KID'S STUFF
We wondered what to call this page. It is hoped the contents may interest younger collectors. But since most stamp collectors are 'kids' at heart we thought we would try this title as maybe both older and younger philatelists may find some interest in the contents?
PADDINGTON'S POSTCARDS
FOR EVERYONE!
A fantastic initiative by UINICEF through which children may explore our world; its nations, peoples, cultures, animals and environment: and also enter the magical world of collecting stamps and postcards.
In a world of e mails, Instagram, Facebook and "ready to post" stamps the excitement of an unexpected post card dropping onto the doormat is becoming rare. Let alone in a world where travel is restricted by a pandemic.
It is a fund raising exercise but many of our Members also see it as an worthwhile exercise and one which may generate an interest in stamp collecting.
www.unicef.org.uk/paddingtons-postcards
A BOOK FOR BIGGER KIDS!
Stamping through Mathematics
"All science is either physics or stamp collecting" - Ernest Rutherford
The quote is on the title page of this fascinating book which blends illustrations of postage stamps from across the world with a history of mathematics and its applications.
The author explains in his Preface that "stamps are an attractive vehicle for presenting mathematics and its development. For some years I have successfully presented an illustrated lecture entitled "stamping through mathematics" to school and and college groups and to mathematical clubs and societies".
This is a book that is fun to read (challenging in parts), fun to dip into, and presents a cornucopia of illustrations of stamps.
Published by Springer
SUPER HEROES
Stamps and cards of Super Heroes abound. Some of our Members include Lego models and illustrations in their collections (and not just the younger members!)
"SUPER HEROES"
Issued last year by the GB Post Office these have rapidly developed a new following amongst collectors.
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THE WARS OF THE ROSES
Stamps can bring history to life!
The Royal Mail has issued a series of stamps, and and a presentation pack on "The Wars of the Roses": with gripping illustrations of some of the key battles.
available in Post Offices until 4 August 2021.
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CAMOSAURUS
A stamp from New Zealand
A dinosaur whose fossilized remains are mainly found in Arizona, USA. So a good example of how countries often issue stamps of interest that are not specific to their own domain.
OUR YOUNGEST MEMBER
Benjamin Campbell is our youngest member. Many congratulations to him for his exhibit on "Lizards" - shown below.
AN EXHIBIT
ON LIZARDS
FROM OUR YOUNGEST MEMBER
AGED 5 AND ALREADY AN EXPERT!
SEE SOME OTHER WONDERFUL EXHIBITS BY 'YOUNGER' COLLECTORS FROM VIRTUAL STAMPEX ON THE ABPS WEB-SITE:
YOUTH DISPLAYS
HTTPS://WWW.ABPS.ORG.UK/
STAMPEX 2021 ARCHIVES - PAGE 2 OF 2 - ABPS
ALLOSAURUS
A stamp from France.
A large predator (achieving 9 to 12 metres in length). Most fossils have been found in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah in the USA. This stamp was issued by France.
Stamps are not always printed on paper. Last year Austria’s postal service issued a stamp printed on toilet paper!
The stamp is both amusing and informative.
“If you put 10 stamp sheets end to end, you get a metre’s distance in total – or the length of a baby elephant.
The stamps can also be used to send letters!
GETTING STARTED IN A NEW HOBBY?
Can be tricky at the best of times, especially in a pandemic!!!
One new collector brought this web-site to our attention, and others may also find it useful and interesting?
" she has asked me if I could share a piece that she and her father found together on starting a stamp collection, which includes a great breakdown on the different ways to organize a collection, quality and condition rating systems, how to build a collection as a complete beginner, etc. I've included it below if you'd like to review!"
https://www.swagbucks.com/shop/guide-stamp-collecting
The site provides links to many different sites that provide guidance and information to stamp collectors - (some do have a commercial basis) - but there is a wealth of ideas and insight available, at a time when visiting stamp clubs, fairs, or exhibitions is either prohibited or severely restricted.
"SO PLEASE, OH PLEASE, WE BEG, WE PRAY, GO THROW YOUR TV SET AWAY, AND IN ITS PLACE YOU CAN INSTALL A LOVELY BOOKSHELF ON THE WALL." - ROALD DAHL
Booklicious Net
A wonderful resource for people of all ages!
The site below is recommended by a young collector, who is exploring a new hobby in the is time of a pandemic, with her father.
"NEW COLLECTOR"
Richard West has been submitting a series of articles to "Gibbons Stamp Monthly" aimed at the new collector.
The most recent article in the September 2021 issue covers ways of buying material to add to your collection: shops, societies, fairs, exhibitions, auctions, approvals, exchange packets, and of course 'on-line'.
