a 17 volume collection of Austrian postmarks. 
  
  

• The curious Geography of London's "Stampland" - For many years the Stamp Office at Somerset House, played a key role  in the design and production of British stamps and Dave Hill links this to the development of the stamp trade in the nearby Strand. 
  
  

• The Post and Go Revolution of the past three years - Michael Goodman reports on the presentation given by Bob Feathergill to the Friends of the BPMA in which he described his role in developing the Post & Go machines from 2012 onwards and the improvements introduced as a result of this work.
  
  

• New Issues - 

• Liechtenstein - the limousines issue and the need to correct the 85 franc stamp.

• Hungary brings back a sheet from the Communist era to mark the anniversary of the location of the Danube Commission in Budapest..

• Malaysia marks to opening of the new bridge between Penang and the mainland.

• From the Cocos (Keeling) Islands come two stamps marking the centenary of the successful sinking of the SMS Emden by the newborn Royal Australian Navy.

• The latest Works of Arts stamps from the Czech Republic and from Slovakia.

• Ascension demonstrates its role as a tracking station for the Rosetta space probe..  

• Meeting reports -  Detailed and illustrated reports on the Members' Displays given at the Society's Christmas Meeting on Saturday 6 December.
  
  

• Book Reviews - Detailed and informative reviews are a regular feature of the magazine. In this issue we look at
  Every stamp tells a story - the National Philatelic Collection by Cheryl R Ganz and M T Sheahan
  Perforation Fingerprints by David B Escott 
  Collecting Easter Island Stamps & Postal History - published by the Pacific Islands Study Circle 
  The 1898 Pictorial Issue of New Zealand - Its Design, Printing & Use  by Derek Diamond FRPSL 
  Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue - Canada & Provinces 5th edition 2014  

    PLUS -  Other Regular Features - 

  • The President's Piece, National PS News, Message from the Editor

  • Letters to the Editor

  • Other Philatelic News   

  • Stamp Fairs Listing -  February, March & April 2015

April 2015

• The Queen Victoria Jubilee Fund Association - This Association  played a vital role in finding out what had happened to missing soldiers in the First World war. Dave Hill describes the work of the Association and its two unsung heroes - Mr. S Gutmann,(a British pro-consul in neutral Switzerland and British Born, Princess Blucher of Wahlstaat.
  
  

• Europhilex 2015 - London 2015 - a four-page Guide to this event which is taking place at the Business Design Centre, London in May.
  
  

• Wei Hai Wei - the last Treaty Port of Hong Kong - Part 1 - Taken by the Japanese in the war of 1894, Nick Kerridge explains who this Chinese Port came to be administered by Britain for over thirty years and the postal arrangements that accompanied the setting up of British control.
  
  

• New Issues - 

  • Canada - The 50th anniversary of the Canadian Flag is marked by a fabric stamp, and the country also marks the bi-centenary of the birth of its first Prime Minister, Sir John A MacDonald..

  • From Australia this yea's "Australian legends" issue features recipients of the Victoria Cross of Australia and a miniature sheet replicating the charity stamp showing the Victoria Cross produced by the state of Victoria in 1900.

  • New definitive stamps featuring the King and Queen have been issued by Sweden  

  • Tourist Transport - four new stamps from Australia 

  • New Definitives from South Georgia featuring men and ships associated with the island from the 1960's back to Captain James Cook.
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• Meeting reports -  Detailed and illustrated reports on the Displays on the GB Centenary Issue and the National Philatelic Society's Forgery Collection given by Christine Earle, FRPSL and Chris Oliver, FRPSL on Saturday 10 January 2015 and the Display on Wei Hai Wei given by Nick Kerridge on Saturday 14 February.
  
  

• Book Reviews - Detailed and informative reviews are a regular feature of the magazine. In this issue we look at
  Alice's adventures in Wonderland -  the story behind the 2015 stamp issue.
  Free Czechoslovak Forces in France 1939-40 and The Czechoslovak Independent Arrmoured Brigade in France and their return Home 1944-45 - Historical and Philatelic Studies by Richard Beith 
  Collect British Stamps 2015  published by Stanley Gibbons
  Catalogues from Stanley Gibbons - Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps 1840-1970 (2015 edition) - Australia 9th ed 2014  
  Canal Zone Postal Stationery - 3rd ed 2014 - Published by The United States Postal Stationery Society Inc.
  

  PLUS -  Other Regular Features - 

• The President's Piece, National PS News, Message from the Editor

• Letters to the Editor

• Other Philatelic News   

• Stamp Fairs Listing -  April, May & June 2015

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