lasoksmith, Author at The Philatelic Register ®

The Grille, The Paris Star and other Cancellations of France

THE PHILATELIC REGISTER is owned, published and edited by Ian Lasok-Smith

Contact Address: 6 Hough Green, Chester, CH4 8JG. Email: [email protected]

ThePhilatelicRegister.com has replaced the montly issue of The Philatelic Register. The change in format has been dictated by the need to have a format that is more sustainable with regards the time required to keep it updated. As was The Philatelic Register, this evolving resource is FREE, users just need to register (only name and email address required) on the site to gain full access to article content. All articles may be downloaded and printed or saved to PC. The site has been constructed on a WordPress platform and as such has afforded much more versatility and new opportunites compared with original format.

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Ian Lasok-Smith. Owner, Publisher and Editor “The Philatelic Register”

Philatelic Traders Society (Gold Membership)

The “Lozenge Dots” Postmarks of France

For a long time the postal authorities in France were concerned that the ordinary date stamp would be inadequate as a cancellation in preventing the reuse of postage stamps. A number of experiments were undertaken, even that of the use of an “explosive” charge fastened to the back of stamp.

In 1852 a circular was issued to postmasters annoucing the cancellation of stamps with a lozenge or in some instances a star of dots. These dots being small conical points that penetrated paper.

The articles that can be downloaded from the attachment below, detail the use of these cancelations between 1852 and 1876. The articles by Wilfred Bentley were published in “Stamp Collecting Weekly” between April and June 1950.

The Lozenge Dots Postmarks of France

Stamp Collecting as a Pastime- E. J. Nankivell

“Many people are at a loss to understand the fascination that surrounds the pursuit of stamp collecting. They are surprised at the clannishness of stamp collectors, and their lifelong devotion to their hobby. They are thunderstruck at the enormous prices paid for rare stamps, and at the fortunes that are spent and made in stamp collecting”. Edward J Nankivell

Edward J. Nankivell was a member of the Institute of Journalists and also of The Philatelic Society of London. In his classic “Stamp Collecting as a Pastime” in his own words he “….takes a peep behind the scenes…..” of Stamp Collecting.

The complete work may be downloaded from the attachment below.

STAMP COLLECTING AS A PASTIME. Edward J. Nankivell

Collector – Trade Relationship (and Responsibility)

Michael Dodd is a member of the American Philatelic Society (APS), the Great Britain Philatelic Society (GBPS) and the Internet Philatelic Dealers Association (IPDA) as well as a number of specialist philatelic groups. He writes for a number of USA and UK philatelic journals as well as his own blogs on stamp collecting and aerophilately.

Although the article that can be downloaded from attachment below and previously published in The Philatelic Register, is the personal view of the author, I am happy to publish it and suggest it should be required reading by both collectors and trade alike. What can be seen as “words of wisdom” as is so often the case are essentially commonsense,but again as is so common it requires somebody with the courage and integrityto speak up and reveal things / practices for what they are.

Collector – Trade Relationship

What Colour is My Stamp?

Roger B West is a well known philatelist and an acknowledged expert in the stamps of St Helena. In 1994 he edited the handbook “Madame Joseph Forged Postmarks” which has been widely acclaimed as one of the most important philatelic reference works. He is also the owner of a long established stamp business Avion Stamps. Roger has generously provided a number of articles (Tag: RBW) for publication in The Philatelic Register.

As each these Musings and Observations are published I will leave the reader to make their own judgment as to where on the spectrum between humourous and thought provoking each article sits.

What Colour is My Stamp?

Further Observations on Colour

Philately and First World War

A collection built around the theme of the First World War must include a great deal more than just stamps suggests Capt. F. C. Holland in an article published in “Stamp Collecting Weekly” August 7th 1964. Captain Holland was at the time President of the Forces Postal History Society.

The article which can be downloaded from the attachment below describes such a collection , and how it can be satisfying both philatelically and historically.

Philately and the First World War

The Lady in The Moon

We have all seen and heard about the man in the moon. Who has seen the “Lady in the Moon”?

In this short article kindly provided by the Astro Space Stamp Society and downloadable from the attachment below, there is some enlightenment.

The Lady in the Moon

Mars Exploration

There is now more and more discussion about manned missions to Mars. Elon Musk and his Spacex organisation have this as their ultimate goal and indeed to build the infrastructure on the Martian surface to enable permanent colonisation.

For over 60 years satellites have been, with varying degrees of success travelling the 140 million miles to the planet. At present the only things to move on the surface have been robots.

In a series of articles kindly provided by the Astro Space Stamp Society and published in The Philatelic Register in late 2021 / early 2022, man’s progress with Mars exploration was charted. These articles may be downloaded from the attachments below.

Mars. A Planet of Robots

Mars. First Steps Moving About

Mars. Advanced Surface Exploration

Mars. Currently Working on the Surface

Mars. Planet of Robots Conclusion

Swedish Per(f)plexities

In “Stamp Collecting Weekly”December 24th 1949 A short but highly detailed article was published. The author Miss L. E. Griffiths discussed the complexities of perforating and perforations on the stamps of Sweden from 1855 to the current time (1949). This article is typical of the type of detailed but clear and concise articles that appeared in the weekly and fortnightly philatelic journals of a golden era between the 1940’s and late 1970’s. The article can be downloaded from the attachment below.

Swedish Per(f)plexities

Postal History of The Persian Gulf

In “Stamp Collecting Weekly” in August 1949 a series of articles which at the time was a landmark series began. The series was wriiten by Major T. L. C. Tomkins and covered the, geography, stamps and postal history of The Persian Gulf. This series of articles was serialised in The Philatelic Register in 2001 and can be downloaded from the attachments below.

The Persian Gulf – an introduction

Bahrain and Bandar Abbas

Baghdad and further Persian notes