My name is Gary Smith, based in Somerset in the United Kingdom. I am 43 and work as a manager for a major brewery. I have been selling Naval covers on Ebay since March 2006. I focus mainly on The Royal Navy, with a good number of covers that record history from World War Two. I am always listing interesting items from World War One to the present day.  I started listing photographs in the Autumn of 2006, as I was being asked many times for items. I have over 200 pictures listed and have many more in stock. If you do not see what you are looking for, then just drop me a line and I will see if I have in stock and will help as much as possible. Most items are listed in our Ebay shop . .this allows many items ot be listed for longer periods, allowing people to find what they are looking for. During 2006 I sold nearly 2000 items to people all around the world, ranging from here in the UK, to Hong Kong, China, Australia, America, Brazil, The Falklands and many many countries around Europe. I keep all of my prices sensible but ensure that the post and packing service is second to none. I know what it feels like to order something and it turns up damaged through poor packing and takes a long time to arrive. Take a look at the feedback score and look at the amount of feedback that has been left overall . . most people that purchase something come back again and again. I pride myself on this level of service . . after all, you are only as good as your reputation when selling on the internet and to discerning collectors or ex service people that know their information and know exactly what they are looking for.

My late father, Leslie Ronald Smith (Les) born 1940 and served in the Royal Navy for a number of years, with HMS Cumberland as his main ship. He used to collect these items. For many years his items sat in an attic and then after he died they sat in my garage for many years. I did not want to sell them, as I knew he spent such a long time collecting them, but after nearly 8 years in poor storage, time and weather conditions took effect and most of the items were either damaged or justed rotted with damp. I took them to a dealer and sold them off in bulk, for not a good amount of money because of thier condition, which was only fair, then giving the money to the RNLI, which made good sense and felt appropriate. It was then that I talked with the dealer, realised their was a demand for these items and became fascinated with the history of some of the battle of the Royal Navy and other services. That was it, I became hooked as both a buyer, collector and seller.

My father was a member of the Marriott Naval Covers association and the Royal Navy Philatelic Society. After leaving the Navy, he lived and worked all of his life in Derby. He worked at Rolls Royce and made many friends and contacts through the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust and the groups mentioned above. I would love to hear from anyone that used to correspond ar traded with my dad, as I know he had a wide network of contacts and friends involved in collecting Naval items.