Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

Hi to all and Glen.
Noticed some entries regarding the new Aussie stamp magazine I launched on 1 June and just wanted to let participants in this chat group know that yes, the magazine, 'Australian STAMPS Professional' (ASP), is now being distributed nationally. My aim is to provide a stimulus to philately which appears to be undergoing a surge in growth. It's not intended as a 'rival' for 'Stamp News Australasia' but to complement that magazine's traditional coverage.
Our thrust will be towards a balanced 'blend' of articles with some strong, exciting "human interest" stories to attract both old and new stamp collectors, plus some more articles with a more "serious" philatelic theme.
Although some of you think you have 'never heard of this editor' (meaning me, moi, myself and I), others may recall that I was in fact editor of "Stamp News" back in 2002, before I moved on to other publishing ventures. I really enjoyed that introduction to philatelic publishing and relish being back with a brand new and somewhat different stamp publication.
You all know that there are many first class writers working for Stamp News, including Glen himself and people like Simon Dunkerley, with his informed comment - not to mention others like Rod Perry, Craig Chappell, Tony Presgrave - and a number of other fine writers. So I expect that will continue. Meanwhile, I hope ASP will provide an alternative read - and help Australian philately in its new growth phase.
I expect my distribution of 10,000 copies a month (11 months a year) will have the effect I want - a broader involvement in collecting by more people. It's printed web-offset for economy's sake and that means the price is a reasonable $4.95. The 'price' we pay for the bigger distribution is printing on bright white newsprint, compared with glossy coated paper for Stamp News, plus colour that's not as sharp as that in Stamp News. But ASP is based on strong editorial content, which is consequently available to you at a lower cover price. Small sacrifices in quality for a bigger reach!
Thus, most serious collectors will be able to afford both magazines (if they think both are worthwhile) while "new" collectors or "lapsed" collectors may initially be attracted to my cheaper magazine and perhaps branch out to Stamp News later.
By all means have a browse in your newsagency to see what we are all about - and then buy both or one and give philately what it deserves - your passion!
Regards,

John

Welcome John,

Glad to have you in the group.

And John, notice your mag got a wrap on Blue-Owl's auction site. Must get a copy of it ASAP.

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Tony

Hi Lakatoi4,

Actually, the principal of Blue Owl's Stamps, Jude Koch, is one of the star contributors to the new stamp magazine, "Australian STAMPS Professional" (ASP - the stamp magazine with bite!).
So I guess it's no surprise he thinks the magazine is not too bad!
Jude has written a very informative article on collecting the Kangaroo and Map series that I think might be of great interest to collectors trying to move up the philatelic scale. He gives hints on cheaper options for filling those "expensive gaps" in your collection - you know, the holes where the scarce higher values and unusual varieties ought to be.
So since he has a "vested interest" as writer, so to speak, and being a dealer as well, you must take anything he says and anything I say (as editor) with a grain of salt until you assess it for yourself.
But my view is, Jude has written a well-balanced article and he hasn't indulged in self-promotion, which is always the sign of a promising professional writer. See what you think! It's a well illustrated article too, although our colour is a bit muddy in the inaugural issue. We've since solved that technical problem, however, and the July issue will look as crisp as web offset will allow.
This potential "conflict of interest" for contributors is not an unusual situation in the philatelic publishing game - many dealers prove to be expert writers and have contributed to many Australian publications over the decades (our present host included!). Some have tended towards self-promotion, but that's inevitable when you are talking about material that you know best - what you have to hand. It's really a matter of balance and fairness, so long as the info is sound...
By the way, that "Lakatoi" name - did you spend time in Papua New Guinea? Spent eight years there myself. Kwikila in the Rigo-Abau sub-district, Kila Kila and Port Moresby. Travelled around a bit in the course of my work as well - visited many towns and villages such as Sogeri, Goroka, Mu, Ku, Gembog, Hula, Effogi, Rabaul, Tupeselaiei etc. Ah! Adventurous days! Just wish I had postally used covers from those places! Not that all of them had post offices! The social and work life was so good I never thought about stamps in those days! Idiot!

Cheers,

John
PS can anyone tell me how to get a pic next to my replies? I think it's that "avatar" thing but I messed it up somehow. Got it down to the measurements and file size, but not sure why it won't load... Duh! Words 7/10; Technical stuff 1/10.

