gbcc
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Posts: 848
What I collect: GB First day covers, event covers and postmarks, GB Slogans
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Post by gbcc on Jan 5, 2023 19:16:57 GMT
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daniel
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Posts: 2,147
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Post by daniel on Jan 6, 2023 3:52:14 GMT
'Interesting' programme for sure. I would make the following comments:
1) I'm a little surprised that the Iron Maiden stamps still show the head of Queen Elizabeth. There could be a couple of reasons for this. King Charles has made it clear that he doesn't want there to be any waste and if the design stage was sufficiently well advanced, he would not have wanted to make any changes. Alternatively, as a tribute to his late mother, he may not want a change until his coronation.
2) There are too many sets issued with too many stamps. More than one issue a month is too much given the cost involved. There used to be 10 stamps per issue but this has increased to a minimum of 12.
3) There is little of true commemorative worth here apart from the King Charles set and Windrush. I can understand the Shirley Bassey and Iron Maiden stamps. If others attract younger collectors then that may be a good thing.
4) With a disconnect between Royal Mail and The Post Office (they're separate companies), new stamps are not so easy to find on the high street.
Personally, I would only buy very selectively. Just my view.
Daniel
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Post by elfstone99 on Jan 12, 2023 23:00:45 GMT
I can't wait for the Flying Scotsman issue(s), as well as Windrush and Dame Bassey. The rest will find their way into my collection as well, but seriously, how many Harry Potter stamps do we need? I saw the Flying Scotsman at King's Cross in October. It was amazing to be up close to this beauty. And the young children interested in her as well was really nice to see.  |
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Post by shadowrogue75 on Mar 15, 2023 0:55:08 GMT
Hello all,
I'll be in London next week and was hoping to pick up some of the flower stamps mentioned above that are being released on the 23rd. Does anyone have recommended Post Office locations in London for purchasing commemorative stamps? (Last time I was in London, I went to a location that was listed as selling commemorative stamps (Worlds End) and the clerk looked at me like I had two heads when I tried to ask for whatever commemorative stamps (non-presentation packs) they might have. It took a little convincing her, but some were finally located. Hoping for an easier purchasing experience this time around!)
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alexcandy
**Member** 
Posts: 13 
What I collect: Postboxes, French & UK Stamps
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Post by alexcandy on Apr 7, 2023 14:39:00 GMT
Hello all, I'll be in London next week and was hoping to pick up some of the flower stamps mentioned above that are being released on the 23rd. Does anyone have recommended Post Office locations in London for purchasing commemorative stamps? (Last time I was in London, I went to a location that was listed as selling commemorative stamps (Worlds End) and the clerk looked at me like I had two heads when I tried to ask for whatever commemorative stamps (non-presentation packs) they might have. It took a little convincing her, but some were finally located. Hoping for an easier purchasing experience this time around!) Sorry just interested did you find anywhere? Alex |
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Apr 8, 2023 7:24:40 GMT
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Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,643
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Post by Admin on Apr 26, 2023 15:58:57 GMT
The editors of the Scott catalog are seeking input regarding the listing of King Charles stamps. Now is your chance to influence their decision.
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Post by paul1 on Apr 26, 2023 17:22:06 GMT
I don't think they'd be printable - this isn't really a good stamp - too stylized, too expensive and too much like all the other vast quantities of Machins that are boring, indefinable and too similar. Where has the element of true stamp design gone?? I thought that black wire around the neck meant he was wearing a hearing aid.
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daniel
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Post by daniel on Apr 27, 2023 2:30:15 GMT
Had Royal Mail been a little more mischievous, they could have gone with this plaster bas-relief portrait of Charles from the late 1970s. Who made it? Arnold Machin   |
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,346
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Apr 27, 2023 10:52:54 GMT
I think the young QEII added to the attractiveness of the Machin stamp. It made it seem timeless but then I was not paying attention to Machins until the last few years.
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Post by paul1 on Apr 27, 2023 13:38:10 GMT
rather late in the day to help with shadowrogue75 and the request for a suitable P.O. from which to buy current GB issues - hope a suitable outlet was found. I seem to remember that there was a large P.O. 100 yards off the eastern side of Trafalgar Square - a few hundred yards from Charing Cross station - that I'd imagine carried whatever was needed. Sorry folks, you'll never convince me of the philatelic value of Machins - perhaps it all comes down to cost and economics - and the likes of designers such as Dorothy Wilding are seen as old fashioned, when all everyone wants is a plaster bust stylized image.
