It is not often that one receives a large envelope with lots of stamps on them and they are in reasonable condition and not ruined by friendly post office staff.  Here is an example from a package I received yeterday. Stamps are individually placed - that is not a block - and quite attractive. email me at cddstamps@gmail.com if you would like them..  someone will get them ok.

Been long day at work - well it has to happen occassionally I guess  so no time for stamps. I get all my badwidth limits back tonmorrow so hopefully I will be able to get some nice material for you to see. The new Roses stamp were issued her the other day. I think you might like them.

Anyway, short and sweet.. no not me    ...this article...  enjoy your stamps.. Michael

   Hello, very short note tonight.. was going to show some stamps that came on an envelope today - that will have to wait.. seems I have reached my Telstra bandwidth limit on an unlimited plan - only Telstra can do that- and get away with it, so I am working at some connect speed once heard of when computers were first invented  - my braadband limit will be reset for 1st February so will back to showing pictures again after then.

Forget stamp recommendations - anyone in Australia NSW Sydney got a recommendation for a telephone company that provides half decent service. We are so far behind the rest of the world with our broadband access and speeds it frustrates me  - most times I just ignore it but there comes a time when it does get to me. Oh well such is life. Lots of people dont even have it I guess, so I am lucky really.

if you want to see some stamps just look at my Stampoffers and eBay lots

Oh, and thanks for reading everyone. You made over 10,000 page views again this month and there are still two days to go. Well done.  Enjoy your stamps...  Michael

Hello .. another weekend has finished..    back to work..   less time for stamps..   but maybe this week I will do some more sorting.  I need to package up some Australia for one of you.. ooops still not done it..  and since I am on a roll with lots on eBay and Stampoffers I may try to list a few more. 

I wanted to write about the quality of some stamps on Stampoffers; I was saddened when I saw what was being listed and the description given and the price asked. Then thought better just let it go and hope you all have the sense now not to bid on damaged stamps.

I did read something interesting today;  Did you know that the Northern Ireland country definitive stamps from 2001 have the date printed, by micro printing, on the value of the stamp. The printing is so small that by the naked eye or with a small magnifier it appears as a black line, yet when magnified 20 times + you can clearly see '(c) 2001'.

You will find the date on the 42p, look at the end tail of the 2 ;  on the 1st class at the bottom of the number 1 ; on the 'E' stamp it is on the right hand side of the bottom bar of the E ; on the 68p, look at the right hand side of the top loop of the 8.

I don’t have any of these stamps..   anyone want to send me a few I would be happy to trade something.  The Northern Ireland stamps look like this just with more recent values.

Also, a bit more news on the new Great Britain issues I was telling you about yesterday

I mentioned that postal charges will change – on April 3^rd I have read.  This means there will be new definitives and country stamps.  These will go on sale at Post Offices and Philatelic outlets from 28 March.  Just in time for when I arrive in UK;  how thoughtful of them. Anyway the new definitives will comprise :  - 37p olive green, 44p ultramarine, 49p rust and 72p red.

There will also be new 44p and 72p country stamps for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the same designs as the current 42p & 68p stamps.

The new basic UK 1st and 2nd class rates will be 23p and 32p. The new stamps will be printed by De La Rue in gravure, except the 44p and 72p Northern Ireland stamps which will be printed in litho.

And finally..  I have 21 lots on eBay – all aerophilately first flight covers. Some lovely US ones including Pan Am, and some Concorde. I have 20 lots on Stampoffers. Nearly everything starts at US $1. Lets face it you cannot lose.. I get to clear out some material I don’t need and you get some great bargains.  Have a look. My eBay id is michaelatcddstamps and my Stampoffers id is cddstamps.

Enjoy your stamps…   Michael

Hello, before I start tonights piece I just want to let you know that I have put 21 lots of aero philately covers on ebay – “michaelatcddstamps” – have a look or tell your friends please.  

Ok, tonight, lots to read.. I expect    ……..I thought I might give you a quick update on some new GB issues. I got to thinking about this because last night I mentioned how I thought you might be reading Stanley Gibbons or Linns or other dealer sites for your GB new issue news. In case you are not here are a few of the new issues in the coming months.

On February 7^th there will be another of Royal Mail “British Journey” series.