Richard balances the imparting of basic knowledge (for the very new collector) with insights into how the philatelic world operates, and the constant evolution of avenues for collecting, investing, and selling. Well worth a read.
previous articles have covered:
how to develop an interest (May 2021 issue)
getting started (June 2021 issue)
useful tools and equipment (July 2021 issue)
storing and presenting stamps (August 2021)
STAMP COLLECTING FIGURES IN MANY YOUNG PEOPLE'S BOOKS
some of these are described below and in following sections
From "COMET IT MOOMINLAND"
by TOVE JANSSON
“And here I sit with my stamps in a complete muddle, and nobody has bothered to tell me what it's all about."
"Listen now, Hemul," said Snufkin slowly and clearly. "It's about a comet that is going to collide with the earth tomorrow."
"Collide?" said the Hemulen. "Has that anything to do with stamp-collecting?”
.............
“It's finished. There isn't a stamp, or an error that I haven't collected. Not one. What shall I do now?"
"I think I'm beginning to understand," said Moomintroll slowly. "You aren't a collector anymore, you're only an owner, and that isn't nearly so much fun.”
Tove Hansson’s “Moomins” books were published in Swedish (she was a Finn; born 1914, died 2001) in 1948 and translated into English in 1950.
Moomintroll is cheerful and chubby and lives in the magical Moominvalley with his mother, Moominmamma, his father, Moominpappa and all of their friends. Throughout the winter the Moomins hibernate, but before they go to sleep they fill their tummies full of pineneedles. In spring they wake up, ready for their fun-filled summer adventures. A children’s story that many adults will also enjoy
LEGO ATTRACTS NEW COLLECTORS
available from Sainsbury
FABULOUS ALBUM
The Lego album is well worth a read. Adding a 'back-story' to the characters and making it an interesting read even for non-Lego fans.
THE CARDS
Even a Lego fan will be surprised at the number of characters now available. Many have been seen in the Lego movies but here is an opportunity to think about how they could be included in new adventures and models.
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"SAMMY THE STAMP" by Pip Comport
published by Austin Macauley, 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London. 2018
A short book, intended for children and beautifully illustrated by the author.
There is an interesting review of the book by Brian Livingstone in the December 2018 issue of "Stamp Lover".
The story is set largely in India from where Dheera establishes a pen pal based friendship with Laura who lives in England. Their letters describing radically different worlds, and yet many shared human values.
'Sammy' is a stamp on the only sheet of some Australian stamps that survives a fire and is used to make up the postage on a letter to India. The tale follows his progress as a rare stamp on a cover through many difficulties and disasters until a final (happy) resolution.
The story reflects a world where snail mail provides a valuable link between people of widely divergent cultural backgrounds. The images of life in rural India are vivid and compelling. A place and time when opening the mailbox and finding a letter was an almost magical experience, and raises the interesting question as to whether we ever think about "where do some stamps finally end up"?
This is a delightful book, that as some reviewers point out, may require some explanation for children and young adults who have never written or received a letter, or used an adhesive postage stamp! The tale of 'Sammy the Stamp' is cleverly constructed and designed to keep one guessing; and is enjoyable for adults, as well as younger people.
"THE GRUFFALO"
"There's no such thing as a Gruffalo"
But there are Gruffalo stamps! This mini-sheet was issued rather unexpectedly by the Post Office in late 2019.
The mini-sheet shows the Gruffalo and his conqueror the little mouse: together with the three other animals (Fox, Owl and Snake) that the mouse outwitted.
The Royal Mail also offered a full presentation pack celebrating the work of artist Alex Schiffler - who has illustrated many of Julia Donaldson's books.
"The Stamp Collector" by Jennifer Lanthier, illustrated by Francois Thisdale
published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside; 2012
Jennifer Lanthier is a Canadian author, noted for her children's books. She was formerly a journalist and is currently Director of News at the University of Toronto.
This illustrated prose poem is suitable for children but will also engage many adults. It is about the power of friendship and the importance of freedom of expression.
The publisher's description of this multi-award winning book reads:
"A city boy finds a stamp that unlocks his imagination; a country boy is captivated by stories. When they grow up, the two boys take different paths – one becomes a prison guard, the other works in a factory – but their early childhood passions remain.
When the country boy’s stories of hope land him in prison, the letters and stamps sent to him from faraway places intrigue the prison guard – and a unique friendship begins.
The rules prohibit the guard and writer from talking. As the years pass, the writer's story spreads around the world and letters of support from faraway places begin to arrive.
The guard is fascinated by the beautiful stamps and intrigued by what they suggest about the prisoner he watches. With time, the guard feels compelled to deliver first the stamps and eventually the letters, as evidence to the writer that the world has not forgotten him.
