Philatelic News

Thursday, July 15, 2010

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

New issues: New Yealand - "2010 Personalised Stamps"

Doesn’t it feel good to receive a piece of mail that shows the sender has put a lot of thought into it? That’s what Personalised Stamps are all about, and New Zealand Post is delighted to extend its range.
Complementing the existing range of Personalised Stamps, this stamp issue sees the introduction of the ‘Heitiki’, together with the most popular of the existing stamp images. These four stamps are now available to use on international mail.
Available only as a sheet of four stamps and as a first day cover, these stamps are not only useful, they are also real collector’s items.

Technical details:
Date of Issue: 10 February 2010
Designer: YouXD, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography
Stamp Size: 35mm x 20mm (horizontal)
Paper Type: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper Perforation: 14
Period of sale: These stamps will remain on sale until further notice

Postal Authority New Zealand

Saturday, January 30, 2010

New issues: Lithuania - "XXI Olympic Winter Games. Vancouver"

The Games expect to have participants from almost 100 countries. That will be a new record of the number of participating countries in the history of Winter Olympics. The authors of this record will be also sportsmen from Lithuania. Four skiers, one biathlete and one alpine skier will represent our country. For the biathlon contestant Diana Rasimovičiūtė and skier Irina Terentjeva it will be the third Winter Olympics.
The debut of Lithuania in the Olympic Winter Games was in 1928, when the skater Kęstutis Bulota performed in St. Moritz. Lithuania has two champions of Winter Olympics: biathlete Algimantas Šalna and his team won gold in the relay in 1984 Sarajevo Games, and the skier Vida Vencienė became Olympic champion in 1988 in Calgary. She also became a bronze medallist there.
The sportsmen will be given 1.014 medals in Vancouver.
Tehnical details:
Issue date: 2010.01.30
Description: The XXI Olympic Winter Games shall take place in Vancouver, city of Canada, on 12-28 of February 2010
Face value – 2,45 Lt
Edition: 0,15 m
Artist H. Ratkevičius
Offset. Art paper. Stamp - 34,5x30 mm
Perf.14. Sheet of 10 (5x2) stamps. The margins of a sheet are with pictures.
Printed in Osterreichishe Staatsdrukerei GmbH printing-house in Vienna (Austria)

Postal Authority Lithuania

Friday, January 29, 2010

New issues: Japan - "The landscape of the journey Series Vol 7 "

Japan Post Service Co., the first in a series of landscapes and scenery, and subject to such typical tourist spots in Japan as seven bullets, stamps home "The landscape of the travel series 7 Collection "and will issue a stamp book.
7th Collection is designed and dedicated to the Three Views of Japan Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City. Chosen out of your letter or your travel memories of this stamp, also available as souvenirs.
However, according to the issuing of stamps, and issued a stamp album.

Tehnical details:
Date: 2010 January 29

Number issued: 1,200 million copies each (120 million sheets)
Design: Vista Matsushima/Vista Matsushima, Sendai Castle, Puru Sendai-Ru/Jozenji copy, Sendai Tanabata Festival/Zuiho-den Hall and Rinnoji/Rinnoji
Dimensions: 33.5mm×28.0mm
Color printing: 5 color offset
Sheet configuration: 10 pieces (two pieces next five vertical pieces)
Photo: Keiichi Takita, Nishida Takashi, Shooting Higuti Tetsu, Fumiaki Kanematsu, Kida Norio and Watanabe Katsuhiro
Original sheet margins: Hana Teru (writer paintings)
Design: Fumiaki Kanematsu (stamp designer)

Postal Authority Japan

New issues: Austria - "UNESCO World Heritage List: Salzburg Old Town Centre"

