Commonwealth Stamps Opinion: 681. Endurance Ice-bound, Santa in St. Helena And Monkeys In Botswana.

The first issue of special stamps of 2016 from Royal Mail will be an excellent set of 8 stamps which is on a subject very worthy of being featured philatelically - the Centenary of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition which was led by Ernest Shackleton whose ship, Endurance, was ice-bound from January 2016. Those on board were eventually forced to abandon ship and endure many hardships. Finally Shackleton was able to rescue his men who were trapped on Elephant Island having set out himself with 5 other men in an open boat for South Georgia.

This important commemoration will be issued on 7 January 2016 and was designed by Robert Maude and Sarah Davies and lithographed by International Security Printers. Rating:- *****.

The St. Helena Post Office issued a set of 5 Christmas stamps on 25 November 2015 all of which depicted Father Christmas. Rating:-****.

St. Helena's "Main Street paintings" set (see Blog 665) was issued on either 15 or 21 May 2015 (2 dates are given on the St Helena Philatelic Bureau website) but "This issue ... due to printing problems and delays has only just become available to purchase". Presumably these are the same problems which also affected the Napoleon issue as mentioned In Blog 661 about which I have not seen any further news.

Botswana Post issued a very attractive set of 4 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 20 November 2015 on the subject of Vervet monkeys. Rating:- *****.

The miniature sheet was also issued with an added inscription for the 31st International Asian Stamp Exhibition held in Hong Kong from 20 to 23 November 2015 - presumably the sheet was issued on 20 November 2015.

The latest philatelic delights from the Lithuania-based philatelic agency, Stamperija, have been produced in the names of 3 Commonwealth territories.

Firstly Maldives which has been blessed with having its name printed on 10 "sheetlets", each made up of 4 different "stamps" and each accompanied by a "miniature sheet". The "designs" generally feature birds and fish of Maldives/the Indian Ocean - Sharks, Wading birds, Fish (4 sub-sets), Birds of prey, Terns, Ducks and Seabirds. The stated date of issue is 9 December 2015. Rating:- 0.

Sierra Leone is blessed with 10 "sheetlets", each of 5 different "stamps" and each with an accompanying "miniature sheet". The designs depict various types of birds - Waterbirds, Eagles, Parrots, Bee eaters, Owls, Hummingbirds, Seabirds, Kingfishers, Birds of prey and the White- breasted guinea fowl. The stated date of issue is 23 October 2015. Rating:- 0.

Mozambique is even more fortunate in that its name is printed on a total of 15 "sheetlets", each containing 4 different "stamps" and with 15 accompanying "miniature" sheets. The stated date of issue is 15 August 2015 and a wide range of subjects is covered, many of which are irrelevant to Mozambique - the Achievement of Quuen Elizabeth II in becoming the longest reigning British monarch, Dogs, 70th anniversary of World War II, African fauna, African trains, Air ambulance services, Tigers, Trains, Cats, Expo Milano 2015, Fire engines, European Football Championships 2016, Mahatma Gandhi, Automobiles and Lighthouses. Rating:- 0.

The US-based philatelic agency, IGPC, has produced a new and very long list of philatelic products which it has produced in the name of its various client territories. Most of the items, as usual, have little or no relevance in subject matter to the territories whose names are printed on them.

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

- 21 December 2015 - Space missions to deep space - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 2 November 2015 - Wild cats of Africa - 1 sheetlet of 4 stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 2015 - Centenary of the sinking of RMS Lustania - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 21 December 2015 - Aircraft of The First World War - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 21 December 2015 - Birds of the world, art by Seema Goldstein - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 21 December 2015 - Fish of the Caribbean - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheets. Rating:- 0.

- 21 December 2015 - Chinese art - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 21 December 2015 - "Solar power" - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 21 December 2015 - Underwater volcanoes - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- ***.

- 21 December 2015 - "West Indian Manatees" - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- **.

- 21 December 2015 - 50th anniversary of the death of Sir Winston Churchill. - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

Grenada Carriacou And Petite Martinique - 21 December 2015 - Birds of Grenada - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- **.

Guyana - 21 December 2015 - Chinese New Year - 2 stamps ( issued in sheetlets of 8 stamps (4 x each design) and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

31 December 2015 - "Star Trek Deep Space Nine" (American television programme) - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

Nevis - 7 December 2015 - Achievement of Queen Elizabeth II in becoming the longest reigning monarch - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- **.

St. Vincent And The Grenadines - 31 December 2015 - Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 31 December 2015 - Coral reefs - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheets. Rating:- 0.

- 31 December 2015 - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

- 31 December 2015 - Flamingos - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. No species of flamingo is found in St. Vincent And The Grenadines. Rating:- 0.

- 31 December 2015 - The Great egret - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. This is a species found in St. Vincent And The Grenadines. Rating:- 0.