Welcome John.

For the info of members here, I can state with certainty that in your very brief period as 'Stamp News' Editor most of the regular columnists at that time such as myself Simon Dunkerley and Gary Watson all refused to write, whilst you remained as editor.

I can't speak for the reasons of others, but in my case it was because I felt you knew next to nothing about stamps for starters, and almost as much about layout and graphics. And you persisted in adding entire chunks of material you had written, but under my own byline.

Just an historical fact.

I also seem to recall you missed deadlines, and that magazine owner Kevin Morgan needed to remove you as Editor after a brief period - and the columnists all came back.

Just another historical fact for members to take into account.

This "new" magazine has been "coming any day soon" for several months now - according to you.

I too look forward to eventually seeing an edition.

I just smile at the irony that an editor of a stamp magazine can't manage to load an avatar or photo here, despite all the detailed tutorials here. Many non graphic nor computer savvy background members have managed both just fine.

Best of luck with the new project. FWIW I believe your stated alleged print run of ~10,000 is total fiction, but that is simply my personal opinion.

Your subscriber base is clearly near zero, and dealer ad support around the same level. But what would I know .. I have owned and edited and published a couple of successful stamp and coin magazines. And NEITHER had a print run anything near that, even when well established with many 1000s of paid subscribers.

Glen

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Welcome John,

Today I have paid a visite to the Sydney Stamp Show and bought a few "souveniers".

While looking around the tables of the dealers and the superb material on offer, I took a copy of the new ASP.

I am a subscriber of Stamp News since about 3 years and I am allways looking forward to the new issue.

The presentation of your new magazine, I find rather poor, it seems to me like a magazine printed some 40 years ago.

The "looks" and the "feel" is definately "yester year"

But I did like the " Smithy" article and Edward VIII.

I love Glens columns in Stamp News, since I am a "swozzie" (swiss - australian) I take a neutral aproach to the
newcomer and believe you should get a fair go.

I wish you luck with the new enterprise, time will tell!

Peter

Hi John and congratulations on the new magazine. I bought it when it came out and found it very interesting. I'm not into the glossy style and found the "old Fashioned" approach refreshing. Also the range of articles not necessarily related to just Australian stamps won me over straight away.

Hopefully this will continue into the future, as I've already asked my local newsagent to put away a copy for me each month, along with my Stamp News and Gibbons Stamp Monthly.

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It doesn't matter what others think of you. It's what you think of yourself that's important!

Prof2000,
Nice to see you managed to put up your avatar. Is that your cat, real cute one too.

Cheers
Andrew

Thanks crosscrescent! No it's not mine, though looks a bit like one of ours. When I get organized with a Photobucket account I'll upload some pictures of her, and maybe use one of them.

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It doesn't matter what others think of you. It's what you think of yourself that's important!

Had a long talk to John Leah the Editor of ASP at the Sydney Stamp Expo yesterday. He is pretty confident that he has the right mix and the right price. Time will tell I guess.

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Tony

Fingers crossed, and I for one wish John every success with his venture.

If Oz is anything like England, there's always room for healthy competition in the Market for Stamp Magazines, and hopefully the new and old can gain strength from each other and continue for many years to come.

GOOD LUCK from England

Thanks for the kind words from various members.
IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO MEET SO MANY MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AT THE SYDNEY FAIR! (Hi Lakatoi in particular - enjoyed our chat...)
Peter was concerned about the "retro" layout but it was a deliberate choice. You will all have noticed the small size of the magazine. We chose that to give us the benefit of a long run (10,000 copies printed per month) which leads to an affordable price. With a quarterfold web-offset publication, "modern" layout styles with lashings of white space just don't work if you wish to shoehorn in as many stories with as much information and as many pics as you can. So it's the "Ugly Betty" syndrome. Doesn't look flash, but it sure has other qualities. We've had no adverse reactions, apart from Peter's comment, but he's obviously a person who has an eye for design.
There was a saying on the wall of Downyflake Donuts cafe in Swanston Street when I was a lad in the 1950s:
"As you wander on through life, brother,
Whatever be your goal,
Keep your eye upon the dough,
And not upon the hole."
Well, our "dough" is the content. Hope that helps Peter, but you were quite right about the style - "retro".

journo-bunker,

Best of luck in your undertaking and I suppose to each his own. Perhaps we make mistakes along the way but we try and try again. Like your quote from the wall - kind of inspiring.