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daniel
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Post by daniel on Apr 27, 2023 15:25:58 GMT
rather late in the day to help with shadowrogue75 and the request for a suitable P.O. from which to buy current GB issues - hope a suitable outlet was found. I seem to remember that there was a large P.O. 100 yards off the eastern side of Trafalgar Square - a few hundred yards from Charing Cross station - that I'd imagine carried whatever was needed. Sorry folks, you'll never convince me of the philatelic value of Machins - perhaps it all comes down to cost and economics - and the likes of designers such as Dorothy Wilding are seen as old fashioned, when all everyone wants is a plaster bust stylized image. Hi Paul and shadowrogue75, Trafalgar Square Post Office closed at the end of 2018 due to redevelopment. At that time it was suggested that the Broadway Post Office at 1 Broadway, London, Greater London, SW1H 0AX would have a Philatelic Counter but there is no specific mention of this on their website. Many High Street post offices closed or moved into branches of newsagents such as W H Smith. They probably only carry latest issues. Otherwise, it's just a matter of pot luck. I know that in Golders Green Post Office in North West London, they have a display of stamps and coins and, so, seem to make an effort to carry a broader range. The only other option is to buy online. Daniel |
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Apr 27, 2023 15:45:08 GMT
rather late in the day to help with shadowrogue75 and the request for a suitable P.O. from which to buy current GB issues - hope a suitable outlet was found. I seem to remember that there was a large P.O. 100 yards off the eastern side of Trafalgar Square - a few hundred yards from Charing Cross station - that I'd imagine carried whatever was needed. Sorry folks, you'll never convince me of the philatelic value of Machins - perhaps it all comes down to cost and economics - and the likes of designers such as Dorothy Wilding are seen as old fashioned, when all everyone wants is a plaster bust stylized image. Sorry paul1 but there is far more intricacy, science, design techniques, printing process etc etc in producing a Machin stamp than a Wilding one. There is also an area of Machin collecting usually forgotten by many people, which is postal stationery. For example, letter cards, pre-paid letter cards, wrappers & labels. Not to forget the collectors who collect booklets of various types in their own right, many of which contain Machins & of course Wildings.. I do not consider Wildings to be quote "old fashioned" & I have most of the sets in my own collection. By the way more than 1 plaster bust was created all using different techniques/designs. |
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Post by paul1 on Apr 27, 2023 18:45:48 GMT
thanks for the up-date daniel re the closure of the Tr. Sq. P.O. - I remember it from many moons ago - sad to hear it is no more. How about the Mount Pleasant office - is that where the museum used to be - don't tell me they've closed that one too.
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Post by paul1 on Apr 27, 2023 18:51:57 GMT
thanks drblade for an expert expose on the intricacies of Machin production - wouldn't doubt that for a moment - but human nature is often shallow in what we feel is important, and what appeals mostly is what we see immediately, rather than the science and technique behind the manufacture. I wasn't being truly serious in my complaints of course - everyone to their own, just that I sometimes lament the lack of classicness in modern stamp appearance.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2023 21:32:49 GMT
I bought the "Flying Scotsman" presentation pack and set of PHQ cards as a present for a friend. She was pleased with them, but I was unimpressed. The PHQ cards weren't bad, but I don't think the automated reduction of a large picture to the size of a stamp ever works well, and in this case the general impression was of dirtiness. Of course steam engines were dirty, but that's not what we love about them.
I paid £25 for the set, and could have spent three or four times as much if I'd added the FDC, miniature sheet and prestige booklet. Collecting new British stamps is a rich man's hobby.
I assume Royal Mail must be profiting from these meretricious issues in the short term, but in the long term they're going to put themselves out of business.
On a brighter note, I like the design of the new King Charles III definitives. The great defect of the Machin head was that it was so idealised as to be unrecognisable as a portrait, but the King's profile is unmistakeable, ears and all. I think even Eric Gill (fiercest critic of the stamps of King Edward VIII) might have approved.
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daniel
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Post by daniel on Apr 29, 2023 2:12:44 GMT
The Coronation stamps are unconventional. It would appear that King Charles must have had some input. There are two first class and two £2.20 stamps.The stamps are only available as a miniature sheet or this Collectors Sheet with the stamps on this sheet being self -adhesive.  |
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Philatarium
Member
Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,032
What I collect: Primarily focused on Japan, but lots of other material catches my eye as well ...
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Post by Philatarium on Apr 29, 2023 4:21:20 GMT
I assume Royal Mail must be profiting from these meretricious issues in the short term, but in the long term they're going to put themselves out of business.
Wow! What a great word!! I must have been slumming it in my adulthood more than I have ever acknowledged to myself, but I have never encountered this word before. And it's a fantastic word! Definition 1: it's a keeper!  |
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,346
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Apr 29, 2023 10:23:18 GMT
The current definition and the archaic one seems interesting. A current similar term is "eye candy".
