About Us
Like most stamp dealers I began collecting at an early age before doing my first "deal" aged 12 at primary school, which I remember was for a mint 1971 Christmas block of seven, in which I doubled my money and invested in a mixed lot of West Australian postmarks. As they say, "I never looked back", with numerous dealings with fellow collectors, local dealers and even the odd school teacher!
I started the Tresillian Junior Stamp Club here in Perth at 15 and joined the Western Australian Philatelic Council at the same time in a youth role. With much encouragement from the local philatelic fraternity, the club blossomed and I believe it introduced a few more children of the day into the rewards of collecting. In fact one local and very successful Perth real estate agent still collects as a result. 1987 saw the Americas cup hit Perth and with it an opportunity to do some work with the Australia Post Philatelic Department. Needless to say a lot of postmarking and a love/hate relationship with Frama machines!
At the same time I briefly experimented with selling kiloware to the Japanese tourist market until my work force (Grandma and her next door neighbour) felt knitting was more suited to their skills than cutting stamps off 1000's of envelopes from the offices of the local newspaper.
After working on a part time basis for a local stamp dealer whilst studying at university, I went to the London '90 exhibition where I was displaying my Kingsford Smith Airmails collection. It was during this visit that I responded to a job advertisement for a junior auction valuer/describer at Stanley Gibbons in The Strand. Obviously considering my age and limited philatelic background, I never seriously considered the possibility of a job offer but at the least I was hoping to register my interest in working for them one day. Well the one day became the following Monday!
After several long distance phone calls back home to my concerned and disbelieving parents, I began work in the Stanley Gibbons Auction department. The following twelve years saw me rise through the ranks of the Company working in the massive retail shop, the Specialist Great Britain department, managing the Mail Order Department and Business Development Unit and eventually becoming a Board Director in 1999 and Sales Director in 2000. There were many highlights in my time with Stanley Gibbons including an opportunity to work on the Royal Philatelic Collection at St James Palace. In addition I enjoyed traveling and meeting a lot of interesting collectors with a variety of occupations, several of whom became good friends.
However I increasingly became concerned with the direction Stanley Gibbons began to take in the extensive marketing of stamps for investment and this combined with my desire to return home to Perth and Australia with its special quality of life ultimately beckoned and I returned in 2004 with my English wife Christine.
I am now committed to providing an easy to use auction website focusing on a cross section of material for all collectors on all budgets. I can assure you I pay attention to detail and all lots are accurately described with fair estimates providing good value to buyers. I am a proud member of the Philatelic Traders Society (PTS - London) and encourage the ethics they promote. I look forward to receiving your bids and welcome any feedback to further improve our website & auction service.