AIRCRAFT - Stanley Gibbons Collect Aircraft on Stamps 2009.

Published by Stanley Gibbons. 291pp. Colour. English.

Inc miniature sheets, officials, special delivery,;aircraft type index,;chronology of aviation events and anniversaries

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Philatelic Exporter review, courtesy of David Rennie (May 2009):

The first edition of this title was published before I even began writing the book reviews for the Exporter: 1994 to be precise. When I began collecting stamps, some sixty years ago, Aircraft was one of the most collected categories in the school playground, so it is surprising that it has taken SG so long.

Well, it was worth waiting for.; This edition is now in full colour, runs to 290 A4 catalogue pages, including 33 pages with detailed indexing, and benefits by being edited not only by a keen philatelist, but someone who has a particular expertise with aircraft; that of recognition - Ian Hamilton.

There are now over 24,000 stamps listed, including miniature sheets, and somewhere between five and six thousand illustrations. Headings and descriptions have been improved, including aircraft identification details not shown on the stamp itself, where possible.

Countries are listed in alphabetical order, based on the Stamps of the World simplified listings, with the stamps in chronological order within.; Prices are given for mint to 1946, un-mounted mint thereafter, and fine used. It is worth emphasising that this an Aircraft catalogue, and therefore does not include those Air Mail stamps without an aircraft in their design, nor does it include space ships or hovercraft.

There is a Chronology of Aviation Events and Anniversaries.; The comprehensive Classification Index by Aircraft Builder or type leads to the very detailed Sectional Index. The Sectional Index then breaks down in about forty smaller categories under eleven main headings, such as Forerunners, which includes Balloons, Zeppelins, Gliders etc;; Civil Aircraft split between pre and post 1939; Seaplanes & Flying Boats; Military Aircraft sub-divided into bombers, Fighters, Trainers etc and including now Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Helicopters; Model Aircraft; Airports, and even Aircraft Overprints.