A Piece Of News For Any Philatelists

that read the blog,

the Royal Mail have announced the issuing of 10 poppy related stamps, the sale of which will generate income for the National Memorial Arboretum, the 10 First Class stamps each feature a different element of the Arboretum, including the Basra Memorial Wall, the RAF Association Remembrance Garden and the Polish Armed Forces Memorial, Royal Mail spokesman Philip Parker said: "We hope this special commemorative sheet is a particularly fitting tribute to those who have given their lives and that the proceeds raised will help support the Arboretum in its work to provide a national centre of excellence." Maj Gen Patrick Cordingley, chairman of the site's appeal group, said: "The Arboretum has become a place in which the nation comes to remember and pays tribute to our Armed Forces, "However, we must better honour our heroes and all they stand for by ensuring that we provide the buildings and facilities for the ever-increasing number of visitors, we are delighted that the funds raised through this wonderful Royal Mail initiative will help us achieve this."

the stamps will be available from 28 October at post offices, by mail order and at the National Memorial Arboretum, they will cost £13.50, of which £9.71 will be donated to the Arboretum Appeal,

speaking of stamps here is a little piece of history I purchased last night, a set of King George VI 1d scarlet stamps, they are in a block of three in a corner margin, with the printing control number G 40 on the left, they commentate the 100 years between Queen Victoria and George VI, there is a slight crease in the margin, they are all unmounted mint, but the stamps I have been assured are as fresh as they left the printers, the price for these stamps some 70 years old? just 99 pence, what a piece of history and what a bargain, I should point out that most of the stamps I collect are low value, I collect them because I like them, it is for me a great hobby, which need not be expensive as this example shows.