Hello, well tomorrow is December. It is here is Australia.   Maybe another day for you.

But whatever, it means another year has nearly passed. Fast.   So I was thinking what have I done this year. Lots but maybe not.  Like had a wonderful time off work, rode every day, competed,  tried a new horse, fell at a jump, broke a few ribs, got a new job, worked hard, started a blog, or two, kept the web site up to date as best I could, spent time with stamp related activities, became a Director of IPDA, looked after family type things ( well one has to do something around the house doesn’t one J    and now the year is nearly over again.   I only thought of this because I found this cover – “Very Long Time Ago” .. this years seems that way to me already.. How about you.. 

Anyway here is the cover. Hope you like it. Nice post mark  - if you can see it from the scan.

A Jersey Europa issue from 1981 – and I know some of you are interested in Folklore so thought it might be a useful item to show tonight.

The card inside the envelope makes wonderful reading. It starts with the quote….

“A very long time ago before we were invented a terrifying dragon roamed Jersey eating people up. I should imagine most of them died but imagine how it feels, first the ankles, then the heels, then by gradual degree it’s the calf then the knee.  Now a brave knight came to Jersey, His name was Lord……………

I wont bore you with the rest of the tale…..  but what was his name.. Lord  ????????????

Whoever sends me his name gets the FDC..   enjoy your research 

And just a final thank you to Noel who is helping me now in my (now our) promotion and support of this wonderful hobby to less fortunate children and children who are new collectors … these are children who write to me from around the world and to who I send free stamps.. and some of you have sent stamps to me that have gone into the childrens packets, so thankyou to you to.

Best wishes..    will try to write in a few days…   Michael    

Hello, that is all I have tonight,  :-)  and all I will have for a few nights I am afraid.  I have a function after work tomorrow (Tuesday) evening followed by a dinner so by the time I get home there will be no time for stamps. Maybe you can read the articles you have not read over past few weeks :-)  from this blog .............or read the website  http://www.cddstamps.com  and order the Christmas special - 1000 stamps - to be delivered to you for Christmas day sorting - how else to tell members of your family you need a break :-)  

sorry no stamps tonight..... Enjoy your stamps...Michael

Hello, Sunday evening here. Just had two days of rain. How wonderful is that. Grass turned green.  I didn’t watch it grow I might add, or turn green, but it did just seem to happen J

As for stamps, I have packed a few to send and sorted a few to put on eBay. Some GB QE II MUH (early QEII) and another small collection of GVI MUH.  Have not listed them yet bit will do tonight I hope. I am determined to raise enough to buy a copy of GB SG 438 in due course.

I am showing this stamp because it is the only soccer stamp I have.

Why?  Well because I am saddened by the death of George Best. I saw him play and of course I saw him many many times on television.

In my view he was the best there has ever been. And I think he could have been even better. He finished playing at the top level at the age of 27 I believe. So young, or am I just old.   Whatever, he was so talented. I have read so much about him over the years and while he went off the rails so to speak there is no taking away the amazing talent he had. Both on and off the field in so many ways. No doubt you have read of his passing as it is in all the papers and on all the web site news.  I like the wonderful quotes and especially the one about spending all his money… he is quoted as saying something along the lines he spent a lot of money on booze, women and fast cars.. the rest he squandered..    we are just jealous eh!!!!!!!!    He certainly had a sense of humour I guess.

Anyway I show this stamp, even though it has nothing to do with him but it was issued at a time when he was playing top class soccer and gaining in his reputation. 

I have 12 copies unmounted minted to give away. [ok I really do need to sell on eBay just to pay my postage costs J ]  so if you email me at cddstamps@gmail.com  with your address I will send you a copy. No quiz to answer even. My tribute to a truly brilliant soccer player … 

Best wishes.. Michael

Hello,  thanks for all your emails about the Antarctic covers I showed. Many of you got the complete answer….. some just a partial answer. The first cover I showed was post marked Mawson and dated 15^th Nov 1984, the second I showed was postmarked Casey and dated 16 Nov 1984. In the series there is one more, post marked Davis and dated 1 Feb 1985. Lovely stamps I think.

