cddstamps weblog

North Korea stamps....

michael — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:08:22 -0700

Hello everyone, I went siteseeing today .. and wandering along a local shopping area in downtown Seoul I came across a little stall selling coins and banknotes and yes stamps.

What a surprise. and here is one miniature sheet I bought.. it is CDO and from North Korea, April 2002 issue. thought you might like to see it.

I have one more I'll show tomorrow and which I will offer as a prize.. Enjoy your stamps.. Michael

Finally,.......... some stamps from Korea

michael — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:13:18 -0700

Hello everyone, yes finally I can show you some stamps from Korea.. I really like these.. I hope you do as well.

They are issued to commemorate the 24th Asian International Stamp Exhibition, noted as Philakorea 2009 unless I misunderstand.. seems a bit early to issue to me.. but what do I know.. Issued April 10th 2008. I have the full sheet and only show the gutter pair. rather nice don't you think. Will no doubt be using the stamps on the mail I send.. so write me

Best wishes... Michael

Penny Black...Part II

michael — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:22:19 -0700

Hi everyone, quick piece. Thanks for answers to Penny Black question. Here is an answer I received... Hope you enjoyed the piece I wrote...

Rowland Hill did the Rainbow and Obliterating trials to remedy some defects in the penny black.
Black ink on a black stamp doesn't show up so they needed a better colour for both the stamp and the cancel. There were people who were cleaning the stamps and reusing them. The trials tested different inks and colours to find the best combination of stamp colour and cancel. Hill's test found that a black cancel on a red stamp worked best. Introduced the Penny Red in Feb. 1841. Also the Penny Blue.

Keep reading if you haven't already read recent pieces..

Enjoy your stamps.. Best wishes...Michael

Happy Birthday........ to what.....

michael — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:38:12 -0700

Happy Birthday to the Penny Black. This is the official day for the official first use of the stamp, I have read it was issued on 1^st May and some post offices in the UK offered the stamp unofficially on 2^nd May 1840.

Nothing is simple is it J Anyway today (6^th May where I am) is the official birthday.

The Penny Black was of course the world’s first adhesive postage stamp and has been a collectable item every since it was issued.

There has been so much written on this stamp and so much history is behind the issue that I could not do it justice in a few words or paragraphs. If you are interested in learning more do have a look at http://postalheritage.org.uk/learning/teachers/freeresources/pennyblack/history/

Ok, just one interesting fact……….. I think you will agree……... By the middle of May 1840 some 600,000 stamps were being printed a day. These stamps were distributed to Post Offices throughout the UK in sheets of 240 and had to be cut by hand, with scissors. Anyone know the significance of the 240? J

So much interesting history. A question for you. I’ll find something for a prize for the third correct entry; What where the Rainbow Trials and what was the outcome of whatever they were J

As usual, Email me at cddstamps@gmail.com with your mailing address please

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

the first stamp catalogue... finally posting this

michael — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:06:33 -0700

A week or so ago I wrote about the first stamp catalogue… I had some replies from you and some good information. So better late than never, here is some more that you might enjoy reading.

"The first (stamp catalog ) is said to have been published in France by Alfred Potiquet in 1861. In ten pages it claimed to list all the stamps of the world at that time, but it contained no illustrations.

The year 1862 seems to have been a banner one for stamp catalogs. J. B. Moens of Belgium published one, while in the US A.C. Kline of Philadelphia produced the first catalog in the Western Hemisphere.

Writing in the Philatelic Magazine of January 1981, British Philatelic editor and writer Kenneth F. Chapman records that, in April 1862, in England, a publication entitled Aids to Stamp Collectors: Being a List of British and Foreign Postage Stamps in Circulation since 1840 by 'A Stamp Collector' appeared.

It was published by H & C Treacher of Brighton Sussex and the author's name was Fredrick Booty.