This series started in 2003 with an issue of stamps showing scenes from Scotland. If you have been to Scotland you might think the pictures did not do Scotland justice. In my view, most of  Scotland is just fantastic. I lived and worked there in various parts once upon a time   and have visited on many occasions – starting when I was a child since my father was from Edinburgh. Anyway Royal Mail issued stamps showing Northern Ireland, Wales and Southwest England and this final issue in the series – I believe it is the final issue – will consist of 10 stamps showing scenes and landmarks from various parts of England.

The stamps will be issued se-tenant and it will cost £3 a set, plus whatever Royal Mail charge to deliver. I think these will be a good looking set from the pictures I have seen, and an improvement – in my view – on the previous issues.

Then two weeks later – you will have to save your pennies fast – there is an issue to commemorate the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel – an engineering genius of his time.

These small pictures do not do the stamps justice and I suggest you look at http://www.norphil.co.uk/2006/brunel.htm for some stunning pictures. Great web site by the way for the Great Britain collector and that is my unpaid view  although Ian did shout me a coffee when I met him in London last year. Full disclosure ok

A few days later on March 1^st there will be another issue by the Royal Mail. This time to commemorate the opening of the new Welsh Assembly building. 

 These stamps will be issued in a miniature sheet and each stamp will show a symbol of Wales.  Quite attractive from what I can see. Have a look at http://www.norphil.co.uk/2006/03a-wass.htm

7 days later there is yet another issue – this time a Fun Fruit and Veg “Smilers” sheet   -- You know they are called “smilers” because the Royal Mail is laughing all the way to the bank as people buy them, and never use them on letters  -- . I think these are an embarrassment to stamp collecting.  5, 6, 7 year old children and other ages I guess collect stickers..  is this the Royal Mail’s way to encourage children into collecting ?  It is a worry    but if you must see them check out http://www.norphil.co.uk/2006/03b-fruitsmilers.htm

And then 14 days later – assuming your bank manager has not called you about your overdraft or the fact you missed your mortgage payment – you will have the opportunity to buy what I think is a rather good looking set of stamps to commemorate some animals that roamed England 2 million years ago.  

Had me thinking does anyone know of any stamps that were issued to commemorate something that happened more than 2 million years ago. Dinosaur issues I guess from all over the world ????…...    well email me your thoughts and if possible some scans of the stamps. I’d like to know and we can see how the stamps compare with this Great Britain issue. Again if you want to see the stamps have a look at http://www.norphil.co.uk/2006/03c-iceage.htm

Hello, well I finally had an email from the service provider and they said they would increase my upload bandwidth. Lets see if it works. I have scanned the Australian Legends new issue I mentioned the other evening. Hope you see it and like it.

Judging by the response I got, and all of you were correct in your replies, he must be popular. So tonight I will give a few more of you a chance to get a copy of this FDC.  All you have to do is tell me how many Australian Legends there were before him….. or to put it another way,  just tell me which one is he, is 5th,  6th, 7th, or what … email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

I am pleased to say I am just about up-to-date with all my email and stamp sending; taken a  while over the past two days but I  am pleased to have done it, although I was embarrassed at times as I missed some emails from a while ago as they got further and further down the email inbox. Apologies if you were one of them and please don’t let that stop you writing.

Hello, well I tried the recommendation from a number of you and am showing a link below to a stamp picture..   I have shown these stamps before and since no one won them  I have them still as a giveaway. First entry gets them .. to cddstamps@gmail.com

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/cddstamps/Zimbabwe-Birds-of-Prey.gif

You will have to have a look at the link and tell me the odd one out.. I remember now I asked this before.. and didn’t get a winner..  you may have entered but I probably got only a few entries and not the required number.. anyway.. here it is again..  BUT  I do ask you give me feedback please about what it is like to have to use the link to view the picture. If I don’t get any reply from my service provider I may use this only as a last resort. I assume after looking at the stamps you switch back to this text with no problem. I will test it myself later.  Do read on as there is more.

I got a winner to the Australian Legend question. Well done to Lea in Washington State. USA.

