1207. 🇨🇦 Canada Commemorates Coronation 65th Anniversary.

  🇨🇦 Canada Post will issue a single self-adhesive stamp in a booklet of 10 on 21 April 2018 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The very fine stamp was designed by Paprika and printed in lithography. Rating:- *****.

  Canada Post will then release a pair of self-adhesive stamps issued se-tenant in booklets of 10 (5 pairs) on 1 May 2018 on the subject of 'Bees'. The rather unusual designs by Andrew Perro are based on illustrations by Dave Murray. I think I should have liked to see more realistic depictions of the creatures. Rating:- **.

  🇮🇲 The Isle Of Man Post Office will issue a set of 12 1st Class rate stamps on 17 May 2018 on the subject of 'Great British motorcycles'. The designs are based on paintings by Graham Crowley or photographs taken from the Mortons Collection. The designs were carried out by David Bloomfield and EJC Design and printing in lithography was by Lowe-Martin and the stamps are perforated 14. The total face value of the set is £6.24p. Rating:- *.

    The Isle Of Man Post Office will also issue 8 stamps and a 'sheetlet' containing the same 8 stamps on 10 May 2018 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first Manx International Motor Scooter Rally. The face value of the set is £7.90 and the sheetlet costs the same. The design is by EJC Design and Paul Ford and printing in lithography was carried out by Cartor. The stamps are perforated 14. Rating:- **.

  🇮🇳 India Post issued a single stamp on 12 April 2017 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Rating:- **.

  🇬🇬 Guernsey Post will issue 6 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 2 May 2018 on the subject of Bridges of Guernsey. These stamps tie in with the 2018 Europa omnibus theme. The 62p and 76p values carry the inscription, 'EUROPA'. The issue was designed by Wendy Bramall and lithographed by Lowe Martin and perforated 13.3. The designs feature some pleasant and delicate paintings of scenery in Guernsey and some of the other Channel Islands which are part of the Bailiwick. Rating:- ***.

  Guernsey Post will also issue a miniature sheet containing 2 different £2 stamps on 2 May 2018 to commemorate the Wedding of Prince Henry Of Wales and Meghan Markle, an American actress. The designs feature photographs taken at the time of the couple's engagement. The Prince is only fifth in line to the British throne but is a popular figure. The issue was designed by Two Degrees North and lithographed by Southern Colour Print and perforated 14.5. Rating:- **.

  🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Post issued 1 stamp on 7 April 2018 to commemorate World Health Day. The issue marked the 70th World Health Day and the commemorative meeting which was held in Colombo on the day of issue of the stamp. Sadly this is not a particularly interesting design. Rating:- **.

This issue was followed 2 days later when Sri Lanka Post released 3 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 9 April 2018 to commemorate Vesak. As usual Sri Lanka Post has celebrated this religious festival with some colourful and interesting designs. Rating:- ***.

1205. 🇳🇿 New Zealand Commemorates Recovery After Earthquake.

  🇳🇿 New Zealand Post will issue a set of 6 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 2 May 2018 to commemorate the engineering work which was necessary and carried out in New Zealand after the severe earthquake which took place on 16 November 2016 about 15kms north east of the town of Culverden in North Canterbury. The interesting set was designed by Saint Andrew Matautia and lithographed by Southern Colour Print and perforated 14 x 14.5. Rating:- ***.

  New Zealand Post will then issue 2 self-adhesive and 2 gummed stamps on 6 June 2018 featuring scenery around the country as definitives necessitated by a rise in various postage rates. An attractive enough set though doubtless the increased rates will not be at all attractive to users of the mail service. Rating:- **.

  On 4 July 2018 New Zealand Post will release 5 more of its 'round kiwi' stamps the first of which was issued in 1988. These are attractive items. Rating:- ***.

  🇲🇾 Pos Malaysia issued 4 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 10 May 2018 on the subject of Musical instruments of Malaysia and featuring stringed instruments. The delicate designs are very appealing. Rating:- ****.

  🇧🇼 Botswana Post issued 4 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 15 March 2018 on the subject of Flamingos in Botswana. The issue was designed by Gwithie Kirby and lithographed. This is a colourful, original and interesting set of local interest. Rating:- *****.

  🇻🇨 I do like to include as many Commonwealth territory new issues as I am aware of in the this Blog but sometimes, with so many often very similar to each other, I overlook an issue. I think I have omitted an issue from the philatelic agency, IGPC, which has the name of St Vincent And The Grenadines printed on it which has a stated date of issue of 26 October 2018. The issue which commemorates the Platinum Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh is made up of a sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet containing a single oval stamp. We must remember that The Queen is head of state of St Vincent And The Grenadines and therefore these products have some local relevance. Rating:- *.

  🇬🇧 Royal Mail will issue a set of 6 stamps (3 vertically se-tenant pairs) on 5 June 2018 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy Of Arts in Burlington House in London. The subject is illustrated by depicting paintings by prominent contemporary artists some of whom are not generally appreciated it may be said, and with good reason, by much of the British public.

  The works depicted in this issue are by Grayson Perry, Fiona Rae, Norman Ackroyd who specialises in aquatint work and likes to present dramatic paintings of subjects such as St Kilda (depicted on this stamp) in that medium, Barbara Rae whose work is usually extremely colourful, Yinka Shenibare who seems to specialise more in contemporary sculpture and Tracey Emin who needs no introduction.

  In a way, I quite like this set which exposes the public to the sort of art in which Britain is leading the world - that is - it would expose the public to it if anyone ever bought commemorative stamps for their Mail any more. As soon as I can provide better reproductions, I will but it may be that this art looks better when the pictures are slightly blurred. Rating:- ***.

1204. 🇯🇪 Wonderful Pet Portraits On Latest Jersey Issue.

  🇯🇪 Jersey Post has won me over completely to the new issue it plans to release on 25 May 2018 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Jersey Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals. How can I resist 2 of the set of 8 which show wonderful portraits of a black Labrador pup and an elderly, slightly chubby brown Labrador? The other designs, by Andrew Hutchinson, are also excellent with a couple more appealing dogs featured along with a beautiful cat, a guinea pig full of character, an owlet (everyone seems to want to put owls on their stamps this year) and a boa constrictor.

  This is a beautifully designed set which commemorates an important local anniversary on a subject with a lot of appeal. I shall buy 2 sets - one for my Jersey collection and the other for my 'Labradors on stamps' collection. Well done Jersey Post! Rating:- *****.

  🇨🇾 Cyprus Post released 2 single-stamp issues on 28 March 2018 - one on the subject of the production of halloumi cheese and the second to commemorate the holding of the 2018 FIFA Football World Cup Championship Finals in Russia. I very much like the stamp on the subject of cheese making - rating:- **** - and the football stamp presents its subject in an interesting and unusual way - rating:- **** - so I shall be happy to add these modest issues to my Cyprus collection.

  🇯🇪 Back to Jersey Post which will issue a set of 6 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 16 May 2018 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the RAF raid on Ruhr dams in Germany during the Second World War carried out by 617 Squadron which earned the name 'The Dam Busters' as a result.

  The issue features some spectacular scenes in artwork by Interabang and Jersey Post states that the island has its links with the Dam Busters Squadron through a Jerseyman who served with the unit during the war after the Ruhr dams raid piloting Avro Lancasters in many operations including the 'Tallboy' raid on Berchtesgaden in 1945.

   This is another well designed set but as the Jerseyman did not actually take part in the raid and one can not help but feel that Jersey Post really does overdo the number of stamp issues it releases on military subjects I find it hard to understand why this issue is really necessary from the island. Rating:- ***.