Hello,  just a quick piece to tell you about a stamp I have read about from a colleague at the Internet Philatelic Dealers Association  http://ipdaonline.org  - I am reprinting their information and picture of this stamp.

“ There seem to be several people trying to make a quick profit with misleading information on eBay.

Highlighted are sensitive issues regarding the current 68p Christmas stamp. This stamp is still widely available at Post Office Counters.

Currently there are 2000 copies in my local Post Office. This stamp has not been withdrawn as many sellers are saying. Post Offices have been asked to sell only to those specifically requesting it. There are many thousands of this stamp in circulation.

Further distribution to Post Offices has been stopped (but all had already had their Christmas allocation any way). It is also still available from Philatelic Bureau and online from Royal Mail.”

So that was the IPDA comment. 

I had a look at some of the listings on eBay. From a quick search I noted quite a few references to this being a “rare” stamp, I don’t think rare is the correct way to describe this or to predict it to become rare. Afterall, you can still buy online from the Royal Mail.  Or you can email me and I’ll get my Mother or a friend to buy me some copies,  LOL…

I also noted what I think are the same person selling under different selling names..  I think this because the text about the stamp was identical..  does that inspire confidence.. I don’t think,  so but that is just my view.  Anyway if you want more here are two newspaper articles.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4420896.stm

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_051110stamps.shtml

And yes I do like the reference to tolerance…      Enjoy your stamps…   Michael

Hello, tonight I am showing a British Christmas cover from 1973. A rather attractive set of Christmas stamps I think.

Issued some years ago now and maybe that says something for the way stamp design has changed over the years. Sadly the top right hand corner of the cover is creased..    anyway it is still worth collecting I think,  and it will go to the first person who answers the two questions below and sends me their mailing address to cddstamps@gmail.com.

The theme as you can see is Good King Wenceslas. But how many really know about the king or the Christmas Carol.

The research might be interesting if you don’t know the answers straight away.  There are two questions I have tonight .. in the text below…………

1)      Who wrote the words to the carol "Good King Wenceslas"

They were published in 1853.  The music originated in Finland 300 years earlier. This Christmas carol is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics to the nativity.

2)      Good King Wenceslas was around in the 10^th century, so we are told;  but where was he King of  ??

Good King Wenceslas was a Catholic and was martyred following his assassination by his brother Boleslaw and his supporters, his Saint's Day is September 28th, and he is the Patron Saint of the Czech Republic. St. Stephen's feast day was celebrated on 26th December which is why this song is sung as a Christmascarol.

No doubt some of you can shed more light on this interesting legend.

Hope you all had, or are having, a wonderful weekend and have had a good time Christmas shopping if that is something you did this weekend..  .  Best wishes…Michael