Spanish Philately Discussion Forum

Welcome Spanish philatelists! Please feel free to post your questions, opinions, discoveries, favorite stamps or covers, or anything else related to Spanish philately or postal history. This board is for everyone that enjoys discussing stamps and related topics, so feel free to invite others. The more the merrier!

This Spanish philately discussion forum is now being sponsored by the Spanish Philatelic Society (SPS)

SPS News and Events

SPS Auction #38 Closing Date January 14, 2010

Feb 07, 2010
Alan D Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

Michael--Those are listed as forgeries in the Republican Political Labels catalog by Gomez-Guillamon. I see them on ebay quite often. I think I paid about $5 for my sheets.They also exist in breen and black. There is a brown, perfed variety that is considered genuine and is listed as Rare in the catalog. Hope this helps. Sorry the news is not better.

Feb 07, 2010
Michael Shekhter

Hello all! I hope you can help me out. I have an old collection of Russia/USSR and came across a sheet of labels of worker-peasant sculpture "Homenatge a la URSS 1937". I have red. It's a whole sheet, imperforated. Looking through the net I understand there exist also brown and green. Well, I know it's obviously Civil War and what looks like a label for that 1937 Barcelona conference. I am in no way a Spain specialist and don't have access to specialized catalogs. Is it something that could be listed in a specialized catalog? If so, could you please let me know. Another collector is interested in a sale or exchange, but I have no idea of the value, hence my trouble :) Any help would be appreciated. I know, I am asking for your time. In adition to great big thank you in return, I can only advise you on any russian or soviet stamps that you might have. Michael mshekhter @ gmail. com

Feb 03, 2010
Denny Florence <dennis.florence@comcast.net

Richard: I have sent very many wire transfers over the years to Europe in many currencies. I use J P Morgan Chase as my bank. International wires are currently about $40. per transaction. Early on, my biggest problem was correctly getting all the receivers account information including bank address including province and country, bank name, account holder name, account number and the bank routing number.(MY bank and the European banks have different names for this number.) Because of the cost, I have limited my use to very high value transactions (000's) of $. About 80% of my transactions have made it through successfully on the first try. I only had one transactionj with Barclay's bank in the UK that I never could successfully resolve. Denny

Feb 01, 2010
Richard Ascaso <rascaso@comcast.net

I was wondering if the SPS ever has any book offers. It would be nice if SPS could do a bulk purchases from EDIFIL, Afinet, and other sources and then offer the volumes to the membership. SPS could do this and sell at a price that would generate some additionl money for the Society. Just a thought from a newer member. I can't thank the members enough for all your answers to my beginer questions. I am slowly adding to my collection and reference library and enjoying it tremendously.

Feb 01, 2010
jaume

Richard, I have the fortune of working with a credit union for my banking and they have no problem sending wire transfers to Europe. It is, however, an expensive service. I believe the minimum charge was in the order of $30 per transfer. My experience with European sellers is that they'll work with you to accept other payment methods for foreign customers. Just try talking to them before the auction ends. Best, Jaume

Jan 31, 2010
Richard Ascaso <rascaso@comcast.net

Thanks Brian for your information.

Jan 31, 2010
Brian Knight

Richard, a few thoughts from my experiences: A couple of years ago, I looked into trying bank transfers to Spain from my bank here. My bank (Wachovia) did not allow it directly, or offer accounts denominated in Euros, but I could purchase money orders denominated in Euros, for something like $30 or $35 each, plus the added cost of having to wait several days for the money order to arrive after ordering it. I inquired and found that CitiBank had pretty much the same offerings as Wachovia.

Everbank.com is a well-respected financial institution which offers foreign currency accounts, but when I last checked, one cannot do bank-to-bank wire transfers like they do in Europe. That was a couple of years ago, so you might want to check them out and see if that changed.

Jan 30, 2010
Richard Ascso <rascaso@comcast.net

Does anyone have experience using bank to bank money transfers to Spain. I keep running into sellers that accept only bank transfers. This is mostly ocurring on Ebay Spain and also from direct Stamp and Catalog dealers. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Richard

Jan 26, 2010
Richard Ascaso <rascaso@comcast.net

Received my auction items and would like to thank Hal for all his work on the SPS Auction. Looking forward to the next Arana as always!