There can be no doubt that Salzburg’s historic old town centre is one of the most beautiful places in Europe - as was confirmed by its being made part of the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1997. In terms of its layout, the old town centre is bisected by the Salzach river, the source of the town’s lifeblood for many years, descending from its origins in the Alpine foothills to the south and dividing the town into a left and a right bank. The left bank is the "even older part" more >>>
Tehnical details:
Release Date: 2010-01-29
Number of Copies: 250.000
Printing Style: Photogravure and Intaglic
Design: Peter Sinawehl
Artist: Prof. Wolfgang Seidel
Printed by: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei GmbH
Type: Special issue series

Postal Authority Austria

New issues: Slovakia - "President of the Slovak Republic"

Ivan Gašparovič (born March 27, 1941) is a Slovak politician and law professor who has been the President of Slovakia since June 15, 2004. He is also the first Slovak president to be re-elected.

Gašparovič's toned down and non-confrontational approach to presidency has increased his popularity with many voters, and he is a generally popular president now. However, to date he has remained unapologetic about his role in the Mečiar's regime, which is generally perceived to have set back Slovakia's post-communist political and economic progress and development. Gašparovič was supported by the Direction - Social Democracy of Prime Minister Robert Fico and the Slovak National Party (SNS) an extremist nationalist party led by Jan Slota.
In 1964, Gašparovič married Silvia Beníková, with whom he has two children. In his private life, he is a sports fan, mainly of motor racing and of ice hockey, which is the national sport of Slovakia. He was one of the leaders of the hockey club Slovan ChZJD (later called HC Slovan Bratislava). He was vice-president of the International Commission of the Czechoslovak Ice Hockey Union and vice-president of the hockey team of the sports unit ŠK Slovan Bratislava.

Tehnical details:
Issue number: 469
Date of Issue: 29. 01. 2010
Face value: 0,40 €
Dimensions: 22 x 27,2 mm
Layout/Format: TL
Stamps per TL: 100
Number in set: 1
Stamp designer: Ivan Schurmann
Stamp engraver: Rudolf Cigánik
Printer: Poštovní tiskárna cenin Praha, a. s.
Print technology: Rotary recess printing combined with gravure
Stamps edition: 2 mil.
FDC designer: Ivan Schurmann
FDC engraver: Rudolf Cigánik
Cancellation design: Ivan Schurmann
FDC Printer: TAB, s. r. o., Bratislava
FDC edition: 3 200 ks

Postal Authority Slovakia

Thursday, January 28, 2010

New issues: Morroco - "Flora of Morroco - Rosa Damscena"

La rosa damascena or damask rose stems, as its name indicates, in Syria where it was probably brought to Europe by Robert de Brie on his return from the crusade in 1254. It is a deciduous shrub reaching 2.2 m high. The stems are armed with strong curved spines, implanted in number and accompanied by stiff hairs. The leaves are pinnate and consist of five (rarely seven) leaflets. The Damascus roses are known for their delicate fragrance. They are grown for its therapeutic and cosmetic. Morocco is currently the third largest producer of the flower, after Bulgaria and Turkey.
Tehnical details:
Title of Issue: Flora of Morocco: Rosa Damscena
Size: 30mm x 40mm
Issue date: 14/01/2010
Value: 7,8 Dh
Design: L. Edfouf

Postal Authority Morroco

New issues: Morroco - "Flora of Morroco - Orange blossom"

Orange blossom growing on sour orange which is a shrub of the family Rutaceae (citrus). The sour orange tree is a 5 to 10 meters in continuous bloom, leaves oval and shiny, with a prickly thorn in the axils of lower leaves. Very fragrant and a white or pink, orange blossom is used to make water of orange blossom and neroli oil used in perfumery and to flavor foods. The tree "orange blossom" was widespread in early Christian era in India and was introduced into Palestine by the Arab caravans, and thence imported into Europe by the Crusaders in the twelfth century. The Moors cultivated extensively near Seville in Spain, and the name stuck to him.
Tehnical details:
Title of Issue: Flora of Morocco: Orange blossom
Size: 30mm x 40mm
Issue date: 14/01/2010
Value: 10.4 Dh
Design: M. Waguaf

