New Zealand Post has released a pack of Personalised stamps which were issued during 2015. In all there are 17 gummed stamps, 19 self-adhesive stamps and 2 booklets. The stamps have also been released on 3 covers with the postmark "COLLECTABLES NZ WHANGANUI 31 DEC 2015". The price of the pack of unused stamps is $51.40c and of the 3 covers is $48.40c.
The stamps feature a wide range of subjects and collectors of birds-on-stamps will find that featured birds are the Welcome swallow (Warou), Silvereye (Tahou), White-faced heron and a white heron of some type as well as a cartoon kiwi and woodpecker.
These are stamps which fulfill a postal role and can be obtained by the general public for use on mail if desired and therefore will have a place in my New Zealand collection. Rating:- ****.
Australia Post issued a pack of 16 "Balloons" stamps with attached labels on 2 February 2016 on the subject of "The Phantom Ruler of the Jungle" at a price of x$16.95. Rating :- *.
The postal administration of Norfolk Island, Norfolk Post, issued a set of 4 stamps on 21 January 2016 to commemorate the holding of the inaugural Norfolk Island Ocean Challenge outrigger race. Rating:- *****.
India Post issued a single stamp to commemorate the 2016 International Fleet Review on 6 February 2016. Rating:- ***.
The South Georgia Island Newsletter has recently highlighted the first official visit of The Princess Royal to South Georgia which took place during January 2016 (she had previously visited the island n March 2008 as Patron of the South Georgia Heritage Trust). During her visit Princess Anne opened officially the island's new post office in the refurbished "Slop Chest" building and also marked the centenary of Ernest Shackleton's crossing of South Georgia. She had sailed to the island from The Falkland Islands, where she also carried out some official duties, on board MV Pharos SG.
I wonder if Pobjoy Stamps has prepared any stamps for the Falklands and South Georgia to enable them to commemorate the royal visit philatelically.
Back to Australia Post which has detailed its upcoming stamp issues for March and April 2016 - none of them commemorate any event or anniversary worthy of commemoration apart from the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia, and the Centenary of the First World War.
1 March 2016 - "Aussie Dinkum Alphabet" - 5 gummed stamps (face value $5) and 5 self-adhesive stamps (from 5 different booklets each of 10 x $1 stamps (cost $50). Total cost of issue - $55 (I won't include the 5 "Chequebook" booklets each of 20 x 10 x $1 stamps, each totalling $200, making a price for all 5 of $1000!)
5 April 2016 - 90th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II - 2 gummed stamps and 1 miniature sheet (total $7.50) and 1 sheetlet of 5 x $2.75 stamps ($14.50). Total cost of issue - $22. (There is also a "Chequebook" of 20 x 5 x $2.75 stamps sold for $275!). Designed by Sharon Rodziewicz and lithographed by RA Printing. Rating:- ****.
12 April 2016 - Centenary of the First World War (3rd issue) - 5 x $1 gummed stamps, 1 miniature sheet, 5 self-adhesive stamps from booklets of 10 x $1 and 1 "Prestige" booklet sold at a price of $20.95. Total cost of issue - $40.95 (excluding a $200 "Chequebook" ). Designed by Andrew Hogg Design and Janet Boschen (prestige booklet). Rating:- *****.
Date not known - "Gumnut Babies" - 1 pack containing a sheetlet of 16 stamps with labels attached. Sold for $19.95.
15 March 2015 - Bridges of Australia - 3 x $1 gummed stamps and 3 self-adhesive stamps from a booklet of 20 x $1. Lithographed by EgoTrade Pty. Rating:- *. Total cost of issue - $23 (not including a $400 "Chequebook"!)
26 April 2016 -issue inscribed "Christmas Island Australia" - Robber crabs - 3 gummed stamps, 2 x$1 and1 x $2. Total cost - $5!
18 March 2016 - Canberra Stamp Show 2016 - 1 miniature sheet costing $4.25 and 1 sheetlet of 10 stamps on the subject of "Overprinted decimal currency" which will cost $10.
Finally there will be a pack of stamps with labels attached on the subject of Superman (sold for $16.95) and a similar item titled "Pepper Pig Holiday Fun Sheet" to be sold for $20.95.
The grand total for this little lot then is $228.05 (£114.14p)! We may add the $329.85 (£160) cost of the stamps issued by Australia Post in the first 2 months of 2016 (see Blog 693) plus the $1.80 face value of the Adelaide 30c "emergency" stamps - if only that was all they cost (!) (see Blog 703) - and arrive at a total cost of $559.17 (£279.86p) for "one of everything" issued by Australia Post in the first 4 months of 2016 (unless you collect "Chequebooks"!)
Australia Post seems to have entered a realm of fantasy stamp collecting. Where will it all end?
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