In June of the same year, a Dr. John Edward Gray of the British Museum is reported by Chapman to have begun a series of articles entitled 'The Postage Stamps of the World' in the monthly Young England. This was later published in book form as The Illustrated Catalog of Postage Stamps.

Another 1862 British catalog was one by Mount Brown that listed some 1,200 stamps.

The famous catalog of Stanley Gibbons first appeared in 1865 and J. W. Scott published a single page catalog in 1867."

"This Is Philately", by Ken Wood Vol I "A-F"

Enjoy your stamps….. Best wishes… Michael

damaged...and then some

michael — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:56:26 -0700

Hello, just a short piece tonight... I've written a lot these past few days so will give you time to read it all

I found this in the kiloware I was sorting ... nice piece eh!!!!!!!!!! Don't you just love the local postman. Pity as that ₤1 would have been a collectable piece.

I'm getting about 5% wastage.. that is damaged stamps... no big deal I have lots.. plenty of world mix for my Childrens Corner now and a good addition from Carol, thanks Carol, I can now start sending again.

Anyone want GB mix.. commemoratives from 80's or there abouts.. unsorted by me except to clean off paper? Send me an email.. I would appreciate a donation towards my postage costs.. put USD 3.00 into my paypal account cddstamps@gmail.com and I'll send you 200 GB mix, it will include some Machins not too many and all different ......earlier issues including pre decimal as well as decimal. might include GV and GVI as there is much of that in what I am sorting.

If you would like a GB QEII mix.. all early definitive issues and with vaiety of watermarks, put $5.00 in my Paypal account and 100 GB QEII will be on the way to you. I have found some I checked with cat of ₤10 or more.. good chance you will get something as I am not checking everything.... too much to study anyway.

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

Spotting differences and varieties....... my thoughts .....

michael — Sat, 03 May 2008 05:33:57 -0700

Hello everyone, So much to write about. I had a day off today. Saturday. Did some shopping. Soaked lots of stamps – if anyone wants GB Christmas issues let me know.. free selection.. I have a few.. from a commemorative kiloware lot I bought.. at least I think it was from that purchase – more Machin 1^st and 2^nd than most people will see in a lifetime, and few commemoratives and then only Christmas. Feel ripped off to be honest, oh well such is life.

I wrote some days, maybe weeks, ago about the first stamp catalogue. Been so busy I forgot to tell you all the answer. Had a few very good entries with lots of details. This from a reader in Germany. Thanks.. am going to mail you whatever I said was a prize when I get some Korean postage stamps J

“ The first stamp catalogue was said to be compiled by Alfred Potiquet in 1861and printed in Paris under the title, "Catalogue des timbres-poste crées dans les divers états du globe". It contained 1080 postage stamps and 132 postal stationeries. BUT, Alfred Potiquet developed his catalogue on the basis of the postage stamp and postal stationery register of the Strasbourg bookseller, Oscar Berger-Levrault. In fact, that register is referred to as the world's first stamp catalogue, but it had no illustrations of stamps at all and was not intended for the public. Alfred Potiquet did not just provide images for that register, he also added a lot of stamp issues which had been overlooked by Oscar Berger-Levrault and corrected his errors.”

So now you know.

And to last nights little teaser!!! Here is a scan of the reverse of the stamps.

Now you can see the difference. Well one of the obvious differences. One has a sideways watermark and one has an inverted watermark. You have to trust me that one is inverted. It is, honest. J However. Why am I telling you this. Well there is another difference on the front of the stamps, that is quite obvious. That is the deepness of the colour around the kings head in what I shall describe as the oval in which the kings head is centered. Have a look carefully and you will see it. My scan is actually pretty accurate. As soon as I saw that I thought there was something different about the stamps. Yes there can be shading differences but often there is something else. And in these two stamps there is; ie the watermarks. Sadly I do not have my GV specialized catalogue with me so cannot provide anymore information from memory, as in the fact there are different format sizes for these stamps. However, if you do see such colour differences start to check carefully as it is often a hint to further varieties, even if it as simple a check as the watermark. And these two stamps are in my view a good example. I started to look further and there are various differences, let say varieties. I show below another scan of the lower part of the scan. Look carefully again and you will see one has what are dots ( well in my original scan they were) while another has more joined together line.

