All About Worldwide Stamps

What are precanceled stamps?

Modern precanceled stamps are small denominations that have had cancels applied before entering the mail or being affixed to an envelope. Mailers are able to affix them to envelopes and pay the difference when they drop them off at the post office. Precanceled stamps are found in non-denominated coils for: Precanceled stamps are fairly easy … Read more

What Are Illegal Stamps?

Illegal stamps are printed without government approval. They may include stamps from non-countries, with a made-up name, or the name of a specific region within a country. Mystic’s policy is not to sell illegal stamps (as defined by Scott Catalogue). However, in rare cases, one or two may show up in stamp lots we’ve received … Read more

Ukraine Postage Stamp Sends Clear Message to Russia

On April 12, 2022, Ukraine made big waves in the news with a new postage stamp picturing a Snake Island soldier flipping a Russian warship the bird. It was Ukraine’s first postage stamp in wartime conditions and quickly drew the attention of collectors and non-collectors alike. In fact, the stamp went viral online with millions … Read more

Operation Cornflakes: How Postage Stamps Helped Destroy Hitler

In the early months of 1945, the world had been at war for over three years. Germany appeared to be nearing defeat, but American casualties were mounting as its resources dwindled.

Great Britain Philately eBooks

Here are some editions of The London Philatelist that were published in England in the late 19^th and early 20^th century.

Fun Facts

In the Central American countries of Bolivia and Paraguay, stamps actually provoked a war! The conflict began when Bolivia issued a stamp claiming an undefined and long-disputed area of wilderness.

A History of Great Britain in 36 Postage Stamps

Now you can watch as the author of “A History of Britain in Thirty-six Postage Stamps” explores his country’s history through its most fascinating, beautiful, and eccentric postage stamps. From Queen Victoria’s Penny Black to the struggles of post-World War II reconstruction, West shows that stamps mirror the events, attitudes, and styles of their time. West … Read more

Stamps and the Norwegian Spy

Collectors sometimes “lift” stamps on covers to see what kind of paper the stamp was printed on. “Lifting stamps once helped save the free world from Adolf Hitler’s evil empire.

French Spy Stamps

Most collectors know stamps have played their part in shaping history. They’ve started wars and celebrated peace; they’ve turned hostilities into bloodbaths, ridiculed political leaders and been used as propaganda.