When was the PTS founded?

The Philatelic Traders Society was founded in 1929.

What does PTS membership guarantee?

That a dealer has been vetted and follows the Society's code of conduct: no forgeries sold as genuine, no hidden faults, accurate description, and disputes taken up by the Society itself.

Is Blackheath Stamps a member of the PTS?

Yes. Blackheath Stamps is a PTS member and displays the PTS shield on its listings.

Stampex International is the PTS's stamp exhibition, Europe's largest, held twice a year in London.

Accreditation

What Is the PTS (Philatelic Traders Society)?

The Philatelic Traders Society (PTS) is the principal trade body for stamp dealers, established in 1929. Every member is independently vetted and must abide by a strict code of conduct: forgeries are never knowingly sold as genuine, faults and repairs are never hidden, and stamps must be described accurately. Should a dispute ever arise, the Society itself steps in to resolve it. Blackheath Stamps is a PTS member, which is why you will see the PTS shield on our listings.

At a glance

Full nameThe Philatelic Traders' Society

Founded1929

TypeInternational trade body for philatelic dealers

Members mustBe vetted and follow a strict code of conduct

Benefit to buyersA guarantee of integrity, with disputes taken up by the Society

Known forOrganising Stampex International, and the "look for the shield" mark

Our statusPTS member since 2020

What the PTS is

The Philatelic Traders Society, usually shortened to the PTS, is the leading trade association for stamp dealers and philatelic professionals. Established in 1929, it now describes itself as the international society for philatelic professionals, with members ranging from major auction houses to specialist dealers, in the United Kingdom and around the world. Its purpose is to uphold standards across the stamp trade, for the benefit of collectors and of the hobby as a whole.

What membership means

PTS membership is not automatic. Applicants must provide references, which are checked, and each is approved by the PTS Council before being admitted. Once a member, a dealer agrees to abide by the Society's code of conduct, which sets out in plain terms what honest dealing requires.

Forgeries are never knowingly sold as genuine
Faulty or repaired stamps are never passed off as perfect
The condition of a stamp's gum is never misdescribed
Buyers are never misled as to quantity, quality or catalogue value
Stamps are never promoted as financial investments

Why it matters to you as a buyer

For a buyer, the value of the PTS is straightforward: it turns trust into something enforceable. Complaints and disputes between collectors and members are taken up by the Society itself, a protection it calls its Guarantee of Integrity. This is why the PTS encourages collectors to look for the shield. The PTS shield on a dealer's website or listings is a sign that the dealer has been vetted and is bound by the code.

Look for the shield.

The Philatelic Traders Society

The PTS and Stampex

Stampex

The PTS is also the organiser of Stampex International, Europe's largest stamp exhibition, held twice a year in London. It has run for around seventy years and brings together dealers, societies and collectors from across the world, alongside an online Virtual Stampex. For a collector, it is one of the clearest signs of the role the Society plays at the centre of the hobby.

Blackheath Stamps and the PTS

As a PTS member, Blackheath Stamps works to that same code on every stamp we sell. The PTS is one of three bodies we belong to, alongside the Internet Philatelic Dealers Association and the Great Britain Philatelic Society, and a large part of why you can buy from us with confidence.

You can verify our PTS membership in the Society's member directory.

Frequently asked questions

The PTS, or Philatelic Traders Society, is the principal trade body for stamp dealers, established in 1929. Its members are vetted and bound by a strict code of conduct.