We're fortunate to be seeing quite a lot of activity in our articles section. It's nice to see such excellent research being posted, and it's also nice to see people being so creative with their layouts.

We've got three new ones up this week – you owe it to yourselves to read them all!

Weeds in Your Collection by Nelson Laviolette

Nelson has posted what promises to be the first in a series of articles on pre-1920 forgeries, beginning here with Antigua. He's really gone above and beyond with detailed illustrations, including side-by-side comparisons of genuine and forged stamps. There's some great historical perspective here, and beyond the stamps presented, the article will really help you start thinking like a stamp sleuth yourself.

A Dangerous and Startling Thing... A humorous introduction to stamp discussion boards by Leon Lutje

For the new stamp collector the online discussion board can seem a "dangerous and startling" thing. Fear not. This tongue-in-cheek romp will get you ready to jump in at the deep end and join the conversation.

The Many Faces of Stamp Collecting Merit Badges and Awards by Steve Swain.

Around the world there are at least 520 national or regional Scouting associations encompassing 38 million Scouts and Guides – who knew! Here veteran SOR author gives an overview of the stamp collecting merit badges and awards that youth can achieve in the Scout and Scout-like organizations, letting us know that stamp collecting is alive and well with a new generation coming up through the ranks.

Thanks as always to our many fine authors for your vital contribution to making SOR the best stamp collecting site on the Web.