So much stamp news I don’t know where to start. Also don’t know what to write about some topics either : like the 40th anniversary of the Australian Decimal issues, new GB issues, some new issues here in Australia, and  something I didn’t know,  this year will be 500^th anniversary of the discovery of Tristan da Cunha.  Will see if I can get scans of the stamps for you as I think they will be interesting for the history they portray.

But more closer to home -  Just a reminder about my  PhilagapMail  trade program.   This is where I tell you what I need and if you have the stamp(s) and are prepared to trade you tell me what you need and if I have the stamp(s) we have a trade.

A few weeks ago ( January 7^th   was my last piece on this idea and before that I wrote about it on December 31^st)  Here are the stamps I need:  only fine used please. But will exchange for whatever you want,  mint or used, within reason of course.

Hello everyone, Hope this finds you in good health and able to find some time to work with your stamps. I have had three rather busy days at work but read on, I am not going to bore you with my days activities.

I have some nice stamps to show, again, the new Australian Legend stamps .. I have a FDC to give away.. but since I cannot show the cover (I still cannot post a scan, sorry)  I have the question – Who is the legend on the stamps… one person, and very famous  and you can tell me the persons real name or the character name..   maybe some research you will enjoy;    oh and I would like to make this competition open only to those of you who live outside of Australia -   give overseas readers a better chance given I am sure everyone in Australia will know the answer immediately.

I wrote about books some weeks ago you may recall.  I have had a few people write with titles.. thought I’d share a few with you, and ask for recommendations..  what should I read next… nearly finished my current book.

Antigua Penny Puce by Robert Graves; published in the United States as The
Antigua Stamp

The Dutch Blue Error by William G. Tapply

The Chalon Heads by Barry Maitland

Griffin & Sabine series by Nick Bantock

McNally's Secret by Lawrence Sanders

Spy Line by Len Deighton

The Scarlet Ruse by John D. MacDonald

Too Late the Phalarope by Alan Paton

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

Still Waters by Robert A. Pittman

Australia Day here tomorrow. So I have a day off work. Time to package my World Wide Round Robin. I have a few spaces left. Write soon if you want to join; cddstamps@gmail.com   the details are in previous writings if you scroll on down a few days.

Best wishes, enjoy your stamps..    Michael

PhilagapMail is working. I am pleased to say.. two people are ( I hope) happy with the results of this idea.  I tell you what I need and if you have the stamp(s) and are prepared to trade you tell me what you need and if I have the stamp(s) we have a trade.

A few weeks ago ( January 7^th   was my last piece on this idea and before that I wrote about it on December 31^st)   I have had a few replies.  I am updating my listing of the stamps I need, as follows:  All stamps I want are fine used.

Something different to start of with tonight.  Pity I cannot show a scan but I think you will get the idea of what I am about to write about.

I received some mail this weekend when I checked my mail box. Some of the letters had some nice stamps on….. some stamps I would collect, others I would put in my children’s corner box.   Sadly I can do neither as the stamps were place so tightly into the top right hand corner of the envelope that the edges got creased in the handling by the various mail people in our various countries. I am sure you have seen this.  One stamp I actually needed to fill a gap in my GB Commemoratives collection also had a corner turned up because it had not been stuck down on the envelope fully, so damaged perfs on that one as well as a crease.

So, two tips – don’t place stamps right into the corner and make sure the whole stamp is stuck on the envelope  -  are things to remember when you are sending letters to those of us who collect stamps – and others too as they may keep the stamps for collectors.  I did get one letter with the stamps of the US joint issue of the GB Illustrated Children’s Books… and the stamps and postmark were lovely. They are in my album…   and for those of you have not heard of this before…. I do not soak the stamps – I cut the envelope and keep the frank intact. Sometimes it adds interest to your collection I think. Wish I could show you these but until I get my space limit removed I am afraid it will just me writing for a while.

As for writing I am impressed with two stamp blogs I have started reading. Do have a look.  Hopefully you will have enough time to read us all

The first is “Suzi’s Stamps and Stuff”.  A lovely blog.  I do like the style sheet and with some interesting writings. For example if you don’t know what a Thirkell position finder is then have a read  http://suzisstamps.blogspot.com/

The second blog I really like is  “In Search of Stamps”.  Some interesting articles – focus on US at the moment and well written . Recent article talks about, and shows, a lovely scan of the US Sheet of the Illustrated Children’s Books stamps.   http://stampsandcovers.blogspot.com/

If I don’t get my bandwith limit resolved I may switch to blogspot,  a lovely clear layout that helps make the presentation of the articles and the scan of the stamps something you want to read and look at.

