The Stampcast uncovers stories behind Royal Mail’s stamps, first day covers, and souvenirs. Artists, authors, experts and collectors explore how tiny perforated pieces of paper are transformed into miniature, collectable works of art celebrating UK culture, history, nature and scientific endeavour.
In Episode No. 1, Through The Wardrobe, Damon Parkin interviews acclaimed illustrator Keith Robinson, who shares tales of torment, triumph and obsession as he reveals the story behind his artwork for stamps capturing key moments from The Chronicles of Narnia.
Keith Robinson concludes: “The thing I love about stamps is that they can be really special and collectible, but also completely disposable. It is something you stick on an envelope, stick in a post box and forget about. And there is something really democratic about that. It is like a little bit of art for everybody, which I think is great.”
Thomas M. Fortunato, BOSTON 2026Public Relations Chair, reports from BOSTON 2026.
Until this year, stamps and covers could be imported into the United States under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) 9704 free of duty. However, several months ago, new country specific tariffs came into effect. This affected philatelic material, which in turn, resulted in the global philatelic community fearing that foreign participants at the upcoming Boston 2026 World Expo would experience unacceptably high costs.
After close consultation with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the past several weeks, the Boston 2026 Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that stamps and covers are, once again, tariff free for entry into the US. Specifically, the initial ruling letter that resulted in philatelic tariffs has now been ruled void ab initio (i.e., null from the beginning) and voided. A new ruling letter holding that philatelic material covered by HTSUS 9704 is again tariff free will be issued by the CBP in the next few weeks.
To ensure the free and smooth entry of philatelic material for the show, the show organizers have hired a customs brokerage firm, Vantage Point Services. They will provide foreign parties (i.e., dealers, auction houses, postal administrations and commissioners) importing philatelic material with the appropriate instructions and documentation for entry into the US. The customs broker offers support at multiple ports of entry, including Boston, New York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The Federation of Italian Philatelic Societies, in collaboration with the Sicilian Collectors’ Union, Via Padova 26, 96100 Syracuse (SR), and the Italian Philatelic Lions Club, is organising SIRACUSA 2025, a national and qualifying exhibition for one-frame collections, to be held from 7 to 8 November 2025 in Syracuse, at the Urban Center – Via Nino Bixio, 1.
Guest of honour: The Hellenic Philatelic Federation.
A Stampcast by Royal Mail: Episode 1
The Stampcast uncovers stories behind Royal Mail’s stamps, first day covers, and souvenirs. Artists, authors, experts and collectors explore how tiny perforated pieces of paper are transformed into miniature, collectable works of art celebrating UK culture, history, nature and scientific endeavour.
In Episode No. 1, Through The Wardrobe, Damon Parkin interviews acclaimed illustrator Keith Robinson, who shares tales of torment, triumph and obsession as he reveals the story behind his artwork for stamps capturing key moments from The Chronicles of Narnia.
Keith Robinson concludes: “The thing I love about stamps is that they can be really special and collectible, but also completely disposable. It is something you stick on an envelope, stick in a post box and forget about. And there is something really democratic about that. It is like a little bit of art for everybody, which I think is great.”
Watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtB7SGjhqeE
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BOSTON 2026 Importation Tariff Issues Resolved
Thomas M. Fortunato, BOSTON 2026 Public Relations Chair, reports from BOSTON 2026.
Until this year, stamps and covers could be imported into the United States under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) 9704 free of duty. However, several months ago, new country specific tariffs came into effect. This affected philatelic material, which in turn, resulted in the global philatelic community fearing that foreign participants at the upcoming Boston 2026 World Expo would experience unacceptably high costs.
After close consultation with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the past several weeks, the Boston 2026 Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that stamps and covers are, once again, tariff free for entry into the US. Specifically, the initial ruling letter that resulted in philatelic tariffs has now been ruled void ab initio (i.e., null from the beginning) and voided. A new ruling letter holding that philatelic material covered by HTSUS 9704 is again tariff free will be issued by the CBP in the next few weeks.
To ensure the free and smooth entry of philatelic material for the show, the show organizers have hired a customs brokerage firm, Vantage Point Services. They will provide foreign parties (i.e., dealers, auction houses, postal administrations and commissioners) importing philatelic material with the appropriate instructions and documentation for entry into the US. The customs broker offers support at multiple ports of entry, including Boston, New York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The Press Release: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/PR-2025-10-24-Importation-Tariff-Issues-Resolved.pdf
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SIRACUSA 2025
The Federation of Italian Philatelic Societies, in collaboration with the Sicilian Collectors’ Union, Via Padova 26, 96100 Syracuse (SR), and the Italian Philatelic Lions Club, is organising SIRACUSA 2025, a national and qualifying exhibition for one-frame collections, to be held from 7 to 8 November 2025 in Syracuse, at the Urban Center – Via Nino Bixio, 1.
Guest of honour: The Hellenic Philatelic Federation.
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