185 Years of the Penny Black: Celebrating the World’s First Postage Stamp
It’s been 185 years since the Penny Black first showed up in 1840, and even if you aren’t a “serious” philatelist, this is the one stamp everyone knows. Before this…
Stamp Hinges and Mounts
Deciding between hinges and mounts really just comes down to what you’re collecting and how much you want to spend. If you’ve got loads of common used stamps, hinges are…
One Stamp to Rule Them All? Royal Mail’s New Lord of the Rings Collection
If you’ve ever wondered why movie-themed stamps cause such a stir, the latest news from Royal Mail is a perfect example. We’ve seen quite a few “blockbuster” issues lately, but…
Mushrooms, Laos 1985
I’ve been slowly building my collection of mushroom-themed stamps, and this set from Laos is a great example of the kind of detailed, thematic design that was popular at the…
What are Cinderella Stamps?
Cinderella stamps are non-postal labels or stickers that resemble postage stamps but are not actually issued or authorised by a government postal administration for use as postage. They are called…
Lithography in Postage Stamp Printing
Lithography is a printing technique where an image is drawn on a flat, smooth surface (traditionally a limestone plate) using a greasy medium. The plate is then chemically treated so…
Demogorgons in the Post: Royal Mail Releases Stranger Things Stamps
If you thought the only thing lurking in your letterbox was bills, think again. Royal Mail has kicked off 2026 with a trip to the Upside Down, releasing a spectacular…
Are First Day Covers Worth Anything?
If you’ve stumbled across a bundle of First Day Covers (FDCs) and are wondering if they’re valuable, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions collectors (and people…
Can You Make Money from Stamp Collecting?
Stamp collecting is often seen as a nostalgic hobby, or something people fall into after inheriting a family album. But every now and then, someone asks the big question. Are…
What are Agency Stamps?
A Beginner’s Guide to Agency Stamps Agency stamps are postage stamps issued not directly by a country’s own postal authority, but by an outside company working on their behalf. This…