About
I began collecting during the 1980s, many years ago when I was young. My father and my Nan were the people responsible for introducing me to this interesting and addictive world of little pieces of paper.
I started out with modern Great Britain, and always liked to get the new First Day Covers that my mother would buy for me from time to time, or the new set of stamps fresh out of the Post Office. I still have all of these and will probably never let them go.
I had a long gap where I completely forgot all about stamps, but slowly I began to take a new interest around the turn of the millennium.
These days I concentrate mostly on early GB and Empire & Commonwealth. I particularly like the KGVI issues, but also earlier if I like the stamp. I also like a bit of Postal History and collect early GB on cover too.
As of June 2023 I have been accepted into the ranks of the IPDA (Internet Philatelic Dealers Association), member number 449.
So that’s a little about me. If you found this blog then I hope you will find some of my ramblings interesting. I am far away from being an expert, but it’s fun to communicate things.
Thanks for popping in!
Rog.
Contact : rog@thestampbook.co.uk
Hi Rog! I stumbled upon your site and find it very helpful. The ordinary/chalky thing has been driving me nuts, and I think with the help of your notes will be able to overcome my ignorance. Right now I’m trying to sort the ordinary/chalky with Seychelles KGVI. Wish me luck! Thanks again, Vince
PS: If you start an email list for your posts please include me.
Hello Vince ! I’m glad it helped and yes I find this the most difficult area of identification too. I am planning to add a few more examples to that page at some point. I have a good range of Leeward Islands so should be able to tell them apart now. If you have a scanner then maybe you could see the differences as well on maximum DPI – I have yet to try that, but will post about it when I get around to looking at them again. Anyway, good luck !
Hi
I am a collector of Village postmarks form the UK
I happened upon your website when researching Post Offices in Norfolk and found it very usefull in matching the postmark to Post Office ( especially in Victorian & Edwardian times
As a teenager I collected stamps when living in Bures (West Suffolk) , Brigstock (Northants) and Mildenhall (Suffolk)
When I went away to Liverpool University in 1969, I could not afford to keep getting the GB stamps when issued so I started collecting the from mail to family and friends . My hobby lapsed for a while whilst working
When I moved to Canada in 1984 , I started up again
Hi David,
Apologies for the late reply, I have been moving home. I am glad you found the site useful and interesting. I aim to add more Norfolk post offices over the coming year and I have many new ones collected already.
All the best to you.
Hi.
Love your website. My interest is the old post offices which were also telephone exchanges.
I’ve just bought a postcard (a copy, admittedly) of a glorious 1920s scene of Drayton post office. The building still exists on Taverham Road and is easily identifiable on StreetView.
If you would like me to email you a copy of the picture, let me know.
John.
Hi John,
Glad you like the site – sorry it took so long to get back to you.
Yes, I would be interested in a scan if possible, thanks for the offer.
Rog.