Hello, no time for stamps today but I did want to say hello. Am trying my hardest to get to the auction this week. I have not been to the viewing yet but tomorrow is Melbourne Cup day so maybe will get some time  ha ha ...  

I do enjoy the auction viewings.. all these stamps to see..  of course they are other peoples   well no that is not right is it..  it is so much fun to just look through them,  and to look for the lots which have mega pick selections thinking which one will I go for and have so much fun sorting through.      Then reality takes over and I remembers my crowded study and dining room full of boxes of stamps.

What is the Melbourne Cup I hear some of you ask  ..  well look it up on Google, or wherever.... tell me the winner of the race ( before it is announced of course..  derrgghh)  and I will send you the unclaimed covers and stamps I have put up as prizes over the past few months.. there are a few .........now is that an incentive or what,  to learn about something new, if you dont know what the "Cup" is all about. email me at cddstamps@gmail.com  

You have less than 24 hours

enjoy your stamps...   Michael

Hello, just a quick hello tonight.. found this cover.. I just know someone will like it, but to win it you have to tell me which is the odd one out.. of the four butterflies... very tricky question this yet so very easy    no clues it is so easy....

Have you had a look at my new blog yet.. aircraft may not interest you but I would appreciate feedback    http://a380onstamps.iblogs.com and if anyone out there knows someone who knows some who knows someone who might be able to get me stamps with A380s on I would love to hear from you..   anyone know anyone in Tajikistan for example  .. I am trying to get the A380 stamps from there. so difficult.. or Isle of Man .. they issued a set.. Come on people  you must have a fantastic network out there   

And dont forget my Stampoffers lots..

Ok less of the promo.. back to stamps.. actually back to saying good night I have to go for dinner.. oops left it too late.. but I do hope everyone is well and enjoying their stamps... 

Best wishes.. Michael

Hello, here is something different tonight. I was reading about this stamp and thought I'd show it to you. Not mine but a scan from a book. Maybe some of you have this stamp. A rather attractive stamp I think. 

How has your day been? well I didn't do much. I cannot. My back is so bad I have been stuck in front of the computer most of the day..    how lucky am I.  I cannot ride, I cannot clean paddocks, I cannot cut the grass.  I basically have to just sit still. So isn't it good to have a hobby like stamp collecting  and the web.

Less of me   back to this stamp. It was issued to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee of her accession to the throne.

It is from a portrait of the Queen taken (at her Coronation) by Cecil Beaton in 1953.  The stamp was the first to use 24 carat gold , 22 carat gold, and 99.9% silver. I dont have a copy but if anyone wants to send me a copy, used or mint is fine,  I will trade and 4 FDCs from my web site... I doubt there are that many around in fine used condition.....why would you use it on a letter or parcel. Anyone know the current catalogue value.  One GB FDC to first 3 reasonably correct answers.    email me at cddstamps@gmail.com and please include your mailing address.

Now, have you looked at my Stampoffers auction lots.. some good offers there I think. Go on,  help me raise a few bob to pay for all my mailings :-)  and my new interest, the A380 aircraft on stamps, see http://a380onstamps.iblogs.com   I am starting a thematic collection  and am looking around the world for this aircraft on stamps. Ok I have told you this before but thought I'd mention it again in case you have not been reading me each day     .... to go directly to the auction lots  just go to my web site http://www.cddstamps.com and click the link that takes you to all my lots.. easy   or do it from one of my writings a few days ago.. I forget think... and of course, it goes without saying, please send me any A380 stamps.. I will trade generously. Anyone got the Isle of Man one or the Aldernay one, or the Tajikistan one used please.. ok or mint

ok so you now have a few links to keep you busy for an hour or two...   I'll go and have dinner and check on you later

Have a great weekend .. Best wishes.. Michael 

Hello, just a quick hello really. Had a dinner tonight, and a cocktail party last night so no stamps..although I did read the catalogue of the next auction here in Sydney on the train home.   ...will I have time to go?   is the question. Some interesting "estate" lots...   and a few mega boxes of world mix, charity mix and the like.  One never knows what one might find.. or hope to find, I guess is more to the point.