Jan 25, 2010
Alan D Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

I sent the final corrections for the next issue of ARANA to Erica today. She will finish the cover and table of contents and it will go to the printer on Monday. Look for your copy at the end of next week. Hal, I will get with you next week and we can adjust the end date for the auction. Thanks to everyone for your submissions. I was able to use all of them. Brian, we have the list of articles that have appeared in ARANA already pasted up for the next issue. This issue will be a big 32 pager. Again, thanks to everyone who helped.

Jan 14, 2010
Denny Florence <dennis.florence@comcast.net

Jaume and Carles: Thanks for your thoughts. Your comments are encouraging. Whenever I get around to putting my Civil War locals collection with an auction house, I'll let you know how I make out. Denny

Jan 14, 2010
jaume <mad_chemist_70@yahoo.com

Alan, For some reason my @afinet.org email account is not letting me send any messages. I just wanted to say thank you for your email and, if you have suggestions for future articles, let me know. Best, Jaume

Jan 14, 2010
Carles Prats <carles@augustacb.com
http://www.filopost.com
Denny, I completely agree Jaume. The Spanish collector is very reluctant to buy via Internet, as everybody fears about forgeries, delays in delivery or even never received items. The auction houses give to the Spanish collector the confidence he needs, despite the buyer's premium. Most of the quality stamps & covers offered on Ebay, unsold and relisted for another 30 days, would sell with no second chance in any auction house. Referring to our hobbie's health in Spain, it is very strong. New generations of collectors are coming up. To see it you only need to go to any of the Sunday outdoor collector's markets you can find in almost every Spanish town with more than 50,000 inhabitants.

Jan 13, 2010
Brian Knight

Richard, I think that the stamps in that lot are real. To me, it just looks like a bad scan with a lot of glare. Regarding forgeries, I have seen a few issues that are forged, but, in total, I believe that they are quite rare. Of course, there are also a number of fantasy issues, some of which are quite common.

Jan 13, 2010
Richard Ascaso <rascaso@comcast.net

I see a seller from Mexico has quite a few auction on Ebay with SCW stamps, here is an item number: 120516896203 Do these look like the real deal? I haven't read much at all on SCW forgeries other than on overprints is that correct? Thanks for any comments and looking forward to the next ARANA like another Christmas Eve!!! Thanks Richard

Jan 13, 2010
Jaume

Denny, Are you drawing conclusons from following ebay alone? To US based collectors, ebay may be a legitimate trading place for high end material at market prices but, to Spanish collectors, ebay is just bargain hunting territory. As you said, if you are not willing to give it away, very few people will buy it. Over the past year, I have been bidding for mid-level items (mostly classical covers) in several Spanish auction houses and I have constantly been outbid. The market over there for these items continues to be strong.

Jan 12, 2010
Denny Florence <dennis.florence@comcast.net

I would like to hear from anyone who collects and sells Spanish stamps of any kind as to how they see the status of the Spanish stamp market. From everything I read Spain's economy is even worse off than that in the States, if that is possible. Unemployment is very high there. I cannot comment on the very highest level (most expensive) of Spanish stamps and covers, but I would imagine there are still enough "deep pockets" buyers to make a good market in these items, although I am not sure. Stepping down a notch to the "best of the rest" philatelic items, from my vantage point, the market is completely dead unless you want to give the item away. Now I am not a dealer, but I have been following this market and participating in it from time to time, but I cannot remember a time this bad and I include the 1979 era and the year the Scott editors pulled the rug out from under the catalog prices. Beside Spain I follow the market for worldwide collections. The sellers of this material seem to be really struggling. Exellent single country lots are being unsold at what appears to me to be reasonable prices and then being relisted for another 30 days. Am I just imagining this? Since I am getting up in age now perhaps my memory is playing tricks on me. For myself I have decided to take the best of the Spanish Civil War covers that I have not been able to sell and insert them into my Civil War local stamp collection rather than selling them at what I consider a poor price. One of these years I will sell my Civil War locals/labels collections when I have completed the remounting of these. Until then, except for when the spirit moves me, I will stay on the sidelines. I would like to hear other people's opinions of the stamp market. Are you seeing a slowing of the market? If yes, is it just due to the poor economies of the US and Spain, or is it something bigger like the start of the "death knell" of our beloved philatelic hobby because us old collectors are dying off at a much faster rate than they are being replaced due to other interests of the younger folks. I feel very fortunate to have sold over $250K worth of stamps and covers between 2007 and 2009. That was not skill, but just the luck of coming to market at the right time. Finally, if you believe the hobby is alive and just in the doldrums for now, I cannot think of a better time than in many many years to buy choice items for your collection. DEnny

Jan 05, 2010
Hal Shelton <h.shelton@verizon.net

Happy New Year to all and to those in many countries happy Three Kings Day tomorrow.