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jun 28, 2023 16:21:09 GMT
'Interesting' programme for sure. I would make the following comments: 1) I'm a little surprised that the Iron Maiden stamps still show the head of Queen Elizabeth. There could be a couple of reasons for this. King Charles has made it clear that he doesn't want there to be any waste and if the design stage was sufficiently well advanced, he would not have wanted to make any changes. Alternatively, as a tribute to his late mother, he may not want a change until his coronation. 2) There are too many sets issued with too many stamps. More than one issue a month is too much given the cost involved. There used to be 10 stamps per issue but this has increased to a minimum of 12. 3) There is little of true commemorative worth here apart from the King Charles set and Windrush. I can understand the Shirley Bassey and Iron Maiden stamps. If others attract younger collectors then that may be a good thing. 4) With a disconnect between Royal Mail and The Post Office (they're separate companies), new stamps are not so easy to find on the high street. Personally, I would only buy very selectively. Just my view. Daniel No offence to King Charles but my GB stamp collecting of new issues finished when Q.E. II passed. I wonder if younger (none stamp collectors) will be attracted to the actual stamps or simply just the "subject matter" trending at the time. |
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 693
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Jun 30, 2023 4:44:12 GMT
I'm with you drblade, the new fellow is a perfect excuse to cap my GB collection. Although those Iron Maiden stamps do look nice. I saw them in concert twice back in the 80's and they were awesome shows. It's sad that I'm old enough that my teenage interests are now stamp worthy! |
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,265
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Jun 30, 2023 6:19:31 GMT
No offence to King Charles but my GB stamp collecting of new issues finished when Q.E. II passed. I wonder if younger (none stamp collectors) will be attracted to the actual stamps or simply just the "subject matter" trending at the time. Last week I was invited to assess “my uncle’s stamp collection”. My heart sank to my boots when I saw that it consisted almost entirely and in huge volume, in elaborate 3 fat fancy illustrated albums , of that Charles and Diana Wedding. World wide meretricious issues including African Middle East and South American issues with tenuous connections and spurious legitimacy. Classic “trending subject matter” of the 1980s and promoted at exorbitant prices by Stanley Gibbons ( then in the throes of the great Speculative boom before the crash with the notorious Clive Feigenbaum as Chairman). It must have cost a small fortune £££ at the time of purchase, who wants them now ? |
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guyana1230
Member
Posts: 373
What I collect: GUYANA, Surinam, British Commonwealth, Aland, Denmark Finland, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, USA, Scout Posts, Cinderellas
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Post by guyana1230 on Aug 3, 2023 8:32:11 GMT
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Aug 3, 2023 9:44:50 GMT
Oh! I MUST HAVE those discworld Stamps! They included all of my favorite characters. Love, love love the Discworld series and Terry Pratchett - thanks for the share, Martyn. guyana1230 |
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Aug 3, 2023 9:50:36 GMT
No offence intended guyana1230 but looking at this set of stamps I'm glad my GB collection (up to the end of Q.E. II), has ended. Just received the following scanned "booklet" in the mail.  |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Aug 3, 2023 12:53:07 GMT
drblade - I know what you mean about modern philatelic “confections”, I generally don’t get enthusiastic about modern issues either, but sometimes an issue coincides with a thematic interest and a collector goes all googoo eyed. Oh well. The nice thing is that you can do exactly as you chose to do and make a decision to have a cutoff date or only collect definitives or postally used, whatever. That’s the beauty of philately - whatever makes you happy is the way to go.   That said, gimme those Discworld stamps! LoL Forgot to add, here’s what I do. I don’t have cut-off dates, but I make VERY little effort to acquire modern material. I buy collections and if they turn up in a collection, well ain’t that groovy. But, my wantlists end where my collection ends plus a few after that so that I know where I begin to lack items.
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Aug 3, 2023 13:25:27 GMT
drblade - I know what you mean about modern philatelic “confections”, I generally don’t get enthusiastic about modern issues either, but sometimes an issue coincides with a thematic interest and a collector goes all googoo eyed. Oh well. The nice thing is that you can do exactly as you chose to do and make a decision to have a cutoff date or only collect definitives or postally used, whatever. That’s the beauty of philately - whatever makes you happy is the way to go. That said, gimme those Discworld stamps! LoL Forgot to add, here’s what I do. I don’t have cut-off dates, but I make VERY little effort to acquire modern material. I buy collections and if they turn up in a collection, well ain’t that groovy. But, my wantlists end where my collection ends plus a few after that so that I know where I begin to lack items. I agree with you totally & get your ideas on collecting. It's only over the past few years that I started using auctions (for example) to pick up collections etc (should have done it earlier). I think that having kept with Q.E.II for so long it seems like starting all over again with GB, which I didn't think I would see the end of, so I needed a long think on cut off dates. I'm working back now on my GB collection with missing items being mainly from the Victorian era, probably the most expensive of all. Also having a separate Machin collection, which is very time consuming, hence the reason I've stuck with one country. I have plenty of items of which I don't rate the designs/colours/layouts etc., but they remain in the interest of completion. I also think that quite a few of todays authors/artists are onto a trend of "tales of the unexpected" thinking up various characters to sell their adventures. Not a patch on Jack Sparrow & crew, Gandalf & Middle earth etc. even the Goonies without a pirate in sight. Maybe I'm getting too old that's always a good excuse.  |
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That said, gimme those Discworld stamps! LoL 