Postal Authority Morroco

New issues: Spain - "Butterflies"

This year’s Fauna issue is made up of two stamps devoted to two butterflies: the Artimelia latreillei and the Zygaena rhadamanthus.
The Artimelia latreillei, from the order of the lepidopetrans, belongs to the family of the Arciidae and the genus ocnogyna. This butterfly is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and its colonies, although scattered over Spain and Portugal, are geographically isolated in mountainous areas (up to 1.500-1.800 high) as well as lower regions and the coastline. The males are very active during the day, even during the hottest hours in the morning and with their low, fast and erratic flight chase the females which remain still on the ground or on low branches. They are very active and polyphagous butterflies feeding in May and June from plants and petals from different species. Its hibernating chrysalis is of a reddish colour and barrel shaped and remains on the ground protected by a lightweight silky cocoon. The image is based on a photograph by Enrique Aguilar Gil depicting a female species belonging to the collection of entomologist Tomás Latasa.
The Zygaena rhadamanthus is a butterfly of the order of the lepidopterans, from the family of the Zygaenidae and the genus Zygaena. It lives in dry, sunny areas with low vegetation between south Portugal, Spain (except the northwest) and the south of France. Flight occurs from May to July, covering short distances between flowers in straight lines. Their wings go from a light grey to a dark greenish blue colour, and their rear wings are usually blue. Larvae hibernate by their host plant where they make their cocoon of a white colour. The Zygaena is a polymorphic species. Both the image featuring in the stamp and the butterfly belong to the photographer and entomologist above mentioned.
Tehnical details:
Date of issue: 20.01.2010
Printing: Offset
Paper: Self-adhesive phosphorescent
Perforation: 13 3/4
Stamp size: 35 x 24.5 mm (horizontal)
Souvenir sheet size: 177.5 x 86 mm. (horizontal)
Face value of stamps: 0.34 € (Artimelia latreillei) and 0.64 € (Zygaena rhadamanthus)
Effects Statement: 100
Edition: Unlimited for two reasons

Postal Authority Spain

New issues: Iceland - "Icelandic design II. - Furniture"

The Hanger TREE, 2001. Created by Katrín Ólína Pétursdóttir and Michael Young, this clothes hanger is among their designs which has achieved the greatest international popularity.

The Tango Chair, 1999. Architect Sigurður Gústafsson, the designer of this chair, has used his knowledge and insights into architectural history for furniture designs.
MGO 180 Dining Room Table, 2005. The company Epal reconstructed a dining room chair by Sveinn Kjarval dating back to the fifties. Designers Guðrún M. Ólafsdóttir and Oddgeir Þórðarson were assigned to design a modern dining room table suited to this chair.
The Sofa Dimon, 1999. This sofa was designed by Erla Sólveig Óskarsdóttir and reveals some distinct characteristics of her work as a designer. Erla‘s furniture are light and graceful characterized by a strong sense of form.

Tehnical details:
Day of issue: 28-01-2010
Printing process: Offset Litho + TOPSTAR silfur (silver)
Number in Sheet: 10
Printer: Lowe Martin Group
Size: 23 x 56 mm
Designer: Örn Smári Gíslason
Value: 75, 140, 155, 165 ISK

Postal Authority Iceland

New issues: Iceland - "Seals I."

Habor seal (Phoca vitulina) is the most common seal species in Icelandic waters. They are found in coastal waters of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as those of the Baltic Sea. Only the harbor seal and the grey seal bear pups in nearshore costal terrain in Iceland. The entire harbor seal population is estimated at 400- 500.000 individuals. These are social animals and can be seen in shoals off coasts. Harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) is a mottled seal living in the North Atlantic and the Arctic. This seal is a common vagrant in Icelandic waters. The Icelandic name „school seal“ derives from the large shoals of harp seal seen around Iceland in formar times. Harp seal equals harbor seal in size and often travels in large groups. The world wide population is estimated at approximately 10 million individuals.
Tehnical details:
Day of issue: 28-01-2010
Printing process: Offset Litho
Number in Sheet: 10
Printer: Joh. Enschedé
Designer: Jóhann Jónsson

