Question 1

More than stamps: The art of philatelic storytelling

Accepted Answer

LALITPUR: A rare stamp may draw attention, an old envelope may spark curiosity, and years of collecting may fill an album. But none of these alone makes a competitive philatelic exhibit. The real challenge lies in turning individual postal artefacts into a coherent, well-researched story.
That was the central message at a training programme, “How to Build Postal History Exhibits”, conducted by senior philatelist Binod Krishna Shrestha under the aegis of the Nepal Philatelic Society (NPS) at Square Hotel on Sunday. He guided more than 20 enthusiasts through the essentials of creating competitive exhibits, drawing on his experience at international exhibitions.
Shrestha began a presentation, emphasising that successful exhibiting begins with focus, not accumulation. “A collector must first identify a specific subject, define its boundaries and build a collection around it.”
Every stamp, envelope, cancellation or postal marking should contribute something meaningful, he said. “Research gives the exhibit depth, while thoughtful presentation makes its story understandable to visitors and judges.”

“Material should add substance to the chosen subject, not merely serve to fill space.”

To illustrate these principles, Shrestha presented three of his gold-medal-winning exhibits. Though different in subject, they share a common strength: each transforms carefully selected postal material into a documented historical account.
Also Read: Reading between the folds: Nepal’s collectors rediscover aerogrammes 
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗘, and you can still stage a small exhibition without one!

His first exhibit, &#8220;Nepal: Registered Labels and Markings&#8221;, won gold at the 2025 Five-Nations Stamp Exhibition in Bandung, Indonesia. Through registration labels, numbers and postal handstamps, it documents how registered mail was processed and handled, offering insights into the country&#8217;s postal administration.
The second, &#8220;Nepal: Documentation of Inland Postal Rates (1951–1992)&#8221;, received gold at the Thailand–Chinese Taipei Two-Nations Stamp Exhibition in Bangkok earlier this year. Using historical envelopes, postcards and cancellations, it traces changes in inland postal charges over four decades, reflecting the evolution of postal regulations and services.
The third, &#8220;Nepal: Study of Postal Routes&#8221;, earned gold with a Special Prize at the Five-Nations Stamp Exhibition in Perlis, Malaysia, in September 2026. Postal markings, dispatch and arrival dates, and office names help reconstruct the routes through which letters travelled across Nepal, revealing how postal networks connected communities separated by difficult terrain.
In philately, thoughtfully curated and purposefully arranged content ensures that every detail adds value and every moment is worth its weight in 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗.

According to trainer Shrestha, an exhibit must demonstrate a clear treatment of its subject, sound research, relevant material, accurate descriptions and logical organisation.
He also underscored the importance of proper attributions and references to credible publications, noting that these lend authenticity and credibility to an exhibit.

Collecting provides the material, but research, discipline and storytelling give it value. An impressive album may reflect years of dedication, but an outstanding exhibit makes those years speak.

“In international philately, the prize is not simply for what a collector owns, but for the story they know how to tell,” Shrestha said, explaining what international judges look for. “Collectors must document the historical significance of their material, avoid duplications and ensure that each page connects naturally with the next.”
Shrestha makes his 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧, LOUD and CLEAR.

He encouraged participants to treat judges&#8217; scores and comments as learning opportunities rather than final verdicts. Feedback, he added, can reveal weaknesses and help exhibitors improve their work before entering future competitions.
The event wrapped up with the distribution of certificates to participants.
Senior philatelist Shrestha presents a certificate to a participant at the end of the training session on Sunday. More than 20 collectors participated in the programme.

Thanking trainer Binod Krishna Shrestha for sharing his insights, Society President Chandra Rabi Shrestha said the programme represented an effort to make Nepal&#8217;s philatelic community more knowledgeable, competitive and internationally oriented.
He said the Society intends to support experienced collectors in preparing for international exhibitions while inspiring newcomers to pursue philately with greater knowledge and purpose. By familiarising participants with international exhibiting standards and practical techniques, the initiative is expected to help cultivate committed collectors and strengthen Nepal&#8217;s standing on the global philatelic stage.

Question 2

Royal Mail pays tribute to 100 years of Pooh and friends

Accepted Answer

Britain’s Royal Mail is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, one of the world’s most beloved children’s literary characters, with a special collection of commemorative stamps.
The collection marks a century since A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh was first published on October 14, 1926, the Royal Mail said in a statement. The stamps feature the much-loved illustrations of E. H. Shepard, which have helped bring the adventures of Pooh and his friends to life for generations of readers.
The main collection revisits the characters as they appeared before Pooh became widely associated with his familiar red shirt. It includes six stamps featuring Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Tigger and a scene of Pooh with Christopher Robin. The remaining four stamps appear on a miniature sheet depicting Pooh and his friends enjoying a birthday picnic in the Hundred Acre Wood.
The 10-stamp collection includes six featuring Disney’s Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, rendered in vibrant colours alongside their distinctive signatures, reflecting each character’s personality.

David Gold, Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and policy, said the characters had continued to inspire readers around the world for a century. “For 100 years, Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood have captured the hearts and imaginations of readers around the world,” he said.
Gold added that the collection celebrates Milne’s enduring stories and Shepard’s iconic illustrations, which have introduced generations of children to the adventures of the famous bear. He expressed hope that the stamps would bring back fond memories for longtime fans while encouraging new readers to discover the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh.
The anniversary also highlights the connection between A. A. Milne and Cambridge University’s Trinity College, where both the author and his son, Christopher Robin Milne, studied.
Milne graduated from Trinity College Cambridge in 1903 with a degree in mathematics. During his time at Cambridge, he contributed to the student magazine Granta and played cricket and football.
After graduating, Milne joined Punch magazine, where he developed his career as a writer and went on to produce numerous plays and novels. However, it was his four children’s books, illustrated by Shepard, that brought him lasting international fame.
Those stories transformed Pooh, famously described as a “Bear of Very Little Brain”, into a household name and also brought widespread attention to Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, whose name became inseparable from the magical world of the Hundred Acre Wood.
A century after the book’s publication, Royal Mail’s commemorative collection celebrates not only a literary milestone but also the lasting appeal of characters whose adventures continue to delight readers of all ages.

