706. Ascension Seabird Caught Red-footed.

  The postal administration of Ascension Island will issue a set of 4 stamps on 22 February 2016 on the subject of the seabird, the Red-footed booby. The highly attractive issue which bears the logo of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) was designed by Andrew Robinson and lithographed by Cartor. Another excellent, colourful, interesting and attractive issue as we have come to expect from Pobjoy Stamps/ Creative Direction with the added bonus of good advance and detailed information to collectors who are bound to want to buy these stamps - CASCO could learn a thing or two from Pobjoy when it comes to keeping collectors informed (see Blog 705). Rating:- *****.

  In Blogs 682 and 686, I mentioned the new definitive series from India Post, identified as the "11th definitive series", titled "Makers of India". An additional stamp has appeared as a 25 paise value which features Mahatma Gandhi. Rating:- ***.

  Sri Lanka Post issued a set of 7 stamps and 1 miniature sheet which contains the whole set in a composite design on 26 January 2016 on the subject of Kumana National Park. Rating:- *****.

  Bhutan Post has issued a sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet on the subject of Traditional sports of Bhutan. I do not yet know the date of issue of this set but it seems to be Bhutan Post's first issue of 2016. Rating:- ******.

  Stamperija has released 9 "sheetlets", each containing 4 different "stamps", and 9 "miniature sheets"

In the name of Solomon Islands with a stated "date of issue" of 30 November 2015. The usual wide selection of subjects is featured on these items:- Lunar new year (Year of the Monkey), 25th anniversary of the Reunification of Germany, Fire engines, Orchids, Whales, Fish, Dinosaurs, Butterflies and Trains. Rating:- 0.

  Usually Stamperija productions with the "Solomon Islands" inscription are issued as 10 subsets (each consisting of a "sheetlet" and a "miniature sheet") which make up a complete "issue". It is to be noted that the above only number 9 subsets. That is because a World Wide Fund For Nature set, with its numerous varieties of format, made up the 10th part of the issue but after announcing the issue in its "newsletter" a revised announcement failed to mention the WWF products though I have little doubt that they will appear in due course.