What does make a lovely stamp?  I was asking myself. The stamp that I think is quite stunning is SG 438. The GB GV £1 UPU Congress stamps showing St George slaying the Dragon…... Brilliant detail. (they don’t make stamps like this today do they J  )

I talked about this stamp the other week. I have seen a few copies on eBay which I am saving up for. Would be good to have another in my collection as I think it is more of an investment stamp. Of course there are a few, what I shall call investment stamps, which I would just love to collect. SG 403 and SG 404 are two I do not have.

They are the £1 GB GV Sea Horses. Both catalogued at £1100 and thus rather out of my price range. Another stamp I would dearly like to own is GB SG 456a…   what a stunning stamp. Why? Because of the colour. I have only ever seen pictures of this stamp. And of course if I was ever to be able to afford it I would have to see a certificate of authenticity given the likely selling price ….. the catalogue price for a used copy is £7000.    Tonight I have three far cheaper but for some of you maybe not so easy to find stamps.

These can be yours if you can tell me the colour of the SG 456a stamp.  7^th email will get these   I was going to say 7000^th but I don’t think I will get that many entries..   and of course don’t hesitate to send me an email with your answer..  7^th should give everyone a chance, where ever in the world you live.

So what are your favourite and expensive and “would like to own” stamps. I’d be interested to hear from you.

I have my wants listed posted on my web site http://www.cddstamps.com maybe you can help me if you have GB GV Downey heads in your collection. If you have a wants list please send it to me. I do have to admit I have not replied (yet) to a few people who have sent me wants lists because they have sent them with catalogue references I have no way or time to cross reference to Stanley Gibbons (SG) . So if you do have a Wants List, (and  please make it GB or Australia as these are my major areas of stock) please send it to me with SG numbers.

Hope you had / are having a great weekend with some time for your stamps… best wishes.. Michael

Hello, something different tonight in the way of philately. I was clearing more boxes;  we have family coming for Christmas and I have orders to “clear up this mess”. So I thought put three boxes worth of old albums and stuff into one. Look what I found.

1)      The pages for a FDC album for the 1987 Australian Decimal Pre Stamped Envelope Album. These are the illustrated pages for what are termed P.S.E No’s 119 to 137 and they are in “as new” condition. If this is something you want they are yours.. just email me.

2)      One envelope labeled  N 98 SF 87 Australia. These are the album pages produced by Leuchtturm and they are in “as new” condition. Each page has the picture of the stamp(s) and the plastic mount. I opened the envelope they were in so I could see what they were. Until today this packet had never been opened. The original price is on the envelope Aus$19.50.

3)      Same as above but for Australian Antarctic Territories. Again “as new” condition and the price on the envelope was Aus$10.50

These last two are yours for free as well but if you wanted to send me a dollar or two, or some mint Australian stamps for my postage that would be kind of you. First email to me gets one or all just tell me what you want cddstamps@gmail.com

What else.. well I found more nice FDCs. I think some should go on eBay or Stampoffers. I don’t know much about these older Australian and Antarctic covers but they are beautiful and with various special postmarks so seems reasonable I should not give everything away. Afterall I am saving to buy that GB SG 438 and have a way to go yet. J   

But since I have some duplicates  - or so I though -  how about this.

Ok, who said to themselves.. that is the same as the one he showed yesterday… be honest..   well is it??? .. have a look at yesterdays picture.. look carefully.. apart from the fact the answer to yesterdays question is on the stamp  - and sorry someone has already claimed it – it is not the same cover as this one  …. ..  actually I shouldn’t break up the three – oops yes I have another – but I’ll be honest and say I didn’t notice the difference myself. I can be so dumb at times. So what is the difference  - first email gets this one..

If you won yesterday I hope you get in first so you can get the set. Lovely set and in “as new” condition.

Well that is it for tonight, more stamps to sort now I have cleaned up those boxes J     best wishes…Michael

Hello, sorry not written for a few days..  like I said in an earlier piece it is the Christmas drinking .. oops office / corporate socialing season already.. so am rather busy after work. Enjoyable as well.  but of course leaves me so little time for stamps.

