Hi from the south coast of England

[Dorsetmike]

Hi, the name is Mike, from the county of Dorset. UK; I collect only British empire from Queen Victoria to George VI, after that the stamps started to get too commercial, too many new issues many just aimed at making money from we philatelists. Stamps also started to get gaudy and, to me, uninteresting.

Maybe another reason for the "cut off" date is that I can remember buying the WW2 victory issue when it was current, that led me to go after the other omnibus issues e.g. KGVI coronation, KGV Silver Jubilee both of which were issued in my lifetime, although it was before I was old enough to start collecting! I currently have the full Coronation set mint and the majority of the same issue used, All the Victory issue mint. I'm still picking up Jubilees, some of them come a bit dearer!!

I have a strong interest in the other KGV and KGVI issues of that period (1935-50), and also have some of QV and KEVII, particularly Ceylon, Barbados, Gibraltar, Malta, and Hong Kong among others. I temd to browse ebay for most of my purchases nowadays, local philatelic shops are a dying breed around here!.

I've ben looking for a forum which is either exclusive British empire or which has a dedicated board for it. Google is no help in that!!

[philactica]

I've ben looking for a forum which is either exclusive British empire or which has a dedicated board for it. Google is no help in that!!

Hi Mike and welcome,
As you said at some point stamps become gaudy but we all have our own timeline. The stamps of that time still had the quality feel about them and off course the Dunes still had no CTO market.

Enjoy your stay.
Erich

[CSGdesign]

I feel that way about coins these days with the colour prints on them.
Also too commercialised.

The booklets and sets and bits and bobs they sell the stamps as these days just dont hold any value for me any more.
The post office has become almost like a showbag pavillion. For me the stamps being sold as actual postage in sheets are far more attractive than the fancy-pants booklets and stuff.