1888. 🇲🇹🇬🇬 Malta Europa And Guernsey Postcrossing And Dark Sky Issues.

 

  🇲🇹 MaltaPost issued two stamps and 1 booklet containing 5 x 59c stamps on 9 May 2021 on the subject of endangered local wildlife as its contribution to the 2021 EUROPA omnibus issue. The stamps were designed from photography by Sean Cini and lithographed by Printex and are perforated 14. It is pleasing to see more unusual types of wildlife depicted - amphibians and reptiles in this case. Rating:- *****.

🇬🇬 Guernsey Post will issue a set of 6 stamps on 10 June 2021 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the designation of Sark as a Dark Sky Island, the first in the world. This title has led to an increase in visitors to the island serving as a boost to Guernsey’s important tourist industry. An attractive and worthwhile set. Rating:- *****.

   Guernsey Post will also release a cheerful set of 3 stamps on the subject of ‘Postcrossing’ on 10 June 2021. A colourful and amusing little set featuring a Guernsey golden goat, a crab and a puffin as well as other design features which would appeal to thematic collectors including a fishing vessel and a yacht, postboxes and agriculture. Rating:- ****.

1877. 🇸🇨 Seychelles Overprints Commemorate Conservation Society.

 

🇸🇨 The postal service of Seychelles issued a set of 6 overprinted stamps on 10 April 2021 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Island Conservation Society. The stamps were all part of previously released definitive series and were combined for use on a commemorative cover of which there were only 2000 produced. The overprint in black is very simple - ‘ICS 2001 - 2021’; the stamps are mainly low values from the 1993 -2000 set depicting flora and fauna - 25c Bronze gecko, 50c Tree frog,  Re1 on Re1.50 Seychelles skink surcharge, Re1 Splendid palm plus the 50c value from the 2003 - 2005 ‘Marine life’ issue and the 2014 Green turtle Rs50 stamp. Rating:- *****.

   The illustrations are poor quality but the best I can do at the moment.

🇮🇪 An Post issued a pair of stamps depicting endangered local wildlife on 6 May 2021 as its contribution to the 2021 EUROPA omnibus series. An interesting enough issue depicting the attractive White prominent moth and Freshwater Pearl mussel. Rating:- *****.

1876. 🇨🇾 Cyprus Commemorates National Hero.

 

🇨🇾 Cyprus Post issued a single stamp on 6 May 2021 to commemorate Efrosini Proestou (1903-93) who is known as the Lady of Lapithos, a hero of the 1974 struggles in the island. The issue was lithographed by Baltic Banknote High Security Printing.  Rating:- ***.

🇬🇧 Let’s be honest. After the break-up of The Beatles does not the work of English musician Paul McCartney become little more than a footnote in British music history? So the commemoration of this aged songwriter and musician using the tired old formula showing his post-Beatles music album covers, of which most of the people of Britain are now blissfully unaware I should think, is probably misjudged by Royal Mail which is still hoping that the remaining enthusiasts for music of a bygone age are around in sufficient numbers to want to spend very large amounts of money on stamps and other products which feature him. If Royal Mail had waited until next year they would at least have been commemorating his 80th birthday.

  This assault on the collector’s pocket to be carried out from 28 May 2021 onwards is made up of many, many items but principally a set of 8 stamps (total cost £10.20p), 1 miniature sheet containing 4 different stamps (£5.10p), 1 ‘Collectors sheet containing 1 each of 6 of the values and two each of the other two all with attached labels (£13.00), 3 different ‘fan sheets’ (2 at £7.50 each and the other sold for £10.90), 1 Prestige booklet sold for £20.25p containing 4 different panes including 1 pane of Machin Head definitive (2x 1st, 2x 2p, 2x10p, 2x50p plus one stamp-sized label depicting the performer), 1 ‘limited edition Prestige booklet similar to the ordinary edition but with a different cover (£49.99p) and 1 counter booklet containing 4 x 1st Class rate Machin Head definitive plus 1 each of the 1st Class stamps (£5.10p). That makes, I think, if you ignore the rest of the paraphilatelic detritus being offered for sale along with these items, a total cost of £129.54. Good luck with that one, anyone who must have ‘one of everything’.

  The proud designers of this issue are Baxter and Bailey and the stamps were lithographed by International Security Printers and are perforated 14. Rating:- 0.

1875. 🇨🇾 Cyprus’ Cute Seal Pup Steals The 2021 Europa Show.

 

🇨🇾 Cyprus Post will issue a pair of stamps each printed in sheetlets of eight plus a booklet of 8 stamps (4 of each stamp se-tenant) on 6 May 2021 as its contribution to the EUROPA omnibus of 2021 which is on the subject of endangered local wildlife. The 64c value depicts a delightful portrait of a seal pup which must be the most appealing stamp of 2021 so far. An excellent issue. Rating:- *****.

🇳🇿 New Zealand Post will issue a set of 4 stamps and 1 miniature sheet containing all 4 stamps to commemorate Matariki, the Maori new year, on 7 July 2022. The stamps depict Whānau Mārama, the Family of Light (the sun, moon and the Pleiades star cluster). The colourful issue was designed by Dave Burke and lithographed by Southern Colour Print. Rating:- *****.

🇮🇪 An Post, the postal service of the Irish Republic, has announced that it is holding a competition, with a prize of €10000, for an artist to produce a piece of work to commemorate the Centenary of the establishment of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann) and the successful piece of art will be featured on a commemorative stamp to coincide with the centenary date of 6 December 2022.