Commonwealth Stamps Opinion: 671. Sierra Leone's Ebola Heroes.

Eventually, even Stamperija must produce a philatelic item which is worthwhile, tasteful, interesting, relevant to the country whose name is printed on it and .... important. And likely to be used for postage on ordinary mail by the general public in the country in whose name it was released.

That day has arrived seemingly. With a stated date of issue of 21 August 2015, a sheetlet of 8 stamps has been produced which is titled "Tribute to the Heroes in the Fight against Ebola Virus" and is inscribed "Sierra Leone". The excellent designs feature 8 medical doctors who played a role in combatting the recent terrible outbreak of the disease in Sierra Leone and other countries in West Africa. I presume these are people who would never have featured on stamps normally (much better to feature "celebrities" such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Diana, Princess of Wales not to mention Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker and Peppa Pig). Rating:- *****.

So for once collectors can buy stamps featuring the truly commemorable and heroic - Dr. Olivetta Buck, Dr. Martin Maada Salta, Dr Godfrey A J George, Dr. Modupe Cole, Dr. S. Jimmy Rogers, Dr. Sheik Ulmar Kharo, Dr. Thomas Rogers and Dr. Victor Willoughby. Doubtless there were many non- medically qualified heroes involved in the struggle against the Ebola epidemic and it would be pleasing to see philatelic commemoration of some of them coming out from the Sierra Leone Post Office in time.

Likewise, Sierra Leone received a lot of help from British volunteers, at least 2 of which developed the disease and were at some stage, very seriously ill. It would be pleasing to see such heroes, who helped save many lives, being commemorated on Royal Mail stamps - they are equally if not more deserving than Olympic medal winners, football players, science fiction film actors and Pink Floyd - perhaps Royal Mail could abandon its plans to commemorate the latter and replace them with Britain's own Ebola heroes. Or perhaps they could be included in the "Humanitarians" set due in early 2016. Maybe that's the plan - not long to find out.

Reverting to type, Stamperija has also produced more thematic philatelic products with the name of Sierra Leone printed on them - the usual 10 "sheetlets" each containing 4 different "stamps" along with 10 "miniature sheets". The subjects of some of these products are hilariously irrelevant to Sierra Leone - the list consists of Giant Pandas, Tigers, Prehistoric water creatures, Orchids, Seals, Shells, Snakes, Tropical fish, Whales and Waterbirds. The stated date of issue of this hotchpotch is 21 August 2015. Rating:- 0.

Singapore Post will issue a set of 4 stamps on 24 November 2015 which depict paintings in the Singapore National Gallery. This is a very attractive and interesting set. Rating:- *****.

Singapore Post also issued a set of 2 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 14 November 2015 as part of a joint issue with India Post. The subject of the issue is the official residences of the Presidents of the 2 countries.. Rating:- ***

India Post issued 2 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 14 November 2015 to commemorate Children's Day. Rating:-***

The 3 issues of The British Antarctic Territory which were mentioned in Blog 657 were all put on sale in the territory on 17 November 2015.

The latest release of philatelic products from the highly prolific New York-based philatelic agency, IGPC, has given collectors of Commonwealth stamps a huge list of thematic items to consider purchasing or not purchasing according to their tastes. Many of the subjects featured on these products, as usual, have little or no relevance to the countries whose names are printed on these items. Information about exact dates of issue is very patchy.

Ghana - 2 November 2015 - Butterflies - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

2 November 2015 - Edible mushrooms - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

25 November 2015 - Visit of Pope Francis to New York - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

2 November 2015 - 150th death anniversary of former US President Abraham Lincoln - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

25 November 2015 - Achievement of Queen Elizabeth II in becoming the longest reigning British monarch - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

2 November 2015 - Wild cats of Africa - 1 sheetlet of 6 stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

2015 - Christmas - 4 stamps. Rating:- 0

Grenada - 2015 - Visit of Pope Francis to New York - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

2015 - Achievement of Queen Elizabeth II in becoming the longest reigning British monarch -1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- **.

2015 - Chinese New Year (Year of the Monkey) - 12 stamps. Rating:- 0

Grenada Grenadines - 2015 - Visit of Pope Francis to Washington - 1 sheetlet of 6 stamps. Rating:- 0

2015- Achievement of Queen Elizabeth II in becoming the longest reigning British monarch - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

Guyana - 20 November 2015 - The Papacy of Benedict XVI - 1 sheetlet of 2 x 3 different stamps and 1 miniature

sheet. Rating:-0.

Nevis - 2015 - 25th anniversary of the Hubble Telescope - 1 sheetlet of 12 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

2015 - Centenary of the First World War (The First Battle of Ypres) - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

2 November 2015 - Christmas - 4 stamps. Rating:- 0.

St. Vincent And The Grenadines - 25 November 2015 - Visit of Pope Francis to New York - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.