Finally.. still a few spaces left on my World Wide Round Robin, if you have not yet read about it, this is how it will work – subject to number of people.. if I get less people sign up those that do can take more stamps  ….. I send 600 stamps to a limited number of collectors. You can take any 50 stamps you want and in return I ask that you put in whatever number of GB Commemoratives from 1995 to 2006, excluding Christmas stamps that you want    You can take any 50 stamps and put in nothing (I might not ever include you again of course J  or you can put in whatever you want..   I leave it up to you decide what you think is fair or what you have to offer. I do ask that you don’t put in damaged stamps.

This will be open to the first 8 replies who can each take up to 50 stamps – that way even the last person gets 200 stamps to choose from and in return I ask you put GB Commemorative fine used – No Christmas stamps please - from 1995 to 2006 back in the pack. If you are interested please email at cddstamps@gmail.com  Please, only ask to join if you can put in GB

Enjoy your stamps… Best wishes.. Michael

sorry but just have to remind everyone that my Stampoffers lots close in just one day....  I think so much great value here.. Please have a look..   scroll down a few articles for direct link to the lots...  can take a few seconds for the Stampoffers page to load I have found.

And also if you want to join my World Wide round robin  - where I put up some 600 to 700 stamps, you take 50 and put back for me as many Great Britain Commemoratives  from 1995 to 2006 as you want. - no Christmas please -  I dont mind how many you put in.. it is up to you.. you decide what you want to give in return.

Sorry no pictures again - I still have not heard about my space limit..and am hoping this will publish anyway. So best keep it short.  Enjoy your stamps.. Best wish.. have a great weekend..  Michael  

Another 24 hours and still no news from blog service provider and so no pictures again. Very disappointing so I hope you bear with me while I am being patient rying to resolve this.

As for stamps I have done nothing. Looked at none and thought about none. Work has been all consuming. I am doing 2006 / 07 budgets and that is enought to drive you to look at stamps even if you are not a stamps collector  ha ha .

On top of all that I am reading a book called The Day after Tomorrow by Allan Folsom. If you have read it you will no doubt know why I have no time to do anything else... awesome conspiracy murder mystery. To many of you I owe emails to my apologises for no replies yet.. hope to finish the book this weekend and get back to emails and stamps.

Best wishes... enjoy your stamps..  Michael

Hello everyone, sad news.. at the moment it seems I cannot load pictures of stamps because I have used all my allocated bandwidth set me by my blog provider. I have written to them and if they dont fix it will have to think seriously about changing. I like this blog site so lets hope I get some service.. which is sadly lacking at the moment. Oh well no one said life was easy !!

So no stamp scans... sorry as I did have a lovely stamp for you I got on an envelope.. it will have to wait.

Hopefully I can send this ...   final reminder  and please see previosu article sof rodeatils but my Stampoffers lots close soon..  please have a look..    enjoy your stamps.. Michael

Hello,  well yes we had more rain today but I am pleased to say it did not rain on my "party"…..  I have some excellent new stamps,  received from many of you. Big thank you to everyone for the stamps.   I found in my mail box  a Round Robin I sent out many months ago and in the package were many GB Commemoratives I needed.  Many thanks to Adrian for the absolutely excellent packing.    I have written quite recently about sending stamps and how important it is to send stamps well packed  and safe from water damage. Well Adrian you are to be thanked many times because  as those reading know, we have had a lot of rain and even with enclosed PO Box the dampness can get to the envelope. I only know of one Adrian around the circuits and if you ever have the opportunity to trade with him you will be very pleased.

And I also got the new GB commemorative issue celebrating illustrated children’s books.

                     - Picture wont load - wil try later -

Many many thanks to you, you know who you are.   I am deeply (yes yet again) indebted to your kindness and true friendship.

Hope everyone enjoys seeing these – lightly franked used.

