A telephone call to Gustamps was urgent

Gustamps received a telephone call from a stamp collector needing some assistance identifying a stamp. The man on the phone told Gustamps he had been offered a stamp by a friend and he thought the stamp might be rare as there was no mention of it in the stamp catalogue. "My friend is going abroad tomorrow and I can't get down to Gustamps shop, can I describe it to you on the telephone before I buy it from him?" The man told Gustamps the stamp had a central design of a star above a crescent moon. Gustamps telephone caller went on to tell Gustamps the stamp was inscribed 'POSTE LOCALE 20 PARAS.' Gustamps reply to the man on the telephone was that the stamp was a local stamp of Turkey. Gustamps said they had similar stamps available on sale at Gustamps Brighton shop was the price was only 10p each. The man thanked Gustamps for Gustamps help and told Gustamps he had been ready to pay his friend up to £20 for the stamp. Now thanks to Gustamps advice he was going to decline this offer.

If you wish to have any stamps valued accurately, don't forget that Gustamps offer a free stamp valuation service. Gustamps have been valuing stamps for over 40 years.

More stamps identified by Gustamps

A puzzled visitor to Gustamps shop asked Gustamps to help him identify a stamp. The stamp shown to Gustamps was perforated and printed in green. Gustamps go on to explain the design depicted the head of Mercury and was inscribed 'MERCUR'. Gustamps told the visitor the stamp was a local stamp of Germany. Gustamps pointed out to the visitor to Gustamps shop, small print incorporated within the design. Gustamps explained the small print inscribed on the stamp read 'PRIVAT STADT BRIEF EXPEDITON' was in the German language. If you have any stamps you cannot identify please get in touch with Gustamps who offer their expert help free of charge.

Stamp collectors glad of Gustamps help

Gustamps are pleased to have heard from several stamp collectors who have told Gustamps they are glad of Gustamps help identifying unusual stamps. Today Gustamps explain about a brown coloured stamp with a coat of arms in the centre surrounded by the words COLL EXON OXON. Gustamps say this is in fact a British stamp. Gustamps add it was a local delivery company stamp issued by Oxford College. Gustamps explain it pre-paid the delivery of Mail in the college and locally within Oxford.

Gustamps quized by philatelists

Collectors quiz Gustamps about stamps depicting a head with a winged hat. Gustamps explain the early stamps of Greece depict Hermes but Gustamps also add these stamps should not be confused with newspaper stamps of Austria depicting Mercury. Gustamps point out that the Greek stamps have Greek writing on them, but according to Gustamps the Austrian stamps do not have any inscription except for the denomination.

China or Japan? - Gustamps explain

Gustamps are frequently asked by new stamp collectors how to distinguish Chinese and Japanese stamps. Gustamps answer is that often older Chinese and Japanese stamps have an emblem included in the stamp design. "Japanese stamps," say Gustamps "have a stylized flower or floral emblem." Gustamps say "the stamps of China often have a sun within a circle incorporated in the stamps design.

Gustamps make stamp identification easier

Stamp identification can be hard for newcomers so Gustamps have been identifying some of these awkward stamps recently. Gustamps say stamps written in Cyrillic (the Russian alphabet) which include the word 'MAPKA' are likely to come from Finland.

Gustamps helping collectors with their stamps

Over the last few days Gustamps have been helping those new to stamp collecting by identifying unusual stamps. Gustamps say those stamps illustrating a trident are most likely to come from the Ukraine. Gustamps point out that the trident is the national emblem of Ukraine.

Gustamps identification info of RF stamps

Today's stamp identification from Gustamps are for stamps inscribed R.F. Gustamps explain these are from France. Gustamps say R.F. is an abbreviation of Republique Francaise.

Gustamps explain about CCCP overprints

Gustamps philatelic explanation for today is about stamps inscribed CCCP. According to Gustamps these stamps which sometimes are overprinted CCCP or with CCCP incorporated in the design are from Russia. Gustamps add that Russian stamps often also depict a hammer and sickle emblem.

Help for new stamp collectors from Gustamps

To help new stamp collectors identifying some awkward stamps, Gustamps explain about the inverted 'V' overprint. Today's Gustamps stamp identification are about stamps inscribed with an inverted 'V' or an A missing the bar. Gustamps explain these stamps come from Epirus. Gustamps will identify another stamp issue tomorrow.

Gustamps stamp valuer kept busy all day

Gustamps of Brighton recently hosted a valuation day exclusively for stamp clubs, when several members of independent stamp clubs, came to Gustamps for free stamp valuations. Gustamps opened their shop for extended hours. Gustamps shop opened earlier than usual at 8am and stayed open continuously until after 7pm giving lots of free stamp valuations throughout the day. One stamp club hired a coach to bring its members to Gustamps shop. Gustamps stamp valuer said "the multiple stamp valuations made it one of the busiest days of this year at Gustamps."

Gustamps philatelic identification

Gustamps are often asked to help identify unusual stamps for the benefit of new stamp collectors. Over the next few days, Gustamps will be listing some stamps which novices find confusing. Look out for Gustamps explanations from tomorrow onwards.