

MARILE RARITATI FILATELICE ALE LUMII
| Twelve-year old L. Vernon Vaughan discovered this rarity in1873 among letters in his family's attic. In 1980 it was auctioned to John Dupont for $935,000. Long reputed to be the rarest stamp in the world, a second copy, still to be authenticated, recently surfaced in Germany. (1856). |
| The British colony of Mauritius produced only 500 examples of each of its first two stamps. Fewer than 30 survive today. In 1993 a cover bearing both the 1d and 2d stamps sold for $3.8 million, the highest price ever paid for a stamp collecting item. (1847) |
| The first four stamps issued by Hawaii are called the "Missionaries" because they were frequently used by island missionaries to send letters back to the United States. The lowest denomination, the two-cent, is the rarest of the set. (1851) |
| The rarest of U.S. stamps, with only 2 known to exist, its "Z-grill" is a pattern of tiny squares pressed into the paper to allow the canceling ink to be absorbed, thus discouraging postage cheaters from washing it out. The use of grills was found to be impractical and was discontinued in the U.S. after 1871. (1867) |
















The principality of Moldavia issued stamps immediately upon gaining autonomy in 1858, with the first cap de bour stamps being issued in July 1858. These were produced by handstamping on laid paper, and are now quite rare. The initial round design was shortly followed by one using a square frame with rounded corners, and using blue or white wove paper. These are somewhat more common.
215 stamps from the issue “Bull Head” ro: Cap de Bour), issued in 1858, disappeared from the National Philatelic Museum. Other stamps 660 are suspected to be false. 
After the union of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1861, the design was adapted to show the emblems of both principalities side-by-side, and inscribed "FRANCO SCRISOREI". The first stamps inscribed "POSTA ROMANA" were issued in January of 1865; the three values depicted Prince Alexander John Cuza in profile, facing right.
These did not last long in use, as Cuza was deposed the following year, and new stamps depicted Prince Carol I, also in profile, but facing left, and in a style very similar to contemporary French stamps. The adoption of the leu in 1867 required stamps in new denominations, which appeared in 1868.
In 1869, a new design consisted of the profile as before, but enclosed in an oval frame, a change lasting only until 1872, when the previous round frame once again came into use, with an overall design reminiscent of the contemporaneous stamps of France. They were originally printed in Paris, and then reprinted in Bucharest from 1876, the reprints having a rougher appearance and coarser perforations. New colors and values appeared in 1879.
In 1885 a new definitive series used larger and more readable numeric tablets, and surmounted Carol's profile with a bird. In 1889 the stamp paper was also impressed with a coat of arms, similar to, but not a true watermark. In 1891, Romania issued its first commemorative stamps, a series of five in which the usual profile of the king was framed by an inscription marking 25 years of his reign.
The series of 1893 introduced a variety of frames, and the first stamps denominated in lei.
In 1896, Romanian stamps were overprinted in Turkish currency for use on ships passing between Constanta and Constantinople.
In 1903 the first pictorial designs were issued to note the opening of a new post office in Bucharest, followed by a series of 10 designs in 1906, for the 40th anniversary of Carol's reign.



The Penny Black – “The forefather of all postage stamps”
The postal system had developed in a haphazard fashion during much of the eighteenth century. Improvements in organisation and in communications, notably the introduction of the mail coach by John Palmer in the 1780s, did not lead to a better postal service and the system of postage rates became even more complex and expensive as the weekly contribution made by the postal revenues to the exchequer increased. Rates of postage were calculated by the mileage travelled per sheet of paper, a single rate letter from London to Edinburgh, for example, cost 1s1d and, as pre-payment was not compulsory, payment was usually collected from the addressee at the time of delivery. By the 1830s, demands by the newly-enfranchised middle classes for administrative and philanthropic reforms were being directed at the postal service. A commission of inquiry into the Government Revenue published five reports on the Post Office during 1829 and 1830. Although only relatively minor changes were subsequently made, the reports led to considerable agitation for postal reform, both in the House of Commons and amongst the mercantile classes.

