I'm normally not one for moaning too much as I'd like to keep my stamp world a happy place. But sometimes I just can't help myself and today is one of those days; or in fact it is the day on which I felt vindicated! So bear with me, if you please.
It all started, naturally, when Sweden came to that stupifying decision that it would be better to stop issuing recess-printed stamps, by surrendering to a non-recess printing firm, which shall remain nameless. This was back in late 2016, early 2017. If nothing else, it meant the unexpected and brutal ending of the philatelic career of Piotr Naszarkowski. So shame on you Sweden!
Then came 2019 and the Stockholmia event, celebrating 150 years of the Royal Philatelic Society London. A special cinderella label was prepared, and initial reports were rather encouraging because the stamp engraver Martin Mörck was involved. But, yep, you guessed it, instead of a super classy engraved label, which would have done the Royal proud, a non-recess sticker has been produced which may look okay because after all it's still a design by Mörck, but is anything but classy. Huge opportunity misssed, in my opinion.
I actually let off steam (don't worry, very politely) when I unexpectedly met one of the former Presidents of the Royal the other day, so that was out of my system, and I had no more need to bother you with all this.
But when I received the latest London Philatelist the other day, a special issue on Stockholmia, I read something that brought the whole Swedish disaster thing back again. But in a good way, as I noted with pleasure that my grievances found royal backing! This is what I read:
His Majesty (King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Patron of Stockholmia 2019, opening the exhibition) also visited PostNord during his tour and was presented philatelic gifts. He was wondering why the stamps of today were not engraved anymore, but printed by offset. Kristina Olofsdotter, CEO of PostNord, said that the Court had let them know that the stamps should be modernised. "I don't think so", the King answered.
Enough said.
It all started, naturally, when Sweden came to that stupifying decision that it would be better to stop issuing recess-printed stamps, by surrendering to a non-recess printing firm, which shall remain nameless. This was back in late 2016, early 2017. If nothing else, it meant the unexpected and brutal ending of the philatelic career of Piotr Naszarkowski. So shame on you Sweden!
Then came 2019 and the Stockholmia event, celebrating 150 years of the Royal Philatelic Society London. A special cinderella label was prepared, and initial reports were rather encouraging because the stamp engraver Martin Mörck was involved. But, yep, you guessed it, instead of a super classy engraved label, which would have done the Royal proud, a non-recess sticker has been produced which may look okay because after all it's still a design by Mörck, but is anything but classy. Huge opportunity misssed, in my opinion.
I actually let off steam (don't worry, very politely) when I unexpectedly met one of the former Presidents of the Royal the other day, so that was out of my system, and I had no more need to bother you with all this.
But when I received the latest London Philatelist the other day, a special issue on Stockholmia, I read something that brought the whole Swedish disaster thing back again. But in a good way, as I noted with pleasure that my grievances found royal backing! This is what I read:
His Majesty (King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Patron of Stockholmia 2019, opening the exhibition) also visited PostNord during his tour and was presented philatelic gifts. He was wondering why the stamps of today were not engraved anymore, but printed by offset. Kristina Olofsdotter, CEO of PostNord, said that the Court had let them know that the stamps should be modernised. "I don't think so", the King answered.
Enough said.