Philatelic Literature, Stamp Magazines and Stamp Collecting Books

After browsing through many bookstores in Singapore, I realised that there really isn't much one can buy or read regarding postage stamps.  For now, I am confined to the Stamp Magazine which I bought for $12.90 at Times bookshop as well as the August 2011 and September 2011 issue of the same above mentioned magazine.  It really bothers me that I could not find much to read about postage stamps after reading various local bookstores.  It probably means that stamp collecting is in the decline here in Singapore.

Well, reading the Stamp Magazine is fine for me.  Trouble is that a lot of the topics are really on Great Britain stamp issues and so it does not really relate very well with me.  One could certainly do with a lot more literature on philately considering that information on certain stamps as well as the history/design/thought process behind many of the stamps are really scarce and hard to find on the internet.

Anyway, just an interesting fact that I found out.  3 Kings ruled during 1936.  Who were they?

Straits Settlements 1867

The first issue of the Straits Settlements stamps took place on 1 Sept 1867 and the stamps used were basically Indian stamps that were overprinted with the crown and the different rate of postages (See example here) .  It comprise a set of 9 stamps featuring 1 1/2 cents, 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, 6 cents, 8 cents, 12 cents, 24 cents and 32 cents.

Of these, I think the 6 cents and 12 cents are pretty rare as I do not seem to be able to find them on eBay.  A quick check on some catalogue prices on the internet also seem to suggest that the entire set of 9 used stamps command a price of almost S$2000!

Have been trying desperately to get my hands on this as this is afterall the first issue of Straits Settlements stamps or the first stamps of Singapore when it was formed into the Straits Settlements together with Penang and Malacca.  Every collection has to start somewhere and my Singapore collection has to start with this Sept 1867 issue of 9 stamps.

I did a rather quick research on Ebay (based on the final bidding prices or buy it now prices) to check some of the prices of these stamps:

3 cents used =  US$54.08 (16 bids)
4 cents used  = US$74.26 (20 bids)
8 cents used  = US$35.00 (Buy it now price)
24 cents used = US$24.99 to US$40.34 (Buy it now price) OR $67.80 (17 bids)
32 cents used = US58.12 (12 bids)

Hope it is useful reference for all.  Apparently, the Ebay prices are going for much lower than the catalogue prices.

Straits Settlements Stamps 1885 and 1892 Surcharge

This are 2 Straits Settlements stamps that I bought some time back. Apologise for the lousy scan as it was done through a stock sheet and there was another protective covering inside the stock sheet so the image is not very clear.

The first stamps is an 1885 stamp 3 cents surcharge on 32 cent pale magenta.

The second stamp to the right is an 1892-1894 3 cents surcharged on a 32cents carmine-rose stamp.

Bought both of these stamps off ebay at the price of USD$4.50.