a href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/Szon1uklaJI/AAAAAAAADls/IZyJaS23qQE/s1600-h/6-Colin-Margaret.jpg”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 200px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/Szon1uklaJI/AAAAAAAADls/IZyJaS23qQE/s320/6-Colin-Margaret.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420688905481840786″ //aOver the last year the British Postal Museum and Archives (BPMA) has been working on an project that involved building a Victorian Post Office at a href=”http://www.blistshill.org/”Blists Hill/a.br /br /According to the BPMA website, “Blists Hill is a popular visitor attraction set in the a href=”http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/371″Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site/a, the birth place of the Industrial Revolution. The town consists of original and reconstructed buildings from the Victorian and Edwardian period, set in a street scene. Each building is occupied by a business in keeping with the period, such as a chemist, a bank, a pub and a school, as well as a clay mine and canal nearby. Each of the businesses are reconstructed to appear as they might have done in the late Victorian or Edwardian period, and traditional goods are sold by costumed staff from the premises.”br /br /This past spring a Post Office of the period was opened to the public. The BPMA helped develop the Post Office, complete with postal clerks and counter. On the upper floor of the building the BPMA also created an exhibition called The Museum of the Post Office in the Community.br /br /Shown above, volunteers dressed as a period postman and postwoman in front of the Canal Street Post Office at Blists Hill.br /br /To take a virtual tour of the Museum of the Post Office in the Community, a href=”http://www.postalheritage.org.uk/exhibitions/onlineexhibitions/po-in-community”click here/a.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-607613400029159355?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/Szfa4GkMbBI/AAAAAAAADlU/yVmhiwX-wto/s1600-h/doc4b36989ad4e73179949892.jpg”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 250px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/Szfa4GkMbBI/AAAAAAAADlU/yVmhiwX-wto/s200/doc4b36989ad4e73179949892.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420041333933632530″ //aThe newly formed North Iowa Stamp Club is featured in an article that appears on the emGlobeGazette.com/em website.br /br /Reporter Mary Pieper interviewed several of the members including Don Huygens, shown here, sorting some of his stamps at one of the meetings.br /br /According to Mary, Don has tens of thousands of stamps and told her that people with smaller collections tend to have more valuable stamps.br /br /Don is quoted as saying, “I’ve got quantity over quality,” and would rather have 400 stamps worth $1 each rather than one stamp worth $400.br /br /Don also said he is always on the lookout for stamps with Masonic symbols on them and likes stamps that have anything to do with trains.br /br /So far just a handful of people have been showing up for the meetings, which began in October at the Clear Lake Public Library. The club meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month, but that could change if it helps more people attend, according to club member Mike Schultz.br /br /To read the entire article, a href=”http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/12/27/news/latest/doc4b36989ad4e73179949892.txt#vmix_media_id=8498082″click here/a.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-8013567463579144440?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/Szjb0sK0_KI/AAAAAAAADlk/yS3hrjhD8TM/s1600-h/50041622.jpg”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/Szjb0sK0_KI/AAAAAAAADlk/yS3hrjhD8TM/s320/50041622.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420323849796648098″ //aBill McAllister, Washington correspondent for emLinn’s Stamp News,/em reports in the Jan. 11 edition that the United States Postal Service will no longer give presentation albums to members of Congress.br /br /According to Bill, Senator John McCain wrote a letter to Postmaster Jack Potter saying that he found the practice of giving personally engraved albums “irresponsible” after having received a blue presentation album with the Kelp Forest minature sheet and his name stamped in gold.br /br /McCain’s letter reads in part, “Until the Postal Service no longer owes the American taxpayers millions of dollars, I request you refrain from spending limited Postal Service resources on unnecessary items such as engraved albums showcasing commemoratives [sic] stamps for members of Congress and instead focus on moving the Postal Service to fiscal solvency.”br /br /Shown above, the album that triggered McCain’s angry response.br /br /To view a copy of McCain’s letter, a href=”http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.ViewFileStore_id=2b4ad4dc-ea28-4840-8931-9d9cd055f87e”click here/a.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-6593261530553014070?