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The Guinness Book of Stamps Facts and Feats

The Guinness Book of Stamps | Facts & Feats | James Mackay 1988

This revised and updated edition of The Guinness Book of Stamps Facts and Feats answers question such as:

Who can really claim the slowest delivery of mail?

When did a postmark feature in a murder trial and when in a murder hunt?

As well as dealing widely with stamps themselves, this book brings the unique and successful Guinness blend of facts and feats together and covers postmarks and postal services, postal stationery and labels, the design of stamps, the technology of stamp production and, pf course, philately.

Fully indexed, the book is an invaluable source of reference and entertainment.

James Mackay began stamp collecting at the tender age of four, his first album being a copy of the prewar Highway Code in which his earliest specimens were stuck down with glue.

He graduated to proper stamp hinges and a printed album at the age of seven and his first loose-leaf album three years later. At 24 he became the world’s youngest philatelic curator, in charge of the incomparable collections in the British Museum.

Condition: Used, Good condition. 225 pages. Weight: 0.67 kg Measurements: 23.38 x 17.18 x 2.00 cm

Jun 11, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Scots Local Cancellations,Illustrated,1854-1860,R.C. Alcock

SCOTTISH PHILATELIC LITERATURE

“A detailed survey of the undated name-stamps of Scotland used as cancellations during the officially aithorized period 1854-1860 including a brief history of their introduction.”

Scots Local Cancellations Illustrated RC Alcock

Scots Local Cancellations, Illustrated,1854-1860 by R.C. Alcock 1984

Alcock, R. Scots Local Cancellations Illustrated, 1854-1860, (1984)

Published by R.C. Alcock, 11 Regent Street, Cheltenham, England | 1984 |

Softcover | Illustrated with B& W photos | 126 pages | 7.25 x 9.5″

Rare Book!

NEW – Pristine Condition

Scottish cancellations bearing town names. Complete and attractive study of these popular markings, scarcity guide and postmaster compensations.

$ 47.00 with F.REE SHIPPING in Canada & USA!

This book ships from Province of Quebec, Canada

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Apr 27, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

The Postal History of Glasgow by James A. Mackay

SCOTTISH PHILATELIC LITERATURE – BOOKS: The Postal History of Glasgow by James A. Mackay

The Postal History of Glasgow by James A. Mackay 1984

” It is with some trepidation that I, who am neither a native nor a resident of Glasgow, offer this account of its postal history. In mitigation, however, I must say that I was educated in Glasgow and spent my formative years there, first in Govan and then in Dowanhill.

Moreover, my only practical experience of the workings of the postal service was gained as a “Christmas casual”. In my first year as a university student I worked as a sorter in the head post office itself – an experience which my, doubtless faulty, memory now recalls as a kind of dusty version of Dante’s Inferno, the din of the cancelling machines punctuated only now and then by anguished cries of “Town Two – a bag! ” and other chants whose meaning now mercifully escapes me. (…)

I have been a student of postal history for over a quarter of a century now, and my memories of Glasgow in the 1950′s include some delightful antiquarian bookshops in the High Street, Cambridge Street and in the vincinity of the Mitchell Library, where entire postcard albums were to be had for a few shillings. These shops disapeared long ago, in the various acts of official vandalism known euphemistically as redevelopment.

The same redevelopment, however, was responsible for the vast quantities of old correspondence which then came on the market, via the scrap-paper merchants, and the going rate for old letters of the pre-adhesive era was fourpence each or four for a shilling, regardless of the postal markings thereon. Penny Reds on cover were even cheaper and I vividly recall wondering whether I should squander my hard-earned pennies on covers bearing the undated name-stamps.(…)

I have been fortunate in having, as mentors and friends for almost thirty years, two of Britain’s foremost postal historians and both Glasgow men. To Bruce Auckland and James Tierney my debt is very considerable, and in a very real sense this book is dedicated to them both.”

Source: Extract from the FOREWORD section of book.

Book condition=> NEW. 220 pages. 8.25″ wide by 11.75″ height. Published by the author at 11 Newall Terrace, Dumfries, DG1 1LN, Scotland.

James A. Mackay - Scottish Philatelist - 1936/2007

James A. Mackay got interested in stamps and postal systems from an early age. He became a prolific philatelic author, especially on English, Irish and Scottish postmarks and also produced popular Postal History Annuals and island series books. He wrote at least 10,000 articles and some 200 books. (Wikipedia)