In December’s Stamp Collector, we celebrate the birth centenary of the most prolific and renowned stamp engraver of all time, Czesław Słania. Our extensive guide to his life and work details some of the hundreds of stamps he engraved over the years, whilst we also celebrate the new stamps being issued this year to mark what would have been his 100^th birthday.

We also look back to the 1880s, when stamp collecting came of age and earned its place as a respected pastime; profile classic stamp sets including a colourful Japanese animation series and Italy’s pre-war pictorials; and take another trip to the Museum of Philately to examine a legendary stamp and meet another eminent philatelist.

All this, plus news, views, price updates, collecting tips and much more.