Cheers
Andrew

Thanks Crossie!

John,

Change your avatar location to somewhere that will stay permanently on-line. Your original one may have gone the way of the dodo (for example, e.bay images are deleted after a time):!:

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Tony

Thanks Lakatoi. The avatar location and technical specs all looked OK when I tried to insert one, but the mistake I made (as I discovered when I read the FAQs) was not having the graphic stored in an online location. But it really doesn't matter much now. I'm quite happy with the communications as they are, with my little star or whatever... And the magazine feedback is so good I hardly need to muck about sticking a front page pic in here as my avatar just for the sake of a little extra publicity. It looks like most Aussie Philatelists have caught up with the launch - as have some overseas people. Even seen overseas posts here! Posting a copy to one UK person, actually, to see what the "Poms" think of it. Virtually everyone I spoke to at the Sydney Fair had heard of it - mostly through their Ph. Clubs - and a surprising percentage declined a copy because they'd already bought one from a newsagency. Gave 'em an extra one anyway if they were Club officials or members - for the Club library. Anyway, thanks for the thought Laky...

I did finally get to my newsagent and purchased a copy. The articles were generally of interest and of acceptable quality, but the advertising was too generic for my tastes. I like seeing specifics advertised. This is purely personal of course.

The color quality of the photgaraphs varied wildly throughout the issue - I suppose a legacy of the paper used.

As far as the future goes, I think issue two will be a far better test than issue one. It is (relatively) easy to get a lot of decent articles for a first issue, with effectively no deadline, but the quality needs to be on-going.

So, I have reserved judgement and will continue to purchase for the time being.

Norm

Thanks for taking a look at ASP Norm. You are quite right about the colour, with which we had a number of technical problems - largely because we were entering an unfamiliar printing process but partly because of the "newness" of the technology used which was unfamiliar to the printer as well as to us. So we have been "breaking new ground" with a view to achieving extremely low production costs combined with a very large run (for a niche publication) of 10,000 copies a month. This gives us lashings of copies (8,000) to spread around newsagencies and even reach many that have NOT been receiving ANY philatelic publications of any kind for some time, some since 2003. In many cases we are slowly starting to sell in those "No stamp magazines here please!" newsagencies. But the big advantage of the cheap production costs and long run is really the 2,000 copies a month we will have for free giveaways to carefully targeted areas. We want lapsed collectors and potential collectors to be aware of how interesting, engorssing and exciting philately can be (and is!) - and we can convey that by giving selected people a copy. So ASP can help "grow" philately with "new blood".
As for the colour - we solved most problems but only cottoned on to one elusive setting at the last minute and to change all the affected files would have delayed the magazine until 7 June, so to get it out, we decided to run with it even though the colour was imperfect on many pages. We figured it was "tolerable" and the content might carry the day. It has.
Next issue, we expect the colour to be as good as it can be on 4-colour throughout web-offset, on high-reflective newsprint, using the new techniques we have pioneered for economy. A final advantage gives us leeway to drop our cover price even more if a "price war" develops. We don't want that - it's no good for anyone - but if we have to, we're in a strong position to respond with a knock-out price cut.
And the ongoing content? Well, you and the market are welcome to judge us on that!
Regards,
John

John, I have just taken another look at one of the articles in your first edition "Edward V111..."

In the first few paragraphs I noticed the following:



The last issue was the 2/- Maroon in 1945.



The last, Cof A Wmk 1/4d George V was first printed in 1932



The first QEII definitives were issued in 1953.

Norm

Good points Norm.

Publishing something containing nearly all purely historical and decades old items, and nothing new or up to date is one thing. Such things may be of interest to some readers.

Getting that very basic and very easily checked historical info completely wrong is simply unacceptable. And badly misleads anyone using it for information purposes. IMHO.