There are other differences as well if you study the actual stamps carefully, minor framebreaks or thins as I think of them, as I believe were quite common on this issue. Wish I had my Specialised catalogue with me. Will collect it when next in Sydney.

Better let you get back to whatever you were doing. Enjoy your stamps. Tomorrow, something I found in my kiloware purchase. It will make you cry and laugh at the same time J

Michael

what's the difference

michael — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:01:38 -0700

Hello everyone. Hope all well.. It is with me.. it is Friday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! some time for stamps tomorrow maybe.

I soaked a few this week.. my evening relaxation... wonderful way to relax.. and found these... they are off paper now, what do you see as the difference..... and it is not the smudge under the first e on the left hand stamp. I need to check that carefully now I see the scan... cannot see with naked eye.. probably damage....

nothing really.. even same "format" size... I wrote about this a year or so ago... so what is the difference... read tomorrow and I will show you...or if you send me a correct answer I'll send you a few GB stamps from all that I have recently soaked. Ok, my email again.. cddstamps@gmail.com and please include your mailing address as it take me forever to go though old emails - if you have written before - to find your address.... thanks..

enjoy your stamaps.. Michael

eBay ... and some other ramblings

michael — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:24:55 -0700

Hello everyone... just a few thoughts tonight.

1) thanks for reading the blog... you had just over 29,000 page views in April. I think we would have made 30,000 had it not been for me uploading, inadvertently, a large file which broke my upload bandwith limit and stopped many of you accessing the site yesterday. Sorry.

2) the month of May will be another busy month for me, family, work and travel, including the first A380 from Singapore to Tokyo Narita. On the A380 topic I was told by a dear friend that my prices for the Sinagpore London first flight covers were too high. So taking that feedback into account I have decided to offer them at 50% of the price quoted on the web site. Basically, Yes, I have to get some cash to pay off the Singapore London flights... and the Singapore Tokyo flights or should I say Soeul - Singapore - Narita - Soeul. You know what I mean.

So have a look at http://www.cddstamps.com/new_page_21.htm An unsigned FFC is now USD $19 inclusive of postage and packing. pretty good eh!!!!!! You could probably sell it for more on eBay. First in first served and I will leave this for my blog readers for a week before I announce this elsewhere.

I mentioned eBay... Ok,. what a lead in. You may have heard of the new eBay payment policy for Australia...

On 10 April 2008, ebay announced that:

• as of 21 May 2008, all items listed for sale on ebay.com.au must offer PayPal as one of the payment methods; and
• as of 17 June 2008, all items listed for sale must only offer payment via PayPal (or credit card transactions processed by PayPal) or cash on delivery.

On 11 April 2008, ebay International AG lodged an exclusive dealing notification with the ACCC in relation to the above conduct, which provides ebay with immunity under the TPA from this date.

The ACCC has commenced a consultation process in relation to the notification. People who wish to raise concerns about the notified conduct should lodge a public submission via adjudication@accc.gov.au by 2 May 2008.

You can see lots of comments about this on the Stampboard.com forum at: http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=256196#256196

and http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=5495 you should be aware of this.. it may affect you sooner than you think

3) finally I have been soaking some GB recently.. yes I know I need to get a life in between work and flying and sleep and stamps.. but I now have more than I need. I have taken out most of what I saw as defects and thought I'd offer 100+ GB Definitives to blog readers only for USD $3. that is to cover postage and packing, and I will try my hardest to make sure no duplicates.. stamps from GV to early QE II I expect ..pre 1960.. but who knows what could creep in as I have so much all mixed up... including really modern. payment by Paypal to cddstamps., or three US 1 dollar bills. ( or one 5 pound note ha ha ha ha ) or one Aussie $5 note.. you chose. I take Singapore $, Hong Kong $, Korean Won .. I am being sort of funny yet serious.......My address is in previous writings)

ok.. enough of my ramblings.. I must go to sleep..