Anyway, last weekend I did find some useful covers while sorting an old box of stamps. Excellent condition I might add as they were still in the original packing. Like this one dated 1984. It is in brilliant condition, as if new, from the Post Office yesterday.

It is yours if you can tell me the name of the station that the aircraft is landing at. This could be difficult but then again I know so many of you who read this are very clever and others of you are brilliant with your research. Lets see how you do. I hope you enjoy the research. And lets face it these are truly stunning pictures on the stamps dont you think.

I am way behind on my emails to you all.. my apology.. I will try to catch up over the next few days..  dont think I am ignoring you. And dont stop writing, as I have said before I do enjoy hearing from you.

I have my SG GB online magazine waiting to be read, a few orders to fill and so much email. Should be a busy weekend.

I got some wonderful CTOs ( Thank you- you know who you are if you are reading ) which have been added to my childens corner.

I have even had someone volunteer to help me with the Childrens Corner sendings - how nice is that. Thank you to you too.

And just a plug - well why not - I still have some of those 1000 mixed packets for sale - see my web site - http://www.cddstamps.com  and if I get an order in a few days I can mail them so you will receive them in time for Christmas.

Have so much to write about and I am still asking if you have any topics you would like me to write about - Look forward to hearing from you at cddstamps@gmail.com

Best wishes, enjoy your stamps..  Michael

Was going to go to bed but decided to look at what was for auction on Stampoffers.

Wish I hadn't.. but then again...............

It makes my blood boil when I see the  rubbish some people are selling and sadly, in my humble opinion,  I see these sellers have many thousands of sales clicks to their name. Too many of you are most likely being ripped of is my view.   Yes this is confrontational but I am determined that collectors will not be exploited.. ok ok ok buyer beware and all that stuff,.,,   but is there no integrity on the part of the seller.

This stamp is being offered at US $25..

this is what has made me so mad..  Am I the mug I ask myself.. I put a copy of this in one of my recent specials...  along with cat value of over three hundred GB pounds value and all in better condition than this rubbish.  I will not even tell you the sepecial or my web site,  so you dont think I am trying to promote myself. If you know, you know, otherwise just take my advice.

No bids yet received and I hope none will be..  this is no different in my view to the phishing and scams that are going on .. you are being ripped of... Big time in my view.. be careful because if you are buying this rubbish at this price you are being taken for a total fool.

Ok, so you want a space filler..  email me and I will send you one.

Hows that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  as they say in cricket!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy your stamps and dont be scammed !!  Michael

Hello, don’t you just hate Mondays.. sometimes I do..  I have been in meetings close to non-stop from 9 this morning to 5 tonight. Not even a minute to think about stamps. I wanted to get home to sort those GB GVI   I soaked yesterday – they are dry now   ha ha…   actually they were dry in a few hours..  well the air-conditioning keeps the temperature in the house down J

I finally managed to check my Stampoffers.com listing. I was checking my website update last night to make sure the links worked and found I could not access Stampoffers.com. Well how bad is that I thought, as it means you couldn’t either and it is you that I want to bid on my lots. Some bids have been placed but not enough to pay for all my Christmas shopping J   Only 12 hours until most lots close…      OK OK you are waiting until the last minute to bid..   well I do that, so I mustn’t complain;  except I occasionally miss a lot because I am asleep when the closing bid time comes around.

I have seen a copy of GB SG 438 on eBay. Hey guys you are going to have to bid higher if I am going to treat myself to that stamp. I did ask some days ago if anyone could tell me what the stamp commemorated and I think I only got one correct answer..   I forget now…. old age….. or just too many meetings.. I don’t know which .

Anyway, have a look at my lots …. please   please…   somewhere I have a direct link to all my lots..   guess what, I have found it again  http://www.stampoffers.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl?action=search&searchtype=viewother&searchstring=Cddstamps

Of course if you want to treat yourself why not look at my specials on my home page at http://www.cddstamps.com I have packed up some lots ready to send so they get to you before Christmas.  Don’t be shy J

Carol from the US ( ok so there are 1 million Carols in the US; but you know who you are I guess J )  got the answer to last nights Australian Wildlife questions. Well done. Cover on its way to you in tomorrows mail.

