For fine used stamps
Renowned for having one of the largest stocks
of fine used stamps in the UK
Robin Boriwck
Over the last two days, I have worked on another part of the British Pacific. The Gilbert + Ellice Islands collection was almost complete, including some high values KG5 stamps I had not had in stock before. After a run-through of the Gilbert Islands, the Kiribati issues went up to 1985.
After a nice walk and working on the accounts for August, I got on with some stamp sorting. Having just bought some excellent Commonwealth lots during the week, I started with Nauru. This collection was almost complete from SG 1 right up to the year 1985 with only one defective stamp. The GB
overprints were excellent, although I am getting someone to check the Seahorses for me to ensure they are correct. Previously my range went up to 1970, but now I have most items to 1985, although only one copy of each, so first come first served!
I have just put into stock a big delivery of Czechoslovakia stamps. These start at the Hradcany Castle issues and go right up to the split between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Having previously obtained more Czech Republic and Bohemia/Moravia, my stock for this popular area is now looking very good. Sometime in the near future, I hope to obtain more Slovakia too.
It occurred to me that I had not done the usual analysis of the previous month, August.
The number of orders handled during August was still way above the pre-covid numbers, although
down from the May-June peak. Orders for Commonwealth material remain strong and I have seen some customers ordering the same things. For instance, three customers bought good run-throughs of Samoa in a week which of course affected my stock levels. But why should I complain!
It was a quiet month for Australia and Canada, normally two of the top selling countries. On the other hand, August was a record-breaking month for GB, USA and especially France. New Zealand also did better than most months.
Yesterday I bought some excellent Commonwealth and France lots. I hope to have these ready soon, all depending on how much time I have!
Stamp Fairs. Some events have started across the country, although working in a different way due to covid. Sorry but you will not find me at any fairs. The organisers of the York Fair sent all the dealers a circular. They are hoping to run a fair in January on the usual dates but due to covid, it would be completely uneconomic to be there even if I wanted to. It looks like you will have to contact me by post or online.
Royal Mail have increased their overseas rates as of 1 September. I have not increased my rates for about 7 years but as I am lagging behind, it is time to increase my postal rates. This will apply from Monday 14 September. You will see the new rates on the order form
REVISED POSTAL RATES
From 1 September, Royal Mail have increased their postal rates for overseas sendings and domestic postal rates went up back in March. The last time I increased my postal rates was about seven years ago! Consequently I am changing my postal rates from next Monday 14 September to the following:
GB: First Class 80p
Recorded delivery/signed for £2.10
Registered post £6.80.
Europe: Standard £1.70
Registered £7.00
Rest of World: Standard £2.50
Registered £8.00
No-one likes putting up prices but my charges were lagging behind and after seven years, a small increase is not much to ask! If you have any queries, let me know.
Robin Borwick
VAT Number: GB 537 9664 93 (global)
More Aussie new issues have arrived. The first is a set of 4 values for the Prince’s Highway, but no self-adhesives or mini sheet. Also present is a set of 4 values on Opalised Fossils. Here there are 4 self-adhesive stamps and a mini sheet.
Just received the latest new issues from New Zealand. There is a sheetlet portraying Cakes and Bakes with 15 delicacies. They have commemorated Peter McIntyre with 4 stamps and a mini sheet. Lastly 3 more Scenic definitives with one of them also in self-adhesive.
I finished off that Commonwealth collection today. It included British Guiana, British Honduras and Ceylon with new items in each with bits of Belize and Guyana. However the biggest lot was from the Caymans, filling lots of gaps in stock up to about 1980. QE2 Commonwealth continues to sell well so all these lots come in handy, especially when they are complete and in excellent condition. This collection also had various shade and watermark varieties.
More new issues from Australia. Firstly three stamps plus three self-adhesive and a mini sheet showing the Australian Alps.
Next in line is a set for Wildlife Recovery. There are six stamps plus five self-adhesive (the Koala stamp does not appear in self-adhesive) and a mini sheet.
Over the last two days, I have been breaking down a collection of modern Mongolia. Not something one sees often. It covered the period 1959-91 and featured many complete sets. Mostly the condition was good but I did throw away about ten stamps. None of the stamps have a high price. Some of the
designs were quite nice and you can tell that the Hungarian printing works did most of the work.
At the end of the day I put away some QE2 stamps from Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda. Most were already in stock but a few gaps were filled, mostly with varieties.
Having enjoyed working on the Saar yesterday, there was no reason to put off looking at the Danzig and Memel from the same collection. Although the Danzig was very strong, there were only a few items new to stock. On the other hand, there were some newbies in Memel and the Lithuanian Occupation era. I threw away one Memel stamp, otherwise all were excellent condition. I would love to know why Memel needed so many stamps in a short period of time.
Today it was the turn of Saar to be sorted. I bought recently a collection of Saar, Danzig + Memel and as Saar is the most popular area, I started with it. The early issues were almost all there, just missing some of the very top values. After WW2, the range was smaller but still lots of material and the collector had selected only very fine copies. My stock of Saar was strong before these but is even better now.
I added a small lot of stamps and mini sheets of the Falklands to my range. They covered the period 1998-2007 and many filled gaps in stock.
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