Stanley Gibbons Group Limited
21 May 2004


STANLEY GIBBONS LIMITED,
399 Strand, London WC2R 0LX
Est 1856

NEWS RELEASE

21 May 2004

For immediate release

STANLEY GIBBONS LAUNCHES SEMINARS ON INVESTMENT IN STAMPS

In response to a surge in demand for information on alternative investments and
with prices for 'classic' rare stamps hitting new highs, Stanley Gibbons is
launching a series of free seminars on investment in rare stamps and other
portable collectables.

Aimed at both investors and IFAs, the seminars will highlight the merits of
stamps and collectables as alternatives to traditional equity based investments
and guide them in how to put together a portfolio of top quality, investment
grade items, to achieve the maximum return.

At a time when stock markets are performing so erratically and many investors
have lost faith with conventional investments, stamps are receiving more than
their fair share of attention, not only from investors but from IFAs, who are
seeking new products for an increasingly demanding client base. Interest has
been fuelled by the long-term stability of a truly international market, the
solid collector base -estimated to number some 30 million worldwide- and the
fact that stamps offer a 'portability' superior to other potential investments.

Prices Continue to Rise

As any philatelist will tell you, the prices being asked and paid for specialist
stamps and covers provides plenty of evidence that the financial future for
stamps is very good indeed. The SG100 Stamp Price Index, which provides an
objective measure of market performance, showed a cumulative increase of 15% in
2003, with the Great Britain section up nearly 20%. The trend has continued
upwards - in April 2004 the cumulative increase since 1997 breached the 50%
barrier at 50.2%. Individual classic items have shown even more impressive
performance. For instance, a superb example of the Great Britain 1872 #1
Brown-lilac in used condition, catalogued at #3750 in 2000, now sells for #7500,
a rise of 100% in 4 years.

Specialist Advice

As with any investment product, potential investors and their advisors need
specialist advice and guidance before embarking on an investment in a portfolio
of rare stamps or other collectables. The seminars, which are free, will be
conducted by specialists from Stanley Gibbons and will cover all aspects of the
investment process including selection, quality and storage. They will be held
initially at Stanley Gibbons' world famous showroom at 399 Strand, London WC2
and it is planned to take the seminars around the UK and to selected venues
overseas. The first two seminars are fixed for:

WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE 2004 at 399 Strand
IFA Seminar - 1pm
Investors Seminar - 6pm

TUESDAY 22 JUNE 2004 at 399 Strand
IFA Seminar - 1pm
Investors Seminar - 6pm

Full details can be found on the Company's website, www.stanleygibbons.com

Richard Purkis, Director, comments: 'The launch of the seminars by Stanley
Gibbons is another step in the development of rare stamps and collectables as an
alternative investment which should be seriously considered by investors and
their advisors. They should encourage more investors to choose stamps as a means
of diversifying their investments and achieving the returns that they have
failed to obtain from traditional investing routes in recent years.'

                                      ends


For further information, please contact:

Richard Purkis - Director                    Telephone: 020 7557 4428
                                             Email: rpurkis@stanleygibbons.co.uk

Adrian Roose - Investment Manager            Telephone: 020 7557 4454
                                             Email: aroose@stanleygibbons.co.uk

Michael Hall - Chief Executive               Telephone: 01425 472363


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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