Tonight a real tricky question.  Ha ha ha ha … What sort of tree is father Christmas dancing  (or is he just standing.. hard to tell..)    next to, on the 45c stamp issued by Christmas Island for this (2005) Christmas?   

I’ll do me very best to send a copy of the FDC of the Christmas Island Christmas stamps to the 5^th person to get the correct answer. And I am not showing the cover…... that would make it just too easy  J Amazing stamps eh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best wishes..   enjoy your stamps and try to avoid too many meetings … Michael

Hello.  I am stamped out for a change.   Is that surprising?  Well I cannot ride the horse because the ribs are still pretty sore and I better do what the doctor says, not that I usually do but this time maybe.

So I have been updating the web site and sorting some stamps. Have soaked some GB GVI  I found tucked away in a box I haven’t looked at for ages.. Maybe find a few inverted or sideways watermarks?. 

I also put up a Christmas special on my web site……  1000 world mix on and off paper,  price includes postage so if you want to have some fun sorting and a few surprises this could be just what you need for a rainy or snowing afternoon.  Of course if you live in a warmer climate it could be just what you need for a nice air-conditioned house or apartment.  A treat for yourself for Christmas…... share some with a few friends. And only those of you who read this will know I have put over 1100 stamps in the packets I have sorted so far.  To make up for the fact there are some duplicates and I did see a few short perfs. Sorry but when sorting the number of stamps I have today I cannot check everyone in fine detail. But I have taken out obvious damaged ones.  Go on, have a look at http://www.cddstamps.com  Oh, and no apology for letting you know. How else would you know

Ok a freebie. How about this cover.

I found it in one of the boxes I was sorting. Rather nice stamps but look at the special post mark. KangarooValley. To win this…   two questions.. to see how much you know about Australian wildlife, well how much you can learn maybe. Easy really… 

1) does the kookaburra mate ( that is stay with one partner)  for life

2)  how does the platypus have its young – either as in an egg laying mammal or as in an animal giving live birth.

Now I thought I should tell you about something to do with security. I wrote an article for the most recent IPDA newsletter on the subject of security and use of the internet. Someone wrote in to give a really good example of how they had been tricked by one of those “phishing emails – which look so genuine.  The person was good enough to point out what had happened to him.

He said he had an e-mail asking for details of his returns policy and postage charges. It was seemingly from an E-bay customer with all the usual eBay signs & everything.

Before he replied he was asked to log in to his message section of eBay, He did that from the email.  And of course realised that by doing so he had given his password away, as this was a scam and a phishing e-mail. 

My advice in my article and I repeat it for you. NEVER log in to a site through an email. Always type the URL address into the address bar on your browser.

It doesn’t matter what it is you are logging into -  Never do it. Read the full article at http://ipdaonline.org (it is on the front page of the newsletter).

OK enough serious stuff. Nearly time for dinner. And to get an early night. Sunday here and I have a busy week ahead. Hope to be busy packing and sending stamps to you

Have a good week,  Best wishes….enjoy your stamps…   Michael

Hello, managed to get to the post office this weekend and empty my mail box. Thanks for stamps sent. I also got some covers I had a friend take to Brisbane and mail to me. I designed and produced these, including the special handstamp.  This is one of the covers.

I have a few different designs. This one, as you might be able to see has, the postmark of the day of arrival of the aircraft into Sydney. I have another with the postmark 16^th November, the day the aircraft flew back to Brisbane from Melbourne in time for the 85^th birthday party of Qantas.

Both covers are one of only 4 produced. I have decided to sell one of each on eBay. I hope to trade one and the other two will stay in my collection. If you want to see my eBay listings they are at

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Airbus-A380-1st-Flight-Cover-Sydney-13-Nov-05_W0QQitemZ5637663719QQcategoryZ65210QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Airbus-A380-1st-Flight-Cover-Brisbane-16-Nov-05_W0QQitemZ5637664987QQcategoryZ65210QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or just search on A380, or Airbus or by my seller id which is michaelatcddstamps

I learnt a lot designing and producing these covers. I will do it again I think, as it was fun and a good experience.  Have to wait another year or more until the aircraft arrives again and starts commercial service. Well that will give me time for some new ideas for a design.