I did think stamps for a few minutes today. I called Airbus here in sydney and asked if they had anything to do with the promotional flight of the A380 which is visiting here early Novemeber. They said no it is all being done through Qantas; so there is one less opportunity for me to get some stamp covers of the flight.  I am tryinging through contacts at Qantas but it doesn't seem to be an easy thing to get replies to.  Even emails to well connected dealers here have drawn a blank. Oh well I will keep trying.  Thanks to one person who wrote to tell me he would send a stamp with the A380 on.. any more of you know of any please let me know. This is my new specialised area for collecting.. rather than start something that exists and collect I am trying to collect what doesn't yet exist but when it does I want to be first in. Makes it a bit challenging.  I have started a new blog  for this as well.  http://a380onstamps.iblogs.com   it is in its very very early and formative stages..  partly because I have little to show in the way of stamps and partly because I am trying to learn how to use this new blog.   

Had some opening bids on my Stampoffers lots.. excellent.. ...   please have a look at my lots.. brilliant lots ... LOL... even though I say to myself.. and mostly at $1 starting bids..   in other words yours for a dollar  if no one else bothers to bid.  see my writing a few nights ago for a direct link to all my listings.

Anyone been looking at the temperature over here,, how nice is that  :-)   must get some sleep so I can enjoy the sunshine tomorrow.   Best wishes..  enjoy your stamps.... Michael

Hello,  I have had a stressful day  .. have been trying to set up a blog for my new thematic.. the A380 aircraft. Have found some excellent material and what looks like an excellent site to host the blog.. but apart from some text on the blog ... that is all I have achieved..   will keep you posted on this little adventure.... and by the way as I have said before..... if you have any stamps with the A380 (Aircraft) on it I would really like a copy.. mint or used I dont mind,, if on cover all the better..   I will buy or trade (generously) ..........and if you know where I can get such stamps or covers please email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

As for another cover I came across while sorting some material this weekend..

is this is interest to anyone.. just send me an email with your mailing address and first email has it...

Enjoy your stamps...  oh, yes, have you had a look at the Stampoffers auction lots       go on, scroll down a few days for the direct link to the lots... 

Best wishes.......... enjoy your stamps..  Michael

.

Hello, just a short note today..  hey, not a single email from you about the GB Building stamps.. surely it wasn't that hard a question :-)  which Tower in yesterdays picture  ..    or just no one wants the M/S for their collection given the postmark maybe..... I can understand that.

Anyway I just thought I'd drop in to write to say please have a look at my Stampoffers listings (scroll down to read previous articles) and more importantly I am starting to build that A380 (aircraft) collection I mentioned back in August.. I showed a picture of the Aldernay gutter pair with the A380 on it.  So my request, again,  is if anyone has a stamp with an A380 on it and they are prepared to trade or sell if in a set then please email me at cddstamps@gmail.com.  Hope to hear from lots of you. Even if it is to tell me where I can buy some, any help is appreciated...

Must go.. best wishes.. Michael

Hello, short piece tonight. How are you.. well I hope. I sorted some stamps today and found this miniature sheet  on a letter I had been sent..

Not the best of condition given the postmark but thought someone might like it for their collection.  My question, only because I was looking up the SG number and noted the names of the buildings and in the SG catalogue one of them is said to be the Tower of London. I would be pedantic and disagree... would you    The Tower of London is to me far more than this building, which in fact has its own name. What is it    first correct email will get this M/S.

I also managed to put some more stamps for sale on Stampoffers- some FDCs from Canada. all quite old.. 1900's through 1940s. A bit tatty but maybe useful for someone. Have a look - well have a look anyway..  see yesterdays blog article for a link to all my listings on Stampoffers.   Go on.. most lots only a dollar!!!

Had a good chat last night with one of my fellow directors from the IPDA. He collects and sells aerophilatelic books and literature..     I have put his website on mine. Have a look if you are interested in that topic.

