vol. 47(2): 1-162

Gibbons Stamp Monthly

Plot

7 Newsdesk
The latest news round-up from around the world including the record-breaking auction result fInternationalork International and Stanley Gibbons' seaiconicfor the most iconic stamp in history
16 Society News
This month's gathering from the nations philatelic ocieties includes reports from Italy and Colonies Study Circle and Rochdale PS.
22 Diary Dates
Forthcoming fairs and auctions.
26 Around the Houses
News of recent auction results.
BRITISH STAMPS
34 GB News
Royal Mail releases the latest in its annual series commemorating World War I and celebrates 50 years of veteran rockers, Pink Floyd.
36 1916: A Year of Developments in British Postal Censorship
World War I postal censorship began on a small scale, but in 1916 it experienced a number of significant developments. Graham Mark surveys these changes, which mirror the progress of the war.
42 British Private Posts
In his latest report on Britain's private posts, John Holman covers Downstream Access and End-to End delivery mail, railway plus the latest news on tourist stamps, Christmas charity mail, railway letter and island stamps.
49 Machin Watch
In this month's column John Deering, provides an up-to-date checklist of Machins with M1 6L date and retail booklets with Security Machins.
56 GB Specialised Supplement
The latest supplement to the GB Specialised Catalogue.
SPECIAL FEATURES
58 French Congo Pictorials of 1900
The popular French Congo pictorials of 1900 have been widely studied and written about. However, as Michael Round reveals, the huge variety of variations known for the issue throws up countless complications for collectors and cataloguers.
62 British Forces at the Battle of the Somme, 1916
As the world remembers the centenary of the Battle of Somme, Alistair Kennedy FRPSL presents a selection of mail from British and Allied forces on the front line, with a particular focus on the postal marking in use at the time.
68 Crows on Stamps
The crow family has featured in the folklore of numerous cultures for thousands of years. Thankfully, for collectors of birds on stamps, it has also has featured in many
stamp issues, as GSM's philatelic bird-spotter reveals.
104 Reverse Watermarks of the Small Papua Lakatoi
The reverse watermarks of the Small Papua Lakatol
are just one area of this highly collectable issue. Mark (Robbo) Robinson gives this unsung (and at present unlisted) hero some much deserved attention.
110 UK Football All-time Dream Team
As Europe's best footballers gather in France, Jeff Dugdale
turns fantasy football manager as he uses stamps and postal material to compile a line-up of all-time top UK players.
120 Botswana - 50 Years of Stamps: Part 2 - Commemoratives
The second part of Otto Peetoom's timeline of political and economic change in Botswana takes a look at some of the country's diverse philatelic commemorative issues it has produced since independence 50 years ago.
REGULAR FEATURES
29 New Collector
In his regular column, John Holman looks at what the stamps of Belize, formerly the colony of British Honduras, have to offer new and seasoned collectors.
108 Bookshelf
Reviews of the latest philatelic publications.
114 2015 Foreign Postal Stationery
Geir Sør-Reime continues his annual A-Z survey of postal stationery from around the world by looking at foreign stationery issues ranging from Germany to Portugal.
124 Stamp Hunting
Nimrod highlights the stamps of Iraq.
129 Competition
Another chance to win a £50 Stanley Gibbons voucher.
132 The Unissued Stamps of King George VI
More fun from the Hedley Adams Mobbs collection.
132 Catalogue Column
Hugh Jefferies offers more advice from the Catalogue Editor's Chair.
NEW ISSUES
125 Stamp News in Brief
A summary of recent and forthcoming issues.
128 Shore to Shore
More issues from Jersey, the Isle of Man and Guernsey.
130 Panorama
Alison Boyd investigates the stories behind some of the latest stamp issues from around the world.
133 Catalogue Supplement