In recent years, social media has become a primary space for communication among collectors. Unfortunately, this has also led to a troubling trend — the spread of unverified claims and personal opinions presented as “expertise” by individuals with no proven qualifications or documented research.

Such behaviour causes serious harm to Bulgarian philately. When unsubstantiated statements are published in public groups without evidence, without scientific argumentation, and without reference to reliable sources, this undermines the credibility of the entire community. As a result, not only individual collectors suffer, but also the international image of Bulgaria as a country with a rich philatelic tradition and respected researchers.

True philatelic expertise is built on evidence, documentation, catalogued data, and established methodology. Every professional researcher understands that a claim has value only when supported by facts, archival materials, or authoritative references. Any other opinion presented as “truth” is merely a personal interpretation — and when spread unchecked, it misleads collectors, especially beginners.

This behaviour damages the reputation of honest philatelists, who invest years of work, resources, and knowledge into their collections and publications. It devalues the efforts of those who follow international FIP standards and creates false impressions about the level of Bulgarian philately in the eyes of foreign experts.

Philately is a scientific discipline, not a platform for personal conflicts or self‑appointed “authorities.” Therefore, it is essential for every collector, researcher, and editor to uphold the principles of evidence‑based philately — to publish only verified information, to cite sources, and to respect the work of others.

Only through ethics, transparency, and professionalism can we protect and strengthen the authority of Bulgarian philately — both at home and internationally.