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Thanks for your observations 'fromdownunder'.
I'd like your permission to include these comments in the magazine as a "letter to the editor". Is that OK? I don't think that the incorrect dates detract from the writer's point that there's a monarch "missing" from Australian stamps between KGV and KGVI - and that all the other monarchs are represented, but accuracy in philately is a prime objective and a correction is needed. I shall cane young deFreitas!
Just one thing... You commented: "The last, Cof A Wmk 1/4d George V was first printed in 1932". The point of the original (incorrect) comment was the date of printing of the last issue of the George V Sideface issues - the 1/4d.
As the article's intention was to point out there was no (KEVIII) Australian issue between the last of the KGV issues and the first of the KGVI issues, do you think perhaps the date in your correction should be the last printing, rather than the first? I think the last may actually have been June 1938? With the replacement KGVI 1/4d issued on 3 October 1938?
In general, I think your comments underscore something I've already been thinking about and which I have already briefly discussed with Michael Eastick. That is, although I know how to put a very readable magazine together that people clearly want to buy, I feel the magazine would be enhanced if there was some sort of "peer review" process for articles before publication. I don't want it to become as tightly scrutinised as a learned journal - this is meant to be a "popular" approach to philately, albeit "professionally" oriented. But copy as close to complete accuracy as possible is on my wish list. To achieve that, I'll need a peer review panel and will be officially approaching APTA, the APF, other philatelic bodies and prominent philatelists as well, for their suggestions about how to set up such a peer review process - and possible candidates. I'll do that as soon as I feel I have all the launch issues under proper control.
So yeah, thanks for raising the points you made and triggering more thought on the wider issue.

John, you may use the information I provided any way you wish - it is all public domain stuff. As to the last actual printing date of the 1/4d, that's up to you. (I don't know exactly when it was, so I can't comment)

You can acknowledge me, as Norm or "fromdownunder" or "some dickhead" if you want . I'm not fussed in any way.

But if you do, please also acknowledge the source - this BB, unless, of course, you use "some dickhead".

Norm

Thanks Norm! You're no Dickhead!
How about "Norm, who uses the avatar 'formdownunder'?

"FROMdownunder" !!!!

John ... seeing it is now 6 weeks since the late May/June 1st, Edition #1 of "June" cover date, and seeing you have stated here and elsewhere that your magazine is monthly, might I enquire what occurred to the magazine due out July 1 ... a fortnight back????

In a post elsewhere on this board you outlined on June 6 part of the specific content (re-hashed 70 year old 'news') for the "July" issue. That indicated to all here you were completing that issue - as any good Editor should have been on 6th of month. Where is it?

Whenever that appears will that be called "July" (as you stated) or "August"? And if the latter, will that mean there be one issue already missed from 2 magazines issued?

Do you have a national on-sale date planned for the next magazine that you can share with us?

Even that edition #1 was coming "any day soon" (according to you) for several months before it finally appeared.

Reprinting many years old archive material from public domain sources is hardly onerous or time consuming, and really should be a few hours a month task to toss together.

I ask so pointedly, as this board has freely allowed you to promote the magazine as you have wished, and not interfered. HOWEVER I would be rather miffed if by doing that, any member here lost subscriber money as a result of us allowing claims to be made by someone unable or unwilling to back them up. We have a clear "duty of care" to ask for proof that anyone (i.e. not limited to you)selling via this board will deliver as promised to members here, and not simply vanish with their subscription monies.

Are there any solid and meaningful financial guarantees you can give here, that all members here who HAVE subscribed or might subscribe will get a full refund if the publication folds before their pre-paid subscription period expires?

You have made great play (including on this board) about it being "distributed nationally" by Gordon and Gotch. It even says so right on page 5 of your magazine. I am advised their Victorian Sales Manager claims he has NEVER heard of you or your publication. Hearing that I was perplexed to note myself that you are not listed anywhere on their website that I can see:

http://www.gordongotch.com.au/PRODUCTS/d_mag_links.asp

And a search of your actual title or variations upon it, turn up zero matches:

http://www.gordongotch.com.au/PRODUCTS/ ... search.asp

Was it actually distributed by Gordon and Gotch .. and if not - by whom? Are you aware you have NO name of the printer appearing anywhere on the first edition. You would doubtless be aware this is a breach of the FEDERAL law?

I pointed out elsewhere here that when you edited "Stamp News" for a brief time less than 5 years ago, you were sacked as you missed deadlines and other issues. Indeed you caused them to miss publishing two entire issues in a very short period, as you simply could not adhere to deadlines. (Heck by your own admission, you can't work out how to load a Bulletin Board avatar!)

This lack of performance cost the new owners in excess of $50,000 in extending subscriptions, and via lost advertising.