I am so pleased with the Round Robin I think I will do another. My RRs  go like this .. I send 500 or 600 stamps to a limited number of collectors. I say they can take any, say 50, stamps they want and in return I ask they put in whatever they want as long as it is GB Commemoratives from 1995 to 2005, well 2006 now, excluding Christmas stamps.

You can take say any 50 stamps and put in nothing (I might not ever include you again of course J  or you can put in whatever you want..   I leave it up to you decide what you think is fair or what you have to offer. I do ask that you don’t put in damaged stamps.

So, I will do a World Wide mix.. I will send out 600 stamps.  This will be open to the first 8 replies who can each take up to 50 stamps – that way even the last person gets 200 stamps to choose from and in return I ask you put GB Commemorative fine used – No Christmas stamps please - from 1995 to 2006 back in the pack. If you are interested please email at cddstamps@gmail.com  Please, only ask to join if you can put in GB Commemoratives – I know I said you can put in nothing but that is figuratively speaking.. I think one or two or 5 or 10 is ok..   I am not looking for a one to one exchange.. I want you to get good value and a few for me will be very pleasing.

And finally..  I do want to keep plugging my Stampoffers lots. How else will you know about them if I don’t tell you ; and there are only a few days to go before the auction closes. Please have a look…  easy to buy through Paypal and if you are not registered with Stampoffers I   a) recommend you do register and    b) ask you use me as a reference.

In my humble view my lots are pretty good offerings at low opening bids  http://www.stampoffers.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl?action=search&searchtype=viewother&searchstring=Cddstamps

Enjoy your stamps… Best wishes.. Michael

Hello,  well how is this for some interesting information – from someone who I have had the pleasure of trading with -  thought I’d pass it on to you (Tassie is Tasmania)… this is part of an email I received in reply to last nights reference to the Marine Life FDC.

“One of the fish is the red handfish which I have had the pleasure of observing whilst diving here in Tassie. The species is listed as vulnerable as it is confined to south east Tasmania where it has a very restricted and fragmented distribution. The species inhabits mixed sand and rocky reef abitats from the Port Arthur region at depths of between 2-20m. The largest known population, estimated at about 12 individuals, occurs inshore in FrederickHenryBay near Hobart.

On another note, the phenomenon of bioluminescence ensures that underwater is anything but dark! It has been observed in over 700 marine genera ranging from bacteria through to fish, molluscs (such as squid), sponges, jellyfish, starfish and crustaceans (crabs and the like) and it sure makes any night dive spectacular.”

Thanks Tom for that and the cover will be on its way to you very soon with some more Australia.

Am getting awfully behind on email and my apology for that. Work is extremely busy and I am finding so little time for stamps.  I am waiting on the new issue for the UK to arrive – those celebrating children’s books, and…. hint hint….. those from the US where I heard there was a joint issue of some sort.

Hopefully I will get to my mail box tomorrow and will be able to show you the stamps – “fine used” as only you know, that I collect.  Of course if anyone has spare used I would really like to trade with you. Please don’t hesitate to email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

And finally, again…    yes I have to keep telling you if you don’t mind as maybe some of you only read this every few nights or even just once a week - just a reminder if you have not read previous writings - please have a look at my Stampoffers auction lots – in my humble view these are pretty good offerings at low opening bids 

 http://www.stampoffers.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl?action=search&searchtype=viewother&searchstring=Cddstamps 

Tomorrow I hope to find some time to scan some GB stamps for you.  If there is anything you would particularly like to see or have me write about pleas email me.  Enjoy your stamps… Best wishes.. Michael

Rain !   well we had more of it today, and much overnight yesterday.  Not something you would think would be a news worthy item, but for me it is. Firstly because it means we don’t have straw for grass and secondly because it means the temperature is bit lower and a bit more comfortable. But what does it means for stamps collectors   Well there is something, and I have mentioned this before,  and that is humidity. I wont be looking at any stamps tonight because even with air conditioning it is very humid and I don’t like the dampness getting to the stamps and if not obviously straight away but with the passage of time the dampness gets to the stamps and causes staining.

You may have stamps that have brown spots on them. That could well be from staining and not just because of humidity of course. But that could be one reason.