Question 3

World Post Day exhibition celebrates history, heroes and communication

Accepted Answer

KATHMANDU: From connecting communities across borders to preserving history through stamps, the postal service&#8217;s enduring role was in focus at a philatelic exhibition organised on Friday to mark World Post Day and the 152nd anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
The department released five postage stamps across three issues, each with a denomination of Rs 10. The stamps honour Nepal’s historical figures and military heroes while commemorating a milestone in modern communication.
The day-long exhibition featured 14 frames of postal materials from 10 collectors. Scroll down for more photos. © Arun Krishna Pradhan, Kishor Sharma, Rameswor Man Karmacharya and Suman Malla
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Bikram Timilsina, the chief guest, inaugurated the exhibition and viewed collections displayed by members of the Nepal Philatelic Society (NPS). Ten collectors showcased 14 frames of their postal items on the UPU and other themes. The minister also applied first-day cancellations to stamp covers, marking the formal release of the new issues.
Addressing the gathering, Timilsina said the government was working to restructure the postal service to make it faster, more convenient and reliable. He stressed the need for results-driven efforts to modernise the sector. “The postal service has a rich history, but we must also focus on its future by transforming it into a modern, reliable and citizen-centric service.”
Two of the new stamp sets, issued under the personality series, honour Bishe Nagarchi and Bange Sarki for their contributions to Nepal’s history. National Dalit Commission Chairman Devraj Bishwakarma said the stamps recognise the Dalit community’s historical role in nation-building.

Nagarchi is remembered for his role during Nepal’s unification under King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Historical accounts describe him as a musician and adviser who is believed to have helped mobilise financial resources and boost soldiers’ morale through music.
Sarki, meanwhile, is remembered for his patriotism and courage. Around 1866 BS, while working in India, he reportedly refused an attempt by British forces to recruit him as a spy to facilitate an invasion of Nepal. Despite promises of wealth and luxury, he stood his ground and was arrested, tortured and killed. His inclusion alongside Nagarchi highlights efforts to recognise historical figures whose contributions have received limited attention.
The second set honours two Nepali Gurkha soldiers, Kulbir Thapa Magar and Karna Bahadur Rana Magar, who received the Victoria Cross for gallantry during the First World War (1914–1918).

Thapa Magar became the first Nepali recipient of Britain’s highest award for gallantry for his actions in France in September 1915. Despite being wounded, he rescued injured British and Gurkha soldiers under enemy fire.
Rana Magar received the Victoria Cross for his actions at El Kelfr, Egypt, on April 10, 1918. Aged just 19, he took over a Lewis gun after its operator was shot and helped neutralise an enemy machine-gun position despite intense fire. Both soldiers survived the war and later returned to Nepal.
British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn welcomed the recognition of the Gurkha soldiers, noting their valour while fighting for Britain against Germany during the war.
He also expressed interest in the third commemorative issue, which marks the centenary of Scottish inventor John Logie Baird’s public demonstration of television in London on January 26, 1926. Baird’s pioneering experiments helped lay the groundwork for television broadcasting.
The department also felicitated three Nepal Philatelic Society members for their achievements in international philately. Dr Ashok Rana received a gold medal at the Dubai 2026 World Stamp Exhibition in February for his collection, “Perkins, Bacon Issues for Nepal 1907–1935”. Rishi Tulsyan won a gold medal at the MACAO 2026 Specialized World Stamp Exhibition in June for his exhibit, “Postal Stationery of Nepal (1887–1950)”. Shyam Nhuchhe Pradhan was recognised for his service as an international philatelic jury member.
In her closing remarks, Postal Services Director General Manmaya Bhattarai Pangeni called for the modernisation of postal services to improve public access. She thanked postal workers for their contributions and said the department was proud to honour prominent national and international figures through commemorative stamps marking World Post Day.
You might also like: Nepal’s postal network makes leap from mail to public service

Question 4

Linn’s Stamp News returns to print after two-year hiatus

Accepted Answer

Linn’s Stamp News resumed its weekly print edition on Oct 5, 2026, after a two-year hiatus. The paper’s 5,000th issue in Aug 2024 marked the end of its 97-year run in print, as it transitioned to an exclusively digital format.
Jay Bigalke, president and CEO of Scott Stamp LLC, which acquired Linn’s and the Scott publishing brands in 2025, announced the relaunch on Aug 8, saying the company had spent its first year stabilising operations and strengthening its editorial team.
“These publications deserved not only to survive, but to grow,” Bigalke wrote in a publisher’s note.
The return coincides with National Stamp Collecting Month and restores weekly print coverage of stamp news, auctions, new issues and expert commentary.
Annual print subscriptions are priced at $99. The first 2,500 subscribers were offered numbered Founding Subscriber Certificates commemorating the publication’s return.
Scott Stamp LLC also publishes Scott Stamp Monthly and the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. Bigalke credited readers and advertisers with supporting the relaunch, describing the return to print as part of the company’s commitment to the philatelic community.

Suman Malla

Journalist

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