Best wishes.. Hope to hear from you.. Enjoy your stamps..Michael.

back in Seoul.....

michael — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:08:24 -0700

Hello everyone... actually I feel quite boring with that opening line.. but don't know what else to say.. some 5 hours sleep the past two days and yet wanted to write a few words... mostly because I want to say thanks for the cards on the Penguin question.. and you know what .. I have forgotten the answer myself...well I think so having seen your answers.. I thought it was 11... oh well.. all entries win a prize... easiest way me thinks.

But what about this ... a signed cover... by who?? any ideas... too easy eh!!!!!!!!! hope you like the above picture.. and guesses when taken and where from like seat number will do ... tomorrow or day after I will show the front of the cover.. a first of a first and one I am rather pleased with.. it stays in my collection of course...

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

A380 Singapore London first flight covers

michael — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:03:10 -0700

Hello everyone. sorry not written much, been rather busy.. and travelling.. but hope you enjoy this. If you want a first flight cover you can get an unsigned one ( unsigned by crew or pilots that is as I will sign it) for USD $38 including postage and packing

Singapore London A380 First Flight Covers now available. I arrived back in Sydney this weekend to find my covers returned from UK where they were franked.

There are a selection of the three covers I produced available for you to see on my web site pleasae look at http://www.cddstamps.com/new_page_21.htm These are collectable and for the one with the 4 pilots signature there are only 4 and one stays in my collection. For the cabin crew signed covers there are 7 and again one stays in my collection.

Pricey, yes.. but these are very limited availability and cannot be repeated.

If you want an unsigned (except I will of course sign it for you ) these are USD $38, inclusive of postage and packing and some photographs and a certificate of proof of being carried on the flight.

I need to sell a few of these to pay for the Singapore London trip and my planned Singapore - Narita flight in a few weeks (May 20th)

If you want to buy a cover please email me at cddstamps@gmail.com First come first served basis.

Best wishes... enjoy your stamps.. and of course, first flight covers .... Michael.

some stamp history.............

michael — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:33:34 -0700

I found this piece tonight while browsing the internet and thought I would share it with you. You may have read it before, or know of the story. Interesting all the same I hope, to read it again.

If the writer Coleridge is to be believed, in 1836 Rowland Hill, then aged 40, was walking through a Scottish village when he saw the postman offer a letter to a young countrywoman: she refused it on the grounds that the postage was too much to pay. Rowland Hill offered to pay it for her but the young woman declined with thanks. The postman went away, carrying the letter which, since it had not been delivered, would be returned to the sender. Rowland Hill had watched what had gone on attentively, suspecting that the girl's refusal concealed a secret. Intrigued, he questioned her and taking him into her confidence she explained that her fiancé lived in London and that they had arranged to correspond by means of signs on the back of the folded sheet of paper which took the place of a letter. Through these signs they were able to pass messages to each other without paying the postage, the correspondence being naturally limited to essentials.

A year later Rowland Hill published a pamphlet entitled Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability. As soon as it appeared, this pamphlet became the talk of the town. Hill proposed that inland letters should be subject to a prepaid postage.

The results of this reform were that on 6 May 1840 small pieces of paper with gum on one side and an effigy of the Queen Victoria on the other, were sold at post office counters for the very first time. The sale received very favourable public reaction. These were the stamps, penny blacks and twopenny blues, for prepayment of postage.

If you want to know more about the history of letters and postage I suggest you have a look at http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-NZ/Stamps/MoreAboutStamps/HistoryOfPhilately/

And for a small prize, who published the first catalogue, in what country and in what year? Send email to me at cddstamps@gmail.com and please include your mailing address. I will select a winner sometime next week.

