1215. 🇦🇬🇬🇲🇬🇩🇬🇾🇲🇸🇹🇻 A New Flood Of IGPC Issues.

   The New York- and Beijing-based philatelic agency, IGPC, has announced the release of a number of philatelic products with the names of various Commonwealth countries printed on them.

🇦🇬 Antigua And Barbuda - 1 April 2018 - Marine mammals - 1 miniature sheet containing 6 different stamps. Rating:- 0. It is worth noting that the editor of Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogues recently revealed that no non-definitive stamps are sold across the counter in ordinary local post offices to mail-sending members of the post office and questioned whether all 'special' stamps inscribed 'Antigua And Barbuda' should be listed only in the catalogue's Appendix.

🇬🇲 The Gambia - 27 March 2018 - Birds of The Gambia - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and 1 containing 3 different stamps. Rating:- ***.

 27 March 2018 - The Grey crowned crane - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 3 different stamps and 1 containing a single stamp. Rating:- **.

27 March 2018 - Centenary of the first airmail - 2 miniature sheets, 1 containing 4 different stamps and 1 containing a single stamp. Rating:- 0.

27 March 2018 - African primates - 1 miniature sheet containing 2 stamps (see also Blog 1197). Rating:- 0.

🇬🇩 Grenada - This issue appeared fleetingly on the IGPC website but now seems to have disappeared. It is bizarre given that there is a large amount of Mandarin script printed on it for no obvious reason other than that it probably originated in the IGPC's Beijing office. 

  2018 - FIFA World Cup Football Championships, Russia - 2 stamps issued in sheetlets of 8 and individually in larger sheets. Rating:- 0.

🇬🇾 Guyana - 14 March 2018 - Frogs of Central and South America, including local species - 1 sheetlet of 6 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet - Rating:- ***.

  27 March 2018 - 44th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Guyana and The People's Republic Of China, 125th Birth anniversary of Mao Zedong - 1 miniature sheet containing 3 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet containing 1 stamp. Rating:- 0.

  14 March 2018 - Landmarks of Guyana - 2 miniature sheets each containing 3 different stamps - Rating:- ***.

  14 March 2018 - Butterflies - 3 miniature sheets, 2 containing 4 different stamps and 1 containing 2 different stamps - Rating:- *.

🇲🇸 Montserrat - 1 March 2018 - 65th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II - 1 sheetlet containing 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet - Rating:- **.

  12 April 2018 - Centenary of the Royal Air Force - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

🇹🇻 Tuvalu - 3 April 2018 - Centenary of the first airmails - 1 sheetlet of 4 different stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- 0.

1214. 🇲🇾 Fruit From Malaysia.

  🇲🇾 Pos Malaysia issued a set of 3 stamps and 1 miniature sheet on 24 April 2018 on the subject of Malaysian citrus fruit. A colourful issue. Rating:- ***.

  🇬🇧 In a previous Blog I mentioned the set of 10 stamps due to be released on 11 May 2018 on the subject of Owls. I now provide better quality illustrations of the 10 stamps. The issue is made up of 2 se-tenant strips - 1 including the 5 stamps depicting adult birds and the other including the 5 stamps which depict owlets. There seems to be no special reason for the issue of 10 stamps depicting owls at this particular time. Rating:- **.

  🇮🇳 India Post issued a single stamp on 25 April 2018 to commemorate Hemvati Nandan Bahugana, a politician who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Not the most interesting of designs. Rating:- **.

  A se-tenant pair was then issued on 27 April 2017 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Safdarjung Hospital. A wholly uneninterexting design. Rating:- *.  

  Rather more interesting was a miniature sheet issued on 28 April 2018 which commemorated Prithviraj Chauhan (ruled 1178 - 1192), an Indian king of the Chahamana dynasty. Rating:- ***.

  🇱🇹 And so, inevitably, to the latest paraphilatelic products from the notorious agency, Stamperija, which have the names of Commonwealth countries printed on them.

  Firstly, there is Sierra Leone, for which 10 sheetlets, each containing 4 'stamps', and 10 accompanying miniature sheets have been produced. The featured subjects are:- 115th anniversary of the Harley Davidson motor cycle, the Battle of Moscow, Water Birds, 55th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity, 'Winter Games' Pyeong Chang, Dugongs, Butterflies, Diana Princess Of Wales, 50th anniversary of the death of Yuri Gargarin and Table tennis players. Rating:- 0.

  The stated 'date of issue' is 30 March 2018.

  There are also items with the names of Mozambique printed on them. Ten sets each made up of 4  'stamps' and 10 accompanying miniature sheets are stated to have been 'issued' on 15 April 2018 on the following subjects:- The Berlin Museum of Natural History, Big cats, Minerals, David Livingstone, Fire engines, Lighthouses, European high speed trains, Marilyn Monroe, Dolphins and Sea birds. Rating:- 0.

1213. 🇬🇧 Royal Mail Commemorates CHOGM After All - With A Postmark.

  🇬🇧 Royal Mail failed to release any stamps to commemorate the holding of the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting which was held in London and Windsor from 16 to 20 April 2018 and which was attended by 53 heads of government or other senior ministers. However the event was commemorated philatelically by a slogan postmark. I received an item of mail today with a 2nd Class stamp fixed to it cancelled by the postmark which reads:- 'COMMONWEAL TH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING London 2018 16 - 20 April'. The item of mail is dated 16/04/2018 at Nottingham Mail Centre. So there we have it - a philatelic commemoration of CHOGM at no cost at all to the stamp collector.

  🇯🇪 Jersey Post will issue a strip of Post and Go stamps on 19 May 2018 to commemorate the Wedding of Prince Henry Of Wales and Meghan Markel. The issue takes the form of an appropriate additional inscription applied to the Jersey Crest stamps. The inscription says Prince Harry & Meghan Royal Wedding 19/5/2018. Rating:- 0.

  🇬🇬 In Blog 1203 I mentioned Guernsey Post's intention to release a strip of Post and Go 'Guernsey Flag' stamps with appropriate surcharge applied to mark its philatelic bureau's attendance at the Essen International Stamp Fair 2018 from 3 to 5 May 2018. I now provide an illustration of one of the stamps from this strip:-

  🇨🇾 Cyprus Post will issue its Europa Stamps on the subject of Bridges on 2 May 2018. The issue is made up of 2 stamps and 1 booklet containing 8 stamps (4 x 2 different stamps issued tête bêche). I like the donkey standing on the bridge in the 64c value. Rating:- ****.

  🇲🇹 MaltaPost will issue 2 stamps and 1 booklet on 3 May 2018 as its contribution to this year's Europa omnibus which is on the subject of Bridges. The issue was designed by David P Attard and lithographed by Printex and perforated 14. Rating:- ****.