I mention this because it is so important to look after your stamps and store them correctly, in the right sort of album and even in the right climate controlled condition if where you live is humid.  For example one of the people I often send stamps to lives in Sarawak and when I send him stamps I try to start the caring process by sending the stamps in a sealed plastic bag, inside an envelope of course    It rains a lot there I am told and the humidity is pretty high much of the year. 

I had another mailing to someone closer to home here in NSW Australia some months ago and sadly I did not put the stamps in a plastic bag  and the post office delivered them to his house, found the envelope would not fit his mail box and left the envelope out in the rain. Now why a postman would do that, even if he didn’t know there were stamps in the package, is beyond me. But it just goes to show how we have to be careful when sending stamps through the mail.

Ok so I am on a roll here but enough said I think,  on this topic.

Thinking of things wet !  what about this cover I found. How nice is this.

 We have many amazing creatures and wildlife and flora and fauna ( repeating myself there)  here in Australia as you may know.  The marine life is fantastic and this cover shows a few of the rare and unusual Australian marine life. 

One of the fish even has its own rod and bait to attract  its prey. One has handle like fins. One has poisonous spines. One hunts at night by the light of luminous bacteria living symbiotically on each side of its lower jaw (which amazes me because I thought it was always pretty dark under water.. but what do I know  -  I have  a few people living symbotically off me as far as I am concerned but the difference is I don’t hunt at night  ha ha ha ha…

Anyway..  so you like this cover.. just tell me the name of one of these fish and send your answer to me at cddstamps@gmail.com with your mailing address. I look forward to hearing from you.  

And finally - just a reminder if you have not read previous writings - please have a look at my Stampoffers auction lots – in my humble view these are pretty good offerings at low opening bids  http://www.stampoffers.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl?action=search&searchtype=viewother&searchstring=Cddstamps

Enjoy your stamps… Best wishes.. Michael

Hello, How is everyone.. well I hope.

No time for stamps or even to log on to the internet these past few days.  L   And here I am, Sunday evening my time and still with so much to do that I wont get any time to have a look or sort any stamps today.  Still I guess it is good to be so busy.

Being so busy had me thinking about how one can enjoy life. So many ways,

yes this FDC represents a fun time can be had by all. So I thought I’d show it to you.  Hope you like it.  If you do and you are the 15^th email -  it is Sunday the 15^th J  here -  then it is yours.. just email me at cddstamps@gmail.com. and please include your mailing address.

I have not been to a fair for ages..  Do you have fairs in your town I wonder. Here in Sydney we have a show every Easter and I guess that is like a fair. Actually a very good show I must admit. I like the horse events.. now does that surprise you J

Back to stamps. Most importantly, have you looked at my Stampoffers auction lots.. and if not why not J   They are steals and I wouldn’t mind betting if you bid the minimum you will be really pleased with what I send you.    I just want to clear out some stamps.   Here is the direct link to my lots     http://www.stampoffers.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl?action=search&searchtype=viewother&searchstring=Cddstamps

Or if it does not work then check out http://www.stampoffers.com and search seller  - cddstamps.

Now I am behind on emails..   as you might have guessed…. but I did see one email that suggested I should ask if people had sayings or expressions for stamp collectors..     like  “Old stamp collectors never die, they just get cancelled” .. :-(       I don’t claim responsibility for this OK J 

I did like some that were sent but since this is a family show I wont repeat them here.

Back to stamps again -  I read about so many new issues from around the world.  I don’t collect them all of course and rarely do I get to see them, except in magazines and often not the actual stamps but just a few words describing them.   So I thought I would ask if you could send me an email – cddstamps@gmail.com -  with a scan of the stamps if possible - of the recent new issue in your country, and I would tell others about that issue and show the stamps.  I know from the emails I get that there are people from South America to North America and  Asia to Europe who read my blog so please write to me and show me some of your new issues. I would really enjoy hearing from you,  seeing your new issues and sharing them with others.

Ok, so bye for now, hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  I’ll try to catch up on my emails I promise.   Enjoy your stamps… Best wishes.. Michael

Tonight just a few words on stamps and books and films …. I have so enjoyed the emails I have had on this topic, and hopefully I will receive more so I can share these with other collectors.     

Books and stamps: This book is titled Going Postal by Terry Pratchett .   If you’ve never read any Terry Pratchett books, he writes humorous fantasy/science fiction.