Saturday, 20 June 2015

Freebies galore at Gustamps

Gustamps often give away free stamps at the Gustamps shop in Brighton. Free stamps given to collectors at the Gustamps Brighton shop are to help promote stamp collecting to all. Choices are available and callers at Gustamps shop are often asked which free stamps they would prefer. Make sure you visit Gustamps stamp shop in Brighton and pick up some freebies for yourself at Gustamps.

Friday, 19 June 2015

Gustamps stamp valuation service is completely cost free

Although Gustamps have been providing stamp collectors with a free valuation service for over 40 years, Gustamps still come across some people who are not aware of this fact. Two weeks ago one visitor to Gustamps shop told Gustamps he had a collection of stamps which had lain dormant for 30 years. The man told Gustamps he would like to find out what his stamps were worth but added that he did not want to spend a lot on valuation fees only to find out his collection might not be worth much. The man was pleased to find out that Gustamps did not charge anything for a stamp valuation, and he duly received a free stamp valuation from Gustamps. He found out from Gustamps that his stamps had a market value of almost £300 as the Gustamps valuation was free it cost him nothing to find out the value of his stamps. If you have some stamps and wish to find out how much they are worth, please remember that Gustamps professional and expert stamp valuations are totally free of charge.

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Gustamps celebrates Magna Carta

For this year's 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, Gustamps will be stocking scarcer commemorative items such as the limited edition cover for Simon De Montfort's Parliament. It is understood that only 100 Special covers exist. Gustamps are hoping to have some available for sale at the Gustamps shop. Gustamps recommend the cover which is one of the scarcer Royal Mail Magna Carta collectible items available this year.

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Other collectors for Mr.Ponti

On a regular visit to Gustamps, Carlo Ponti cleared Gustamps stock books and albums of Italian colonial stamps. Having depleted Gustamps stock of these, Mr. Ponti proceeded to buy several classic Italian State stamps from Gustamps. Mr Ponti remarked "No one at my local stamp club is interested in Italian stamps. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only collector of Italian stamps." Gustamps manager told Mr Ponti that he had heard of a study circle specialising in stamps of Italy and Italian colonies. Gustamps manager told Mr Ponti he heard they meet at the Union Jack club in London about four times a year. Thanks to Mr Carlo Ponti for allowing Gustamps to publish his experience at Gustamps Brighton shop and letting Gustamps share it with other readers.

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Guided tour for philatelists

Philatelists often contact Gustamps asking Gustamps if they can recommend any interesting events for stamp collectors. Sometimes there is not much going on but this month Gustamps can recommend one event which should interest many stamp collectors.

Gustamps' recommendation no.1 is at the British Postal Museum and archive on the 6th July. Gustamps have heard that the museum is organising a special behind the scenes look at the museum - Gustamps understand that the event even includes a guided tour.

Monday, 15 June 2015

Continuing on the theme of stamp collectors terms, Gustamps tell collectors about multiples

Gustamps explain that in stamp collecting terms, multiples are more than just pairs or strips of stamps. Gustamps say that multiples can be as little as a block of four stamps. A popular way of collecting stamps are in blocks of four (often these are collected with cylinder markings in the margins and called cylinder number blocks). Gustamps point out that multiples could be blocks of six or eight stamps or any large sized block which is less than an entire sheet. Gustamps give the example that a large multiple block could be as many as 98 stamps, which might have originally come from a sheet of 100 stamps. If you have any questions about confusing philatelic terms, please feel free to get in touch with Gustamps and Gustamps will do their best to explain them to you free of charge.

Sunday, 14 June 2015

Gustamps helping stamp collectors understand philatelic terms

Gustamps explaining stamp terms.... today Gustamps describe strips.

Strips of stamps, say Gustamps, could be as little as three stamps joined in a row. Gustamps point out strips could be four stamps, five stamps, or as many as a dozen or more joined stamps. Gustamps add that with older scarcer stamps a large strip can greatly enhance the value of the stamps. For example, say Gustamps, a strip of four 1840 1d black stamps are much scarcer than four single 1d black stamps separated.

Saturday, 13 June 2015

Gustamps help with stamp explanations

Today Gustamps describe stamp pairs.

Gustamps say that obviously a single stamp is simply one lone stamp separated from a complete sheet of stamps. Gustamps explain that a joined pair of stamps are two of the same stamps together. Gustmps add a se-tennant pair are two different stamps jointed together. Finally, say Gustamps a tete-beche pair is a joined pair of stamps with one stamp printed upright and the other stamp printed inverted. Gustamps add that with tete-beche pairs they could either be horizontal or vertical pairs.

Friday, 12 June 2015

Gustamps helping new collectors understand philatelic terms

Gustamps often get asked to explain some stamp terms to collectors. Gustamps realise that philatelic jargon can sometimes be confusing to new philatelists. In order to help those collectors Gustamps intend to explain some of these term. Tomorrow Gustamps will explain about pairs of stamps.

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Gustamps of Brighton help stamp collectors understand philatelic terms

Anyone starting up stamp collecting for the first time could easily be confused by the jargon used and terms regarding stamps. Gustamps have been explaining some of these terms recently. Today Gustamps explain the difference between mini-sheets and sheetlets. Gustamps say that a mini-sheet is an abbreviation of the word miniature sheet. These, explain Gustamps are usually printed as philatelic souvenirs. Gustamps go on to explain they are small sheets which could contain only one or several stamps. Gustamps explain that sheetlets are smaller than complete sheets of stamps which normally may have 40, 50 or 100 stamps or more and often have a smaller number of stamps typically 10 or 15 stamps and often with a decorative border. These are designed primarily to be sold to philatelists.

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Gustamps help stamp collectors understand philatelic jargon

Gustamps world of colours.

Gustamps explain that from a philatelic point of view colours can make a vast difference. Gustamps say that basically stamps are either monocoloured (one colour) bi-coloured (two colours) or multi-coloured which Gustamps describe is more than two colours. Gustamps say that even shades of colours can make a big difference to stamp values. Gustamps quote the example of a British 1935 King George V Silver Jubilee 2 1/2d stamp the basic blue shade is only worth about £2 but, say Gustamps, the Prussian blue version is worth thousands of pounds. Gustamps suggest buying a colour key which gives examples of different colour possibilities. Gustamps recommend a stamp colour key to guide you through the philatelic maze of colour.