I asked him how I might get that first flight cover for the A380 maiden flight. That is going to be difficult. Anyone out there know .  It was being sold in the UK when I was over there last month but I was too late - it had sold out.   If anyone sees any A380 flight covers could they let me know please. I am going to start a collection.  The plane comes to Sydney soon, so I will be out there with my camera.  Am wondering how I could get some franked covers from the flight. A word to Airbus might be in order  

anyway.. best wishes.. enjoy your stamps..  Michael

Hello, it has been a beautiful – sunny and warm - day here and I have not been able to go out..  real drag.. but I have been able to work on stamps all day. Well I can sit upright  and that is about it, so why not take the time to finally get some stamps on an auction site, or two.  So I have loaded 30 lots on Stampoffers- including some useful GB, Christmas Island, Cocos  (Keeling) Islands and Australia George V Heads.  Lots with fishes, shells, Birds, Crab, Butterflies and Moths.   Most lots start at a US $1 – have a look,  you might find something useful – click here to go direct to the complete listing

http://www.stampoffers.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl?action=search&searchtype=viewother&searchstring=Cddstamps  or just paste this link into a new window if a click through is not working .  

Do you ever find you cannot open a site from within a site sometimes?  Just hold control key down when you click the link.  Thought I’d add my one piece of technical wizardry to surprise you

Oh, and the Papua New Guinea are on eBay - search on michaelatcddstamps, or PNG

Found some nice Australia covers today. Not sure whether they will sell on auction. What do you think.   I doubt they are worth much. I just don’t know as I don’t have a catalogue with Australia cover prices.

What do you think of this cover, only 25 years old and in brilliant condition  – for all you dog lovers out there. 

Why is it I wonder, whenever I select a FDC I see there is an “ odd one out “  in the picture. I have seen it again in this cover. Which one of these dogs would you not want laying at your feet as you snoozed in front of the fire, or  by your side as you strolled up the local high street      5th correct answer gets the cover if you also send your postal address.

How are you getting on with the Christmas competition – gee I just had a look – it is hard …….. well except for the first question which is easy because he is the King I collect as my speciality isn’t he.

Hope you all had a good weekend…..   more next week..    best wishes.. Michael

Hello, lots of stamp news around at the moment as I have spent some time reading the Stanley Gibbons online magazine this afternoon. I should have been doing other things, like cleaning paddocks and working more with the new horse I was trialing but lets just say I am not taking the horse as I had a bad fall while jumping today.      Oh well I tried and there are lots more lovely horses around. This one had such a lovely friendly personality but wasn’t quite right in the jumping for me.

So on with stamp news.  I read a piece about a group in the UK called the Stamp Active Network. Thisgroup was formerly known as the National Youth Stamp Committee. The group encourages all junior stamp collectors and has a web site at http://www.planetstamp.co.uk

The group is now expanding and reaching out to many more youngsters and stamp club leaders by putting the Stamp Active programme and Kidstamps on to the website. The site will include work sheets and ideas for stamp club leaders, help and advice on how to enter competitions and news and information about future events and what is happening in youth philately.

If you are interested in supporting youth philately by sponsoring or donating material please write to SAN, 46 Woodville Road, Ham, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7QN or email Anne@dummerah.freeserve.co.uk  I have sent them my details and I’ll let you know any more news on this in coming weeks no doubt.

I also read about the new GB Christmas stamps —the 40th issue— and with a return to a religious theme, featuring images of the Madonna and Child. There are six stamps in the issue which go on sale on 1 November. The stamps show existing paintings from  five continents and Great Britain, the designer’s idea being ‘to show that Christ was born for everyone’.

The stamps are:  2nd class- Black Madonna and Child; 1st class- Madonna and Child; 42p- The Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus; 60p- Choctaw Virgin Mother and Child; 68p- Madonna and the Infant Jesus; £1.12- Come let us adore Him. This one is a painting in coloured sand from the Merrepen Arts Aboriginal Corporation of Northern Australia.  I think these are rather pleasant to look at. At least from the images I have seen onine. Let’s see what they look like in real life.

Also a Christmas Smilers sheet will be available from 1 November. This contains ten 2nd class and ten 1st class Winter Robin Christmas stamps of 2001. Have to hope I get some Christmas cards from family and friends in the UK so I get some of these Christmas issues.

Finally, I read about the various countries that have issued stamps for the 200^th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.  These include Ascension, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Kiribati, and no doubt others. Anyone seen these     I’d be interested in seeing these and if you can send me scans I’ll show them so others can see them.  Or send me the links to web sites that show them and I’ll publish those.

