In early November, Great Britain’s Royal Mail announced the subjects for its 2016 commemorative stamps. The program will start Jan. 7 with an issue devoted to Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, also known as the Endurance Expedition, of 1914-16.

The Royal Philatelic Society London learned all about the stamps of the Spanish Antilles from Yamil Kuori during the society's November 12 meeting.

Ideally, we must find ways to encourage more people to move from the stamp accumulator category to the enthusiast category. That being the case, two questions arise: How do we promote philately to a wider audiences and attract men, women, and children of all ages? How can we help ensure this great hobby continues in the digital age?

On Nov. 25, 1915, Albert Einstein presented his paper The Field Equations of Gravitation to the Prussian Academy of Sciences. This paper contained the equations for his general theory of relativity. Hungary issued a stamp Sept. 7 commemorating the 100th anniversary of this presentation.

The Times of India is reporting that collectors will soon have an opportunity to put their selfie on a stamp. The ‘My Stamp’ facility, which will handle the photos, will be open by the end of the year.

The historic postal building in Copenhagen, Denmark, which until this year housed the country’s oldest post office and its popular Post and Tele Museum, has been sold and is being converted into a complex of shops and offices.

On April 30, 1999, Gabon issued a set of four Mushroom stamps (Scott 951A-951D) and a souvenir sheet of four (951De). The stamp set is readily available and inexpensive, but the souvenir sheet is uncommon and difficult to find.

Japan will introduce a new series of stamps Nov. 27 featuring night views of cities and towns in that country. The first set in the series comprises 10 se-tenant (side-by-side) 80-yen stamps in a pane.

Linn’s Stamp News has been named the official show daily publisher for World Stamp Show-NY 2016. As the official show daily publisher, Linn’s will publish three daily newspapers at the show: on Monday, May 30; Tuesday, May 31; and Thursday, June 2.

The United Kingdom's premier philatelic show is celebrating its diamond anniversary during the Feb. 17-20, 2016, exhibition.

Monaco’s Office des Timbres will issue an engraved stamp featuring Princess Charlene Dec. 3. Designed by Stefanie Van Zyl and engraved by Elsa Catelin, the €1.60 stamp will show a portrait of the princess with a bouquet of proteas, the national flower of South Africa in the background.

A stamp pane that can be folded into the shape of a Chinese wedding sedan chair is a newest creative issue from the Kingdom of Tonga. The sedan chair was a special transportation vehicle in ancient China, used especially to bring the bride to the groom’s home on the wedding day.

By this time 175 years ago, Great Britain’s grand experiment in drastically changing its historic postal system was a reality, rather than just the dream of Rowland Hill, a teacher turned social reformer.

Also this week, readers were interested in a set of four unissued Germany semipostal stamps that realized about $80,500 at Schlegel sale, and a United States 1851 1¢, type Ib, that realized $7,073 at a Sam Houston Philatelics September auction.

Great Britain’s Royal Mail issued four new designs for computer-produced, self-adhesive postage labels Nov. 16. Titled Winter Fur and Feathers, the set of four pictures animals in the winter. Royal Mail calls such labels “post & go.”

This new regular column on Nordic philately will cover the stamps and postal history of the entire Nordic area: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Sometimes this area is labeled Scandinavia, but this is not entirely correct. Scandinavia comprises Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Young stamp enthusiasts have a chance to see their design printed on an international stamp, thanks to Korea Post.

A presentation from the Royal Philatelic Society London on Oct. 29 was based around Scottish stamps from the years 1591 to 1711.

Having always appreciated all things stained glass, New Zealand Post's contribution to the season, issued Nov. 4, caught my eye.

In 1971, Hong Kong issued a set of two Domestic Pig stamps (Scott 260-261) for the Lunar New Year astrological sign of the boar. We last tipped this set in the Dec. 28, 2009, Stamp Market Tips, but it is time to tip it again.