The Parliamentary campaign was led by Robert Wallace, M.P. for Greenock, and resulted in a Commission of Inquiry into the
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The reforms had still to be implemented against the passive opposition of much of the Post Office hierarchy. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Francis Baring, appointed Rowland Hill to a post at the Treasury to put his theories into practice. Over the next few years Hill and his assistant Henry Cole were to revolutionise the postal service and introduce a workable concept of prepayment using postal stationery and adhesive postage stamps.
On the 23rd August 1839 a Treasury competition was announced and later published in The Times of the 6th December inviting artists, scientists and the general public to| |
| Unsuccessful competition entry |
No submission was ideal, although aspects from a number of them were subsequently incorporated by Hill into his own scheme. One entrant, Benjamin Cheverton, suggested a simple design incorporating Queen Victoria’s head. This idea was taken up by Hill as he felt the Queen's portrait being easily recognised would deter any attempt at imitation, this coupled with a complex engine-turned background to deter any forger.
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| The City Medal of 1837 by William Wyon |
Perkins, Bacon and Petch commissioned Henry Carbould to draw the Queen's head and began experimenting with the engine-turned background. By January the die was ready for the engraving of the head and this was undertaken by Charles Heath, a former partner of Perkins, who enlisted the engraving skill of his son Frederick. The first die was ready by the middle of January but rejected for having too light a background, a second successful die was completed by the 23rd, the Queen expressing high satisfaction with the proof on 2nd March.
Once the die was approved, two plates were quickly made, the first was registered on the 15th April the second on the 22nd and printing began immediately. The first deliveries of the new postage stamps were made to Post Offices on 1st May, the stamps officially available to the public on the 6th. A few examples are known to have been used unofficially prior to this day.
With just over 68,000,000 printed it is not a rare stamp; however with no collectors at this time the vast majority were simply thrown away, Victorian ladies were even known to decorate a variety of items with the new attractive labels including fans, lamp shades and even fire guards. Who then would have thought of collecting them?
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| KING FERDINAND (reign 1914 - 1927) |
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King Carol II effigy in oval. Number of values 13in with following values: 10, 30 and 50 bani, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 20, 50 and 100 lei on various colours.
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King Carol II effigy in circle, pelure paper. The second colour is printed on the reverse of the stamp on the gum (as a security device), and easily disappears when stamp is washed. Number of values 3 with following values: 10, 20 and 50 lei.
King Carol 2nd 1932 issue effigy in laureate circle and Carol 2nd 1937 issue pelure paper. Number of values 13in with following values: 10, 30 and 50 bani, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20 and 50 lei, overprinted with 6 septembrie 1940.
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King Michael bust, number of values 12 with following values: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 lei. In 1942 the 1, 2 and 5 lei stamp were perforated horizontally and used for payment of notes.
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King Michael small head with wavy lines background. Number of values 6 with following values: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 lei.
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King Michael, 1942 - 1944 double stamp perforated between and 1941 crown issues, overprinted with red words REPUBLICA POPULARA ROMANA.
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Arms of the People's Republic, with coloured numerals. Two issues, 1st issue on 1952 on smal size with values: 5, 10, 25, 50 bani and 1, 2, 5 lei. 2nd issue on 1953 with falowing values: 5, 25 and 50 bani on smal size and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 lei on larger size.
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Double stamps with same design as previous RPR issue, just changed the words RPR in ROMANIA. Number of values 6th with following values: 50 bani, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 lei
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Double stamps with design like previous issue. Two issues; one with RSR watermark and FT pseudo watermark, number of values 5 with following values: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 lei. Second with FT pseudo watermark and number of 10 values: 25, 40, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000
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Welcome to the wonderful world of Stamp Collecting, often called the King of Hobbies and the Hobby of Kings. There are many ways to enjoy collecting stamps. Many serious collectors and dealers began their careers as casual stamp collectors, maybe like you. Stamps come in all shapes and sizes, depicting famous people, commemorating special events, some proudly display the geography or history of their country, others show various animals, nature scenes, astronomical images, ships, or any number of interesting pictures.
Some stamps are very rare because of a limited edition or special postmark. Often, old stamps are more valuable when they are still on the envelope, card, or package. These items are usually sold by weight and are thus called Kiloware. However, just because a stamp is old doesn't necessarily mean that it is valuable. The first stamp ever printed, called Penny Blacks, are only worth about seven dollars.
Collecting stamps can also be a fun way to learn about history, geography, or any number of topics. With a little research you can discover who is on your stamps, where they are from, and what their significance is. You may find yourself as an expert on some small country, or a specific type of frog, all from collecting stamps and sating your own curiosity.
So how do you begin collecting stamps? Well, you only need three things, really.
1) Some stamps. You can get these from charity, a stamp shop or local stamp fair, or, more often than not by mail order. Save all the stamps you receive and ask your friends to save stamps for you, too!
2) Catalogues to identify and sort your new stamps. You can find these at the library, if you don't want to buy your own. Scott or Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogues are the most popular with beginners.
3) Time. It waits for no man (or woman), so get out there and start sooner than Philatel-er (Sorry, bad joke. Philately is collecting stamps.)
Here are some tips to make your stamp-collecting experience more enjoyable.
Try collecting only stamps of a certain theme. These could be from a certain country, or only pictures of aeronautical crafts, or only birds, or only famous singers. You could even collect only Bulgarian stamps from the 1950s if you wanted.
Never tear old stamps from envelopes or postcards. They may be more valuable left on the letters, and the letters are often the most interesting part.
Never keep damaged or creased stamps unless they are very valuable.
There are now special inexpensive plastic mounts to place your stamps in. Use these to display your mint (unused) stamps. Some albums come with these mounts already attached to the pages.
Do not buy pretty, modern, unofficial stamps that come from an obscure country. There is a thriving counterfeit stamp operation going on out there just waiting for a sucker to rip off. Don't be that sucker.
But most of all, enjoy stamp collecting. Don't think of it as an investment.


In the heyday of the Roman Empire, the circus was one of the most accessible and popular forms of entertainment. Mode of existence and organization of joint activities as the circus bears the mark of defining temperament various peoples and continents.
Scott #1 1847 5c Red Brown Franklin Used Single 000216 $1,200.00 Details... | |
Scott #7 1851 1c Blue Franklin Mint No Gum Sheet Margin Block 000049 $5,500.00 Details... | |
Scott #13 1855 10c Green Washington Type I Used Single 000618 $2,500.00 Details... | |
| Scott #241 1893 $1 Columbian Issue Mint Hinged Block of Four 000815 $6,500.00 Details... | |
Scott #297 1901 5c Pan-American Issue Mint Never-Hinged Top Plate Block of Six |

MEXICO 1884 5 peso blue "hidalgo"

POLAND nr.1

SWITZERLAND 1843 GENEVA

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