848. Northern Cyprus' Line To Turkey - Joint Issue.

  The postal service of the Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus issued a miniature sheet as part of a joint issue with Turkey on 17 October 2016 to commemorate the pipeline between the two territories which helps to ensure the water supply for northern Cyprus. An interesting issue. Rating:- **.

  Meanwhile the postal service of The Republic Of Cyprus also issued a set of 3 stamps on 17 October 2016 on the subject of "Great Cypriot Benefactors". The depicted philanthropists are Georgios Paraskevaides who set up a charitable foundation and surgical and transplant centres, Anastasios Levantis who was the founder of an art gallery in Nicosia and promoter of Cypriot culture and education and Stelios Joannou who established a charity and home for people of special needs. Igned by Theodoros Kakoullis and lithographed by Veridos Matsoukis SA Greece. Rating:- ** (a worthy subject but dull designs).

  Pos Malaysia issued a set of 3 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 21 October 2016 to commemorate the Bicentenary of Penang Free School. The issue was designed by Old Frees Association and World Communications Network Resources and perforated 14. Rating:- ***.

  Singapore Post will issue a sheetlet containing 6 stamps (3 of 2 different designs) on 29 November 2016 as part of a joint issue with the Japanese postal service. The sheet also contains 4 stamp-sized labels. The issue is a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the 2 countries. Rating:- ***.

  The 4 stamps issued by India Post on 17 October 2016 which depict "Near threatened" species of birds (see Blog 843) were issued in 5 different sheets as well as the previously mentioned miniature sheet - each value was printed in its own sheet with a 5th sheet being printed which contained 4 horizontally se-tenant strips of one of each value as depicted below:-

  The new "Flowers" definitive stamps issued by the Sri Lanka postal administration on  24 August 2016 (see Blog 838) were also issued in small sheetlets - the 8 lowest values in the first sheet and the 4 high values in the second. These are attractive little items. Rating:- ***.