Philatelic Reference Books

Essential reading for all Channel Island Collectors. Learn about the philately of the Channel Islands - including coverage of postal history during this fascinating period. pProfusely illustrated in colour. Expert contributors Chris Morvan and David Gurney provide a highly readable account of Channel Islands philatelic history.

A collectors guide with over 500 full colour illustrations providing a chronilogical index and listing of: Generic Stamp Sheets, Customised Stamp Sheets, Business Customised Stamp Sheets, Themed Customised Stamp Sheets, Commemorative Stamp Sheets, Smilers for Kids packs, Isle of Man Stamp Sheets, Universal Mail Customised Stamp Sheets. The guide includes all stamp sheets issued since they first apperared in 2000 with additional information on special presentation packs, covers and ephemera of this growing area of stamp collecting & study. Includes a guide to market prices in fact everything for the novice and expert collector alike, in one handy comprehensive reference guide.

A detailed listing of all known first day issues including early Channel Isles and most Great Britain overprints.

Available Mid March 2010. The most authoritative international directory and handbook for philately. Essential reading for all those interested and involved in philately, this handbook provides a wealth of up-to-date information on contacts in the area, helping collectors find the right dealers to assist in enhancing their collections. As well as contact details, many listings contain details of dealer specialities and indices to help you find exactly the right dealer in the right location for you. Dealers and Auction Houses are listed, many with their phone and email contact details. Societies list their area of interest as well as current contact information. Organised by geographical region.

Featuring some of the most popular features from the bestselling 'Gibbons Stamp Monthly', this indispensable taster willfascinate all philatelists, from novice to expert. It will show you philately from unusual angles. Here is an entertaining mix of the stories behind attractive and intriguing new stamp issues from around the world, featuring a wide variety of subjects from railways to art. Also featured are the answers to a selection of the most interesting questions to feature in the ever-popular 'Ask GSM' column, where the expert Stanley Gibbons staff wrestle with the queries sent to them by a huge variety of collectors. Also featured are the writings of our very own (fictional) Samuel Creeps who despairs at the folly of dealers and collectors alike in his inimitable way.

Published December 2009. The story, penned in French by G. De Beauregard and H. De Gorsse was translated by Edith C Phillips and charts the adventures of two competing philatelists from the New York Philatelic Society; The Stamp King, William Keniss and young novice, Miss Betsy Scott as they travel the world in search of the rare Brahmapootra stamp. Theft, forgeries, betrayal and espionage abound in this fast-paced novella set in the goklden era of philately.

Released to mark the royal engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. This unique publication combines brand new information and specially selected features from the newly released Gibbons Stamp Monthly Archives to provide an anthology of articles featuring the Royal Family. Covering key royal events from 1952 to the present day, this fascinating title offers an unparalleled snapshot of royal philatelic releases over the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, as reported through comtemporary articles in Gibbons Stamp Monthly.

This highly illustrated book from the experts at the Bath Postal Museum is a must-read for all philatelists, postal historians, and lovers of local history. Ralph Allen was a highly influential postal pioneer who developed the postal network of ‘Cross Posts’ which helped build the postal network in England and Wales. Allen was closely linked with Bath, and this fascinating history traces his links with the City as well as his intriguing personal history. PUBLISHED MAY 2010

A facsimile edition of July 1911 Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal containing an article on the Coronation of King George V and the new stamps of his reign. Published to coincide with the centenary of the coronation and to co-ordinate with the theme of the London Festival of Stamps.

A philatelic guide to London covering many famous and familiar landmarks from the South Bank to Islington, including the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and many, many more. Richly illustrated showing how Britain’s capital city has been commemorated on stamps and postcards, and explaining fascinating aspects of its history and architectural significance. A lively and interesting companion for all visiting the city – whether it is for the first or the 100th time. PUBLISHED MAY 2010

Eminent philatelic writer and author James Mackay has written a completely new edition of philatelic terms illustrated with hundreds of new and expanded definitions, and for the first time illustrated throughout in colour. With over 1000 entries and illustrations in colour, many from the famous Stanley Gibbons philatelic terms reference collection. This book provides the answers to most problems of terminology and will enable collectors - beginners or experienced philatelists. To gain full enjoyment from their hobby.

Revised in 2006, this useful little booklet gives novice collectors a basic grounding of their hobby.

This handbook teaches how to study stamp inscriptions as the means of recognising the issuing countries. A must for new or seasoned collectors. This is the first edition since 1994 and is the very first edition to be available in full colour.

Recently updated this handbook contains a wealth of valuable information to help you get started.

