The Night Mail by W H Auden
W H Auden's classic poem about the now no longer running Travelling Post Offices, also known as Railway Post Offices until 1928. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/the-ni...

Measuring British Stamp Perforations
The introduction of perforations to assist the seperation of stamps printed in sheets dates back to the line engraved period where, following the Archer experiments begun in 1848, a penny red-brown perf 16 was issued as an official Goverment trial in 1853. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/measur...

September Stamp Fairs Around Britain
The start of September sees a host of stamp fairs taking place around Britain to tempt collectors away from their sun loungers. Here's the details of some of them that we've been advised about. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/septem...

British Postal Museum & Archive Volunteer Lands National Award For Museum Learning
London, 11 July 2012 - The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is delighted to announce that volunteer Erene Grieve has been jointly-awarded The British Museum and Marsh Christian Trust's national volunteer award for museum learning 2012. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/britis...

MIDPEX 2013 Will Create New Post & Go Stamp Variety for Collectors
The 2013 Midpex exhibition is returning to the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre near Leamington on 6th July 2013 and looks set to be bigger and better than ever with more than 60 dealers and some 40 specialist societies planning to take part. For the first time a Royal Mail Post & Go machine will be available for use. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/midpex...

New Concorde Postmark Available for One Day Only
A new special postmark will be available on 29th November to mark fifty years since the signing of the Anglo-French agreement to jointly develop the Concorde supersonic airliner. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/new-co...

The Popularity of Signed Philatelic Covers
During recent years it appears many collectors have lost interest in the traditional First Day Cover like those issued by Royal Mail and switched their attention to the more limited productions of special event and anniversary covers - especially celebrity signed covers. I first noticed this change during the rush for Concorde memorabilia when the iconic aircraft retired back in 2003. The demand for Concorde covers signed by pilots at that time was astounding - particularly covers signed by the main test pilots. Since then I have seen many celebrity signed, limited edition covers covering a wide range of events sell out quickly while sales of the more traditional - some may say run of the mill - first day covers often seem to struggle. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/the-po...

Post and Go Stamps - Get a Starter Collection at a Bargain Price
Four starter collections that include every Post & Go pictorial and commemorative set issued so far were listed on eBay today for just £36.95. The collection includes the retail packs for all four Birds issues, the recent Sheep issue plus the Arnold Machin Centenary and Diamond Jubilee commemorative sets of six values as issued at Stampex. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/post-a...

Cost of Stamps to Increase While Royal Mail Falls Short on Christmas Delivery Service
New figures reveal that Royal Mail has fallen short of its first-class delivery target during the busy run-up to Christmas. Only 92.3% of first-class mail sent actually arrived the next day during the quarter ending the second week of December. On the plus side, the far less demanding delivery target of three working days for second-class mail was achieved. Despite service standards missing their target, users need to brace themselves for inflation busting price rises. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/cost-o...

Preview of the Royal Mail British Comics Issue Due in March 2012
Royal Mail will be issuing a special stamp issue on 20th March 2012 celebrating 75 Years of classic British Comics. Here's a preview of what the stamps will look like and details of the iconic - and now keenly collected - comics they will be featuring [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/previe...

Scarce Post & Go Stamp Set Being Auctioned for British Postal Museum and Archive
For just the four days of Autumn Stampex 2011 the Royal Mail paid tribute to Arnold Machin by marking the centenary of his birth with a special commemorative issue of Post & Go stamps. We are pleased to offer a set of these scarce stamps for sale in aid of the British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA). [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/scarce...

Post and Go Stamps: Quickly Identify a Post & Go Stamp's Machine Location
Post and Go stamps are creating a buzz. Whether you currently love or loathe them, I believe the Post & Go format looks set to become Great Britian's stamp for everyday use. To help collectors research and write up Post & Go stamp collections there's now a useful online database that's free and quick to use. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/post-a...

Photo of Plaque in London Commemorating the First Postmark
How many people walk past this plaque every day without noticing it or reflecting on its significance? The plaque commemorates the first ever postmark - the Bishop Mark - being struck in the General Letter Office in 1661. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/photo-...

What Are The Top Stamp Collecting Searches On eBay?
If you are looking to sell stamps, first day covers or postal history items on eBay then a little research of the most popular search terms could prove profitable. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/what-a...

Isle of Man Post Office Scoops Best Stamp Award in China
The Beijing Olympics miniature stamp sheet issued by the Isle of Man has bagged a top award from the Best Foreign Stamp poll in China. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/isle-o...

First & Second Class Machin Definitives Found With Four Security Slits
The security slits that have become an anti tampering feature on recent first and second class Machin definitive stamps are usually applied in pairs on each stamp. However reports are now emerging of stamps with four slits. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/first-...

The Classic GPO Film Unit's Night Mail Video
The General Post Office (GPO) Film Unit was disbanded 70 years ago and, by way of a tribute, we have placed the video of Night Mail to view on our home page. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/the-cl...

Stamp Collecting Gives Kids a Sense of Values and Much More
Over the years I've heard many premature reports of the stamp collecting hobby's death but I do believe it's more difficult to attract youngsters to stamps now given all the other media driven attention grabbers around. [...]
http://gbstamp.co.uk/article/stamp-...