Hope you enjoyed this piece. Best wishes……… Michael

.............. for the serious collector...........

michael — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:17:26 -0700

yeah like who are they kidding..... that was the headline to the piece in the Royal Mails stamp news "Preview" on the new GB definitives I showed last night. .... surely some of you saw it.. I think the colour vomit green is more appropriate .. who do they think they are kidding.... certainly not serious collectors... but then again, once you have started down the path of collecting Machins it is hard to break away, for fear of not having that one.. or more elusive stamp or printing..............

So here are those elusive printings.. nice, I hate to admit

have you ordered yours? do be honest and tell me.. you do realise don't you, that once you buy they know how many they can sell again.. and again...and again.. and next time they will print with the colour wording in the margin and then another margin inscription.. ...........probably like... "sucker" .. ....ha ha ha ha..

I am in such a provocative mood tonight

So ok.. your thoughts... or hey, just buy a set and mail to me on a letter.. would love to see these used..

Used.. yeah gods.. are they meant for use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey don't we just love our stamps.. Best wishes.. Soaking Stamps in Seoul............ Michael

new GB Definitives April 1st 2008

michael — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:15:25 -0700

Hello everyone, I just returned to Seoul after a very nice weekend in Sydney. I brought back with me some stamps and recent GB Preview booklets. I saw these and thought I would show you in case you had not seen them yet. Maybe you have as they were issued two weeks ago. But as you know I am a bit behind in my stamp activities.

I had hoped to get my A380 Singapore London covers and be able to show you them. Afraid not yet... Please be patient, maybe in two weeks after I get back to Sydney again.

Anyway. I updated the website... had complaints from one of my fan club.. ok the one person in my fan club .. do have a read .. there is a new competition...I forget details.. been flying for close to 11 hours... time for bed.. nice prize... signed by the senior captain on the flight... http://www.cddstamps.com and if you are in the UK and enter the competition and send me the new definitives (see above) on your entry there is a good chance you will win a cover

Write me your stamps news?? cddstamps@gmail.com

Best wishes.. enjoy your stamps.. Michael

A relaxation technique..........

michael — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:40:40 -0700

Hello everyone.. one of my relaxation techniques is to soak stamps.. I guess to many this could be the most boring thing there is to do... next to watching grass grow

Well I may have told you I bought some GB kiloware back from the UK.. and I received some GB mix in the mail the other .. - my adress is below in past articles if you want to write... - cddstamps asia pacific ha ha

anyway I soaked some GB.. how rewarding.. another years worth to go .

The other day I also got some covers from a fellow collector in the US..

Here is one.. really interesting and I should do research and tell you more but am a little tight for time.

I show the reverse of the cover as well as the frankings are quite interesting and probably mean something to someone. From the front you can see the cover was flown rom RAF Northolt.. just down the road to where I was born and lived my early years.. and remember watching various aircraft types land and take off from there. I saw the date 25 April 1970.. nearly 38 year ago.. awesome.. and I was working nearby Northolt Airfield around that time. ( I started work very young) ha ha ha ha.

Enjoy your samps... Michael

PS - will be offline for probably 5 days, as am travelling, I may write from Australia if get a chance, otherwise I will be back next week

you saw it here first......

michael — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:50:53 -0700

Hello everyone, I had an email asking me if I had any A380 postcards from Singapore Airlines. Well as it happens I do.. so I sent a scan. But then I thought.. hey lots of people have seen these.. but who has seen this one

Do send me an email - cddstamps@gmail.com if you have seen this card.....

Hope you like it.. ok not philatelic ... yet.... but in 2010 it will be... and I hope to be there...

Enjoy your stamps...

