880. Saint Lucia Independence Day Stamps; Malaysia Commemorates Its New King.

  The postal service of Saint Lucia has issued its first stamps of 2016 having issued a single stamp only during 2015. The new issue commemorates the 37th anniversary of Independence though why it 

has suddenly become necessary to commemorate such an odd anniversary is a question that is not answered. The issue depicts the current Governor General of Saint Lucia, Dame Pearlette Louisa, as well as former Governors General including the country's first Queen's representative - Sir Allen Lewis. 

  This is an attractive and interesting set and it's pleasing to have an issue from this Caribbean island especially as I have not yet seen a single example of last year's issue nor any dealer offering it for sale or even an illustration of it - it is said to have commemorated the centenary of the birth of Sir Arthur Lewis and to have been released on 1 July 2015.

  I do not know the date of issue of these stamps but Saint Lucia's Independence Day is 22 February so it may be that this issue was actually released early in 2016.

  Rating:- ****.

  

  Pos Malaysia issued a set of 3 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 12 December 2016 to commemorate the commencement of the reign of the new King of Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan. The Sultan becomes the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and the first ruler of Kelantan to do so since Sultan Yahya Petri ibni Sultan Ibrahim who was the sixth YDPA from 1975 to 1979. Muhammad V became the 29th Sultan of Kelantan in 2010.

  The interesting issue was designed by Shahrul Izhar. Rating:- *****.

  It is reported that World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) stamps are in preparation with the names of Kenya (Somali ostrich), Zambia (Southern ground hornbill), Turks And Caicos Islands (Staghorn coral) and Dominica (Scalloped hammerhead shark) printed on them. These issues are said to be due for release in 2016 or 2017 and they are all, interestingly, territories for which IGPC produces and markets stamps but infrequently.

  Stamperija has released another batch of miniature sheets and sheetlets each containing 4 different "stamps" with the name of Mozambique printed on them with a stated date of issue of 10 July 2016. There's little good to say about these products which mostly, as usual, feature subjects of little or no relevance to Mozambique - the subjects being:- 75th death anniversary of Lord Baden-Powell, a commemoration of Nelson Mandela, First World War aircraft, 1st Birthday of Princess Charlotte, "A tribute to Prince" (US music performer), Conch shells, Sleigh dogs, Sochi Winter Games, Special transport, Steam trains, Valentina Tereshkova, 50th death anniversary of Walt Disney, Popes, Philataipel 2016 Philatelic Exhibition - Chiang Kai-shek and Muhammad Ali. Rating:- 0.