Am looking forward to receiving my copies of the GB Battle of Trafalgar issue. Will show you them when they arrive.

Have a great weekend.     ….. Best wishes… Michael

Hello, well this has been another busy week.  I have not done much with stamps this week although I did managed to make some time to read the latest Status International auction catalogue. Some useful looking lots there and at the moment my diary is clear so I may go along to the auction. If you want to look see what is for sale visit http://www.statusint.com

I also made some time to browse a few other blogs. On of my favourites is Syracuse Stamp Club (see Important Links).  They have interesting stamp articles and news. I unashamedly am using something I read there in the following news item as you may not have seen it. They showed this picture of the block of 4 inverted jenny stamps which recently sold for US 2.7 Million.  

This lot was sold at auction by Robert A. Siegel Galleries of New York. The catalogue described the block as  "24¢ Carmine Rose & Blue, Center Inverted (C3a).  "Positions 87-88/97-98, block of four with bottom sheet margin and blue vignette plate number "8493", fresh original gum, rich colors on bright paper, extraordinarily choice centering, light natural diagonal flat-plate printing creases and small natural paper inclusion in upper right stamp.

This unique plate number of the famous 1918 24cent inverted “Jenny” is considered by many to be the most valuable item in United States philately and one of the most valuable philatelic items in the world.

I don’t think we can disagree with that.

Anyway back to the Status auction. While they don’t have stamps of the inverted jenny rarity they do have some nice lots. I like the treasure lots as I call them. Large boxes of albums and envelopes of stamps because you never really know what you will find in them. Always good for a rainy afternoon. Of course we don’t get many rainy afternoons and when we do I have too many stamps to sort already   But it never seems to stop me looking and occasionally buying. There is one lot I think I will go and view. It is lots 578 – RAF cover collection. Might be interesting. I’ll let you know in due course.

Back to today. Well I found this cover, dated 20^th October 1973,  yes 32 years ago today.  In brilliant condition I might add.  Would you like it   Well email me at cddstamp@gmail.com with the name of the architect of the building and some interesting story about the place  and I’ll judge the best story along with correct answer of course and it will be yours.  Please don’t forget to include you mailing address.  I cannot send it to you without your address

Have a great weekend.. enjoy your stamps …………best wishes  …………… Michael

Hello, I was sorting some covers tonight and came across this one. I have had an interest in flight and aircraft covers for some years and sort of collected them but not seriously.

I had shown a few Concorde stamps and even the A380 in previous articles and make no apology for showing this rather special Concorde cover. I even tried to buy a first flight cover of the A380 while I was in the UK but sadly it had sold out.

Having said all that, I thought rather than me send out a cover tonight I would say who wants to send me a cover they don’t want, if it is of flight or aircraft, that I could add to my collection. Cheeky of me you might say. But if you don’t ask you don’t get J

So if you have a flight or aircraft cover you don’t want please send it to me at PO BOX 3482, Dural NSW 2158, Australia. Of course you can send any cover you want for that matter and I will use them as giveaways in future writings.

As for writings I was wondering if there are any topics people would like to hear about?  Please drop me an email at cddstamps@gmail.com  I’ll do what I can.  

I have been enjoying reading some of the other sites, including the stamp blogs, I have mentioned. Hope you do as well, and of course keep coming back here J

Anyway, hope everyone is well, hope to hear from you………..  best wishes…Michael

Hello, just a short piece tonight even though I would like to write more. To update you on the IPDA open house. We had a good turn out. People from 11 countries as I counted them, dealers and collectors. All very interesting people as I said the other night and a big thank you for joining us. We heard we were not the first to do 24 hour open house – don’t know who was but I think it was a fun and worthwhile event.

My mail box has been full with emails to my blog items so thanks for that and my apology if my replies have been slow but I do get to them as soon as I can. Also I think I have caught up with my stamp mailings.. but having said that, I have some “prizes” from my blog questions sitting here in front of me.. oops.. if you are expecting something and I have not mailed it please let me know.. I do get overwhelmed at times  … sorry..