A comprehensive, illustrated guide to the printings, plate flaws, postal and fiscal usage of the King George VI large key type high value stamps of Bermuda, Leeward Islands, Nyasaland Protectorate, Cetlon, Starits Settlements, BMA Malaya, Singapore, Malacca, Penang, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika. (Please note it may take up to 28 days for delivery of this item. If you have any queries, please contact us on +44 1425 472363).

Embark on a puzzling journey through the Royal Mail. Open this book, and you will discover a most curious and diverting collection of decorated envelopes, all of which have been sent through the Royal Mail system. In "Envelopes", Harriet Russell has created a wealth of different ways of communicating an address: mazes, join-the-dots, anagrams, illustrations, puns, visual games, experimental fonts, puzzles and literary wordplay. You may find it hard to believe that the majority of envelopes arrived at their intended destinations, but they did, and all have postmarks to prove it! Their safe delivery is a tribute to the heroic postal employees who rose to the challenge. (Please note it may take up to 28 days for delivery of this item. If you have any queries, please contact us on +44 1425 472363).

This new study is one of the most comprehensive of its type ever published. Over the past 35 years, the author has examied an estimated 2·5 million used King Edward VII 1d stamps. This has led to the studies presented in this work: Pin Varieties; Retouched Varieties; General Flaws; and Cracked UnitsThe book is copiously illustrated throughout, and will enable collectors to identify most of the varieties on their own stamps.

A tale of intrigue and secret stamp dealing by the Post Office at the very beginning of the 20th century. Covering the Penny Blacks and Twopenny Blues and their subsequent journey.

The War Stamp Overprints Of The Falkland Islands 1918-1920, written by John P.Bunt. Includes Update Supplement From 1996.

By James A. Mackay. Covers categories of Post Office, postmarks reflecting grades of Post Office, county names, directory of Post Offices and the Post Office in Scotland deletions. 127 Pages. Published in 1989.

Postal Stationery of British India 1856-1947 (2nd edition). Current retail prices in US Dollars. 350 + images - all in full colour. Unreported & unrecorded listings. Cross reference to Lang & H & G numbers. Includes IPN's, IPO's & Telegraphs. Detailed listing of specimens & cancelled. Issue dates based on postal notices.

Rainbow Trials' by David Rowse. From the inception of the 'Rainbow Trials' in May 1840 to the letter of 24th December from the Stamps & Taxes Office instructing Bacon to print the stamps in the new colours, the author looks in detail at the trials and tribulations entailed in these experiments and the people involved in them.

British Stamp Booklets - Parts 1-9. Covering the history of stamp booklet and series 1-11.

Great Britain Surface Printed Postage Stamps 1855-1883. Low values 2½d to 2s by Robert B. Galland & Karl Louis. To be published by the Great Britain Philatelic Society in 2009. Hardbound, approx. 275 pages, size 8½ x 11 in. Profusely illustrated, largely in full colour, this major new work documents the first surface printed stamps of Great Britain; the essays trials and proofs; the issued stamps; and their use by reference to rates to the relevant overseas countries and examples on cover.

Still very much the standard reference work of the Bahamas. This 1950s book illustrates a number of collectable varieties and includes chapters on postal stationery and postal markings as well as giving a list of Post Offices and details of postal rates.

Originally published in 1893, this is still the 'Standard Work' on the subject with two plates of illustrations and extensive notes on identifying the various issues.

An invaluable source of information first published in 1895. It provides a contemporary analysis of these currently very desirable stamps. Contains 88 pages, including eight plates of illustrations.

Over a century later these authors remain the leading philatelic writers of all time. This book, published originally in 1895, includes details of the potential complex perforations to be found on the early issues.

As the world's first, the Penny Black has probably been the subject of more prolonged and detailed study than any postage stamp issued since - and rightly so! Still considered by many to be the most attractive ever issued, it is certainly the one stamp which every collector would like to own. But in its short period of currency it was printed from 11 different plates, and with the two seperate states of Plate 1 making 12, and 240 corner letter combinations from each, thereare a total of 2880 different Penny Blacks to collect! Reference to the catalogue will show that a poor example from a common plate may be only worth a few pounds, but a superlative stamp from a scarce one will cost thousands - but how dotell the difference? There is no better guide than this book first published in 1922, with seperate pictures of all 2880 stamps, and detailed notes on the facing page to assist identification. First published by Stanley Gibbons in 1998 with some editorial amendments and a few foreword by Charles W Goodwyn LLB, RDP, FRPSL, then keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection, the book proved to be a godsend to collectors chasing an ever-declining number of the original publication. This new edition is designed to meet the needs of yet another generation of Penny Black collectors; a description of each individual stamp of the eleven different plates, affording a guide to collectors in the reconstruction of sheets

This book, the first of a 3 volume work provides a reference to the history and use of the first obliterator of the world's first postage stamps.

