2299. 🇲🇹 Malta’s EUROPA Stamp.

 

New issues -

🇲🇹 MaltaPost - 

9 May 2023 - EUROPA, ‘Peace the highest human value’ - 1 stamp. Designed by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir. Lithographed by Printex and perforated 14. Rating:- ***.

🇱🇹 Stamperija (Lithuania-based producers and purveyors of ‘philatelic’ products released with the names of ‘client’ countries printed on them. The products are frequently exploitative and in bad taste). These items are mentioned as they appear to be the first products stated to have been released in 2023 to include the names of the Commonwealth countries Sierra Leone and Togo.

  The Sierra Leone products are nonsensical since they include ‘stamps’ with a face value of Le 22 (the equivalent of £0.00088 (less than a penny), Le34 = £0.0014 (just over a tenth of a penny) and miniature sheets with face values of Le104 = £0.0042 (just under one half penny). The items are being offered for sale at prices many multiples of the actual face values. The products inscribed ‘Togo’ have more normal face values. 

  All these items are related to the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by forces under orders from the Russian tyrant, Putin. Strange that Togo is allowing stamps to be issued seemingly supporting Ukraine when its government failed to support a motion in early 2023 in the United Nations which called for the immediate withdrawal of the Russian occupying forces from Ukraine (see Blog 2257). A case of philatelic opportunism (little wonder that the notoriously cynical Stamperija seems to be behind these products).

Products inscribed ‘Sierra Leone’ -

Stated issue date - 21 March - First anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine - 2 miniature sheets, Visit of US President Biden to Kyiv (2 miniature sheets) and Slava Ukraini! (1 miniature sheet) - 

Products inscribed ’Togo’ - 

Stated ‘date of issue’ - 21 March 2023 - First anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Dogs used for mine detection (1 miniature sheet), Ukraine’s pilot heroes (2 miniature sheets).