Michael ( in Seoul and still not been to a Post Office!!)

stamp lonely

michael — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:38:53 -0700

Hello everyone...

well I have to say I am not stamp lonely ... I bet you all though I was going to say how lonely I was ok I am lonely.. does that help..

of course if you have sent me a card or some some stamps I am not stamp lonely... and tonight I got back to the apartment to find one postcard and one letter..... no album to put the stamps in mind you...

next project me thinks,...

As for the card.......... lovely stamps and a very clever card..

ok.. all, write me.. your turn after all my addess is a below of course... enjoy your stamps... Michael

lots of space here.. but not in Seoul maybe !!!

what stamp news.....

michael — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:55:35 -0700

Hello everyone, just thought I'd post a few lines. No news from me although I did fnd a post office today, down the road to my apartment. It is Sunday so it was closed. Will have to find a way to get there one day.

Tonight I was going to look at the kiloware I brought over from the UK. Went to the place I had left them in the apartment and they were not there. The cleaner came a few days ago. Oh no.. he / she threw the plastic bags out was all I could think. I searched everywhere, every drawer, cupboard or space I could find. Panic!!!!!!!!!!! Phoned real estate agent. He calmy said cleaner had moved to side of cupboard in laundry room. There they were. Why in laundry room I don't know. Think I will just go to bed early tonight. Too much excitment for one day.

Enjoy your stamps.... Michael

A380 Card

michael — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:40:51 -0700

Hello everyone.. yes I am back again.. making time to write.

I received this card in the mail today.. designed and produced by my friend Mark Wright who was also a passenger and philatelist on the A380 flight from Singapore to London. Small mark from postal service but never mind.. It travelled both on the A380 and then back to Seoul from London. Thanks Mark

Hope you enjoy. I was very pleased to see it. And for those of you who want to brighten my philatelic day my address is on the previous posting. Hey, your turn to send me things so I can build a small collection here in Seoul

enjoy your stamps.. Michael

letter to me.........

michael — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:16:49 -0700

Hello everyone.. well I am back in Seoul.. when was the last time I write.. a week ago maybe..

been to Singapore last three days.. great place.. I just love it there even if I was working and in meetings most of the time. Got back to apartment tonight, here in Seoul, and found the mail I sent to myself from UK. would you believe it, one letter had no franking on the stamps..

Of course for those of you who are really paying attention you will realise I have set up my new printer/scanner in my apartment, thus the scan.. now I hear you say how difficult could that be.. well ok, easy to follow pictures. but everything was in Korean. and to log into internet .. all that was in Korean as well, on my broadband service. Oh well I feel good

Thanks to all who sent cards to me.. it was really nice to open my mail box tonight and see some from you.. you all have my address ..see above.. so write me ok

Best wishes... hope you are enjoying your stamps.. I hope to get back to some stamp stuff in due course

Best wishes...Michael

just before I fall sleep.................

michael — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:18:29 -0700

thought I'd say hello and I decided to read a website or two tonight.. as always, one of my favourites is http://www.norphil.co.uk/ do have a look if you are interested in GB.. such uptodate information. and a really good read browsing around the pages.. well done Ian.. and thanks for making it so current.

you might also find it quite interesing to read about Royal Mail new issues, new issues and more new issues. from his site.

I am spending lots on flying these days, more than on stamps .. maybe I should just go back to collecting GB .. or maybe not

Next trip.. Singapore Tokyo on the first A380 commercial flight between those two cities.. watch this space for more details... and if anyone has a bright idea for a First Flight cover design please share it with me.. If I use it you get a free flight cover from the flight..if I travel of course. My email as always cddstamps@gmail.com

best wishes enjoy your stamps....Michael

cover signing

michael — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:10:50 -0700

Hi everyone, first, how wonderful to see so many people in the IPDA Chat room this morning.. sorry I could not stay longer. and next..as some of you know I am back in Seoul. I uploaded my pictures from the A380 inaugural - Singapore London. Here is one picture I quite like.