A unique friendship begins. The writer grows ever weaker while the guard begs him to tell him his stories and promises to share them.
After the writer's death the guard courageously leaves his post and journeys to a distant but safe library where he puts pen to paper and begins to share the stories."
HARRY POTTER
J.K. ROWLING'S BOOKS WERE CELEBRATED BY THE GB 2007 ISSUE
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Harry Potter
The French Post Office also celebrated the books in 2007 with the issue of three mini-sheets.
Each sheet shows five postage stamps and 5 vignettes depicting objects described in the books.
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Ron Weasley
The stamps and mini-sheets were the annual "fete du timbre" issue - a tradition of La Poste.
Hermione Grainger
An interesting detail is that the French Yvert & Tellier catalogue lists the author as "Joanne Kathleen Rowling" - not the way that J K Rowling is normally addressed in the UK?
This book will probably be remembered by some of our very old 'Kids' in the Society from their early collecting days.
“BILLY BUNTER AND THE BLUE MAURITIUS”
By Frank Richards: published by Cassell & Co 1952
Not all novels that rely upon stamp collecting as a theme focus upon psychopathic behaviour. In 1952 Frank Richards used philately in an early ‘Bunter’ book, and although the usual passion of collecting is exposed by the loss of a prized stamp, the story is comic, if now somewhat dated.
Sir Hilton Popper, is an irascible land-owner, and a governor of Greyfriars – Bunter’s school. He is also a a keen philatelist. His prized possession is his Blue Mauritius stamp. In order to be in a position to gloat over this at any time, he keeps it in his wallet. He really should know better. His precious woods are not only frequently trespassed in by Greyfriars men taking short-cuts; they are also a regular haunt of thieves & footpads.
On the fateful day in question, all three are present on his property. Sir Hilton “a gentleman whose estate was covered with morgages almost as thickly as by oaks and beeches” is moodily contemplating “those wastrels at the Income Tax Office, who have sent him yet another iniquitous demand”.Bunter’s five chums are trespassing in the woods, and a certain Mr Judson is stalking the baronet with criminal intent.
Sir Hilton is duly robbed, and the boys, after a brief chase, capture Mr Judson. As usual, it is Billy Bunter who happens to be in the wrong – or right – place at the right – or wrong – time!
The result is Billy Bunter innocently rolling around Greyfriars with a £2,000 stamp about his person. A desperate villain anxious to get it back, and half of Greyfriars searching for the plunder. All leading to confusion about watches, attempted abductions, and things going bump in the night. There are lots of ‘yaroohs’ – (hooray backwards for those uninitiated into Frank Richard’s puns), and food is never far from Billy Bunter's thoughts.
The story is preposterous, and for a stamp collector doubly so with the invaluable Blue Mauritius stamp being carried around in Sir Hilton’s wallet! And its condition hardly being helped by Billy Bunter jamming it inside his pocket watch. But a jolly jape and humorous touches about the rancorous baronet softenning at the thought of his beloved 'Blue Mauritius'.
MORE SUPER HEROES FROM THE USA
Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern
SUPERMAN: 1999
WONDER WOMAN: 2016
GREEN LANTERN 2006
THERE IS A FABULOUS ORGANISATION CALLED "STAMP ACTIVE
Their web-site is https://www.stampactive.co.uk/about-us/
Stamp Active is a voluntary organisation which promotes stamp collecting for young people in the UK.
Stamp Active Network promotes a number of initiatives, including:
KIDS ZONE, sponsored by The Philatelic Traders’ Society, which takes place at Spring and Autumn Stampex, held at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.
THE STAMP ACTIVE COMPETITION, sponsored by the GBPS and THE BRITISH YOUTH STAMP CHAMPIONSHIPS, sponsored by Stanley Gibbons, for those interested in displaying their collections.
STAMP ACTIVE is a resource programme for organisers of junior clubs with information and updates on the website. More information can also be found on the Club section of this website.
STARTER PACKS, sponsored by Stanley Gibbons, for the organisers of new school and junior stamp clubs.
KIDSTAMPS, a free postal club for young collectors between the ages of 5 and 19, providing stamps, activities and much more to make your hobby even more fun!
WORKSHOPS for children interested in developing their competition entries.
AWARDS for the young collector of the year and to organisers for outstanding service to youth philately.
NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE for organisers of clubs.
STAMPS IN SCHOOLS, sponsored by The Postal Museum, is an independent project run by Erene Grieve, which provides a fun-packed day of stamp collecting displays and activities for primary schools in the UK.
and, of course, their WEBSITE to find out more about collecting and the activities of the Stamp Active Network.
"Big Kids" might also considering donating unwanted material from their collections to help younger collectors develop their interest in our hobby?