Reminder that SPS Auction #38 closes for bid on January 14th. You can see the auction catalogue and bid sheet by clicking on the links at the top of this page. I accept bids by email, please send to my email address noted in header of this message.

Jan 05, 2010
Alan Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

Hello Peter! Hal just sent me your article. I am out the door to sales appointments but will read the piece late this afternoon or in the morning. Many thanks!

Jan 05, 2010
Peter Litzinger <hp.litzinger@t-online.de

Alan, sorry, I have sent them out on 21.12. to "kaytee.wright@gmail.com",as you have told me. I can't understand, why this was also not going - I got no error-message. Hal, I try to send you the article - this time in 3 parts of a word document. Peter

Jan 04, 2010
Jaume <mad_chemist_70@yahoo.com

Alan, I also sent you a couple of short articles over the Christmas break. Please let me know if you have received them. Thanks and Happy New Year to all, Jaume

Jan 04, 2010
Hal Shelton <h.shelton@verizon.net

Peter, I will be traveling most of tomorrow (Tuesday) so I will look at the end of the day to see if your email has arrived.

Jan 04, 2010
Alan Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

Peter--no, I never received it. This is just crazy. I sent an email to you and asked you to attach the article to my email and hit return, assuming any spam blockers would allow in my own email. Did you receive that? Lets try this. Send your article to Hal (h.shelton@verizon.net) and ask him to forward it to me.

Jan 01, 2010
Jean-Marc Bonnard (JMB) <jbonnard@laposte.net

Happy new year, dear friends

Dec 28, 2009
Peter Litzinger <hp.litzinger@t-online.de

Hi Alan Did you get my small article for Arana?

Dec 22, 2009
Joaquin Amado <amado.bookshelf@telefonica.net

This is an answer to the query posted by Alan Leveritt (Dec. 16). The catalogue published by the Spanish Post was entitled "Catalogo de los sellos locales emitidos durante la guerra civil española. 1936-1939" (368 pages + addenda), which in fact was produced in 1995 in conjuction with the Spanish Federation of Philatelic Societes. Another interesting reference source is the commercial catalogue of 64 pages entitled "Guerra Civil. España especializada 1931-1945", produced by Estudio Filatélico (Sevilla, ca.1990), which displays several hundreds lots and many pics. of civil war material. Xmas. greetings, Joaquín Amado (Madrid)

Dec 22, 2009
Carles Prats <carles@augustacb.com
http://www.filopost.net
Gustavo: I have the Gomez-Guillamon catalogue "The Republican Local War Tax Stamps" for sale. I can offer these copies to the SPS members at the cost of 49.95 USD, postage paid. If anyone is interested, you can contact me by email.

Dec 22, 2009
Gustavo Asensio <Shaurat@persona.ca

Denny and Allan,thank you for the information. Denny I've been pretty busy at work so I have not had the chance to send you the pics, I'll send them over Christmas. I have already ordered the Edifil catalogues 1,2 & 4. If I can find the other ones I'll order them in Jan. or Feb. If you can find me Pablo Labarga's contact info I'd love to get the GG volumes. Regards, and Merry Christmas to everyone. Gustavo

Dec 21, 2009
Alan Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

As best I can tell, the auction link is fixed.

Dec 21, 2009
Denny Florence <dennis.florence@comcast.net

All: I would like to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a healthy, happy new year. Denny Florence

Dec 20, 2009
Hal Shelton <h.shelton@verizon.net

Alan and Carles, Many thanks for placing the SPS auction #38 catalogue on both sites--will get good coverage. Please relook at the source material as what is posted is just the first 5 pages, up to Lot 154. There are 201 Lots in total and two pages of pictures which bidders find usefull for the higher end material.

Dec 20, 2009
Alan D Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

Peter--try kaytee.wright@gmail.com

Dec 20, 2009
Peter Litzinger <hp.litzinger@t-online.de

Hi Alan,sorry but it doesn't work , neither with attachement nor without , the mails went back. May be, your firewall is too high for my old netscape?? Peter

Dec 19, 2009
Alan D Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

Check out the new auction by clicking on Auction 38 above. We'll be pulling down auction 37 later today.