Back to sorting stamps. I am putting together some really special offers for you to treat yourself or a friend to  - a nice Christmas present.  Have promoted these on a few club boards – well how else will people get to know about these offers - but chances are you will be reading this before the people read the club boards so get in quick me thinks..   help me pay my rather high Christmas postage bill. J  big smile and buy my Christmas present to myself J

How are you doing with the Christmas Competition on the web site http://www.cddstamps.com    any questions you want me to give some clues for??  I have the prizes all ready to give away – you can see them online at the competition page.

Better let you get to look at the competition eh!!!  Have a great weekend… Best wishes..  Michael

Hello, How are you…  good I hope.. and looking forward to the weekend maybe. I am for sure. I have had so little to do with stamps this week. Managed to read some of my emails but that is about it. So tonight I was looking through an old album someone gave me and I came across this stamp.

I don’t have a catalogue that includes this country. So I am asking for your help. I am sure there is someone out there who can identify this stamp for me.

It is a lovely stamp as I see it. Beautiful design, a topic dear to my heart in as much as it has a horse on it. I like the colour shade and it is in very nice condition. I don’t know whether to give it away or list it on eBay. But then I cannot list it because I have no idea what it is worth and I don’t have any catalogue reference for it.

So can you help me please

If it is not worth anything I will give it away and if it is worth something then maybe I will try to sell it to raise a few dollars to pay my Christmas postage costs.

What else is newWith you I am always looking for ideas on what to write about so if you have any ideas please email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

Christmas is just round the corner and the other day I checked out Amazon  as I use that to send presents to my family and friends around the world. Easy to use and great selection but have you looked the home page recently 

I have not been to Amazon for a while. What a mess of a home page.. took me a few minutes to find where to log in. Hey, worse than my home page and I keep thinking I should tidy my web site up..   what!!!…. you haven’t looked at my home page for a while..  http://www.cddstamps.com     oh had sad am I   -   all feedback welcome

So what stamp items can one find on Amazon  I think my Christmas present to myself this year will be from eBay not Amazon..    better stamp selection don’t you think.    I always buy myself a present .. dont you

Still a few weeks to go so start thinking what you want.   And I hope  you keep reading this blog as you just might be able to get yourself a few nice free Christmas presents

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

so I must be having withdrawal symptons .........   maybe not yet but will have by the end of December I am sure;  the corporate Christmas drinks starts tomorrow night .. well for me it does and my diary is getting rather busy over the next few weeks,,,   remember Christmas is only 37 days away..  exclude weekends that is only 27 party days.. not many..    of course I cannot keep up at my age  ha ha ha ha ... so have to leave early.. actually the reason I have to leave early is I have a long drive home and the police are patrolling every road in my direction..  so what does this mean.  it means I lose weight at this time of year.. no booze and only a little food..     and I thought these functions were meant to be fun... 

Anyway, hope you all have lots of corporate functions or whatever they are called where you are. I miss the Christmas in Toronto though ..... I thought about it tonight as I walked to the train station.. lovely bright daylight,  and Christmas decorations all over the streets and shops awnings.. no snow.. no snow .. and more .. no snow  ..         it is not the same somehow.. they have just finished putting up this enormous Christmas tree in Martin Place, near where I work, a centre point in the Central Business District here in Sydney,  like for example the Rockafella Centre in New York, Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Trafalagar Square in London,   that area in Rome where there is the monument which honours Victor Emmanual,  those wonderful  gardens and areas on the Champs Elyees in Paris.. there are so many more places and I feel bad for not mentioning others but you get the idea of what I am portraying. Just with no snow

 Have you been paying attention though     because I come back to stamps eventually.. how many countries have I mentioned in this piece tonight..  correct answer, with postal mailing address included please to cddstamps@gmail.com  will get a FDC with the new Australian Christmas stamps.

