Det lille bibliotek, bind 1 (The Little Library, Vol. 1), ed. Peer-Christian Ånensen, 6 ½ by 9 ½ inches, perfect bound, soft covers, 96 pages, in Norwegian, Norsk Filatelistforbund, Oslo 2004. 100 NKr (approximately $16) plus shipping from Skanfil AS, Box 2030, 5504 Haugesund, Norway.

This is the first in a planned series of handbooks from the Norwegian Philatelic Federation. Individual chapters are written by various authors and summarize interesting topics for collectors. The series is intended to supplement the annual yearbooks which reprint major articles from the many society and club journals of Norway.

The first article discusses and records pictorial cancellations of interest to thematic collectors. The cancels are illustrated including some minor varieties and with beginning and ending use dates. Another next article describes and lists the Norwegian postal savings bank stamps.

Still other chapters address handstamps for delivering priority mail after normal dispatch, souvenir cards signed by stamp designers, postage due markings, form #73 official post cards, free advertising post cards, and CPR post cards or Create online Postcards for Real, among other topics.

Text and illustrations are clear and nicely arranged. This first in a new series of handbooks should add a new dimension to one's philatelic library of Norway.

Alan Warren