Table of Contents
QSL Bureau Stamps Exhibition
Curated and introduced by Sue Vernall.
Overview
My interest in and collecting of QSL stamps dates from 2006 but it is only in the last 10 years the interest was rekindled and collecting accelerated. The first version of a 16-page collection was shown to the Otago Radio Club at a December 2021 meeting.
Next shown in the Cinderella class at a NZ philatelic exhibition in 2022 and awarded a gold medal. This updated exhibit of 32 pages was shown at The Brisbane Stamp & Coin Show August 2026 and awarded a gold medal.
Information was gleaned from a few websites showing scanned images of QSL bureau stamps (see exhibit references p1). I am not aware of any written reference material regarding QSL stamps, except an article published by Japan’s CQ Ham Radio Journal, April 2025, p144-149. I supplied the QSL stamp images, text is in Japanese.
QSL exhibit in Cinderella class i.e. stamps not issued for postage payment by postal authority. Exhibit organized into the 3 IARU regions, then alphabetically by country. Some countries have more than one amateur radio organisation but only one can belong to IARU and represent their particular country.
The exhibit shows variations in QSL stamp design, paper colour and stamp colour for a particular country over time e.g. 11 different examples for Venezuela. Usually, QSL stamps have no monetary value printed on them. In earlier times three amateur radio societies issued QSL stamps with a printed value – Belgium 10c from 1926, Germany 20 Pfg in 1947 and Switzerland 3c in 1934.
Note: Most QSL stamps are on reverse side of cards. Not every QSL card from a country using QSL stamps bears one. Husband Bob ZL2CA and I have searched a very large number of QSL cards to compile the collection of stamps. Searching, (mostly web based sale sites) continues for elusive stamps.
Philatelic terms
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Perforated | A series of holes cut in the paper to facilitate separation of stamps |
| Imperforate | no perforations |
| Misperforation | the perforations are actually in the stamp |
| Rouletted | slit shaped perforations |
| Gummed | moistened to affix |
| Self-adhesive | peel off an adhesive backing paper |
Sue Vernall
Sue Vernall is a Past President of Wellington Philatelic Society, a member since the mid1980s. who has exhibited philatelic and postcard exhibits both nationally and internationally.
Sue has also written and published in 2022 a centennial history of the Wellington Philatelic Society Medals from USA, Sharjah, NZ and Thailand awarded in 2023 philatelic literature exhibitions.
In her own words, Sue sums up her interest as follows:
“My philatelic exhibits cover the subjects of Kenya, Uganda & Tanganyika (KUT) Postal History 1933-1961, KUT Airmails 1945-1970, David Livingstone, Amateur Radio and Cheese. Postcard exhibits are of Salisbury (UK), Salisbury Plain WW1 (Villages, Army & Royal Flying Corps) and William Brown, Salisbury philatelic dealer & artist – cards depicting his local sketches.
I am a national philatelic judge and have during the last 20 years held numerous voluntary responsibilities in NZ philatelic administration including membership and sales manager of the organising committees of four NZ national exhibitions, the last March 2025, and one 2023 NZ international exhibition. I have now retired from philatelic administration”.
Scanned images last updated: September 2026