Have found a lovely cover as a give away tonight. I am giving these away to clear my desk and floor and shelves and I enjoy it. I should be listing on eBay but just don’t have the time at the moment, will do so, soon I hope,  as I need to replenish my stamp mailing bank account 

Lovely set of stamps these..    issued in 1985 I think they have some “class” ( whatever that means) about them. well the people portrayed certainly had some class I think. These stamps commemorated the 150^th anniversary of the development of the negative / positive photographic process by Fox Talbot - see what you learn by reading this blog    - you didn’t know that did you..    The Post Office (now the Royal Mail) issued these stamps featuring some of the best known names in British films (and well known outside of Great Britain I would think). These pictures were taken by famous British portrait photographers: Peter Sellers was photographed by Bill Brandt, David Niven was photographed by Cornel Lucas, Alfred Hitchcock was photographed by Howard Lester, Vivien Leigh was photographed by Angus McBean……… I have missed one person..    who is it and who was the photographer    You win the cover if you get this right.. and provided you don’t try to tell me one or more of these were not British !!  Ha ha..   hope you get the joke..  because they were all British…… I think 

Enjoy your stamps..  keep sending your emails and the extra information you send,  I too learn a lot just from reading them. Oh, and I should have some stamps of the viola da gamba instrument I mentioned the other night.   One very kind reader is sending me a set so I will be showing them to you soon.  Hope you keep reading and enjoying stamps…   Best wishes.. Michael

Hello, where to start?  Well we had - I think from what I was involved in - a successful 24 hour marathon stamp chat open house at the IPDA. Hope you found it that way if you joined us.  I already have had comments that people logged in and found no one there, which is a great disappointment as we had a roster for the 24 hours. I have a board meeting on Wednesday ( my time) so will discuss then what might have happened. I think we were manned 24 hours, I really do but if you found no one there well we have to get it right for the next time dont we.

I so enjoyed chatting to all of you who logged in.  I had a really good chat to someone about books and publishing on stamps and about stamps. So I looked out a few of the books I have. Items I picked up on auction lots..    I found a book (short small paperback size) titled "The Personal Touch". It is a look at South Australia's postal history from proclamation to present day ( present day being 1986!!!!!)

I have another book.. same small paperback titled " History of Postal services in Victoria"  This is an Australia Post publication and has no publication date on it that I can see but seems rather old..  from some dates on the back I would think a 1980's issue.

Finally I have a Brusden - White publication of Australian Colonies from 1990. Only 15 years ago but an interesting kalidescope of stamp pictures and watermarks and prices back then. Pay the postage plus Paypal fees or whatever and they are yours if you email me at cddstamps@gmail.com  You can have all three or any one. Just email me.

As for the rest of the weekend ( and not telling you about my riding and jumping you will have to email me for details ),  well no one has got the instrument I saw / heard at the concert ( sorry Lara as well, not even you) and I did mention it in my article. Have another read. We are talking an instrument that was fashinable I guess you could say in the late 1600's early 1700's.  And no one has found it on a stamp. derrrrgghh...  which if you dont know what the instrument is then how would you. Have another read of what I wrote and try again. The answer is in the text.   You'll know as much as me soon ha ha ha ha.. which is not a lot    and if anyone knows of this instrument being shown on a stamp I would love to hear from you.  I may start this as a thematic collection..   should be a small collection..   

 Hope to hear from you..    best wishes..  Michael

Hello, well it has been an interesting day. I did a few hours hosting the chat on the 24 hour IPDA open house chat line and was pleased to get a few people join in. Some interesting people I must say. I then went riding and did some jumping on the new horse. He was very good. Better behaved than yesterday, although in more familiar surroundings and that may have helped.

Then went to a concert of Baroque music and listened to three viola da gamba players..  very good..    although it would have been nice to just lie back and sleep.. so peaceful. I should play music like that at night then I will go to sleep in peace and not with things on my mind. You ( yes you )… know what I mean. 

Well I certainly enjoyed the IPDA chat. Met some really interesting people to talk to. What is interesting I think, and not being one who has spent much time on chat lines before, is that some of the people chat and you know who they are because you have had email from them, and traded stamps with them. and some you just don’t know who they are….  at all….., even by name.