In addition, all the main columnists for "Stamp News" at that time quit writing in protest, as you completely messed up their copy and illustrations. And they only returned when a new Editor was appointed.

That is all history, albeit very recent history, but I really hope no members here will lose their money if this is history repeating itself.

I would appreciate if you could URGENTLY update members here, and offer some assurance that you will in fact issue the magazine in timely manner each month.

And first things first, please advise what happened to "July" issue which was to be on sale nationally on July 1?

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

This has been quite the interesting thread ... even if I am just reading it now, almost five (5) months after the last post.

Did a second edition hit the streets, or would I be correct for thinking the operations went - as they say on the farm - teats up?

I am also reading this rather late. Can anybody give some updates on this topic. Hell this beats the soapies on TV.

Rgds

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Philatelists are not boring old F A R T S that smell of mothballs

The magazine content was similar to most soapies actually. Dated, fake looking, and irrelevant.

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Hey Glen

I like the way you sugar coat your responses. (hehe)

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Philatelists are not boring old F A R T S that smell of mothballs

His middle name is "Subtle".

The mag is still out there. I've got one copy, because it was given to me by the newsagent when I picked up Stamp News. It should be filed in the History section.

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Always looking for KGV British Commonwealth, mint, used, covers, anything

I thought it might have gone under, since he didn't effect any type of reply.

I have the firts 6 copies Australian Stamps Professional and have enjoyed them all!
Cheers, Kev.

well must say I found them quite interesting,and I DO LIKE THE no shinny paper,a lot easier to read in the toilet.

Me too! Shiney paper a real pain and not easy to read - anwhere!
Kev.

I now have the 2nd issue for the year and find it quite interesting to read.
Cheers, Kev.

I glanced at it yesterday and didn't buy it (again!). It still seems like a history magazine with stamps thrown in as an afterthought. Not for me.

Mind you, as I thought it would fold by Christmas, congratulations to the publisher, and good luck for the future!

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Always looking for KGV British Commonwealth, mint, used, covers, anything

I notice there is an increase in advertising, seems more dealers jumping on board.

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AUSTRALIA 2013 EXHIBITION - 10 to 15 MAY 2013 - http://www.australia2013.com

I'm a very happy subscriber of Australian Stamps Professional (ASP) and have every issue since day one, ten in all I think. I wish the magazine every success. A little competition can only benefit Philately in general. As an emerging new philatelist of the most enthusiastic proportions, I can never get enough reading material. I also subscribe to Stamp News and buy Gibbons Stamp Monhly and Philatelic Exporter whenever I can get them. ASP in particular is a great read with some fascinating historical articles that even my non stampy wife reads. The regular reviews of early Australian stamps by Jude Kosch is first class and very beneficial for a newbie like me and the recent issue on the sinking of HMAS Sydney 11 was compulsive reading.

I've always been a history buff and the historical links to stamps is a fascinating union with interesting cultural and educational side benefits. Philatelists, as I see it, are not just stamp collectors, but in fact they are Historians and Researchers. We are forever learning. I would back any serious Philatelist to win a trivia competition any day against your average quiz jockey. Keep up the good work ASP, late or otherwise.
Cheers,
CON

I agree Con. I have enjoyed all issues too!
Cheers, Kev.

It was interesting to have a read of this old thread... I am wondering what people think of the magazine now that it has been around for a little while?

Personally, I do not buy the magazine, though I have browsed a few issues at the newsagent. For me, it is a very "yesteryear" appearing magazine and being a young person it just does not seem to do it for me. I personally like glossy pages full of colour - and whilst content is important, presentation is very important to me too. Whilst I think it may certainly appeal to a segment of the collecting community, I doubt it would help attract new collectors who are of a younger age.

It is however nice to see that there is a second Australian based magazine for stamp collectors, which provides an alternate venue for people to get their articles published. Best of luck to the editor for the future


- written on my iPad :p

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Levi
Coffee Addict

I'm new to the scene, but buy both Stamp News and ASP from my newsagent. I have about six editions of each, and find the articles in both to be interesting. To me, the content is more important than the presentation.

My interest is Island of New Guinea, and ASP has been running a series of articles on Papuan stamps that I find extremely useful. This may be historical for some ... but it is interesting to me.

