Meet PTS Member, Daniel Matthews Stamps

Daniel Matthews Stamps joined the PTS in July 2026. We asked the Rep, Daniel Matthews some questions so that you can get to know him, and the service he can provide you as a collector.

Daniel Matthews is a specialist dealer, author and researcher focusing principally on Great Britain’s imperforate Penny Reds.

Daniel has spent more than 20 years collecting, studying, plating and selling these fascinating stamps. During that time, he has examined approximately 30,000 examples and built a research database containing around 10,000 individually documented stamps.

He is the author of Imperforate Penny Reds: A Guide to Collecting, Plating and Valuing, written to bring together a complex and sometimes scattered field in a form that is accessible to collectors. The book received a Silver Medal at EuroPhilEx Birmingham 2025.

Through Daniel Matthews Stamps, Daniel offers carefully researched and plated stamps, varieties and postal history, as well as Penny Red expertising and Philatelic Opinion certificates. His approach is based on accurate identification, clear descriptions and helping collectors understand and enjoy the material they buy.

Daniel is currently researching a major new work on the Penny Black and Two Pence Blue and is delighted to join the PTS community.

Tell us about your philatelic journey

I have been collecting, studying and selling stamps for more than 20 years. Although I have always had a broader interest in the classic stamps of Great Britain, the imperforate Penny Reds gradually became my principal specialism.

What initially attracted me was the extraordinary amount of information contained in what can, at first sight, appear to be a fairly ordinary stamp. The position of the check letters, small features of the design, guide lines, plate wear, repairs and constant flaws can all help identify the plate and exact sheet position from which a stamp originated.

Over the years I have examined approximately 30,000 examples and individually documented around 10,000 stamps in my research database. That practical exposure has been central both to my own learning and to the development of Daniel Matthews Stamps.

Why did you choose to specialise in imperforate Penny Reds?

They offer almost unlimited scope for study while remaining accessible to collectors with very different interests and budgets.

A collector might build a straightforward plate collection, study cancellations, look for shades and paper varieties, collect pairs or covers, reconstruct a sheet, or investigate individual plate repairs and re-entries. There is always another level to explore.

I also enjoy the fact that the subject rewards patient observation. A stamp that initially appears unremarkable may prove to be a difficult plate, an unusual state or a particularly attractive example once it has been properly examined.

What does “plating” a Penny Red mean?

Each sheet contained 240 stamps arranged in 20 rows of 12. The two check letters identify a stamp’s position on the sheet, but they do not directly identify the printing plate.

Plating involves comparing the individual characteristics of a stamp with reference material in order to establish the plate from which it was printed. The positions and shapes of the check letters are important, but so are guide lines, corner features, frame lines, constant flaws, plate wear and evidence of repair.

It can look intimidating because of the large number of plates and positions involved, but it becomes much more manageable when approached methodically.

What led you to write your book?

A great deal of excellent specialist information already existed, but much of it was spread between catalogues, articles, websites and older reference works. When I began learning to plate Penny Reds, it took me years to understand how those different sources fitted together.

I wanted to produce the guide I would have found useful when I started: something that explained the history of the stamps, the main collecting systems, practical plating methods, varieties, cancellations, condition and valuation in one place.

The purpose was not to remove the challenge from collecting, because that challenge is part of the pleasure. It was to give collectors a clearer route into the subject and help them make progress with confidence.

What can collectors expect from Daniel Matthews Stamps?

My principal focus is on accurately identified imperforate Penny Reds, ranging from accessible examples for newer collectors to scarcer plates, varieties, pairs, cancellations and postal history.

I try to provide clear descriptions that explain why a stamp is interesting, rather than relying only on a catalogue number. Where a stamp is sold as plated, that plating is supported by a full money-back guarantee.

I also provide Penny Red expertising through signed and numbered Philatelic Opinion certificates. These include a photograph and a clear statement of my opinion on matters such as plating, identity, variety and condition.

Above all, I want collectors to feel that they understand what they are buying and can ask questions openly.

What principles are most important to you as a philatelic trader?

Accuracy, transparency and respect for the collector.

Specialist philately inevitably involves areas in which opinions can differ or new evidence can emerge. It is therefore important to distinguish between what is certain, what is a reasoned opinion and what remains unresolved.

I also believe that sharing knowledge strengthens the market rather than weakening it. An informed collector is more likely to buy confidently, recognise good material and remain engaged with the hobby.

What are you currently working on?

I am researching and writing a substantial new reference work on the Penny Black and Two Pence Blue.

The project looks beyond the familiar story of the world’s first adhesive postage stamps and examines the postal reforms, design development, engraving, paper, inks, plate production and practical implementation that made the first issue possible.

It involves bringing together the established philatelic literature with more recent technical and archival research. It is a much larger undertaking than my first book, but a particularly rewarding one.

Why was joining the PTS important to you?

Trust is fundamental in philately, particularly when collectors may be buying remotely or entering an unfamiliar specialist field.

The PTS Shield provides visible reassurance, but membership also means becoming part of a wider community committed to professional standards, education and the long-term health of the hobby.

I am looking forward to contributing specialist content, supporting collectors and working alongside other traders and organisations that share those values.

What advice would you give someone beginning a specialist collection?

Choose an area that genuinely interests you and take it one stage at a time.

There is no need to understand every plate, variety or technical term at the outset. Start with a manageable objective, compare as many examples as possible, keep careful notes and use mistakes as part of the learning process.

Most importantly, ask questions. Philately has an exceptionally generous community of collectors and specialists, and much of what I have learned has come from discussions with people who were willing to share their knowledge.

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Visit the Daniel Matthews Stamps website: https://danielmatthewsstamps.co.uk/

Daniel Matthews Stamps on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/danielmatthewsstamps

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