I am me..  Michaelatcddstamps.   You can read about me on my website. http://www.cddstamps.com  I want you to know who I am because I want to establish integrity with you.  It was fun though to talk with others and I hope a few of you, if you are reading, will eventually introduce yourselves.   Tonights prize is a stock card of GB Regionals.  No photo sorry because I have not pulled them together yet, but will send a nice selection….. well I think they will be nice to whoever is a winner to this question……..  what instrument did I see played today?     just send me an email to cddstamps@gmail.com and include your mailing address...  Nothing to do with stamps..  ok….. who has a stamp with this instrument on it?    Please send me a scan of the stamp.. or the stamp itself,  if it is not like valuable.. and I will send a GB FDC in exchange.

 Enjoy your stamps.. best wishes.. Michael

Oh… PS.. Tomorrow I plan to write about books and publishing on stamps..   Hope you join me

Hello, juts a short note tonight. Have to go to bed as am on the chat open house tomorrow with the the IPDA ( Internet Philatelic Dealers Association. Hope you can join me and my other Directors who will be hosting the 24 hour around the world open house. Just go to http://www.ipdaonline.org 

Did manage to find some time to sort some stamps today.. Mostly to pack up prizes for winners of the blog questions. Got stamps off to Malta, Bangladesh, India,  where else. I forget..

Thanks to all who write to me.. I enjoy getting your emails and if I take a few days to reply my apology.

Hope to catch up with some of you at the IPDA open house.

Best wishes.. Michael

Hello, I received an email from a fellow Director at the Internet Philatelic Dealers Association and thought I might share the 
topic with you.  If you collect GB Machins you might find this interesting. Even if you don’t collect Machins you might enjoy 
reading this as it tells more about this specialist and diverse collecting area. And there is more after this Machin piece so 
keep reading. You might miss something J
 
These are 10p Error booklets 
(Stanley Gibbons number FA2) 
produced in March 1976.  
The fault was due to a faulty 
Doctor blade and print roller 
which deposited a line (lines 
of ink) from the cylinder used 
to print the background of 
the value 6p value. This 
occurred at the beginning 
of the print process at the 
top of the panes and as the web 
progressed the fault started to 
lower its self after marking 
the ½p stamps in 4 different areas. 
 
It’s possible that there are others 
out there (if they were not 
condemned to the waste bin) 
with bigger and better faults. 
Maybe time to have a look 
through any booklets you have?   I will have a look through mine 
when I get a chance. 
 
If you would like to buy a copy of a single error you might be lucky
 if you contact Roy at gbstamps@lineone.net  He has, at time of 
writing, some spare of the 3 different singles, and some booklets 
I believe.
 
Mentioning the IPDA I thought I’d also share with you an event we 
are hosting this coming weekend. It is a 24 hour around the world 
stamp chat. An Open House chat in fact. And if you want to log in, 
just go to http://www.ipdaonline.org  - there are many of us who 
would be pleased to have a chat with you. I will be logged in from
07:00 to 10:00 Sunday 16th  - that is 9pm to midnight Saturday 
15th GMT.  Of course depending where you are in the world you 
will have to check your time local time against these two.  You probably 
have your own way of finding the time in different parts of the world 
but if in doubt we have a Time Zone check on the site. 
 
Hope this is of some help and more importantly I look forward to 
chatting with you.
 
Finally, how about a giveaway tonight. Well I came across this FDC, sent to me years ago when I lived in 
England. GB Urban
 Renewal 1984.  
 
This issue commemorates 
a festival as well as the 
150th Anniversary of 
the Royal Institute of 
British Architects and the 
Chartered Institute of Buildings. 
 
I don’t kid you.  
 
Question is, what was the festival   
 
 
 
 
 
First correct answer, with your mailing a
address please so I can send it to you, wins this cover.   Email me at cddstamps@gmail.com
 
Have a great weekend, enjoy your stamps…... best wishes…….. Michael

Hello, actually these subjects have absolutely nothing in common, it is just that I have two topics to write about tonight.

The first is this wonderful cover that I am giving away to whoever can tell me what an anthropomorphism is       What has that got to do with stamps. Well nothing I guess but if you dont know you might like to find out. Anyway since Rupert is an example well it seemed appropriate to ask.   send your answer to me at cddstamps@gmail.com. I'll give the cover to the 3rd correct answer. Please include your mailing address.