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzfDtaM9s1I/AAAAAAAADlM/W_WqUooXM3k/s1600-h/untitled.bmp”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 139px; height: 200px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzfDtaM9s1I/AAAAAAAADlM/W_WqUooXM3k/s200/untitled.bmp” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420015861458907986″ //a Variations of one set of Canadian Christmas stamps are becoming increasingly hard to find according to Canada’s emTelegraph-Journal/em. Issued by Canada in Novemember 1998, each one – 45 cents for the domestic rate, 52 cents for the rate to the United States and 90 cents for the international rate – was illustrated with figurines of Christmas angels. br /br /Reporter David Williams writes, “Early in 1999, an Ontario collector discovered there were two different perforations used in printing this set of stamps. As word of this got around, collectors and dealers began hunting for these different versions. But, since the postage rates had also gone up that month, for the first time Canada Post had allowed post offices to return unsold stocks for a refund. The end result was that most versions became very difficult to find.”br /br /He goes on to point out, “Only about 500 copies of the 45-cent stamp with the perforation change are known to exist in mint condition and are priced in stamp catalogues at $500 each. Even used copies are listed at $20 apiece.br /br /There are 10 different perforation versions of the three 1998 Christmas stamps. In addition, there is an 11th variety — the 90-cent stamp that has a diagonal scratch on it. Altogether, a copy of all 11 versions list at over $525 mint and $40 used.”br /br /To read the entire article, a href=”http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/escapade/article/886170″click here/a.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-4673539497954752525?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzasIkmHvDI/AAAAAAAADlE/e5wl0MRjIVE/s1600-h/img025.jpg”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 149px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzasIkmHvDI/AAAAAAAADlE/e5wl0MRjIVE/s200/img025.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419708464849468466″ //aemPhilippine Daily Inquirer/em reports, “A group of hobbyists have formed the Dumaguete Stamp Collectors’ Club to tell the whole world about the joys of their favorite pastime. One way of spreading the word is by holding exhibits, so the club members displayed their collections last week at the Museo Vicente at Foundation University.”br /br /According to the article by Alex Pal, the university president, who is also an avid stamp collector, opened the exhibit, titled “Thematics and Accumulations,” and was “awed” by the material displayed. br /br /The exhibit, which was arranged according to theme, attracted professionals and students, even from outside the university.br /br /Gary Rosales, club president is quoted as saying that the public viewing of their collections had given them pleasure. “Your joy is not complete if you don’t display them,” he said.br /br /As a bank manager, Rosales looks at stamps as a good investment. “Weight-wise, stamps are more valuable than gold or platinum.”br /br /Another collector, Lito Diago said in the piece, “As a stamp collector, you have to appreciate history,” and that his hobby gives him a rare insight into history.br /br /Shown above, a 1954 stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the first Philippine stamps.br /br /To read the entire article, a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20091225-243975/Rare-stamps-offer-insight-into-history”click here/a.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-2127455610621333136?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

object width=”560″ height=”340″param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/joU4ORBb4O0hl=en_USfs=1″/paramparam name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”/paramparam name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”/paramembed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/joU4ORBb4O0hl=en_USfs=1″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”400″ height=”290″/embed/objectbr /In February 2008, the National Postal Museum received a major Smithsonian grant to digitize its certified plate proof collection. A 3-minute Smithsonian Channel video tells the story from start to finish.br /br /To view video, click above.br /br /To view the collection, a href=”http://www.arago.si.edu/flash/?slide=1|eid=395|s1=6|”click here/a.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-3728867405182663077?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzGjGSJjarI/AAAAAAAADk8/9X9fg123Kts/s1600-h/Santa+Stamps004.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzGjGSJjarI/AAAAAAAADk8/9X9fg123Kts/s400/Santa+Stamps004.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418291155049867954″ //adiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-1196826891089336076?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzGYN2avU8I/AAAAAAAADkk/Gs4DcGeNaWI/s1600-h/the-philantilist-400h.jpg”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 290px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzGYN2avU8I/AAAAAAAADkk/Gs4DcGeNaWI/s320/the-philantilist-400h.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418279190416806850″ //a”Once considered the ‘king of hobbies’, fit for those who seek knowledge and aesthetic pleasure, stamp collection is no longer a thing of attraction for the tech-savvy generation of this fast-paced internet age,” writes reporter Ashis Senapati in the emTimes of India/em.br /br /In his article, emPhilately Stamped Out in Internet Age,/emSenapati quotes stamp collector Manas Mohanty as saying,”Philately used to be more than just a pastime. It helped expand general knowledge, learn interesting details about the politics, history, geography, flora and fauna, national and international events, sports, films, science, agriculture of other countries. It helps cultivate attention to details and even make friends with other collectors across the border, irrespective of their age.”br /br /Another stamp collector, Haripada Panda, is also quoted… “I have been collecting stamps from my school days. I used to get foreign stamps from the letters of some of my pen friends. But now more and more people are turning to the internet to keep in touch with friends and relatives. Although the pleasure of receiving a well-written letter cannot be compared with anything else, the emphasis is now on speedy communication. So it has become difficult on me to collect stamps.”br /br /Shown above, “The Philatelist” – a Christmas card by Terence Cuneo, OBE. br /br /a href=”http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Philately-stamped-out-in-Internet-age/articleshow/5367203.cms”Click here/a to read the entire article.