Millenary of the birth of Saint Stephen, first king of Hungary🇭🇺 Hungary, 3Ft | Scott #2033 | Issued August 19, 1970 There are those in our hobby who believe that stamp collectors merely accumulate and organize old postage stamps, whereas philatelists use stamps to better understand global history and cultures. Assuming that distinction has any... Continue Reading →
Small cover sent from Hungary to U.S.; canceled in Vásárosnamény June 16, 1912; received in the U.S. on June 28, 1912🇭🇺 Hungary, 10f | Issued 1908–1913 Earlier this year, I purchased a small cover sent from Hungary with the express purpose of researching its postage due markings. At the time, I took little note of... Continue Reading →
One of the things I love most about stamp collecting is how varied collector interests are. We are all stamp collectors, but one person may focus on the philatelic history of early airmail routes of Guatemala while another could collect Pokemon on stamps for the bright colors. To each their own! When I share that... Continue Reading →
Closeup of the sun’s corona, taken during the April 20, 2023 total solar eclipse from Exmouth, Australia. Photo by Phil Hart. America is once again rampant with eclipse fever! The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse will be drawing millions of eyes toward the sky. I won’t be as close to the path of totality... Continue Reading →
Small cover sent from Hungary to U.S., canceled June 16, 1912🇭🇺 Hungary, 10f | Issued 1908–1913 When you begin studying philately, you’ll find easily accessible resources and great glossaries explaining the many ins and outs of the hobby. But every so often, you’ll come across something that’s more difficult to find an easy answer for.... Continue Reading →
Turul bird issue with a Szigetvár hand stamp cancellation (1/24/1900)🇭🇺 Hungary, 30f | Issued January 1, 1900 | SG 75 Okay, let’s get right to it. Did this particular stamp single-handedly save Western civilization? Absolutely not. … Probably. But it was canceled at a spot that did. At least, according to the villain of The... Continue Reading →
Portrait of Sándor Petőfi by Ágost Egerváry Potemkin, date unknown (SOURCE) “Freedom and love my creed! These are the two I need. For love I'll freely sacrifice My earthly spell, For freedom, I will sacrifice My love as well.” ―Sándor Petőfi Two centuries ago, a baby boy born ten miles from the Danube would begin... Continue Reading →
Message to the Shepherds, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi🇭🇺 Hungary, 4–30f | Issued December 1, 1943 | Scott 617–619 There are many ways to approach stamp collecting: by topic, by nation, by volume. But in any collection, primacy is a key component. What came first? The issue of what was the first Christmas stamp issue... Continue Reading →
International Geophysical Year stamp and official emblem on cacheted first day cover 🇺🇸 United States, 3¢ | Issued May 31, 1958 | Scott 1107 When did space exploration begin? Nailing down an origin point on such a subjective timeline is objectively impossible. Was it with the first human spaceflight in April 1961? Or when the... Continue Reading →
900th Anniversary of the Death of St. Stephen: Pope Sylvester II, Archbishop 🇭🇺 Hungary, 10f | Issued January 1, 1938 | Scott 516 America was famously born when the Second Continental Congress of 56 delegates agreed to adopt the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But according to history, the birth of Hungary as a nation... Continue Reading →
Armchair Philately 