And if you want to write to me and tell me the name of the city centre where you live and will see a Christmas tree I would be pleased to hear from you. I'd like to get 100 different city / place names.  If I do I will donate $100 to the childrens hospital here in Sydney for Christmas. I'll also share the city names with you and show you a receipt.

Best wishes.. enjoy your stamps ..  and lets enjoy helping others occassionally .............. Michael

Hello, here are the Australia Christmas stamps on a FDC.

Quite nice I think..  clean and simple. Not 6 stamps that none of us can afford or even find a use for.    How many Christmas stamps does your country issue I wonder. 

no A380 news  .. Ok   will not mention the aircraft again

so what else is new.. well I have started to send my Christmas cards...   have you?  I was reminded today that Christmas is 5 weeks away.  I have to write my Chtristmas present list and leave it around the house in as many places as I can, in the hope that someone will find it. ..   What do you do for Christmas? Most years I go and buy myself a present. Well I get what I want that way... !!!!!!!!!  ha ha.

Am not sure what I want this year.. nothing springs to mind. Maybe a nice 4 margin GB penny black..   or a GB SG  438.

What stamp is that SG 438 Commemorating????    first answer gets an Australia Christmas FDC.. please include your postal mailing address..  to cddstamps@gmail.com

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

Hello, I tried loading a picture last night with no luck and had same problem tonight. So sorry about that. I had hoped to show you a FDC with the new Australia Christmas stamps. Quite nice and affordable as there are only two stamps.

Will send a copy to the first three people who tell me what new aircraft flew into Sydney yesterday ( Sunday 13th).     

How easy is that .. oh yes and you have to tell me you really did look at my latest Stampoffers auction  lots   ..  well I have to pay for these somehow   

Been a busy weekend,  and apart from getting a tad too much sun while waiting for the aircraft to arrive I  also managed to do a lot of driving to the airport and back to get the special post office handstamps on some covers I designed and produced - for my own entertauinment.  picture of one, is on my A380onstamps blog http://a380onstamps.iblogs.com . Since I cannot load any pictures tonight I will leave you to visit the other site. Needless to say I am nearly A380'd out    but not quite and I still dont have a copy of the French stamp (I think it is a French stamp) - it is a euro currency donomination  -I know that and I am guessing France because the aircraft is assembled there..  anyway I still dont have that stamp and if anyone knows how I can get a copy.. a mint corner block would be nice ( I will pay by Paypal) and a used copy... I would be most pleased to hear from you   at cddstamps@gmail.com

well lets see if I can publish this.. sorry no picture..  will try again tomorrow

best wishes.. and enjoy your stamps...  Michael

Hello, today was a stamp day. Stamp email, stamp sorting and filing and packing stamps top send to people. I think I am up to date. I have a lot of envelopes to mail tomorrow so hopefully if you are expecting some stamps then they will be there soon.

I found these while tidying up today.

Anyone collect CTO stamps and space space stamps. They are yours if you are the first to email me at cddstamps@gmail.com.

Dinner is cooking and I have to get an early night   because the A380 arrives here tomorrow morning and I really hope to see it. Camera battery is charged. Car has petrol. What more do I need   Maybe get a life eh!!!  ha ha  but then again keep watching you may be quite surprised with my photos and stamp memorabilia from this historic event.    then again you may not  

Stamp news: am still selling on Stampoffers.. some really brilliant condition Australia FDCs with some unusual farnkings. Have a look;  search me on cddstamps. I have also listed lot of New Zealand commemoratives - well I think they are mostly commemoratives.  Yiou can always find all my listing from my web site http://www.ddstamps.com

Finally.. have you ever tried to renew your Nortons security-   easy to pay them the money but how the hell do I get the download to work. Am fuming here as my other computer is telling me it cannot find some file.  And things used to be so easy before all these security software products    oh well.. back to trying to sort that out..  after dinner of course

Have a great weekend, and please if anyone has a copy of the French ( I think it is) stamp with the A380 on, please email me as I would like to get a copy or two..   best wishes.. Michael

you will get lettrpost to 

Hello, well it should be an exciting weekend. For me and probably many others. An A380 (Airbus aircraft) arrives in Sydney on Sunday morning. It will do a fly past over the Harbour Bridge I am told around 08:30 then on to land at the airport.

