The last significant monograph on Hamburg was that of Dr Ernst Meyer-Margreth (1965), devoted exclusively to postmarks. Florian Berger approached the subject in a more fundamental and broader manner, as seven postal administrations were active in Hamburg between 1859 and 1867, which resulted in numerous highly captivating frankings featuring the rare Schilling stamps, issued in 1859.
What impresses in this book is the abundance and precision of the postal-historical context: extensive tables for converting Silbergroschen into other currencies, additional tables for Danish skilling into Hamburg schilling, reproductions of regulations and announcements, etc. Stamps and postal stationery, as well as the postmarks for each postal administration/head post office, are all dealt with in detail. The same applies to the destinations for which each of these offices was responsible.
It is a foundational work, indispensable to anyone wishing to engage more deeply with the Hamburg collecting area. Clear, accessible text and the wealth of illustrative material are appealing, as is the high-quality printing on fine art paper.
We have recently received a 20-page newsletter from the Swiss Scout Philatelists Association (SPPhV). In his editorial, President Martin Bosle writes: “…two important philatelic events are scheduled for 2026: EuroScout 2026 from 3 to 6 September 2026 in Palanga, Lithuania, and the Level 2 exhibition or Stamp Day 2026 from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Simplonhalle in Brig-Glis (Valais), which is a perfect opportunity to plan a long weekend in Kandersteg or in Valais. We would be delighted to meet as many of you as possible at these events!”
The SPPhV is a member of the Association of Swiss Philatelic Societies (VSPhV) and the International Federation of Scout & Guide Stamp Collecting Organisations (IFSCO).
The British Library has digitised and released The Row Collection of Siam (Thailand), 1881–1918, making one of the earliest specialist philatelic studies of a single country freely accessible online. Available globally through the Internet Archive, the collection focuses on postage stamps, postal stationery, and postal markings from a transformative period in Thai history. Compiled by British zoologist and philatelist Richard Williams Harold Row (1884–1919), it contains 24,473 items across 1,358 pages in twenty-three volumes and remains a landmark example of meticulous philatelic research.
According to Richard Scott Morel, Curator of the British Library Philatelic Collections, stamps issued under King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh served as potent symbols of the Chakri dynasty’s modernisation efforts and assertion of sovereignty as Siam resisted colonial influence. The online release includes high-resolution 600 dpi PDF scans supported by browsable metadata through the UK National Archives’ Discovery catalogue, enabling detailed study and responsible reuse under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC license.
The initiative represents the first stage in a broader programme to digitise the Library’s philatelic holdings, with invitations extended to researchers and societies to contribute to future development.
Die postalischen Verhältnisse in Hamburg. Hamburg-Philatelie 1859–1867
The last significant monograph on Hamburg was that of Dr Ernst Meyer-Margreth (1965), devoted exclusively to postmarks. Florian Berger approached the subject in a more fundamental and broader manner, as seven postal administrations were active in Hamburg between 1859 and 1867, which resulted in numerous highly captivating frankings featuring the rare Schilling stamps, issued in 1859.
What impresses in this book is the abundance and precision of the postal-historical context: extensive tables for converting Silbergroschen into other currencies, additional tables for Danish skilling into Hamburg schilling, reproductions of regulations and announcements, etc. Stamps and postal stationery, as well as the postmarks for each postal administration/head post office, are all dealt with in detail. The same applies to the destinations for which each of these offices was responsible.
It is a foundational work, indispensable to anyone wishing to engage more deeply with the Hamburg collecting area. Clear, accessible text and the wealth of illustrative material are appealing, as is the high-quality printing on fine art paper.
The 196-page book is available from the publisher at info@heinrich-koehler.de
[Summary based on text available at aphv.de]
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The Swiss Scout Philatelists Association
We have recently received a 20-page newsletter from the Swiss Scout Philatelists Association (SPPhV). In his editorial, President Martin Bosle writes: “…two important philatelic events are scheduled for 2026: EuroScout 2026 from 3 to 6 September 2026 in Palanga, Lithuania, and the Level 2 exhibition or Stamp Day 2026 from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Simplonhalle in Brig-Glis (Valais), which is a perfect opportunity to plan a long weekend in Kandersteg or in Valais. We would be delighted to meet as many of you as possible at these events!”
The SPPhV is a member of the Association of Swiss Philatelic Societies (VSPhV) and the International Federation of Scout & Guide Stamp Collecting Organisations (IFSCO).
The complete newsletter: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025_03_SPPhV_newsletter_03_finale_Version.pdf
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The British Library Digitises Landmark Siam Collection, 1881–1918
The British Library has digitised and released The Row Collection of Siam (Thailand), 1881–1918, making one of the earliest specialist philatelic studies of a single country freely accessible online. Available globally through the Internet Archive, the collection focuses on postage stamps, postal stationery, and postal markings from a transformative period in Thai history. Compiled by British zoologist and philatelist Richard Williams Harold Row (1884–1919), it contains 24,473 items across 1,358 pages in twenty-three volumes and remains a landmark example of meticulous philatelic research.
According to Richard Scott Morel, Curator of the British Library Philatelic Collections, stamps issued under King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh served as potent symbols of the Chakri dynasty’s modernisation efforts and assertion of sovereignty as Siam resisted colonial influence. The online release includes high-resolution 600 dpi PDF scans supported by browsable metadata through the UK National Archives’ Discovery catalogue, enabling detailed study and responsible reuse under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC license.
The initiative represents the first stage in a broader programme to digitise the Library’s philatelic holdings, with invitations extended to researchers and societies to contribute to future development.
Explore the Row Collection today: https://archive.org/details/the-row-collection
For further information please email richard.morel@bl.uk
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