1312. 🇮🇪 Ireland Remembers Victims Of Mail Ship Torpedoed By German Submarine

  🇮🇪 An Post, the postal service of The Republic Of Ireland, issued a single stamp on 10 October 2018 to commemorate the Centenary of the sinking of the mailboat RMS Leinster when a German submarine torpedoed it during the First World War. The ship was sailing from Kingstown to Holyhead in Wales and 567 people were killed as a result of the German attack. Twenty one of the 22 mail workers aboard were among those killed by the Germans and other victims included medical workers and ordinary civilians as well as Irish members of the armed forces fighting against the Kaiser's aggression.

  The stamp was designed by Design HQ from art by Brian Palm and lithographed by Cartor and perforated 13.5. Rating:- ****. The issue highlights the importance of Ireland's historical links with Great Britain.

  🇹🇹 In a comment in Blog 1309 eyeonwall suggested that we should expect approximately half a dozen more surcharges from the postal service of Trinidad And Tobago and here indeed is a further such item currently on sale on an internet auction site. Rating:- ***.

  🇬🇧 Royal Mail will issue one of its 'generic sheets' on 15 November 2018 to commemorate the Chinese New Year, the Year of The Pig. The item was designed by hat-trick design and is made up of 20 'Fireworks' Smilers stamps with attached labels. Rating:- 0.

 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Post issued a single stamp on 29 September 2018 to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Pontificial Society Of The Missionary Childhood. Rating:- **.

  A single stamp was then released on 1 October 2018 to commemorate World Children's Day. I suppose that there must be someone who feels that the design has merit. Rating:- *.

1311. 🇳🇿 Aircraft Of Ross Dependency.

  🇳🇿 New Zealand Post will issue a set of 6 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 7 November 2018 for sole use in Ross Dependency on the subject of Aircraft of the Territory. The issue was designed by Alan Hollows and lithographed by Southern Colour Print and perforated 14. Rating:- ***.

  🇦🇺 As part of its participation in the Macao 2018 philatelic exhibition, Australia Post released 4 miniature sheets in limited editions of just 300 (not for the first time), one being issued each day of the exhibition. Each sheet has overprints applied to them and is numbered. Two, recently being offered on an internet auction site, are depicted below. Each was being sold at just under £50! Rare they may be, desirable they are not, particularly at that price. Rating:- 0.

  🇧🇩 Bangladesh Post issued 2 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 24 September 2018 to commemorate the Centenary of cubbing (2016) and Centenary of Rover scouting (2018) in Bangladesh. The 2 stamps are circular in format but the designs are very dull. Rating:- **.

1310. 🇬🇧🇬🇬 New Definitives From BAT And Guernsey To Commemorate The Year Of The (Greedy) Pig With 20 Issue Programme.

 🇬🇧 The postal service of British Antarctic Territory will release a new definitive series during November 2018 made up of 12 stamps on the subject of 'Penguins and Chicks'. The issue was designed from images by Derren Fox and Sue Flood and lithographed by Cartor and perforated 13.5. An attractive set which is bound to be popular among collectors. Rating:- *****.

  British Antarctic Territory will also issue a set of 4 stamps in mid to late November 2018 on the subject of local landscapes. The issue was designed by Bee Design from images taken by UKAHT and Sue Flood and lithographed by Cartor and perforated 13.5. The issue portrays some lovely scenes. Rating:- *****.

  🇬🇬  Guernsey Post has revealed that it will release 20 sets of stamps in 2018.

  The proposed programme is:-

  22 January 2019 - Year of The Pig

  13 February 2019 - Commemoration of John Wilson, architect

  13 February 2019 - 120th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Stella (inscribed 'Alderney')

  13 February 2019 - Post and Go, 50th anniversary of the Guernsey Old Car Club

  19 February 2019 - Post and Go, Spring Stampex 2019 in London, dispensed from kiosk GG01, Guernsey Flag stamp with additional inscription.