Dec 19, 2009
Alan D Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

Jaume--your piece was great! I already have it laid out with the art. It will be in the next issue. Please send your Philatelic Favorites. Erica, our art director is completely covered up and has told me she won't be able to finish the mag until after the first of Jan. so expect the issue around mid to late January. CARLES--thanks for the second piece on the Vinebre issues. The art is fantastic and Erica has it ready to layout when she gets her head above water.PETER--please try again. I have sent you an alternative address if that is necessary.

Dec 18, 2009
Jaume

Alan, Remember the article I sent you a few months ago? If you want to publish it and need anything else from me (images, corrections, etc.), please let me know. I have a couple of Philatelic favorites that I can submit. I'll start working on it. Best wishes for the Holidays for all the SPS members and readers of this board. Jaume

Dec 17, 2009
Peter Litzinger <hp.litzinger@t-online.de

Hi Alan I've tried to send you a message with a pdf-attachment (article for Arana) but it went back to me - "failed permanently" Peter

Dec 16, 2009
Alan D Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

About ARANA: I am working on the winter issue of ARANA and could very much use a Philatelic Favorites submission from the people contributing to this forum. I'm looking for a favorite item from your collection--an interesting cover, a great stamp,postcard, whatever-- along with a short write-up from you and why it is a favorite in your collection. For those of you who do not write a lot, this is an important contribution you can make that will make ARANA much more interesting. I really, really need your contribution. Just send me an email and tell me what you are thinking about. Thanks!

Dec 16, 2009
Denny Florence <dennis.florence@comcast.net

Gustavo: That catalogthat Alan couldn't remember the name is "Catalogo de Sellos Beneficos Y Locales" commonly referred to as Sofima oe Fesofi. I would be happy to help with your souvenir sheets. I have owned most of them in my 40+ year collecting career and have likely seen most of the available reference material. Send me an Email with the pictures and I will respond to you.

All: After correcting a computer crash which destroyed some of my information, I';m back and would like to expound my views on the economy as it affects the Spanish stamp market. As always the opinions are my own and I am not being a shill for any dealer. Barring a double dip recession, I believe the U.S. economy has seen its low. The big banks are again sound with sizable reserves. With the huige budget deficits, future inflation and the value of the $ are large concerns. I don't know where the new jobs are going to come from to replace all that have been lost in Manufacturing. These good paying, exellent benefit jobs for people with a high school education, will never be seen again. Therefore, I think our recovery will be slow. The Government can only "prime the pump so far so fast. Infrastructure, highways, bridges etc, do not lead to permanent employment. "Green" jobs (solar, windmills etc) only get you there if they are cost effective, and the old technologist in me does not believe that wil happen in the immediate future. Government regulation (water pollution, smokestack emissions, carbon taxes)are job killers. Same with Nationalized health care for small business and the taxpayer. How far this goes, depends on the Congressional election results next November. From what I read, Spain, will be one ofthe latter European contries to pull out of the recession. They are facing many of the same problems we have in the States. Except for the most choice items ($1,000.+) I believe the Spanish stamp market is currently "dead". Unless you list a scarce to rare item on EBAY with a very low starting price, it will not sell. These will draw many bids, but the winning bid may be anywhere. I would only advise this if you are willing to take a gamble. The bidders are just not there in quantity as they were a couple years ago. However, what's bad for the seller is great for the buyer. Items that haven't been seen inalong while are now available, albeit at commensurate prices. Take a look at the Spanish website "Todo collec..........".com and you'll see waht I mean. Most of these very good items are available only at a fixed price, but bargains do occur many times if you are patient.

As I have said before, if you believe our hobby will be aroundfor another generation, its a great time to buy Spanish stamps if you stick to pre 1950 material. As most of you know, there is no current price catalog for Spanish Civil War material. I advise taking your current catalogs (Galvez, Sofima, Gomez-Guillamon) and marking selling prices, starting bids etc next to the listing. You might be surprised what you see. As Alan just mentioned in his blog, Edifil is owned by the stamp dealer body. They currently only list the Spanish Civil War local patriotics and Huerfanos issues. Some year, the current volume IV of the catalog will include all the Civil War listings in my opinion. It just makes business sense. With the current market way down and the current prices relatively high,listing Civil War materialin Edifil will become a "goldmine" for the dealer body. Note that the current Volume IV introduced the general Civil War topics in the latest edition for the first time. So if you are a younger collector/investor, become smart on the current market prices and buy the best scarce/rare Civil War material you can afford over the next few years. I predict you will do well. I was very fortunate when I auctioned my Spain proper collection in 2007. I think I hit the peak of the market. I hope I live long enough to do the same with my Civil War stamps. I continue to selectively buy to fill the holes in my Town locals and political labels of the War. Once again these are the thoughts of this old warhouse. You do what is best for you. Denny

