There are many problems with the way the Michel catalogue conducts it's affairs.

Over the next few weeks we will analyse why so many illegal stamps are maintained as entries in the catalogue while so many legal stamps are excluded.

Instead of being an objective, independent and reliable source of information on what can be considered as genuine stamps by collectors, it would appear that the catalogue has degenerated into a lottery.

Stamps are listed which are known to be illegal because of certain dealers personal friendship with the catalogue compiler, Wolfgang Maier. The most notable example is the owner of Impressor S.A., Sako Khatchikian, who continued to print stamps for Madagascar in 1999 when his contract had run out in 1997. Naturally, these illegal stamps are listed in the Michel catalogue.

Meanwhile, the UPU continues to issue directives against these criminals and Mr. Maier ignores them as well.