2882. 🇬🇭🇳🇬🇸🇱🇬🇲🇹🇬 ECOWAS Multicountry Sheet.

 

New issues -

🇬🇭🇳🇬🇸🇱🇬🇲🇹🇬 The 2026 ECOWAS Omnibus -

12 February 2026 - 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States - claimed to be an omnibus issue with stamps inscribed by the name of each of the 12 member states (see Blog 2872). The Nigerian issue was initially sold on an internet auction site by the respectable specialist seller of Nigerian new issues, CJ Tern, in the form of a single stamp, a first day cover and a sheetlet of 12 stamps, each being a stamp inscribed with the name of a different ECOWAS member. Subsequently, within a day or so, a French dealer, Busch Collectibles, which specialises in the stamps of Francophone African countries, offered for sale the single stamps of each country along with a number of of multicountry sheetlets as were offered by CH Tern, but, like CJ Tern, did not sell sheetlets or multiples of any of the countries which suggested that the single stamps originated from the multicountry sheets rather than sheets for each individual country. 

  At this stage therefore, we might conclude that these products originate from the multicountry sheets which, from the involvement of CJ Tern, are on sale in Nigeria, where the headquarters of ECOWAS is located, but there is no evidence at present that they are on sale in the other 11 countries which have stamps included in the multicountry sheets. This raises questions about the status of the validity of the stamps as postage stamps - it is, after all, preposterous, to call an item a ‘postage stamp’ if you can not buy  them in the country the name of which is inscribed on them. In the future, we will look out for evidence that these stamps are genuinely sold in the respective countries but below I highlight those products with the names of Commonwealth countries which are included in the multicountry sheets -

Ghana Post -

Nigerian Posts & Telecommunications -

La Poste, postal service of Togo -

Postal service of Sierra Leone -

Postal service of The Gambia -

🇮🇳 India Post -

2026 - My Stamp personalised stamps with attached labels sold by India Post in sheetlets of 12 at a premium price -

60th anniversary of Dwaraka Doss Goverdan Doss Vaishnan College, Chennai (Educational institution) - 1 stamp - 

Mumbai Climate Week - 1 stamp -

Kawant Ker Mela (festival held in Chhithaudepaur, Gujarat - 1 stamp - 

Dada Gurudev Shri Jinadutt Suriji, “luminous star of Indian culture and Jainism” - 1 stamp.

2224. 🇺🇸 Final IGPC Products of 2022.

 

New issues.

🇺🇸 Products released by the American agency IGPC with the names of the countries of some of its Commonwealth client postal services printed on them -

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea -

19 September 2022 - Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Papua New Guinea - 5 stamps and 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and the other a single stamp. Rating:- **.

The following products are all rated 0.

🇬🇲 The Gambia -

1 December 2022 - ‘The Magical world of scarabs’ (beetles) - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 6 different stamps and the other containing a single stamp.

5 December 2022 - Visit of USA President Biden to Israel - 1 miniature sheet containing a single stamp.

🇬🇩 Grenada -

22 January 2023 - Chinese New Year, Year of the Rabbit - 1 miniature sheet containing 12 identical stamps.

🇬🇩 Grenada Carriacou And Petite Martinique -

9 December 2022 - Visit of USA President Biden to Spain - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and the other a single stamp.

🇰🇳 Nevis -

1 December 2002 - ‘The Wonderful world of clownfish’- 2 miniature sheets, one containing 6 different stamps and the other a single stamp.

5 December 2022 - Visit of US President Biden to Poland- 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and the other a single stamp.

🇻🇨 St Vincent And The Grenadines -

12 December 2022 - Hummingbirds of the world - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 6 different stamps and the other a single stamp.

12 December 2022 - ‘Nature’s beautiful ducks’) - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 6 different stamps and the other a single stamp.

🇹🇻 Tuvalu -

18 November 2022 - The Concorde (Anglo-French aircraft) - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and the other a single stamp.

5 December 2022 - Visit of USA President Biden to the Vatican City - 2 miniature sheets, one containing 4 different stamps and the other a single stamp.

22 January 2023 - Chinese New Year, Year of the Rabbit - 1 miniature sheet containing 12 stamps (4 each of 3 different designs).

New issue programmes of 2023.

🇨🇦 Canada Post.

“The 2023 Canadian stamp program will celebrate some of the country’s most accomplished individuals, feature milestones, and the holidays that bring communities together”. This aim to celebrate Canada and its achievers is in stark contrast to that of Royal Mail whose 2023 programme is aimed at celebrating nothing but the trivial and the banal (apart, of course, from the coronation of our new king).

Canada’s new issues will include -

Canada’s first definitive stamp honouring King Charles III

Ferries 

‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ (6 stamps)

Quebec arrivals and trailblazers

A notable hockey player

A World War 2 hero

Black History Month

Flowers

Canada Post Community Foundation 

Indigenous community leaders (3 stamps)

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah festivals

Christmas and ‘holiday’ stamps

I like that Canada Post sees itself as a teller of the national story which I believe is a role that stamp issues should play. If only those who are employed by Royal Mail, doubtless on very large salaries, to choose the subjects for that company’s stamp issues, felt the same national pride and sense of history and achievement as those responsible for Canada Post’s stamp programme then collecting new British stamps might once more be a worthwhile pursuit.