Dec 16, 2009
Alan Leveritt <alan@arktimes.com

Look for your Spanish Philatelic Society Auction arriving in your mail box during the next few days. Hal has done a great job in pulling together some really interesting material. The auction went into the mail this morning. GUSTAVO, welcome to the SPS website. We hope you will join our organization. There are many people here who are more expert than I but I would start with an Edifil specialized catalog for regular issues and then the two Gomez-Guillamon volumes for Republican locals and political labels from the Spanish Civil War. Pablo Labarga, who post here occasionally from Seville has reprinted both those volumes and they are very handsome. Does someone have Pablo's email or mailing address for Gustavo? Also the Spanish Postal Service published a volume some years ago that is pretty comprehensive for both Republican and Nationalist locals, the name of which escapes me at the moment due to an excess of age and wine over the years. Someone help me here. Neither Edifil or the Spanish Postal Service catalog of locals is reliable for real valuation in my opinion. The Edifil catalogs are owned by Spanish stamp dealers and have inflated values while the Locals catalog is unrealistically low in its values. Subway often has some of these books for sale but Pablo is your best bet for the GG volumes. Also the late Ronald Shelley, who was the force behind the civil war portion of Spanish philately, has written extensively in old newsletters from the Spanish Civil War Roundtable in Britan. They are hard to find but are around. Also, Jerry Wells, one of our members, has written an excellent tome about mail from the Non-intervention fleets, mostly American, that patrolled the waters of Spain during the war. And finally, I have published a stamp album based on the Gomez-Guillamon numbering and historical notes for Republican political labels issued by the various unions and militias. If you join SPS, we also have back issues of ARANA available for $6 each. Hope this helps

New Spanish Civil war stamp collector. Recently kindled an interest to explore the past of my country through stamps, and a bit of reading as well. I've lived in Canada for the past 30 years, I go back home every 2 to 3 years. I am going back to Madrid next summer and I was wondering, what literature would some of you recommend on Spanish Civil war stamps. Are there books specializing on Spanish fakes? What are the best catalogues to buy?

I recently purchased a group of about 63 S/S from the Civil War era. The Scott catalogue barely shows any, is there a catalogue that lists souvenir sheets? What can any of you tell me about the souvenir sheets? I have Jpegs available if anyone is interested in helping me.

I also have an unlisted war tax stamp of 30 cent. value. It has 1898-99 inscribed which would put it in the MR19 to MR22 series. The stamp looks authentic. Was there a 30 cent. stamp???

Dec 07, 2009
Brian Knight

This week, the auction which accompanies the winter edition of Arana will be sent out separately from the magazine. I would like to thank Hal for all of his hard work on the auction.

I think that this will be a wonderful auction because the SPS was the recent beneficiary of a generous donation of early Spanish stamps, and a number of these will be in the auction. The remainder will be in the next couple of auctions. I would like to thank our generous benefactor, but I will refrain from naming him here and let you read about him in the upcoming issue of Arana. We are very grateful for the gift.

I hope that each member will take a good look and pick up something for your collection.

I've sent you a new article for Arana. Please, confirm you got it, as I remember the last time there were problems with the email.

Nov 09, 2009
Denny Florence <dennis.florence@comcast.net

A couple years back I wrote an article for Arana of how I sold my Spanish stamp collection. Yesterday in the latest issue (November) of the "American Philatelist" is an article entitled "Selling Stamps Can Increase Your Collection" by Forrest Blanding. Mr. Blanding's experience is similar to mine but with a Global stamp collection. For any long tern serious philatelist who would like to try to make a dollar in addition to having a lifetime of pleasure, I highly recommend reading this article. In my humble opinion, this is the way to collect stamps, and you're never too old to start. Denny

Nov 07, 2009
Golam Kibria <gk_helal02@yahoo.com
http://-
Hello. I am a Bangladeshi stamp collector. Please Suggest me, how to proper stamp collector. Al ready I made a Philatelic Society. I am President of this society. Please you may good advice. Thanks. Golam Kibria.

Nov 06, 2009
Jaume <fakeemail@aol.com

They are all Segui forgeries except for #6 (2 reales 1851 red) and #10 (6 cuartos 1851 purple). I don't know who made these last two. They are all very common and not worth very much.

Nov 06, 2009
Gol McAdam <gmcadam859@aol.com

This is most helpful. Are the stamps the work of Sperati or Fournier? Do you know who forged them? Thank you for the benefit of your expertise.