Postal Authority Iceland

New issues: Sweden - "Europa 2010 - Children books"

Date of issue: January 28, 2010

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

New issues: France - "Abbé Pierre"

L'Abbé Pierre, GOQ (born Henri Marie Joseph Grouès; 5 August 1912-22 January 2007) was a French Catholic priest, member of the Resistance during World War II, and deputy of the Popular Republican Movement (MRP). He founded in 1949 the Emmaus movement, which has the goal of helping poor and homeless people and refugees. Abbé means abbot in French, and is also used as a courtesy title given to Catholic priests. He was one of the most popular figures in France, but had his name removed from such polls after some time.
Tehnical details:
Issue date: 23.01.10
Format: 25 x 36 mm - sheet of 48 stamps
Printing technique: Taille-douce
Issuer: Claude Andréotto
Theme: Famous people

Postal Authoruty France

Prestigious award for a stamp in the Isle of Man

Isle of Man Post Office’s Beijing Olympics miniature stamp sheet has scooped a top award at the Annual Best Foreign Stamp Poll in China.
The committee for the poll consists of key sponsors along with representatives from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China Philatelic Federation and the Association for Promotion of West China Research and Development. The purpose of the poll, which involves more than 40 countries, is to enhance the relationship between China and foreign countries.
Stamps issued back in 2008 were evaluated by the poll committee in 2009 and the results have now been announced with Isle of Man Post Office securing the "Best Printing Award" for its Beijing Olympics miniature sheet. The sheet with its excellent theme and design and in particular its printing technique grabbed the attention of the judges.
• Beijing-based philatelist and Isle of Man Post Office’s representative in China, Charles Cao, attended the ceremony and collected the prestigious award.
To date, Isle of Man Post Office has successfully attended the Beijing 2008 Olympic Exposition, 2008 Beijing International Stamp and Coin Exposition and the 2009 China World Stamp Exhibition. This year Isle of Man Post Office will be attending the 2010 Beijing International Stamp and Coin Exposition in October and will be further promoting Isle of Man stamps in the China market.
• Dot Tilbury, General Manager of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said: "We are delighted to have been recognised by the philatelic world in China and are grateful to Charles Cao for attending the awards ceremony on our behalf. China currently has almost 50,000 philately associations and universities in Fujian and Jiangxi offer elective courses in stamp collecting so this is a very exciting area for us to showcase our stamps". - write in a communique published by the Isle of Man Post Office.

New issues: Israel - "Birds of Israel"

1 - The Goldfinch or European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family.
The goldfinch breeds across Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, in open, partially wooded lowlands. It is resident in the milder west of its range, but migrates from colder regions. It will also make local movements, even in the west, to escape bad weather. It has been introduced to many areas of the world.
The average Goldfinch is 12–13 cm long with a wingspan of 21–25 cm and a weight of 14 to 19 grams. The sexes are broadly similar, with a red face, black and white head, warm brown upperparts, white underparts with buff flanks and breast patches, and black and yellow wings. On closer inspection male Goldfinches can often be distinguished by a larger, darker red mask that extends just behind the eye. In females, the red face does not reach the eye. The ivory-coloured bill is long and pointed, and the tail is forked. Goldfinches in breeding condition have a white bill, with a greyish or blackish mark at the tip for the rest of the year. Juveniles have a plain head and a greyer back but are unmistakable due to the yellow wing stripe. Birds in central Asia (caniceps group) have a plain grey head behind the red face, lacking the black and white head pattern of European and western Asian birds.
2 - The Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) is a small warbler (in some older works it is referred to as Graceful Warbler). This prinia is a resident breeder in Northeast Africa and Southwest Asia, from Egypt and Somalia east to north India, where it is sometimes called Streaked Wren-Warbler.
This active passerine bird is typically found in shrub or tall grass in a variety of habitats with thick undergrowth, tamarisks or similar cover. Graceful Prinia builds its nest in a bush or grass and lays 3-5 eggs.