As for Australia Post,  I read an interesting article in the newspaper today. It was about how the internet is eroding letter profits. The article mentioned how Australia Post's traditional letter business is feeling the force of the internet and how the number of letters sent has declined for the fourth successive year here in Australia.

This must be a global trend I would think, so what does it mean for stamp collectors. Well, I would think it means that all these new issues we keep seeing, are being bought by collectors and not being used on letters. If that is the case the value of used copies of the current new issues will surely increase as there will be less of them.  Get my logic. Right or wrong,  I will only be able to tell you in 10 years time..  or maybe sooner..  if I am around     There is a corollary, there always is ......  that being parcel post is increasing as people buying from eBay and other internet sites are driving an increase in the parcel post. That being the case will we see more higher value stamps in used condition    Which ever way you look at it I suggest you collect fine used and not mint.   Lets wait and see what the next catalogue issues show the prices to be. I do know that the GB SG catalogues are showing some high prices for many used GB Commemoratives. what about other countries   Do write to me with your thoughts.

Am riding at 5am again tomorrow so must crash.... nite.. and enjoy your stamps.... Michael  ...zzzzzzzzzzz

Hello, just a short note tonight. I was browsing the web.. some people asked my about other stamp blogs.. I dont know many.. I had a look and couldn't find much either.. there are thousands of links from a google search but not that many real stamp blogs that I could find.  Here are a few..  not with or without recommendation.. just telling you they exist.  Do you know any??..  I'd be pleased to hear from you if you do..

http://www.glassinesurfer.com/news/index.htm

http://stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com/

http://rhunter.blogharbor.com/blog

Best wishes and enjoy your stamps..  ....Michael

Hello, well look what I got in the mail today. A rather nice signed FDC .

I couldn't resist this. She was my heartthrob many years ago. well still is I guess      I remember going to Madam Toussards some years ago and even have my photo taken with "her"  I wont show that as she is so much better looking then me  ha ha... 

Anyway a nice cover (maybe you will agree) and since the money went to charity I was pleased to buy it.  

I read in the paper tonight she is now hoping to play Moneypenny in the next James Bond film,  "Casino Royale".   Joanna was a Bond girl many years ago..  well as far back as 1969  in "On Her Majesty's Service" starring alongside who?????.   Anyone know who played James Bond in that film?   will send you a FDC -  my choice - will be a surprise - if you are the first to email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

Lots of email to get through tonight so better get on with that.   Hope you are enjoying the blog.. Best wishes and enjoy your stamps... Michael

Hello, I just didn't know which subject to use for tonights short chat so I used both.

"Down on the Farm" because Australia has issued some stamps in the past week or so, obviously to prove to Great Britain that whatever the Royal Mail can do the Aussie can do even worse      Well are these stamps or just stickers for children. Hey, good for the children I say, if they start collecting stamps.. always a positive spin   but seriously are these bad or am I going blind. These rate with the Disney stamps from whereever

If you have kids and want these. just email me at cddstamps@gmail.com   first email gets this cover. If you want them for yourself just dont admit it ok   and I promise not to publish the winners name to this one.  ( I am so laughing as I write this)

And to the next topic "you thought cricket was boring". I did have a laugh on the train home tonight. This short piece about baseball in the US...   "The longest post season game in Major League Baseball history was played out when Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in 18 innings. The game dragged on for over 5 1/2 hours".   not my words.. just what I read in the paper.  Now if you were there and can honestly tell me you were there (you will know the date of the game for example) I would love to hear from you and a story about the game..   will send a GB FDC as a reward if you write.. well to first 10 people only ok..    

maybe someone even has a baseball FDC they can scan and send me so I can show it to others. I lived in Toronto when the Blue Jays were World Series winners..  oh happy years  and it didn't take them 18 innings..  hee hee....

Enjoy your stamps.. Michael

Hello, well first you want to know about the horse dont you. OK so I did some jumping with him this weekend and he was brilliant - maybe could have been me as well  but ultimately it was him.  Good start for the rest of the week as I plan to ride each morning before work.

Stamps. Well I found these this afternoon.

I was preparing my Christmas Competition - read this first then look at http://www.cddstamps.com   I was going to make this a runner up prize but remembered how much so many of you enjoyed the PNG bird stamps the other day I thought I'd show these tonight.

