Iain Murphy has been elected Chairman of the Philatelic Traders’ Society (PTS), becoming the 22nd Chairman of the 98-year-old international philatelic trade body.
Iain Murphy has most recently served as Vice Chair of the PTS and is CEO of Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s based out of London and Singapore. Iain’s career in philately spans over 20 years working in both the retail and auction space as well as in publications, digital product development, as well as other collectables categories.
Iain Murphy says: “It is a great privilege to have been elected Chairman of the PTS. I would like to thank Simon Carson for all the effort and work that has gone into the past 5 years and for handing over a strong Society and a Stampex brand with so much to build on.”
Iain brings some key principles to his Chairmanship of the PTS and will work with the PTS Council to develop these principles into projects with clear priorities and measurable results – to achieve greater collector confidence in the trade, more people taking up and staying in the hobby, and tangible value for PTS members.
Three principles will guide Iain’s approach.
Strengthen the value of membership through collector confidence:
Serving our members and earning collectors’ trust go hand in hand. I want the PTS Shield to carry real weight in decisions about whom to buy from, sell through or turn to for advice, wherever people encounter the trade. We must make the integrity, expertise and accountability behind the Shield clearly understood, supported by high standards that apply equally to every member and meaningful consequences when those standards are not met.
Bring new people into the hobby: Attracting new audiences is essential to our philately’s future. Building on the strengths of Stampex, we should be ambitious about how our events – both those we organised and those we support – evolve and give more people a reason to attend. There is an opportunity to connect with the wider collecting community and introduce people with a passion for other collectables to the appeal of philately. Alongside stronger marketing, we need experiences that spark curiosity, make collecting feel exciting and accessible, and encourage people to return. Grassroots philately is vital to the long-term future of the hobby.
Lead through collaboration: The PTS should take a leading role in shaping the future of philately, bringing together the trade, societies, exhibition organisers, and collectors. We will work closely with partners and organisations as well as other exhibition organisers who share our commitment to integrity and growing the hobby, welcome different perspectives, and can turn shared ambitions into practical action.
Simon Carson proudly hands over the baton, saying, “The hobby continues to evolve rapidly. It is critical that the PTS serves philately in the best possible way. After five years as Chair, I am confident that now is the right time to proudly hand over the baton to Iain. With 20 years in the trade, Iain’s experience covers dealing, auctions, publications, and technology, marketing, and management. He travels widely, his clients are diverse, and he has experts in all fields working around him on a daily basis. Iain delivers, and like me, he loves philately and is passionate about wanting the PTS to succeed and make a real difference.”
We look forward to sharing more on our plans and progress in due course.
For more information about the PTS Council, please visit: thepts.net/council
For further press information, more images, photography, or quotes please email marketing@thepts.net
About The Philatelic Traders’ Society
Formed in 1928 by a group of established stamp dealers, The Philatelic Traders’ Society was created to act for and on behalf of its members for the good of philately. With a Code of Ethics and a service for dispute resolution, The Philatelic Traders’ Society is regarded as a reputable organisation within the industry, upholding the values of honesty and integrity. The PTS also organises Stampex at the Business Design Centre in London, and the annual Virtual Stampex online event. www.thepts.net