These 10-11 cm long warblers have short rounded wings, and a long tapering tail with each feather tipped with black and white. In breeding plumage, adults are grey-brown above, with dark streaking. The underparts are whitish with buff flanks, and the bill is short and black.
The sexes are similar. In winter, adults are brighter sandy brown above with weaker streaking, there is more buff on the sides, and the bill is paler.
There are 12 subspecies, of which P. g. akyildizi, of southern Turkey is the darkest, brownest, and most heavily streaked above, and has the brightest buff flanks.
The long tail is often cocked, and the flight of this species is weak. Like most warblers, Graceful Prinia is insectivorous. The call is a rolling trilled breep, and the song is a hard rolling repletion of zerlip.
3 - The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive "crown" of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Giant Hoopoe of Saint Helena, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes elevated to a full species.
The Hoopoe is a medium sized bird, 25–32 cm (9.8-12.6 in) long, with a 44–48 cm (17.3-19 in) wingspan weighing 46-89 g (1.6-3.1 oz). The species is highly distinctive, with a long, thin tapering bill that is black with a fawn base. The strengthened musculature of the head allows the bill to be opened when probing inside the soil. The hoopoe has broad and rounded wings capable of strong flight; these are larger in the northern migratory subspecies. The Hoopoe has a characteristic undulating flight, which is like that of a giant butterfly, caused by the wings half closing at the end of each beat or short sequence of beats.
The song is a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop", which gives rise to its English and scientific names.

The Hoopoe has two basic requirements in its habitat; bare or lightly vegetated ground on which to forage and vertical surfaces with cavities (such as trees, cliffs or even walls, nestboxes, haystacks, and abandoned burrows) in which to nest. These requirements can be provided in a wide range of ecosystems and as a consequence they inhabit a wide range of habitats from heathland, wooded steppes, savannas and grasslands, as well as glades inside forests. The Madagascar subspecies also makes use of more dense primary forest. The modification of natural habitats by humans for various agricultural purposes has led to them becoming common in olive groves, orchards, vineyards, parkland and farmland, although they are less common and declining in intensively farmed areas. Hunting is of concern in southern Europe and Asia.
Tehnical details: Issue Date: 27/01/2010
Designer: Tuvia Kurtz, Ronen Goldberg
Series Name: Birds of Israel
Stamp Name: Goldfinch, Graceful Prinia and Hoopoe
Denominations: 2.40
Size of Stamp: 30.8 mm x 40.0 mm

Postal Authority Israel

A Kennedy Family Postage Stamp Legacy

The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy on August 25, 2009, the third longest serving Senator in U.S. history, marked the death of the last of Joseph and Rose Kennedy’s sons. The first U.S. postage stamp to depict a Kennedy son featured the second oldest on May 29, 1964, the birthday of President John F. Kennedy in the year following his assassination. President Kennedy’s widow Jacqueline Kennedy made the final design selection. Another stamp was issued with a more joyful image of President Kennedy three years later.
On January 12, 1979, one day before the first U.S. stamp to honor Dr. Martin Luther King was issued; the third oldest Kennedy son was depicted on a U.S. postage stamp. The release of the Robert F. Kennedy Issue marked the first time that two brothers had been honored on separate U.S. postage stamps.
Seven months after her younger brother was honored on a stamp, the life’s work of Eunice Kennedy Shriver - The Special Olympics - was featured on a stamp. Since 1979, several other U.S. stamps have showcased Eunice Kennedy’s legacy of the Special Olympics.
We’ll have to wait at least five years (by USPS regulation) to see if the youngest child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, will join his brothers as the subject of a United States postage stamp.