I wish I could be in a few places at once but am taking my chances of getting pictures of the aircraft and seeing it arrive at the airport. If you are not interested in aircraft my apology - well I guess we all have some different interests -   if you are I wont go on about the aircraft on this blog but you can read more on my http://a380onstamps.iblogs.com site.   Somethings for everyone eh!!  But just for tonight, and I said I would show these stamps - I received these the other day     neat eh!!!!

And of course if anyone every comes across a stamp with an A380 on it please keep a copy for me.. mint or used,, I will gladly trade and generously as well.

Whatever you are doing this weekend., I hope you have a wonderful weekend. And to all of you who are waiting replies to you emails or stamps orders I promise I will catch up this weekend...  Best wishes...Michael

Hello, just a short hello tonight. I am getting behind on my emails and my postings of stamps.. I am so sorry.. been really hectic at work and various other family "taxi" service engagements

Amongst my mail today was the latest Canada Post "Collections" magazine. Well what with my Canadian sympathies I still get this.  Anyway.. I noticed there were         FDCs issued in 2005.  Like is that real?   How come so many?   Even GB could not match that.. at least not at the Royal Mail issuing level.  Or am I wrong?

Oh, did I not say how many FDCs..  well if you tell me the number and you are correct or close to correct.. depending on how many entries I get... I will send you an Australian Christmas FDC.

Be interested to hear from you.

Will try to write more soon.. oh and I got those Tajikistan stamps today in the mail.. will be showing them soon..  when get some time..  must go zzzzzzzzzzz now..      enjoy your stamps.. Michael

Hello, well I have started my Christmas Card sending. Thought I better start early.  So many  envelopes to write     if you get a card I hope you like it..   limited edition ha ha...   

Thanks for biding on my Stampoffers lots..   still some didn't sell so keep looking and I will be adding some more in the coming few days.  How else am I going to pay for the Christmas cards I send..    big smile here  .. well as long and the Financial Manager of the household is not watching  

Nothing new on stamps tonight. Am really busy at work again and will be for the next few weeks as we have a rather complex and quite large IT system cutover and I am expected to make a contribution...     well I try.

Enjoy your stamps...     best wishes...Michael

Hello, it is late, had a long day.. been planning a few things, including how I can see the A380 when it arrives here in Sydney this coming Sunday. So may things to try to do.  Watch this space and if I am able to do half of what I want to I will show you first, well along with those who visit my A380onstamps blog.

I see some people bid on  my Stampoffers lost. thanks.. you are on my Christmas card list :-) 

Enjoy your stamps...............Best wishes...  Michael 

Hello, well what a lovely weekend here. Sun was just right for a sun bathe, so I sat on the ride on mower and cut the grass. Took a while mind you so I should have got a good dose of vitamin D. Now as you all know sunshine is a significant source of vitamin D because UV rays from sunlight trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Do you think that will help my poor old ribs and bruising? I hope so   After all, we all know don’t we?,    that the major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, and by promoting calcium absorption, vitamin D helps to form and maintain strong bones. Yeah, that’s what I need      But just one more piece of trivia for you, and if you live in Boston I suggest you skip this; sunlight exposure from November through February in Boston is insufficient to produce significant vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Well we don’t have that problem in Sydney   

But back indoors with a lovely glass of shiraz, just the first one at the moment – and I thought I’d see how my Stampoffers auction lots were doing.  Some bids but since they start closing in about 12 hours it is not looking like there will be a bidding war and so there will be plenty of bargains for everyone. Yes I know I go on about this but I do hope to at least get some funds to pay for the postage for the Christmas cards I am sending this year. Although I say so myself a rather nice selection of cards. You could be someone who receives one. You will just have to wait and see. Of course if I don’t have your address I am sure you wont get one. Sorry about that   

So I thought, why not see what competition I have on Stampoffers.  Well not much I am pleased to say. Unless you want to fill your collection with fillers.  Ok, so one or two might be ok I agree. But “used” stamps like these…  derrgghh in my book. 

