Sunday 28 February 2021

1837. ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ผ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Botswana Scorpions And Alderney Vegetables.









๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ผ Botswana Post has an excellent record of producing interesting, relevant, attractive and distinctive new issues and the latest, released on 27 February 2021, is a fascinating, if somewhat unnerving, set of 6 stamps and 1 miniature sheet containing the same 6 stamps which depict Scorpions, being the third part of its ongoing Invertebrates of the Kalahari series. The excellent designs are by Monkgogi Samson from art by Totang Mokoloki and the issue was lithographed by Southern Colour Print. Rating:- *****.
























 ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Guernsey Post will issue a set of 8 stamps inscribed “Alderney” on 24 March 2021 to commemorate the United Nations International Year of Fruit and Vegetables. Yes, really. The set depicts paintings by a local medical general practitioner, Petra Palmeri. The art takes the form of pleasant still life paintings though I have to admit that I always find it difficult to get excited about paintings of bowls of apples or pears or whatever. Rating:- **.




Friday 26 February 2021

1836. ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ Fiji To Commemorate Hindu Saint.









 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ Fiji Post will issue a set of 4 stamps on 1 March 2021 to commemorate the 125th Birth anniversary of Swami Pranavanandji Maharaj who was a Hindu saint with an influence in a number of countries. No other details of the issue are available at present. Rating:- ***.










๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Royal Gibraltar Post Office issued Post and Go stamps with a new Year of the Ox design on 12 February 2021. The philatelic service is selling the issue in strips of 6 different values at a total cost of £7.95. The design, that used for one of the stamps from ordinary gummed sheets, is accredited to “Bajena and Siewhoong at istockphoto.com” and was lithographed by Cartor. As usual it is difficult to accept that the featured subject has any relevance to Gibraltar itself. Rating:- 0.














๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Here are better illustrations than I have published previously (Blog 1830) of the Nam Post (Namibia) set of 3 stamps due for issue on 16 March 2021 which depict local species of snipes. Rating:- *****.
















Tuesday 23 February 2021

1835. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ด BIOT New Issue Depicts Sea Slugs.

 













๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ด The postal service of British Indian Ocean Territory issued a sheetlet containing 6 different stamps on 22 February 2021 which featured Sea slugs. A colourful issue and though the total face value is a little high, given how few stamps are released by the territory every year the issue is quite acceptable. I expect there will be a set or sets released to commemorate the 95th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th  Birthday. The administration of the territory has already released a 50p coin to commemorate the Queen’s birthday. Rating:- ****.
































๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ India Post has updated its My Stamp new issues listing on its website and the following issues are to be added to 2020 or to the list of 2021 releases. All are issued in the usual sheets of 12 stamps sold at a premium price. See also Blogs 1786, 1787, 1788, 1802, 1804, 1807 and 1824.

2020 - Mohandas Gandhi and Sewagram Ashram - 1 stamp.











14 December 2020 - 11th anniversary of Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University - 1 stamp. 












2020 - 50th anniversary of Saravana Stores - 1 stamp.












3 February 2021 - 50th anniversary of the Aeronautics Research and Development Board (issued during AeroIndia 2021 event) - 1 stamp.








Sunday 21 February 2021

1834.๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฟ Belize Definitives Finally Put On Sale.










๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฟThe new definitive series from the postal service of Belize previously reported here appears to have been finally put on sale after several delays. The set of 14 stamps featuring local species of birds and designed by CASCO Studio with the co-operation of the Belize Audubon Society is now being offered for sale by an internet auction site dealer and elsewhere is reported to have been issued in Belize on 9 November 2020. Rating:- *****. 








































๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong Kong Post will issue a colourful set of 4 stamps, 2 miniature sheets and 1 ‘mini-pane’ on 23 February 2021 on the subject of ‘Intangible cultural heritage - Dragon and lion dance’. I like stamps which depict traditional local culture and I might buy this attractive set even though it is not particularly related to any specific locally relevant anniversary or event. The issue was designed by Eric Chan. The ordinary stamps and $10 miniature sheet were lithographed by Cartor while the ‘mini-pane’ was lithographed by Southern Colour Print and the $20 miniature sheet was lithographed with additional hot foil stamping by Cartor. The ordinary stamps are perforated 13.5 and the miniature sheets are perforated 14.5. Rating:- ****.

































๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ Cyprus Post issued its annual Refugee relief stamp on 13 February 2021. It is in the familiar annual design with the new year date printed on it.



Wednesday 17 February 2021

1833. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada Winter Mammals And Spring Blossom.











 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆCanada Post issued a delightful set of 5 self-adhesive stamps in a booklet of 10 (2x5) and 1 gummed miniature sheet on the subject of Snow mammals (Canadian wild mammals in their white winter fur) on 16 February 2021. These lovely stamps were designed by Adrian Horvath. I rarely complain about Canada Post new issues because the organisation has a sensible, relatively conservative new issue policy which very often brings collectors attractive and enjoyable stamps. Rating:- *****.

























































































  Canada Post’s next issue will be a pair of self-adhesive stamps depicting Crabapple blossom to mark the onset of spring. Again these are two delightful and pretty designs which are once more issued in booklets of 10 (5x2) as well as coils and a gummed miniature sheet. The issue was designed by Sputnik Design Partners Inc. Rating:- *****.




























๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฌ In Blog 1810 I mentioned the set of 6 stamps issued by Guernsey Post on 15 February 2021 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of monetary decimalisation in the territory. The issue which is inscribed ‘Alderney’ was also accompanied by a miniature sheet which is depicted below.