818. Mourning Issue From Bangladesh And Australia Vietnam War Issue.

  Bangladesh Post issued a single stamp and an accompanying miniature sheet containing the same stamp on 15 August 2016 to commemorate National Mourning Day in honour of the martyrs of the struggle for Bangladesh independence which took place 45 years ago. Rating:- *****.

  A single stamp was also issued on 29 July 2016 to commemorate the Bangladesh National Stamp Day - a bright and cheerful little item which may well promote stamp collecting in that country. Perhaps the apparently half-dead philatelic powers in Britain could actively promote a National Stamp Day in the country which gave the world the postage stamp and raise the profile of the hobby a little more here and boost the hobby. Rating:- ***.

  And so, to the latest flood of issues from Australia Post which disguises quite how many items it is issuing by printing the names of various dependent territories on its products. 

  I have already described the "Jewel Beetle" issue, the "Ice flowers" set and the "Holden Bathurst 30 times champions" sheetlets in Blog 816 as well as the new Norfolk Island stamps in Blog 815.

  A single stamp issued in a sheetlet of 10 stamps will be released on 13 September 2016 to commemorate the Quatercentenary of the landing in Australia of Dirk Hartog's expedition which was the second European expedition to visit the country. The stamp was desiged by Sharon Rodkiewicz from a painting by Adriaan de Jong and lithographed by McKellar Renown and perforated 14 x 14.5. Rating:- ****.

  Seven gummed stamps, 4 self-adhesive stamps from coils, 5 self-adhesive stamps from booklets and 1 gummed miniature sheet will be released on 20 September 2016 on the subject of (some foreign) endangered species and the Centenary of Taronga Zoo. The issue was designed by Sonia Young from art by Owen Bell and lithographed by EgoTrade Pty Ltd and perforated 14 x 14.5. They are attractive stamps but, amid everything else, Australia Post is pouring on to the market, clearly excessive. Rating:- *.

  A pair of gummed stamps on the subject of Monotremes (egg-laying mammals) will be released on 26 September 2016. The issue will also include 2 self-adhesive stamps sold in 2 sheetlets of 5 stamps each and a gummed miniature sheet as well as both stamps being released with attached personalisable labels. The issue was designed by Mary Callaghan Design and lithographed by RA Print and lithographed by 14.5 x 14. Rating:- *.

  The issues from Australia Post which commemorate the Centenary of the Australian Armed Forces will be added to by a set of 5 gummed stamps, 5 self-adhesive stamps from booklets of 10, 1 gummed miniature sheet and 1 Prestige booklet costing $20.95c which will be released on 11 October 2016. The issue commemorates the involvement of Australia's Armed Forces in the Vietnam War. The stamps were designed by Andrew Hogg Design and lithographed by McKellar Renown and perforated 14.5. Rating:- *****.

  An issue inscribed Cocos (Keeling) Islands Australia which is made up of 4 stamps and 1 miniature sheet will be released on 18 October 2016 and will be on the subject of local art. The stamps were designed by Lisa Christensen, Three Branches Design and lithographed by RA Printing and perforated 14 x 14.5. Rating:- ***.

  A miniature sheet will be issued on 3 November 2016 in connection with the Mandurah 2016 Stamp Fair. Rating:- **.

  If you are not fully sated by Australia Post issues with all of the above then additional money can be spent on an $18 "Tweety and Sylvester" pack which contains 2 panes, one of 8 x $1 "Balloons" stamps (Tweety labels attached) and one of 8 x $1 "Cake" stamps (Sylvester labels attached). There is also an $18 "Peppa Pig Make Believe" pack containing 2 panes each of 8 x $1 "Balloons" stamps with attached labels and a $22 "Wonder Woman" pack containing 2 panes each of 10 x $1 "Map of Australia" stamps with attached labels Rating:- 0.

  Sri Lanka Post issued a single stamp on 3 September 2016 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Police Service. The stamp was designed by Pulasthi Ediriweera. Rating:- ***.

817. India Post Commemorates Mother Teresa's Sainthood.

  India Post released a miniature sheet containing a single Rs50 stamp on 4 September 2016 to commemorate the canonisation of Mother Teresa of Kolkata which was carried out by Pope Francis in Rome on the date of issue of the stamp. Rating:- *****.

  Collectors of modern stamp issues will be familiar with the appearance of St. Teresa on issues from many countries especially those whose names appear on the products of certain exploitational philatelic agencies. St. Teresa has appeared on previous issues from India itself and was depicted on a Rs20 definitive stamp issued on 1 March 2009.

  Mother Teresa appeared first on an Indian stamp issued on 27 August 1980 which commemorated the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to her in 1979. 

    Mother Teresa was featured on a miniature sheet issued on 15 December 1997 after her death on 5 September 1997:-

816. New Australia Post Issue Depicts The Beetles.

  Australia Post will issue a set of 4 gummed stamps, 2 x self-adhesive $1 stamps from coils and 2 x self-adhesive $1 stamps from booklets of 20 x $1 stamps (10 of each design) on 6 September 2016 on the subject of Jewel Beetles. The issue was designed by Jo Mure from illustrations by Owen Bell and lithographed by EgoTrade Pty Ltd (gummed stamps) and Pemara (self-adhesive) and perforated 14.5 x 14. This is a lovely issue but of little significance in subject matter and as Australia Post continues to release so many issues at present I shall not be adding it to my Australia collection. Rating:- **.

  The total face value of "1 of everything" amounts to $28 or $428 if you choose to add the "chequebook" of 20 x 20 x $1 stamps to your booklet collection. I wonder if any stamp collector actually does buy these "chequebooks" - surely not. 

  Beetles seem to be all the philatelic rage at the moment what with the upcoming Royal Mail "Ladybirds" "Post and Go" set and the Jersey Post "Beetles" "Post and Go" stamps due to be issued on 15 September 2016 at Autumn Stampex 2016 in London.

  Australia Post's profligacy continues with an issue due on 20 September 2016 which is inscribed "Australian Antarctic Territory" and which is on the subject of "Ice flowers". The set is made up of 4 gummed stamps and 1 miniature sheet which includes all 4 stamps. The issue was designed by Sharon Rodkiewicz from photographs by various photographers and printed in lithography with additional printing techniques being employed including holographic and metal foils and embossing. Again, a lovely set but of no significance amid the current morass of Australia Post issues. Rating:- **.

  Similar to Royal Mail's "commemorative sheets" and "generic sheets", but even worse, are Australia Post's "licensed stamp packs". A new pack is planned to be released on 19 September 2016 to commemorate "Holden's 30 Bathurst victories" (my knowledge of anything automobile is negligible so I have no idea what the issue is about) which consists of 3 sheets each of 10 x $1 "map of Australia" stamps with various attached labels from the "Love to celebrate" issue. Rating:- 0.

   Considering they're sometimes called "giant rats", I can't help finding capybaras, the world's largest rodents, rather attractive and fascinating creatures. IGPC has issued a sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 accompanying miniature sheet, which depict these splendid creatures which are found in South America, including Guyana, and, though I don't buy many IGPC issues I'm adding this set to my Guyana collection for the fun of it and also because the issue is actually relevant to the country whose name is printed on the stamps. Rating:- ***.