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-3109582757846431680?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzGZSvKhXFI/AAAAAAAADks/e0rc3ZUUSKE/s1600-h/Story.jpg”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 180px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzGZSvKhXFI/AAAAAAAADks/e0rc3ZUUSKE/s200/Story.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418280373880708178″ //aStamp collector and retired English and journalism teacher Betty Coxson, shown here, is looking to combine her love of stamps with one of her favorite stories from history class according to a story that appears on the a href=”http://www.kimt.com/content/localnews/story/Combining-Stamps-With-History/JjLvn9WWBEywkuOyVyB4HQ.cspx”KIMT.com website/a.br /br /Betty hopes to get a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peter_Zenger”John Peter Zenger/a–a newspaperman in pre-revolutionary New York on a stamp. Zenger printed articles calling the king-appointed governor corrupt and was thrown in jail, but lawyer Andrew Hamilton came to his defense–effectively making truth a defense for libel.br /br /Despite their contributions to our free press, she said she’s never seen either man placed on a stamp. Four or five years ago, Betty wrote to the Postal Service saying that it was about time for Zenger and Hamilton to appear on a stamp. She received a polite form letter explaining the complicated process of nominating and choosing subjects and showing no interest in Zenger and Hamilton. Now she’s trying again.br /br /A letter Betty wrote about the two men appears on the a href=”http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/12/08/opinion/editorials/doc4b1de5652e118362984754.txt#vmix_media_id=8235362″GlobesGazette.com website/a. In it she pens, “I may be one of the most dedicated patrons of the Buffalo Center Post Office as I am an indefatigable letter writer.I go through stamps as if they were still selling for 3 cents. I do remember that! I always purchase the latest issues as there is a lot of history and culture revealed in those tiny little stickers. They are colorful, attractive and endlessly varied with subjects ranging from heroes to politicians to environment to entertainers to cartoons and to curing cancer.”div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-1737273256667711676?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzAP3thKG3I/AAAAAAAADkc/RpmNRoXI5Ds/s1600-h/Lesson+of+philately+postcard.jpg”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 250px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bTvISTq6I5I/SzAP3thKG3I/AAAAAAAADkc/RpmNRoXI5Ds/s320/Lesson+of+philately+postcard.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”"id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417847801512598386″ //aMy own hometown newspaper, the emGlendale News-Press/em, ran a story yesterday regarding the stamp show held here each month.br /br /In it reporter Christopher Cadelago writes, “Sitting side by side at the Five-Star Saturday Glendale Stamp Show…There’s 23-year-old Garrett Williams, part of a generation chided by stamp collectors as having little interest in anything that can’t be plugged into an electrical socket. And then there’s his grandpa, Ralph West, whose decades in Southern California have done little to mask his Brooklyn accent.”br /br /Referring to West, a longtime owner of collector shops across the San Fernando Valley, Christopher pens, “He makes light of an atmosphere that wavers between quaint and stodgy, though there’s still money to be made. And he ridicules stamp collecting, granted with a tinge of sadness, as ‘not dying, but already dead.’”br /br /Grandson Williams is quoted as saying, “Just look around. Do you see any young people that will do this in the future? You look at a stamp and you put it away. There isn’t much else to do with it.”br /br /In response, I wrote the following letter-to-the-editor…br /br /”While it’s true you don’t see too many young people at stamp shows – they’ll be back. You have to understand that kids start collecting stamps in elementary school. They then go on to middle school and discover the opposite sex, sports, computers, and cars. After they graduate from high school and college, they’re focused on jobs, buying houses and raising a family. Then after the kids have grown up and moved out, they have some extra time and money. That’s when they usually rediscover their childhood hobby and go to stamp shows like the one held in Glendale. Up to then they are pretty darn busy with other things.”br /br /Shown above, an undated Russian postcard picturing young and old collectors.br /br /To read the entire article, a href=”http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2009/12/20/news/gnp-stamp122109.txt”click here/a.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11420717-1581170349346652416?l=stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div