The Stamps of the Territory of New Guinea, 1925-1932 Huts Issues by Rad Heward, Robert Garratt and David Heward. Papers, shades, gums, perforations and varieties on the basic stamps and the overprints are all clearly described and illustrated, demonstrating that the catalogue listing merely skims the surface of the subject, leaving plenty for the serious collector to find. A helpful background chapter, details of specimens, usage annd forgeries and the story of the stamps with pinholes addedduring the production process make this book a fascinating read as well as a philatelic handbook sure to repay its acquisition the first time you spot one of the varieties that are now so clearly revealed. Superbly printed with accurate colour illustrations of the shades and well laid out for easy use, this book is very highly recommended.

Great Britain King George V stamps issued in rolls.A look at the history of stamps produced in rolls for use invending machines during the reign of King George V.

A study of the stamps of King Edward VIII.

The line engraved halfpenny.A critical analysis of the production of the first half penny stamps of Great Britain.

This book, the second of a three volume work, provides a reference to the history and use of the first obliterator of the worlds first postage stamps. It includes details of the Maltese Crosses from over one hundred post towns, alphabetically from M to Y. Also included are two new tabulations that readers should find interesting. The first is a table entitled Maltese Crosses Needing Verification in which examples are presente d from offices where there is currently not enough information to warrant a chapter as part of the main Encyclopaedia. Also presented is a table of Maltese Crosses of Unknown Origin.

PUBLISHED 25TH APRIL 2008. This reprinted booklet lists thenumber issued for practically every stamp of Great Britain during the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII excluding shade variations. Updated for 2008

Great Britain King George VI low value definitive stamps. An Illustrated study of the development of their design.

The Telegraph Stamps and Stationery of Great Britain 1851-1954. This book presents for the first time a comprehensive account of all the Telegraph issues of Great Britain, their background and their use.

The first comprehensive study of these issues. 304 pages, hard bound by Brian Kearsley FRPSL. Profusely illustrated with 8 plates in colour.

Lundy Island - Stamps and Postal History. 5th edition edited by John Aitchison. Twice the size of the previous catalogue (240 pages) & complete to the end of 2009. Also includes postmarks, cachets, transfer types, covers, selection packs and coins.

This is the story of the Royal Philatelic Collection, one of the greatest stamp collections ever put together. Forward by the Duke Of York.

A survey of Penny Blacks, Twopenny Blue, Mulreadys And Caricatures used during May 1840. Published in 1999, this is a unique reference to more than 840 covers used in Great Britain during the first month of the postage stamp.

A Specialised Study of the 1881 Penny Lilac - Part 2. Includes information on damage, minor varieties of the four segments, letters and ovals.

Specimen stamps and stationery of Great Britain. This book brings together information on the Specimen and Cancelled overprints and underprints found on both the adhesive postage, telegraph and revenue stamps and also onthe stamped stationery.

Falkland Islands - The Black and Red Postal Franks (1869-1878) by Robert Barnes.

This important study offers an insight into the period leading to the issue of the Penny Black and the Mulready Covers in 1840. The work draws on extensive research in records held at The Royal Mail Archive, The National Archives and the Royal Archives at Windsor.

Douglas N Muir – Curator of Philately at the BPMA - describes the long campaign for postal reform and illustrates his account with a wealth of contemporary designs, proofs and other philatelic material, a generous amount of it in colour. Even more than a decade on, this remains an essential text for understanding the history of postage stamps.

Based on a great deal of new original research by Douglas N. Muir, Curator of Philately at the BPMA, George V and the GPO: Stamps, Conflict and Creativity explains how the stamps of George V came about and how they were produced.

It also describes the postal history of the period from the exciting developments in airmail through to the work of the Post Office in wartime. Transport includes the new Post Office Underground Railway. Innovation in art and design are emphasised in the text on the Post Office commissioning posters, and the famous GPO Film Unit. In all areas a lot of information and new illustrations are published for the first time.

A Handbook detailing the Postage Stamps and their Forgeries, the Postmarks, the Postal Stationery, the Postal History and the Revenues of Swaziland to Independence in 1968.
This book is notable as a piece of philatelic writing because of its breath of Swaziland philately covering postage stamps, postal stationery, postmarks, postal history and the revenue stamps. In addition it includes details of the geography, history and economic development of the country.

South Georgia The Island of Whales and Whaling by G.D.Moir. Illustrated with the stamps depicting that aspect of history, together with maps and photographs.