British Commonwealth

This is the standard illustrated priced catalogue for the British Commonwealth (all countries except the UK itself, which is a separate volume). Editions have come out roughly every six years. Our 10th edition has now sold out. We are now working on a new edition.

Countless additions were made through the whole range of countries from Abu Dhabi to Zululand, and the 10th edition grew from 410 to 502 pages. This is about the maximum size that can be easily produced for easy handling and for mailing (especially overseas, where mailing costs continue to leapfrog annually). So, we plan to update and add new items for a future edition of the main book, but also we may discontinue a few sections like wildlife stamps (Australia etc) and Pakistan detailed lists of annual printings of Arms and Transport licence stamps, which take up a lot of space.

Instead, we hope to produce an extra series of "work in progress" more specialised listings for smaller specific groups of countries (e.g. India/Pakistan, or West Indies), which will include reports on specimen and proof material, and embossed/imprinted document stamps, so that more advanced listings will also become available on a print-on-demand basis.

If you would like to be advised when the main book (or the specialised "work in progress" on-demand books) become available, just press the "more details" and then the "make enquiry" button and leave your contact details and collecting interest - we'll email you when the books arrive.

HONG KONG GILBERT SALE (B.240)
The 2005 H.R.Harmer auction of the Edward M. Gilbert collection, Part III, Hong Kong, featured mainly 19th century classics, mostly mint in exceptional condition, all illustrated in full colour, 62 lots, useful reference work

HONG KONG SPINK 2004 (B.284)
Spink sale of Hong Kong Q. Victoria fine stamps and covers, many important classics and interesting 19th century covers, useful reference auction catalogue, 168 lots, nearly all in full colour, 25 February 2004.

MALAYA AUCTIONS (B.267)
Christies Robson Lowe auction catalogue of the Bloch collection, 387 lots of stamps (no postal history) including Straits Edward VII $500 with plate number (only one extant outside the Queen's collection), many illus in colour, May 1996, also Spink sale of Malaya & Borneo, 606 lots, many illustrated in colour, June 2003. Excellent record of major pieces.

NEW ZEALAND KIWI (B.328)
"Kiwi Catalogue & Handbook of New Zealand Revenue and Railway Stamps" 2020 7th edition. Edited by David Smitham. Mowbray Collectables, 98 pages, full colour. A huge amount of work has gone into this new edition, especially in the complex and fascinating long Stamp Duty early issues, as well as the equally complicated and newly researched Wages Tax stamps; dies, shades, paper, perforation, and watermark are all listed. Also many price increases for difficult issues,e.g. Beer Duty, Fine Paid, Passport. Also includes a listing of railway parcel stamps. ISBN 978-0-473-48753-9. Usually stocked. Currently out of stock but may be able to get more supplies - click on "please enquire".

NEW ZEALAND 1880 QUEEN VICTORIA LONGTYPE POSTAL FISCALS (B.332)
by Andrew Spence. Detailed but very readable coverage of these complex stamps, with chapters on background, printings, perforations, papers and watermarks, postal, parcel, revenue and other use, errors and flaws. Updated 2020 edition. 73 pages, ringbound. Currently sold out but see the more detailed information below for enquiries.