The best news stories for stamp collectors are that a new issue in their collecting area is about to be released. But there are some big stories that represent the trends in the world of philately that can have a broad effect on the hobby and most of its practitioners -- the stamp collectors. So without further ado, the following are a few of the important events in the world of philately, 2010.
London 2010 Festival of Stamps
The show had a tally of about 50,000 visitors at the Exhibition, not counting other events spread out over the year and the geography of London. "Empire Mail: George V and the GPO" was but one of the attractions of
many for philatelists to savor. After all, it is clear that the hobby is alive and well, both among those buying to add to their collections and those interested in the history and finer points of philately and stamp collecting.
A philatelic Guinness record holder
Just for fun, Stanley Gibbons created
the world’s largest envelope, displayed at the Festival of Stamps. Does one try to mail it or live in it?
Forever Stamps
USPS announces that
future commemoratives will be Forever Stamps. Citing various benefits realized by going to nondenominated postage stamps, including no need to destroy a great amount of old stamps when the rate changes, the USPS is taking the plunge into Forever Stamps.
Swedish rarity Sells for record price
The Treskilling Banco Yellow Error of Color was sold for record price by David Feldman stamp auctioneers. I'd love to tell you what that price is, but in true
romance of stamp collecting style, that information remains a mystery, as does the identity of the owner of the item.
USPS loses big
The United States Postal Service is about $8 billion in the hole for 2010. Among other things, its profits have been cut into by the progress of tech, especially as email programs steal the spotlight from postal services’ money maker, first class letters. Changes are surely forthcoming in 2011.
The Internet aids collecting
Social networks and online club sites continue to help collectors. Postal administrations gained a higher profile in 2010, with strong presences on
Facebook and Twitter.
The Penny Black becomes scarce
Is the world's first postage stamp, the U.K.’s Penny Black set to become a rarity? Frankly, no. But with China prospering, collectors are ordering the stamp by the thousands. Be prepared to dig down in your pockets more deeply if you want one. Mike Hall, CEO of Stanley Gibbons, the oldest stamp dealership said that demand for the stamp is at 100 times previous levels.
The sale of the U.K.'s Royal Mail
Could it mean no more queen? No More queen’s face on stamps, that is. Neither collectors or postal an governmental officials believe this could happen, but one never knows.
Self Stick stamps almost lick collectors
The British and US self-sticks are very unfriendly to collectors of used stamps and new ways to soak the stamps off of envelopes are being tried and tested.
A few “solutions” have been found, but complaints are still being sent to collectors sites and publications at a rate to show the problem is a real one and not just the product of a few cranky collectors.
