Stamp Booklets and Presentation Packs.

Recently, my mail has been flooded by questions on Stamp Booklets or Presentation Packs. Questions from "What is a stamp booklet" to "Is it a Philatelic item" have been asked, mostly from collectors from India as there is a trend of stamp booklets being released recently. I have answered many, and then I thought that this could be a separate entry.

What is a stamp booklet? Simply put, it is few stamps or set of stamps being placed in-between a small piece of cardboard to make the handling of stamps easier than a full sheet of stamp. Earlier issue of stamp booklet had nothing to do with Philately than for handling and included even definitive stamps. These were issued by countries like Luxembourg and Sweden in the early nineteenth century and followed by other countries. Presentation packs are usually one set of stamp, miniature/ souvenir sheet FDC pertaining to a particular release presented in an attractive pack, which is mostly Commemorative stamps targeting the collectors.

Now, what is Official and Un-Official, well those booklets issued by or with the permission of the India Post usually by Philatelic Clubs are said to be Official and which are done privately by collectors or Clubs are said to be Un-official.

The recent trend of many booklets and presentation packs (both Official and Un-Official) have put many a collectors in a dilemma to buy it or not. To add to the same these booklets are priced much higher than the stamps contained in it, some times 2 to 3 times more, issued in limited quantities and are sold like hot cakes by giving wide publicity.

Philatelists collect a wide range of items and I consider these one among them, so to collect it or not I leave it to individual collectors, but I would certainly not collect it at the current price it is being sold as it does not have any special place in Philately unless I do not have the same stamps separately. I am not even sure if it can be exhibited in any exhibition, local or international. I would like India Post to take note of the present trend and frame some rules for the issue of Stamp Booklets. My final word is "BUYERS BEWARE"

Dear Fellow bloggers, Philatelists and collectors, I would like to receive comments and views from all of you to start a discussion on this subject. (Please write your comments below, than e-mailing me, Thanks.)

Miniature sheets, Souvenir sheets and Sheetlets.

There is always some confusion among most of the Philatelist or Stamp collectors about the difference in Miniature Sheets and Souvenir Sheets, confusion as different philatelic entity has a separate description for Miniature sheet and Souvenir sheet.

When I browsed the net looking for a description and difference on those terms I found that it is defined in many ways and also depends on the country where the term was used.

In India most of the collectors use the term Miniature Sheet (refer picture above) including India Post, for the small sheet of stamp which may include one or more stamp, usually different stamps. The stamp may be part of the picture depicted in the sheet or a separate one, and the paper margin surrounding the stamps may be plain design. Here the stamp has perforation and can be separated from the sheet and when it is separated it usually it looks same as the separate sheets of stamp issued along with the Miniature sheet. The miniature sheet is issued purely for the collectors. We rarely use the term Souvenir sheet in India.

The Linns website has a different description:

A miniature sheet is a smaller-than-normal pane of stamps issued in that form in addition to being issued in full panes. The smaller size and fewer stamps are what distinguishes it from a regular pane. (This is usually referred as sheetlets among Indian collectors and what we refer as Miniature sheets are Souvenir Sheets according to the Linns)

A miniature sheet is usually without marginal markings or text saying that the sheet was issued in conjunction with or to commemorate some event, which is what distinguishes it from a souvenir sheet.

In practice, many dealers and collectors refer to both small regular panes and souvenir sheets as "miniature sheets." (Refer www.linns.com)

India had issued a Miniature sheet (or is it a souvenir sheet?) in 1973 for the India International Philatelic Exhibition, where the 4 stamps depicted in it did not have any perforation and could not be separated. Some collectors/Senior Philatelists define this as Souvenir sheet, as the stamps cannot be separated and this is purely a Souvenir to be collected by the Philatelists.

I would be delighted to get maximum comments on this subject as to what are your views and what it is known as, in your respective countries for those who read this article in different corners of the globe. For now, whatever name it is called by, most collectors love to have this piece (Miniature or Souvenir sheet) among their collections so do keep collecting and enjoy it.

Fragrant Stamps

Hello

Recently there is a trend of bringing out fragrant stamps in India. This started with the sandalwood stamps and the recent one to be released is on Jasmine. Do these stamps make any difference to a collector? How many years the fragrance remains intact?

Fellow collectors and Philatelists what are your views?

Mansoor.

Stamps on living Personalities

Dear Friends,

Recently there was some news that stamps may be issued on living personalities and icons, like film stars, sports person etc. What do philatelists have to say on it? Is this practice of doing so is correct or not?

I would like to express my views; there may be some positive and negative aspects of it. Yes, we may get to see our favorite film and sport stars on stamps and enjoy it. Of course, we may also see lots of Political stars! But what when a Film star who is an icon today may be engaged or accused in any un-lawful acts, what about the stamps already issued on him. Say if a Sportsman is caught of consuming drugs to enhance his performance. What will the govt. do? Withdraw the stamp?

There may be lot of political pressure play in issuing stamps of personalities. So will it be a good idea to issue stamps on living Persons?

I would like your comments on the same.

Regards,
Mansoor.


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