Rare and valuable stamps from around the world were on show at the Bundaberg Philatelic Society Stamp Fair on Sunday.
Bundaberg Philatelic Society president Carl Bobbermen said Queensland collectors and dealers had made their way to the Bundaberg Region for the annual event to grab a bargain or to find out the history of certain stamps.
Carl has been collecting stamps since he was 10 years old. He said the Bundaberg Philatelic Society Stamp Fair was a great way to check out the current stamp market and a chance to speak with national and international stamp dealers.
With thousands of stamps on show Carl said the value of the stamps at the fair ranged from as low as 10 cents up to several thousand dollars.
Burstamp proprietor Stewart Robbins said the Bundaberg Philatelic Society Stamp Fair was a drawcard for major stamp dealers to come to the Bundaberg Region.
“I do international shows and will be heading to New Zealand and London later this year,” Stewart said.
“By having this show the Bundaberg Philatelic Society invited dealers that brought a quality and level of stock here that people in Bundaberg wouldn’t normally see, and that’s what it was about.
“Local dealers have access to trade and purchase stamps they wouldn’t normally see.”
First stamps ever made feature at fair
Stewart said highly collectable stamps such as the Penny Black were available at the Bundaberg Philatelic Society Stamp Fair.
The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system.
It was first issued in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840, but was not valid for use until 6 May.
The stamp features a profile of Queen Victoria. In 1837, British postal rates were high, complex and anomalous.
Stewart said the Penny Blacks weren’t rare, but as one of the first stamps a lot of philatelists liked to have one in their collection.
He said stamps at the Bundaberg Philatelic Society Stamp Fair ranged from the oldest, the Penny Black, right up to current stamps on the market.
The Bundaberg Philatelic Society was established 52 years ago. Carl said in the 1980s stamp collecting was very popular and he hoped more local community members would take up the hobby.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the society can head along to the club at the Bundaberg and District Family Centre on Kensington Street on the second Monday of the month between 11am and 3pm.
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