1250. 🇬🇲 Pan-African Postal Union Omnibus Commemorates Mandela.

  🇬🇲 Publicity put out by the US- and China- based philatelic agency, IGPC, draws attention to a single stamp miniature sheet inscribed 'The Gambia' which is inscribed 'PAN African Postal Union Joint Stamp Issue 2018'. A similar item inscribed 'Liberia' is also depicted in the same publicity. The issue commemorates the Centenary of the birth of the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, a great figure in the modern history of Africa. Rating:- ****.

  I have not been able to track down any further information on what might be a very large omnibus issue from all the countries of Africa - including 20 Commonwealth states - but this sounds like an interesting prospect for the latter half of 2018.

  🇧🇲 A new issue from the Bermuda Post Office which was announced in Bermuda's The Royal  Gazette is a set of 4 stamps which depict Bermuda bags, apparently a '1970 fashion item - a popular gift item for decades'. The bags are described as 'iconic' and have cedar handles. This is an attractive and interesting set. The article does not state the date of issue. Rating:- ****.

  🇵🇰 Pakistan Post will issue a single stamp on 1 July 2018 to commemorate the achievement of '70 years of excellence' of the State Bank of Pakistan. The stamp was designed by the 'courtesy of the Director of the State Bank Museum and Art Gallery' and lithographed by the National Security Printing Company, Karachi and perforated 13. The publicity does not state the dates of issue. Rating:- **.

   🇦🇬🇬🇩 More IGPC publicity depicts illustrations of new issues with the names of Antigua And Barbuda and Grenada printed on them. Collectors won't be surprised that these items deal with the recent British royal wedding and the foreign trips of the current US President, Donald Trump (as someone who doesn't want any foreigners in his own country he seems to be keen on turning up in other people's countries whether or not the local population want him there). These subjects continue to feature on products released by this agency ad nauseum. Rating:- 0.

  Grenada - Wedding of the Duke and Duchess Of Sussex - 1 miniature sheet containing a single stamp.

  Antigua And Barbuda - Engagement of Prince Henry Of Cambridge and Meghan Markle - 1 miniature sheet containing 3 different stamps.

                                       Visit of US President Trump to The Holy See - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 5 different stamps and the other containing a single stamp.

  🇨🇾 I do not think that I have so far illustrated this year's Refugee stamp from Cyprus Post. The stamp was issued on 12 February 2018. Rating:- *****.

  🇹🇷 Meanwhile, the postal service of the Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus issued a pair of stamps in the format of 3 se-tenant pairs in small sheetlets of 6 stamps on 14 June 2018 to commemorate the holding of the FIFA World Cup Championships Finals in Russia. The issue was designed by GK Sonmezer and lithographed by Bolan Dujital Baski Ltd.

1249. 🇬🇬 Two New Issues From Guernsey Post.

🇬🇬 Guernsey Post has announced the upcoming release of 2 new issues:-

  1 August 2018 - Alderney Week - 6 stamps and 1 x £17.04 Prestige booklet (inscribed 'Alderney Bailiwick Of Guernsey'). Designed by Andrew Robinson and lithographed by Southern Colour Print and perforated 13.5. Rating:- ***.

  The cover of the Prestige booklet seems to me to be most unsatisfactory with the featured revellers having a rather ghastly appearance reminiscent of characters in a zombie movie!

  1 August 2018 - SEPAC, 'Spectacular views' - 6 stamps (inscribed 'Guernsey'). Designed by Mark Totty from photography by Elliot Cockett and lithographed by Cartor and perforated 14.5. Rating:- **.

  The illustration of the 76p value is interesting in that the Queen's head is doubled with one head seeming to grow out of the other. Presumably this unusual appearance will not be present on the issued stamp.

  🇮🇳 India Post issued a single stamp on 28 June 2018 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Scott Christian College in Nagarcoil in Tamil Nadu. As designs go, this is pretty unexciting. Rating:- *.

1248. 🇬🇾 New Guyana Definitives Among Latest Batch Of IGPC Issues.

🇬🇾 The Guyana Post Office Corporation has 5 stamps in the latest list of new issues from IGPC which seem to be being offered as new values to add to the Wildlife definitive series of 2014 and which are clearly intended for postal use rather than to serve purely as a source of philatelic revenue. Having said that, although the date of issue is stated to have been 7 June 2018, two of the values were released previously as part of the original issue - the $80 Jaguar stamp and the $150 Toucan stamp - so that the $25, $100 and $140 appear to be the only new stamps. Rating:- ****.

  Other IGPC issues for Commonwealth client territories from the latest list appear to be less relevant to the respective territories' postal requirements:-

🇰🇳  Nevis - 

24 May 2018 - 50th anniversary of the Elvis Presley 'Comeback Special' - 1 miniature sheet containing 4 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

4 May 2018 - The red squirrel which, rather, surprisingly is found in Nevis - 1 miniature sheet containing 3 different stamps. Rating:- *.

24 May 2018 - 65th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 3 different stamps and 1 containing 2 different stamps. Rating:- **.

24 May 2018 - Seashells - 1 miniature sheet containing 4 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

24 May 2018 - Whales - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 3 different stamps and 1 containing a single stamp. Rating:- 0.

5 June 2018 - Hummingbids - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and 1 containing a single stamp. Rating:- 0.

5 June 2018 - 'Colourful salt water fish' - 1 sheetlet containing 6 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

4 May 2018 - The Milky Way - 3 miniature sheets, 2 containing 3 different stamps and 1 containing 2 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

5 June 2018 - Visit of US President Trump to Italy - 1 miniature sheet containing 3 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

🇹🇻 Tuvalu -

30 May 2018 - 'Colourful fruit' - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 3 different stamps and one containing 2 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

30 May 2018 - The Pacific shrimp - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and one containing 2 different stamps. Rating:- ***.

30 May 2018 - 65th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and the other containing a single stamp. Rating:- **.

30 May 2018 - Orchids - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and the second containing 2 different stamps. The issue does not indicate whether these species are found in Tuvalu. Rating:- 0.

30 May 2018 - The coconut crab - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and the containing 2 different stamps. Rating:- ***.