If you want to place a reserve order - no commitment other than you get on the list please email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

cabin crew signed covers ( 23 signatures) - 7 covers available

Pilot signed covers ( all 4 pilots) 2 covers available

Captain signed cover - I cover available

unsigned covers - exept by me if you wish (I think I have about 40 as did a limited print of 60 covers in total)

Covers singed by British High Commissioner to Singapore ( 2 covers)

Enjoy your stamps... Best wishes.. Michael

GB M/S can anyone identify

michael — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:51:59 -0700

Hello, final post from UK. I fly to Hong Kong later this morning. Three things for you:

1) I found a stamp dealer in Gloucster the other day as I wanted to buy a GB catalogue so I could do some stamp sorting and cataloguing when I get back to Seoul - using the kiloware I am taking back with me. I found this M/S in a box of loose stamps ... but I cannot find it listed in the SG Concise. I couldn't have looked hard enough. Anyone know the SG cat Number please.

2) if this shows.. here is a 1 minute video from onbard the flight from Singapore to London and for a fleeting moment you can see me and the flight covers. Proof of being flown

3) today / Sunday depending where you are in the world, there will be a marathon chat with fellows collectors from around the world members and hosted by the directors of the Internet Philatecic Deaalers Association Inc ( IPDA). I am going to be joining in from Hong Kong - they have excellent free wireless network there - well they did last time I was there - I hope you can join us - have a look at the IPDA website http://www.ipdaonline.org and click on CHAT. Hope to see you.

Enjoy your stamps.. Best wishes.. Michael

Post Card from Hereford, UK

michael — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:15:46 -0700

Hello, just a quick hello. one of the guys on the Singapore London A380 flight sent through some pictures. This is the checkin area at Changi.. plenty of room

as for stamps.. I finally picked up a large box of kiloware I bought some 6 plus months ago and had delivered to my aaddress here in UK.. bought from UK.. saved postage to Australia. So I will have stamps to work with when I get back to Seoul next week. And one, exciting to me anyway, piece of news.. I got my apartment in Seoul.. address is

Ujangsan l'PARK

Apartment 119 - 1401

# 1159 Hwagok-dong, Ganseo-gu,

Seoul, Korea 157 015.

want to send me a postcard??? so I have welcoming mail on arrival next week

enjoy your stamps.. Michael

Now in London UK

michael — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:23:57 -0700

Hello, yes I am writing from London after arriving here yesterday afternoon on the the first commercial flight of an A380 into Heathrow. and Yes it was with Singapore Airlines again on SQ 308. you can read some detail from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7303562.stm and I will be writing more later. I wrote a piece on the plan and will post it in three parts I think over the coming days.

As for my cddstamps first flight covers: I got three of my first flight covers signed by all 4 pilots. and some 8 covers signed by all 23 cabin crew. The covers are with Royal Mail for postal cancellation. I wont see them until I next get back to Australia, which will be April 10th, so please be patient. I'll show as soon as I can and put up prices then when I see final quality and product but you will be very pleased I think.

Two pictures here.. one of the banner in the Changi departure lounge and another of me ( dark v neck) and fellow collector, Mark Wright (hat), who also produced some beautiful covers for the flight and who I will write about in coming articles, enjoying a glass of champagne, with another aviation enthusiast.

Best wishes from a rather cold London, although good news is that the sun is shining as it should be, on us all ............ Michael

Korea first stamp

michael — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 06:44:55 -0700

Hello everyone.. today I did get some time to do some siteseeing and my first stop was the small but interesting Seoul Postal Museum. I saw these.. not the best of pictures for you but hopefully interesting all the same.

Interesting history to see and some of the exhibits had English translations so my few minutes there was well worth the time to find the place.