Thinking back over the past six months, I find that I basically read Stamp News once and put it away, but I am picking up the ASP time and again to use as a research tool.

The only annoying thing is the irregularity of its appearance on the newsagent's shelves. I never know whether I have missed an edition or if it is yet to come.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Thought I would buy into this one. I have almost all copies and enjoy them immensly.
I think their attraction is linked to the level of collecting that the buyer is at.
It certainly is for me. I have picked up many tips and I wish the magazine a long
life

Chris

I purchased the first two issues (maybe three) and found it too Kingsford-Smithcentric for my liking, and the articles on Smithy seemed to have very little to do with stamps.

The last I saw of it was at the Melbourne Stamp Show last year, being given away as a freebies promo, and IIRC still Much Ado About Smithy.

I do still wish John good luck in his endeavours as we can never have too many Stamp Magazines, but the content is simply not my cup of tea (and during the '60's and onwards I did purchase both Stamp News and the much loved Australian Stamp Monthly, which I considered the superior Magazine at the time.

ETA As far as I can recall, John never posted an update of the very basic errors I mentioned in an early post here in the follow up issue, as he promised to do so.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

I was serving a customer today who looked a bit familiar, but I could not put my finger on it,then it hit hit me, it was John,the editor of Australian Stamp Professional Magazine,but he looked a bit different, now sporting a Grey Beard and Longer than usual Hair,

We chatted for about 10 mins about happenings over the past 12 months or so,
and then he had to leave,but promised to drop back soon with a few back issues,
for the Grumies to swap with each other.and he also said he would bring his specs next time,so he could see what he was buying.

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

I enjoy reading the Australian Stamp Professional and do infact subscribe to both this and Stamp News.

Stamps News has nice glossy white pages and the ASP has a rather bland organic look about it.

ASP however puts out some really good predecimal info and less of the modern stuff that does not really tickle my fancy.

This said I will always subscribe to both so that I do not miss anything of interest to me.

Today as it happens they both turned up at the same time, so lots of reading tonight.

Cheers Robbo

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I am a Collector of all British New Guinea, Papua and TP&NG. Would love to talk to fellow collectors of same. Robbo

To be completely honest, I found this thread a little upsetting...

The first magazine I bought was ASP (beign a poor uni student the price was defiantely right!) and as I remember, it was through THAT magazine that I learnt about stampboards.

Now since joining stampboards I have learnt a lot, I have read a lot and I have appreciated so many varying views. One thing I DO NOT appreciate, and will not tolerate in a primary school classroom (let alone an adult public forum!) is downright rudeness.

Now the first time it happened to ME I let it go thinking, 'they've probably had a bad day'... however to see certain people consistently being rude to newer members and using poor 'netiquette' is upsetting.

I will DEFINATELY not be dealing with these people as a purchaser or seller, and I will be telling others to boycott them too. There is no need for some of the pettiness on here.

Having gotten that off my chest!

I find that both magazines are brilliant. They both offer something different, and I couldn't care less how they are set out. Actually I like ASP better because it's cheaper to send overseas to other collectors. lol (But I am a subscriber to Australasia)

If you don't like the magazine or the content, that's fine. You don't have to (and many of you have made extremely good points as to why!). But seriously, some people need to just move on, accept people make mistakes and not buy it. It's that simple.

Happy New Year everyone!

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The Phoxy Philatelist- a Whole World collector with a tendancy to lean towards Australian states.

Nice response egillies

I could not agree more.

In my early years on Stampboards I made a few mistakes like forgetting to post pictures and also received a spanking from the powers to B.

Re the ASP Mag, I have found over the last few years that it is now delivered with in it's time frame and have also noticed a larger amount of quality information and also prestige advertisers using it as a way of getting to a larger audience.

It would be interesting to see how many people buy both Stamp News and the ASP or just one or the other ( Should make a good poll ).

I noticed in this months edition a large middle section asking for info relating to the Mags current and or future direction to be replied by current purchasers, ie should they move to white paper and who collects what fields and years of stamps production etc.

I have sent mine off already as I like to buy anything that can help grow my understanding and knowledge of stamps and look forward to anyone trying to help create a monthly mag that helps the expansion of my hobby.

Cheers Robbo

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I am a Collector of all British New Guinea, Papua and TP&NG. Would love to talk to fellow collectors of same. Robbo