Robert Murray Stamp Shop, Edinburgh
Established 1977
Retail shop, auctioneers, mail order
www.stamp-shop.com


Harry Potter
   - illegal stamps !		 uk-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-cover


Warning; There are some items being offered on the market as "stamps" showing Harry Potter *, but which are not in fact real stamps. To the best of our knowledge, all such productions from Abhkazia, Buriata, Karelia, Chuviashia, and the like are what are described in the philatelic world as "illegals". Illegals are labels (not stamps), which are produced by people who have no authority from the country named on the labels, and who normally ignore such niceties as copyright and intellectual property. They normally pick on countries (or areas/provinces, etc.) which do not have the financial ability to take international legal action.
If you know exactly what they are and still decide to buy them, then that is your choice. But don't expect anybody in the future to recognise them as postage stamps. And don't expect to be able to sell them for anything more than a laughable sum.
[* The same applies to many issues of film stars, pop and rock bands, golfers, and so on.]
komi illegal harry potter sheet For example, the item shown here purports to be a sheet of stamps from the Republic of Komi.
Komi is an area in the east of the Russian Federation. It is not independent (it uses Russian stamps). It is not a member of the Universal Postal Union. The "stamps" are not valid for postage within Komi, or anywhere else. The printing of these has not been authorised by any relevant body in Komi or in Russia.
Have a look at this AskPhil page for a big list of similar territories.
(Or here's another page from AskPhil which shows the concern caused in Mauretania.)

These "illegal stamps" are quite a problem in the philatelic world. Initially they seemed like a bit of fun, but they are diverting money away from the post offices of some countries which desperately need funds, abusing the copyrights of many people (some of whom can easily afford it, and shouldn't care, others who could use the income). It is also likely that many of the people who collect such items will some day realise their folly. They will hopefully blame themselves or the perpetrators. I'd rather they didn't blame the countries named, or stamp collectors in general, or stamp dealers.



Just do a Google for "illegal stamps", or try some of the so-called country names, and see what comes up !
But just to confuse things, there are some sites such as "Stamp Scandal" which while appearing to be opposed to illegals are reputed to be involved in their own !

 
There are various legal postage stamps of Harry Potter subjects, including Great Britain, France, Australia, Isle of Man.

Robert Murray Stamp Shop, 5 & 6 Inverleith Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 5PU. Tel 0131 552 1220. Email murray@stamp-shop.com
Page last updated Wednesday 18 July 2007. Copyright Robert Murray 2007.
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Robert Murray Stamp Shop, Edinburgh
Established 1977
Retail shop, auctioneers, mail order
www.stamp-shop.com


* "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", and various other connected names, are trademarks of, or copyrighted by, Warner Bros., Bloomsbury, or JK Rowling.