  1 April 2019 - Europa, Birds

  29 May 2019 - Birth bicentennaries of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  29 May 2019 - 75th anniversary of D Day (inscribed 'Alderney')

  24 July 2019 - new definitives £2, £1 and 10p to 1p (inscribed 'Alderney')

  24 July 2019 - 50th anniversary of the investiture of The Prince of Wales

  24 July 2019 - SEPAC, Hauteville House

  24 July 2019 - Bicentenary of John Keats' odes (inscribed 'Alderney')

  19 September 2019 - Post and Go, Autumn Stampex 2019 in London, dispensed from kiosk GG01'Guernsey Flag stamp with additional inscription.

  1 October 2019 - 50th anniversary of postal independence (postal)

  1 October 2019 - 50th anniversary of postal independence (philatelic)

  11 November 2019 - Christmas 

  11 November 2019 - Christmas (issue inscribed 'Alderney')

  11 November 2019 - Centenary of Armistice Day (issue inscribed 'Alderney')

  19 December 2019 - Post and Go, Christmas, dispensed from kiosk GG02, Guernsey Flag stamp with additional inscription.

  This year Guernsey Post will issue 2 Christmas sets, each containing 7 stamps:-

  Issues inscribed 'Guernsey' - 8 November 2018 - Christmas, Hoffmann's The Nutcracker And The Mouse King. Designed by Andrew Robinson and lithographed by Southern Colour Print and perforated with simulated perforations. Rating:- ***.

  Issues inscribed 'Alderney' - 

  8 November 2018 - Christmas, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol - 7 stamps. Designed by Andrew Robinson and lithographed by Lowe Martin and perforated 13. Rating:- ****.

  🇬🇧 There is news of a further upcoming new issue from British Antarctic Territory to be released during November 2018 - 4 stamps issued as part of the Creative Direction/Pobjoy Stamps mini-omnibus series featuring Migratory species. This issue depicts migratory seals and was designed by Andrew Robinson and lithographed by Cartor and perforated 13.5. Rating:- *****.

  Thanks to Juliet Warner of Pobjoy Stamps for information about all the British Antarctic Territory issues mentioned above.

  🇮🇳 In addition to the miniature sheet issued on 2 October 2018 to commemorate the beginning of the celebrations to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, India Post has also issued all 7 stamps included in the miniature sheet as separate stamps. Rating:- ***.

1309. 🇬🇧 Boaty MacBoatface Gets Her Own Stamps.

  🇬🇧 The postal service of British Antarctic Territory will issue 4 stamps during November 2018 to commemorate the construction of RRS Sir David Attenborough which was at one time at risk of being named 'Boaty MacBoatface' after a vote by the British public chose the name over all others. A little worried about preserving the dignity of the ship, the authorities overrode the public vote - just as the British self-perceived Elite would like to override the British public's vote on exiting the European Union - and instead named the ship after the world famous nonagenarian naturalist-broadcaster and national treasure, Sir David Attenborough.

  Boaty, or The Sir David as we should call it, is shown in the set in various stages of construction or completion. The excellent issue was designed by photographs by Cammell Laird, Rolls Royce and The British Antarctic Survey and lithographed by Cartor and perforated 13.5.

  Rating:- how could I award Boaty anything less than *****?

  Thanks to Juliet Warner of Pobjoy Stamps for information about this issue.

  🇮🇳 India Post issued a miniature sheet containing 7 different circular stamps on 2 October 2018 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who was the figurehead of the campaign which resulted in India independence. A significant issue. Rating:- ****.

  🇹🇹 Another surcharge has appeared from the Trinidad And Tobago postal service - it is one of the values from the 2009 CHOGM issue with a revised $1 value. Rating:- ***.

  🇸🇬 Singapore Post will issue a set of 4 stamps on 11 October 2018 on the subject of Early education for girls. This excellent set was designed by Lim an-Ling and lithographed by Secura and perforated 13. Rating:- ****.