I think it is becoming a pet whinge of mine – in your interests I might add – and the interests of the integrity of everyone who sells and buys on the Internet – after all that is why I joined to IPDA;  to play a small part in a good organization that is promoting the hobby and providing advice that helps the collector protect themselves from buying, yes I will say it again…. rubbish.

Here are 4 examples.

Scott 85 as quoted is asking US $25. You can get a defective copy for US $ 12.25 from my favourite dealer and an average used copy for US $15.40. This is a defective copy in my view and based on first hand experience you would get a much better copy from the dealer; and the same applies to these following three stamps as well.

Scott 58 plate 3 is listed for US$4, at the dealer you can buy a defective copy for US $1.25 and an average used copy for US $1.50

Scott 82 plate 22 is listed for US$6.97 and from the dealer a defective copy will sell for US $ 0.55, average used for US $ 1.10,  and fine used for US $ 2.80

The last stamp is listed as Scott 68 at opening bid of US$5 and at the dealer a defective copy will sell for US $3.15 and an average used copy will sell for US $7.90.

Lets be honest here.. this is bad, and not even a space filler

You be the judge, I am only trying to provide information, and what I think to be guidance based on experience. 

Yes you can get some very expensive space fillers from the people selling on some stamp auction sites. But please be aware of what you are buying. As long as you feel well informed then I am pleased you can fill those gaps in your collection. But please don’t think you are getting an acceptable used copy when judged by the standards many of us would have our stamps classified against.   I make no apology to those selling this material either. I question their integrity and motives if they do not correctly describe the stamps they list and if they were to apply to the IPDA and I were to know this is the quality they sell as used, without further qualification, I will strongly lobby my fellow directors that they not be admitted as members.

Enjoy your stamps, don’t get sun burnt and fill those gaps wisely.   Best wishes.. Michael

Hello, so many of you knew or quickly found out the names of the 13 members of the Gunpowder Plot, as we call it today.  But no one was able to tell me that the contemporary name for the plot – that is the name it had back in 1605 – was the Powder Treason. It is to be found in a rather well written piece at this web site  http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/games/gunpowder/index.shtml   You can also play a rather cute game..   to see if you can find the barrels of gunpowder before the House of Lords blows up.

And if you read some of the material you may be able to answer these two questions : what where the conspirators found guilty of and what was their punishment?   In the Antonio Fraser book I am reading, the details of the punishment are something to be skipped over. J  I’ll find a nice set of stamps GB GVI stamps to send to the 5^th correct answer.

I mentioned I’d show the Cindarellas; Chris from Scarbourough in the UK designed and produced these. I think they are brilliant – excellent design and impressive set of firework displays, the pictures he took himself.

As for people having fireworks parties, as I used to as a child growing up in the UK, do they still happen I wonder?.  I have wonderful memories of being excited and dressing up with hat and scarf and gloves to keep warm on the cold November evening. I remember how dark is was until the bonfire was light.  And from somewhere people would start a fireworks display. Each family on the street had a few fireworks and when they were all added together there was a wonderful show for all the children to see. 

I don’t know what children do in the UK now. Or anywhere for that matter. We don’t do anything here – but I don’t know about other families.  I do know that Ron in Tennessee will be having a bonfire – with fireworks I hope Ron.  Pity I cannot join you, with Jack Daniels maybe J

And finally for tonight please have a look at the Stampoffers auction lots – your last chance as the lots start closing in about 24 hours – and even though I say so myself there are some steals there. All you have to do is click this link…….  how easy is that…  wait 10 second or more for the page to load as sometimes it is not that fast  http://www.stampoffers.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl?action=search&searchtype=viewother&searchstring=Cddstamps

I just want to clear out some stamps.. and raise some $$$ for Christmas postage and maybe a bid or two on eBay or Stampoffers myself J 

Have a great weekend...    and if you have fireworks.. enjoy and be safe.          Michael