Victoria

Have you seen ITV’s Victoria programme? Well now seems as good a time as any to take a fresh look at some Victorian stamps. Victorian being the key word here or perhaps even a diversion on my part. For below we see a stamp of Queen Victoria from…2011

 

Victoria (SG 3228)

 

It is part of a Kings and Queens series that was released as presentation packs. The series features the monarchy through the ages including the Tudors, Stuart and Windsors. This set focuses on the House of Hanover.

The House of Hanover Presentation Pack (SG 3223-3229)

There are stamps featuring King George I all the way through to Queen Victoria. There is even a penny black stamp and one of the first Prime Minister Robert Walpole. I know there are a lot of avid Victorian stamp collectors out there but I wonder if the 2011 set may have slipped your notice? (Yes…I know, not Victorian…but ‘of Victoria’!) It is a well presented pack and looks great along side the other presentation packs in the Kings and Queens series.

Oh Canada

I have just started a new collection almost by accident. Last week I stumbled across a bag of world stamps that I had forgotten to sort or file.

Having enthusiastically waded through the bag and sorted the stamps into neat(ish) alphabetical piles, I noticed one country seemed to dominate.

A pile of Canada stamps…sorted with enthusiasm!

Yes. Canada had the numerical advantage. There was no good adding these to one of my existing albums. They just wouldn’t fit. So I had to get a new book and create the brand new ‘Canada’ album. There were some real gems in the pile. Including five Victoria’s.

Queen Victoria Canadian stamp issued between 1898 and 1902

 

There was a healthy Elizabeth II collection, including one of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh before her coronation  (as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh).

 

I was also drawn to the wonderful selection of nature and wildlife stamps. I have managed to get a few sets going and look forward to completing them soon.

I have really enjoyed putting this album together and it has certainly sparked my enthusiasm for collecting more Canadian stamps. I have ordered some George VI Canadian stamps and look forward to adding those. Perhaps the priority should be finishing those wildlife and nature sets. Great fun.

The excitement of receiving stamps

It is always great fun receiving stamps in the post. Even now, as a grown up, (almost), it is always a thrill to receive new stamps. 

It is not just the stamps IN the envelopes though, it is often the stamps ON the envelopes. 

Most dealers are kind enough to send interesting stamps on the envelope rather thank just the latest release or getting the envelope franked. I have received some right gems recently, including the example below. 

Four armada stamps! I mean, how kind was that? Those will definitely be finding their way into my collection. 

It is also interesting how different dealers and sellers package their stamps. Most send there’s in a small envelope with the stamps carefully placed on black card with a protective sheet. But I have received more inventive methods. Slotting the stamps between two pieces of heavily celotaped card is another preferred option and the bubble wrap sometimes gets a run out. 

I don’t think I will ever tire of receiving stamps. So…here’s to more deliveries!