Nov 06, 2009
Gol McAdam <gmcadam859@aol.com

Hello again. I took your advice and uploaded a page of the collection for your consideration. Any advice you can give will be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Nov 03, 2009
Jerry Wells <jb.wells@verizon.net

Richard: Yes, the SPS has a library - the librarian in Richard Eberhardt 909 394-6310 - see inside cover of Arana. Library materials may be borrowed (if you are in the US, Hawaii or Alaska) so contact Richard. A very extensive library!!

Nov 03, 2009
Gol McAdam <gmcadam859@aol.com

Carles, many thanks for your suggestion but I just thought there may be some literature on the early Spain forgeries. I have already consulted a dealer friend who is as baffled as me by the stamps. I have had 40 years of collecting early GB and colonies but have never encountered the complexities of early Spain. It was my recently deceased husband (a collector of early Europe for 60+ years)who bought this little lot. So as not to spend too much time, I think my best bet will be to break down the items and sell on Ebay at a low start. Again, thank you for your advice.

Nov 02, 2009
Denny Florence <dennis.florence@comcast.net

Dear Carles: Thanks for looking for information on NE 55 A-D. So far I haven't found anything either. Today I called the American Philatelic Research Library of which I am a member, and they will check to see if they can come up with anything. If that doesn't work I try the Collector's Club Library in New York of which I am also a member. I agree the items for sale are likely not original but I was wondeing if they might be some kind of proof given the heavy colored paper on which they were printed.

There are some 10,000 Spanish stamps/sets for sale on Spanish EBAY + many more on www.todo ........ . I have never seen so many complete sets of the (1900-1950) era of desirable stamps many Never Hinged and many with certificate available at once. I think many people need to raise cash. I wish I working (I've been retired for 10 years) and had the money I once did and I would be out there buying like crazy. Alas, in the last 3 years I bought two new cars, redid a kitchen first class and just bought 2 new high efficiency furnaces so my cash level is about down to zero. If you are working in a good job, young and somewhat of a risk taker, buy some of these and put them away for 15 years, I think it will be better than holding dollars. Again, the disclaimer, I am not an investment advisor and have no connection to anyone selling these stamps. Denny

Nov 02, 2009
Richard Ascaso <rascaso@comcast.net

I have some questions on books. Does the SPS ever put together any book offers for joint orders on new books offered on Spanish stamps. I ended up with an old Arana(2005) and on the back cover their was an ad for two books written by Dr. Schier.($70.00ppd) I have borrowed one of them from the APS library recently: " Sellos y Hojitas Defensa de Madrid 1938-39" Wow!! What a study. Does the SPS have a library service?

Nov 02, 2009
Carles Prats <carles@augustacb.com
http://www.filopost.net
Gol McAdam: the best you can do is to go to a philatelist and ask him to exam your stamps. If you can go to an auction house, better than a shop. First of all you should get a catalogue and see what it says about your stamps. We could help if we could see them: why don't you upload the pictures on Flickr or some site like that and post the link here?

Nov 02, 2009
Gol McAdam <gmcadam859@aol.com

Hello. Can anyone help? I have just inherited some early stamps of Spain. I suspect that a percentage of them could be forgeries but am no expert here. Can anyone suggest how I might assess the auhenticity of this material? Many thanks.

Nov 02, 2009
Jean-Marc Bonnard (JMB) <jbonnard@laposte.net

Good idea to open this new website. I suggest to add all the old issues of Arana in PDF format.

Nov 01, 2009
Carles Prats <carles@augustacb.com
http://www.filopost.net
As Bryan wrote here some days ago, there is a SPS informational website that can be entered using any of the following addresses:

Please, spread that site, as it may help to enrol new members. There is a link to this forum from there, and if anyone has any idea to imporve that site or to add new sections, simply post your comments here. We can use all the possibilities that offers the net to promote our hobby.

And a last question: till when can we send articles for the winter issue of Arana?

Nov 01, 2009
Carles Prats <carles@augustacb.com
http://www.filopost.net
Denny: I've also seen the Soler Llach auction catalogue, and I don't have any kind of relation with the owner of that Cuba collection. My surname is quite common in Catalunya.

Referring to Edifil NE55A-NE55D, I was not able to find out anything. No literature, no information, no paths to follow. Nevertheless, if the seller was selling them without guarantee, they might be a reprint. I didn't like the coloured paper, as I think the originals were printed on white paper only.