Awarded a Gold in the Philatelic Literature category at Stockholmia 2019

This thoroughly researched catalogue provides a detailed listing of all British pre-decimal postage stamps, from the first definitives showing Her Majesty The Queen, issued in December 1952, up to the end of 1970.

Definitives, commemorative and special issues, postage dues, regionals and booklets are all covered in substantial depth; each section being preceded by a comprehensive introduction, clearly explaining the technical details of the stamps involved. Different phosphor wavelengths, watermark and paper changes, errors and varieties, coils, cylinder numbers, booklet panes, perforation types and much else are clearly listed and priced, while appendices cover perforators, postage rates and additional sources of information.

This catalogue has long been recognised as the standard guide to the early stamps of the present reign and the new 13th edition features an enormous number of additions and improvements, making it absolutely indispensable to collectors of this fascinating period in British philately.

NEW FOR THIS EDITION:

• New articles charting the introduction of the Wilding and Machin designs have been written for the catalogue by Frank Walton RDP and Douglas Muir RDP, respectively.
• The catalogue is illustrated in colour for the first time, with new clear pictures of the plate and cylinder flaws which are currently enjoying such a resurgence of popularity with collectors.
• New expanded and fully-priced listings of the imprimaturs now released from the archives of the Postal Museum have been included in all sections, including varieties and cylinder blocks.
• Coil leaders are now priced for the first time.
• The booklet sections have been transferred out of the Appendix to follow their relevant booklet pane sections, and expanded with additional production notes.
• The notes on the Postage Due watermarks have been improved, with clear new illustrations.
• The Postage Rates appendix has been expanded to meet the needs of the growing number of collectors interested in the postal history of this period.
• The catalogue has been carefully repriced throughout, following consultation with specialist collectors and dealers.

About Stanley Gibbons Catalogues

Stanley Gibbons is the world’s longest established rare stamp merchant. The world-famous Gibbons Catalogue was first published by Edward Stanley Gibbons in 1865 and sold for 2d., post free. The main catalogue now comprises several parts and is intended for the more advanced collector. Commonwealth and British Empire Stamps 1840–1952 includes all stamps of this area from the earliest issues up to the end of George VI’s reign and additionally lists and illustrates many of the better varieties popular with collectors. A series of single country or limited area catalogues covers Commonwealth countries from their first issues to date. Of the remaining parts, ten are devoted to European countries and eleven to ‘overseas’ countries. Thematic Catalogues are also published covering stamps featuring Aircraft; Birds; Butterflies and Insects; Chess; Fish; Fungi; Mammals; Motor Vehicles; Railways; Shells and Ships. Commonwealth and British Empire Stamps 1840–1952 and Stamps of the World are published, fully updated, each year, new editions of the others are published as required.

About Stamp Catalogs

The stamp catalogue, basically a dealer’s price-list, is a most essential work of reference for the stamp collector. It provides complete, detailed lists of all the postage stamps issued by every country in the world from the earliest days, with information about dates of issue, commemorative events, face values, colours and designs, and – if it is a fairly new catalogue – the current prices of the stamps, unused and postally used. For the beginner and general collector the most useful catalogue is the Stanley Gibbons Simplified Catalogue of Stamps of the World published in five volumes. This catalogue contains all the details – except perforations, watermarks, designers, printers and varieties – the average collector needs for every country.