To win them just be the 6th email to tell me which one of the six birds is really the odd one out.  You all did so well with the PNG birds I am sure you'll have no trouble with this. Nice cover too but a but creased along the top although not touching the stamps. email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

I have received a few spoof emails that seem to come from Paypal this weekend. They dont come from Paypal but look very convincing. Just to remind you, dont ever log onto a Paypal or eBay site from one of these emails..  Never do it.  Only log in from the url in your address bar.  Paypal and eBay and  Banks etc would never write to you to do this. These emails are not good emails.

And finally I think I am up to date with my stamp mailings. If you are waiting on something please email me. I have about a dozen letters packed and ready for tomorrows mail. But please dont be shy about telling me I am behind on my mailings.

Best wishes.. enjoy your stamps.. Michael

Hello, well here is something new. I didn't know these were being issued, and I read the stamp news  

The blurb from the Royal Mail says "your favourite Smilers designs are back" .. "and due to the popular demand we're bringing the top six (Smilers) back"....     who is asking I wonder. I thought we were all getting rather financially challenged with all the new issues the Royal Mail releases.

I found these in my PO Box today. Didn't even know I ordered them.  Still wont complain.  Now for the real challenge though. How do I get used copies     to keep my collection complete I'm sending a plea to anyone who has some used copies - would you trade for something    FDCs, used Australia, other GB maybe, world mix. As usual I will be generous in my trade. Hope to hear from someone .. email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

Also in my mail box were letters from some of you. Thanks for the stamps. Much appreciated and I will be sending many on to some children who have written in the past week.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and gets time to enjoy their stamps.  Best wishes......... Michael

Hello, I was sorting through some stamps tonight and came across these. I seem to recall writing about this bird before. Had no time to check back but as they are so beautiful I thought I would show this set tonight. If you collect these as a thematic they may be of interest and I'd be pleased to send them to you........ if you can tell me which is the odd one out. Somewhat devious question... hey well it is Friday night here      ok.. so which bird is the odd one out. Well even if they are all from the same family, let me give you a clue, and say they are all called something kingfisher except one of them...  which one

And if you would like a FDC with birds on, as well, just tell me the names of each kingfisher.

So much to enjoy with stamps isn't there.   I told you I was elected as a Director at the IPDA (Internet Philatelic Dealers Association) a week or so ago. Well I am really enjoying being part of that organisation. There is so much they have to offer to peoeple that want to sell stamps. If you do sell please have a look at their web site   http://www.ipdaonline.org/index.html  and think of joining. We all want to enjoy the hobby and the people in it, and for those of us who are now using the internet to sell and trade we want it to be a place where we can sell and trade with each other with integrity.

My daugther had a friend over tonight and I realised how easily young people, or anyone for that matter uses the internet. And how important it is for those of us who trade or sell on the internet to establish and maintain a high standard and honesty. Being part of an organisation that encourages such values is one step  to showing others that we too hold those values.  

It is Friday night so dont want to bore you with too much serious stuff....  so will close by saying ....enjoy your stamps.. Nelson and Dancer are two top names for my new horse.. if he works out ok... at the jumping. which starts tomorrow.. hey watch this space for stamp news and news of my "maybe" new horse.

Have a great weekend..  Best wishes.. Michael  

Hello, and big thank you to all who are reading the blog.. I do like getting your emails..  and apology for some slow replies..  especially for winners of the stamps.. Lara from Malta won the British Wildlife cover, Blair from Canada won the  Llighthouse cover, Ricardo - country unknown at time of writing - won the 100 Machins and Meena from India won the GB Machin booklet page cover.    Lovely to see this wonderful hobby enjoyed by people around the world  and so good to know people are reading the blog.  

Had a few good names for the horse..  I have not chosen one yet  so dont give up on that  

Have been riding every morning at 5:30am so dont really have time for stamps tonight. Think some sleep would be a good idea.

I still have a few spots left for the Machin Round Robin - if you are interested please email me at cddstamps@gmail.com  details if this is news to you are posted in a few previous articles.

Enjoy your stamps..   nite zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz  Michael

Hello, tomorrow is Oct 5^th here and 28 years ago the Royal Mail issued a rather nice set of stamps to commemorate British Wildlife.