I went to a local street market shoping area and found a small antique type store that amongst mant other things sold some stamps, along with many other old books, postcards and miscellaneous objects of all shapes and sizes. I bought two, of what I can only describe as junior stamp cards.. flowers on stamps is best description. I don't have access to a scanner but will try to photograph tomorrow and show you. I will give these away to the first two emails to cddstamps@gmail.com to whoever wants them. Something from Korea for your collection.

enjoy your stamps..

best wishes... Michael.

sorry no stamps... yet

michael — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:39:51 -0700

but tomorrow is Saturday and I am treating myself by going on an expedition to see the Seoul Postal Museum. Hope to have something to show you.

Today had a meeting in Bussan.. an hours flight from Seoul.. Took some pictures on return flight to Seoul.. hope you enjoy this... awesome site as this sort of view went on for quite a while

Best wisahes.. enjoy your stamps..in my absence :-) Michael

one week to go.........

michael — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:12:58 -0700

Hello everyone, Yes I am back in Soeul, sorry no time to write at the end of the weekend while in Sydney.

And not much I can show you to be honest. My laptop has a virus. Fortunately the hotel here is really good and has arranged to get it cleaned for me. I have Nortons telling me no virus yet I can see all the pop ups and pretty nasty messages. So using office machine and copying a pictue from my web site. Stamps and postmark yet to be applied of course.

One week to go... because this time next week I will be arriving in Singapore for the first A380 flight from Singapore to London. And yes I have made some first flight covers. Am hoping I get them from Singapore Post ok, and maybe some signed by the flight crew. Prices to be determined but if you want to reserve one or all three of the designs I made ( limited edition again of 20 each) , please let me know.

Best wishes... Enjoy your stamps.. Michael

GB Lancaster and York issue

michael — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:02:24 -0800

Hello everyone. I am back in Sydney for two days and been catching up on some stamp mail and postings. I found this MS in my mail box. You will recall I wrote about the Royalty and Heritage issue some weeks back. This is the MS from the issue. I rather like these. Your thoughts?

I had a look at the Royal Mail web site to see what they wrote about the stamps. Nothing too exciting but this text taken from their description of the Presentation pack ...

..."The two Houses were constantly at war even though both families descended from the Plantagenet King Edward III. Bettany Hughes provides an overview of the period, Kate Stephens brings the dramas to life with her use of contemporary illustrations and weapons expert Mike Loades is a mine of information about the weaponry used during the time..."

Anyone esle get a smile from the wording about Mike Loades?, are they having fun I wonder or just couldn't see the double pun.. weaponry.. Loades.. mine of.. well it amused my sense of the use of the English language.

Will be back in Seoul Monday night. Will try to write again before leaving.

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

GB Love Booklet February 2008

michael — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:11:53 -0800

Hi.. I have to say all the following is copied and with full acknowledgement to Ian Billings at http://www.norphil.co.uk/2008/02c-greetings_booklet.htm.. apart from the fact he has a great web site is a great guy I just hope he is ok with me doing this as did not ask his permission first... ok so am strectched for time and wanted to show you this as I think it is an interesting booklet...and if my UK fan club is reading, please get me a copy before we have lunch on 19th :-) Ian.. hope you are ok with me plugging your site... Apology if not

Greetings retail stamp booklet - 28 February 2008

As part of the promotion of Smilers stamps and to increase the use of pictorial stamps, Royal Mail will issue a booklet containing the 6 most popular greetings stamps previously issued in two separate booklets in 2005 and 2006.

The booklets will carry an advert for the smiler service and will be distributed through all Post Offices and the retail network.

Royal Mail do not regard this as a new issue, so there will not be an official first day cover or First Day of Issue postmarks. But the stamps are very different. The basic and most obvious difference is that the earlier stamps had conventional perforations all round, but the latest booklet has stamps with an elliptical elongated perforation on the long side, similar to the Machin definitives.

In some ways it is unfortunate that the perforations are different, because there is still scope in these stamps for philatelic study. Note also that the edge-strip is inverted compared to the previous booklets.

Best wishes...Michael, from another snowing day in Seoul