Content of Michel Catalog Grossbritannien Spezial 2022-2023:

Great Britain 1840–2022, special compilation of Machin series, se-tenants, stamp booklets, officials, postage due stamps, cancellation stamps, telegraph stamps, Guernsey until 1969, Isle of Man until 1971, Jersey until 1969, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, postal stationery Great Britain

Description:

• New edition after 6 years: 150 pages of more information!
• Valuation explanations and examples of used stamps in graded quality in the introduction facilitate the value assessment of classic issues.
• One focus of the new edition is on the Machin series with now more than 3000 individual values, additional se-tenants, booklet panes and booklets; the recording and evaluation of the so-called "hidden codes" on these stamps, a popular specialization area for collectors, is now more detailed and clearer than ever before.
• Further additions and improvements throughout the volume
• Examination and updating of all price appraisals with many increases for unused classic stamps, for early stamp booklets and for some subspecies of the Machin series.
• Over 7800 colour photos and approx. 62.000 price appraisals
• Features all novelties catalogued in MICHEL-Rundschau up to No. 9/2022

The catalog is organized according to collection areas. Cataloging within these sections is chronological, based on issue date. Special stamp types, like official stamps, are located at the end of a collection area section. In order to assist collectors organize their stamps, numerous illustrations are provided, as well as information on similar stamps to help avoid possible mix-ups.

In its 182-year history, British philately has developed into a veritable Eldorado for specialized collectors. And research has not come to a standstill these days; on the contrary, it has been particularly prolific in the six years since the last specialized edition of this MICHEL work. Especially within the framework of the long-standing Machin series, collectors will find numerous new details in this work, the discovery of which in their own collection is often also financially rewarding. Some sub-numbers increased their valuations significantly. But even in the early beginnings of philately, there are specialized collecting areas that are in demand and whose valuation trend rises accordingly. For example, the numerous plate numbers of the postage stamp with Queen Victoria MiNo. 16 can in many cases be valued up to twice as high unused as in 2016. As is often the case, even in the motherland of the stamp: Old does not equal expensive, but with the right specialist knowledge it is definitely interesting - also for other market parties. Photo: Great Britain MiNo. 16

Target Group:

Stamp collectors specialized in issues of Great Britain, experts, dealers, thematic collectors, study groups, teachers

Additional Information:

12th edition, in colour
1152 pages
155 mm x 230 mm, hardcover
On sale: 7 October 2022
ISBN: 978-3-95402-407-0

Press Release

The philately of Great Britain spans a wide arc of now more than 182 years, marked by the long reigns of two queens, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II.

From the introduction of the first stamps in 1840, postage stamps with the head of Queen Victoria dominated for more than 61 years until 1901, offering a great incentive for stamp collecting in a specialized form and setting philatelic research on its way. Different watermarks, hidden plate numbers and corner letter variations on the same stamp design offer a rich palette to search and research. A detailed, meticulous fundamental research and its documentation commenced, the results made especially the collecting of British stamps popular all over the world.

Another period is the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to the present day, i.e. more than 70 years. Here, too, different watermarks, variants of the phosphorus overprint in the course of postal automation and now the "hidden codes" with largely the same mark representation brought an almost inexhaustible source for every enthusiastic collector.

But also the interim period from 1901 to 1952 during the reign of the four kings Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and George VI offers philatelic challenges to the specialist collector, albeit in a less broadly defined framework.

With this variety of information and background knowledge, a clear, comprehensible and concise presentation and documentation is required. This is now available in the 12th edition of the Michel Catalog Grossbritannien Spezial 2022-2023. After an interim period of 6 years, all new findings and research results have been incorporated and evaluated. The work has grown by 150 pages to now 1150 pages in order to be able to present all new facets in a compact and clearly structured manner. Since the first publication of the MICHEL Great Britain Specialized in 1980, the volume has increased more than fourfold, a noticeable gain in data and facts.

As always with MICHEL, the entire work has been comprehensively updated and revised. Especially in the field of classic issues, stamp preservation and cancellation play a decisive role in determining the value. In order to find the right measurement here, there are valuation explanations and exemplary representations of used stamps in graded quality at the beginning of the work

The postage stamp series "Queen Elizabeth II" plays a dominant role in terms of representation and information expansion. As the cornerstone of this special work, the so-called Machin series represents an Eldorado, but also a dense jungle for the dedicated specialized collector. With now more than 3000 single values in main and sub numbers, in addition to a similarly large number of se-tenants, booklet pans and stamp booklets, a collector’s paradise opens up here for the researcher and specialist, which is widely diversified in this work. This also includes the complete coverage and evaluation of all postage stamps from 2009 onwards with additional security features in the stamp image, the changing secret symbols in the iridescent overprint, known as "hidden codes" in English. More than 500 different values at more than 135 value gradations are now recorded in a clearly structured and well-arranged form that cannot be found elsewhere. This opens up a voyage of exploration into uncharted philatelic territory, and the hunt for the extraordinary can begin. It is important to note that with the introduction of postage stamps with matrix codes in 2021, all previously issued postage stamps of the Machin series will lose their postal validity on 31 January 2023 and disappear from everyday postage. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to fill existing gaps in the collection: Happy Hunting!

Around 62,000 valuations were critically examined and adjusted to current market and currency events, changes in customs as an effect of recent political facts were taken into account. Unused stamps from the classic area show a clear upward trend. On the other hand, modern issues as varieties are less in demand and have hardly increased in value; here colour varieties are particularly affected, which are now less sought after by British collectors, so that the earlier exorbitant increases are no longer to be recorded. The early stamp booklets, on the other hand, continue to be very popular. The demand for intact, complete pieces in good perforation quality remains high. There is also increased demand for stamps of the Machin series for a number of varieties with a clear increase in value. The possibility of adding the new secret markings to the collection again increased the popularity of the entire Machin series and caused prices to climb upwards.

The Michel Catalog Grossbritannien Spezial 2022-2023 contains the novelties of Great Britain up to and including issue 9/2022 of the MICHEL-Rundschau. In order to keep up with the latest issues, we recommend a subscription from issue 10/2022 onwards. We would like to thank all contributors at national and international level, especially those from research and trade in Great Britain, for their very valuable help. Their suggestions for additions and improvements as well as permission to use colour illustrations contributed to the completion of this comprehensive work. We wish all collectors much pleasure in using this specialized work and hope that it will satisfy the pent-up demand for information on this interesting collecting field.

Schwaneberger Publishing House
The Editorial Team

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