2002. 🇮🇲 Isle Of Man To Commemorate Local Stamp Designer And Artist.

 

🇮🇲 Isle Of Man Post Office, having already announced one new issue for 2022 (Chinese new year) has now released details of its second excursion of 2022 into the pockets of any loyal collectors of its stamps that it still has left.

  The issue, due on 23 February 2022, will take the form of an 8 stamp set (4 se-tenant pairs) which features the pleasing art of local artists, the late Nancy Corkish and David Byrne, who lived together in the last house on the road before The Sound at Creigneash. Nancy Corkish died in 2021 and as her work included some charming Manx stamp designs, including the ‘Cats’ set of 1996, this issue is intended as a tribute to her and a celebration of the couple’s partnership and collaboration. Well, I’ve heard of worse reasons for a stamp issue.

  The issue was designed by Icon Imaging and features paintings by the couple and was lithographed by Cartor and the stamps are perforated 13. All in all, a lovely and worthwhile issue. Rating:- *****.

🇺🇸 The United States-based producer and seller of philatelic items, IGPC. has released news of its latest products which have the names of their Commonwealth clients printed on them:-

🇬🇲 The Gambia - 1 February 2022 - Chinese New Year, Year of the Tiger (1 miniature sheet).

🇬🇩 Grenada - 1 December 2021 - Flowers (2 miniature sheets), Nine-banded armadillo (2 miniature sheets), Red-footed tortoise (2 miniature sheets); 23 December 2021 - Dolphins (2 miniature sheets), Green anole (2 miniature sheets); 1 February 2022 - Chinese New Year, Year of the Tiger (1 miniature sheet).

🇬🇩 Grenada Carriacou and Petite Martinique - 29 November 2021 - Iguana (2 miniature sheets), Crocodiles (2 miniature sheets); 23 December 2021 - Hummingbirds (2 miniature sheets).

🇻🇨 St Vincent And The Grenadines - 27 December 2021 - Butterflies (1 miniature sheet), Crocodiles (2 miniature sheets), Elvis Presley (1 miniature sheet), Third Wedding anniversary of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (2 miniature sheets), 10th Wedding anniversary of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (2 miniature sheets).

🇹🇻 Tuvalu - 1 December 2021 - 50th anniversary of Apollo 15 (2 miniature sheets); 1 February 2022 - Chinese New Year, Year of the Tiger (1 miniature sheet).

1718. 🇬🇬 Guernsey Post COVID-19 Stamps.

🇬🇬 As mentioned previously Guernsey Post issued 12 stamps on 19 August 2020 related to the ongoing COVID-10 pandemic. Four of the stamps are inscribed Alderney (subject is ‘Alderney Spirit’) and 8 of them are inscribed Guernsey (subject is ‘Guernsey Together’). As previously reported the designs are based on artwork submitted by local schoolchildren. 

  My favourite piece of work does not feature on any of the stamps but instead is used on the cover of the presentation pack - it depicts a charming portrait of a Guernsey cow wearing a rainbow-coloured face mask.

  Rating:- **.

Guernsey:-

Alderney:- 

🇧🇩 Gene W of Colnect has been kind enough to pass on news of further new issues from the postal service of Bangladesh. Many thanks to Gene for his latest information.

14 August 2020 - Genocide Day - 1 stamp. Lithographed and perforated 12.5. This stamp was scheduled for release on 25 March but delayed by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

14 August 2020 - ‘Reinstatement of Studenthood of the Father of the Nation Bhangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 14 August 2010 in the University of Dhaka’ - 1 stamp. Lithographed and perforated 12.5. Rating:- ***.

14 August 2020 - Independence and National Day - 1 stamp. Lithographed and perforated 12.5. Rating:- ***.

🇺🇸 The US philatelic agency IGPC has not released many of its own philatelic products in recent months but it seems to be getting back into the swing of things. Several items have been released with the names of client territories printed on them. IGPC has now started to cash in on the COVID-19 pandemic with a sheet with the name of Tuvalu printed on it.

🇬🇲 The Gambia - 11 August 2020 - Stained glass of the world - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 6 different stamps and the other a single stamp. Rating:- 0.

🇬🇩 Grenada - 11 August 2020 - Quincentenary of the Death of the artist Raphael - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and the other 2 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

🇬🇾 Guyana - 11 August 2020 - Sloths - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and the other a single stamp. Rating:- 0.

🇻🇨 St Vincent And The Grenadines - 5 March 2020 - Bromeliads, 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and the other 2 different stamps. Rating:- 0.

🇹🇻 Tuvalu - 11 August 2020 - ‘COVID-19, A tribute to those on the Frontline’ - 1 miniature sheet containing 4 different stamps. Rating:- 0.