The New York- and Beijing-based philatelic agency, IGPC, has announced the release of a number of philatelic products with the names of various Commonwealth countries printed on them.
🇦🇬 Antigua And Barbuda - 1 April 2018 - Marine mammals - 1 miniature sheet containing 6 different stamps. Rating:- 0. It is worth noting that the editor of Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogues recently revealed that no non-definitive stamps are sold across the counter in ordinary local post offices to mail-sending members of the post office and questioned whether all 'special' stamps inscribed 'Antigua And Barbuda' should be listed only in the catalogue's Appendix.
🇬🇲 The Gambia - 27 March 2018 - Birds of The Gambia - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and 1 containing 3 different stamps. Rating:- ***.
27 March 2018 - The Grey crowned crane - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 3 different stamps and 1 containing a single stamp. Rating:- **.
27 March 2018 - Centenary of the first airmail - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and 1 containing a single stamp. Rating:- 0.
27 March 2018 - African primates - 1 miniature sheet containing 2 stamps (see also Blog 1197). Rating:- 0.
🇬🇩 Grenada - This issue appeared fleetingly on the IGPC website but now seems to have disappeared. It is bizarre given that there is a large amount of Mandarin script printed on it for no obvious reason other than that it probably originated in the IGPC's Beijing office.
2018 - FIFA World Cup Football Championships, Russia - 2 stamps issued in sheetlets of 8 and individually in larger sheets. Rating:- 0.
🇬🇾 Guyana - 14 March 2018 - Frogs of Central and South America, including local species - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet - Rating:- ***.
27 March 2018 - 44th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Guyana and The People's Republic Of China, 125th Birth anniversary of Mao Zedong - 1 miniature sheet containing 3 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet containing 1 stamp. Rating:- 0.
14 March 2018 - Landmarks of Guyana - 2 miniature sheets each containing 3 different stamps - Rating:- ***.
14 March 2018 - Butterflies - 3 miniature sheets, 2 containing 4 different stamps and 1 containing 2 different stamps - Rating:- *.
🇲🇸 Montserrat - 1 March 2018 - 65th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II - 1 sheetlet containing 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet - Rating:- **.
12 April 2018 - Centenary of the Royal Air Force - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.
"It is worth noting that the editor of Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogues recently revealed that no non-definitive stamps are sold across the counter in ordinary local post offices to mail-sending members of the post office and questioned whether all 'special' stamps inscribed 'Antigua And Barbuda' should be listed only in the catalogue's Appendix." Does this apply just to Antigua or was this for all of IGCP's clients? Sounds like IGCP is taking a page from Stamperija and now doing "local" definitives for use in country, and then selling topicals direct to the new issue market.
ReplyDeleteI think it applies to Antigua (and possibly Gibraltar - though it's hard to believe that Gibbons would treat the issues of such a popular territory in that way) but no other IGPC clients. Many IGPC territories not only have definitives which are actually used on mail but also a small number of locally relevant stamps produced in ordinary sheets for use on genuine mail.
DeleteWK.
I think what matters more is the question whether or not selling across the counter makes a meaningful criteria in this time and era? For example I buy my postage from Philatelic Service online shop these days.
ReplyDelete-k-
Thank you. I think the question is whether or not a postal service is selling a POSTAGE stamp. If the product is not sold to the the general public in an easy and accessible way on the day that the stamp needs to be used so that they can use the item instantly on an ordinary piece of mail (and having to order from an online service and await the item to be delivered to one does not seem particularly easy nor accessible) then that item is not so much a postage stamp as a philatelic item with postal validity (in my opinion).
DeleteBest wishes
WK.
In my opinion, both IGCP and Stamperjia, with the accord of local postal authorities have destroyed the Real Philately. What they produce are not stamps but multicolored labels. It is pity to destroy a such interesting and instructive hobby.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Octavian. I entirely agree with you. Best wishes, WK.
Delete