New Issues 2020: Christmas Island (Crabs)

Posted on 2020-09-04 by Mark Joseph Jochim

Continue reading “New Issues 2020: Christmas Island (Crabs)” →

The Stamps of 2020: January

Posted on 2020-02-012020-05-19 by Mark Joseph Jochim

Continue reading “The Stamps of 2020: January” →

New Issues 2020: Week Two (5-11 January)

Posted on 2020-01-042020-01-08 by Mark Joseph Jochim

Week Two is another strong week for New Issues with a number of heavy-issuers (such as the United States, France and Russia) releasing their first stamps of 2020. Thailand has its second set of the year scheduled for Saturday, 11 January, although this may be shifted back a day or two.

As of today (5 January), there are three issues for the forthcoming week that I have not yet been able to find images for (Hungary, Russia and UN-Geneva). I created a few place-holder articles with an “Image Unavailable” design so it will be easy to update once I do find artwork.

Continue reading “New Issues 2020: Week Two (5-11 January)” →

New Issues 2020: Christmas Island (Year of the Rat)

Posted on 2019-12-202020-01-08 by Mark Jochim

Continue reading “New Issues 2020: Christmas Island (Year of the Rat)” →

Christmas Stamps 2019: Christmas Island

Posted on 2019-12-152019-12-28 by Mark Jochim

Christmas Island

Christmas 2019
01 November 2019

***Christmas Island: Christmas 2019 (miniature sheet), 1 November 2019. Image from Australia Post.***

Issue date: 1-November-2019
Issue withdrawal date: 31-December-2020
Denomination: 1 x 65c, 1 x $2.20
Stamp and minisheet design: Rebecca Mills
Product design: Simone Sakinofsky, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed Tullis Russell
Paper: self-adhesive Arconvert Securepost MC90, Domain Securepost MC90
Printer: RA Printing
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size (mm): 26 x 37.5
Minisheet size (mm): 105 x 80
Sheetlet size (mm): 120 x 192
Perforations: 14.6 x 13.86
Sheet layout: Module of 50 and sheetlet of 10
FDI Postmark: Christmas Island, WA 2019
FDI withdrawal date: 30-November-2019

Overview

Located some 2,600 kilometres north-west of Perth, Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean, was named by Captain William Mynors, who sailed past it on Christmas Day 1643.

Australia Post has produced stamps for Christmas Island since 1993. This light-hearted stamp series features Santa Claus interacting with various personified local fauna.

This year’s theme focuses on the festival meal, which is a central part of Christmas Day celebrations.

This year’s colourful stamp and minisheet illustrations are by Rebecca Mills. The two stamps and minisheet feature a communal table of abundance, goodwill and joy, at which Santa, Rudolph and some local friends, indulge in a festive feast.

You can see more of Rebecca’s amazing work on her website. You can also follow Rebecca on Twitter and Instagram.

Stamps in this issue
65c – Santa
The domestic Christmas-card-rate stamp features Santa and an Abbott’s Booby pulling heartily on the two ends of a Christmas cracker.
$2.20 – Rudolph
In the international-rate stamp, Rudolph has truly embraced the Christmas spirit, adorning his horns with baubles. With a Frigatebird at his shoulder, Rudolph offers some coveted plum pudding to an enthusiastic Red Crab.
Christmas 2019 minisheet
The Christmas Island Christmas 2019 minisheet consists of the two stamps from the issue incorporated into a miniature stamp sheet.

***Christmas Island: Christmas 2019 (embellished sheetlet 10x65c Santa stamps), 1 November 2019. Image from Australia Post,***

The self-adhesive sheetlet contains 10 x 65c embellished Santa stamps from the Christmas Island Christmas 2019 stamp issue.
The Santa sheet contains clear varnish on selected parts of the stamps and 10 “card only” stickers.
Seasonal greeting card rate applies to greeting cards enclosed in a sealed envelope and endorsed card only. Only available during November and December.

***Christmas Island: Christmas 2019 (sheetlet of 5 x $2.20 CI Christmas 2019 international stamps_, 1 November 2019. Image from Australia Post.***

This sheetlet contains 5 x $2.20 Rudolph self-adhesive international stamps from the Christmas Island Christmas 2019 stamp issue in a convenient wallet sized booklet.

***Christmas Island: Christmas 2019 (first day Christmas Island Christmas 2019 minisheet cover), 1 November 2019. Image from Australia Post.***

This first day cover is a pictorial envelope with the minisheet from the Christmas Island Christmas 2019 issue affixed and postmarked – First day of issue | 1 November 2019 | Christmas Island WA 3798

The first day cover is valid for postage only on day of issue, from the post office named on the postmark.

These stamps and other products can be purchased from Australia Post Collectibles.

Stamps of 2019, Part 1 (January 1-10, 2019)

Posted on 2019-01-31 by Mark Jochim

This is the first part of what I hope will be a comprehensive listing of new stamp issues as they are released throughout the year. This project began as a simple spreadsheet on which I tabulated every release I could track down. It soon became a “mission” to make the listing as complete as I could make it without access to the catalogues (which are published long after the stamps are issued). I then intended to create an end-of-the-month illustrated blog article but that proved to be too massive of a project, especially with my work schedule and other activities. I have since decided to post the information as a page that I constantly update throughout the year (and, as such, will always be accessible from the top menu on the page). I will announce progress on the page through my “Weekly Phila-Bytes” columns.

The listings are chronological by date, and then alphabetical by stamp-issuing entity. The images come from a wide range of difference sources, some are high-quality scans, others are low-resolution promotional mock-ups. Those latter images will be replaced by better ones as soon as I can. If you own any of these stamps, I would appreciate any upgrade in scans of your actual stamps via email. Occasionally, there are links that lead to additional information, including technical details, of the various stamp issues.

I hope you find this compilation useful.

January 1, 2019

France

January 1, 2019: Definitive Stamp — Marianne (International Rate)

France - Marianne Definitive International Rate (January 1, 2019) sheet of 50 — France – Marianne Definitive International Rate (January 1, 2019) sheet of 50

France - Marianne Definitive International Rate (January 1, 2019) bookklet — France – Marianne Definitive International Rate (January 1, 2019) booklet

France - Marianne Definitive, International Rate (January 1, 2019) first day cover — France – Marianne Definitive, International Rate (January 1, 2019) first day cover

Israel

January 1, 2019: ATM Labels — Fighter Jets in the Israeli Air Force

Israel - Fighter Jets in the Israeli Air Force (January 1, 2019) first day cover — Israel – Fighter Jets in the Israeli Air Force (January 1, 2019) first day cover

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

January 1, 2019: Happy New Year 2019

North Korea - Happy New Year (January 1, 2019) perforated and imperforated — North Korea – Happy New Year (January 1, 2019) perforated and imperforated

North Korea - Happy New Year (January 1, 2019) first day covers — North Korea – Happy New Year (January 1, 2019) first day covers

Thailand

January 1, 2019: Year of the Pig

Thailand - Thailand Post #TH1062 (January 1, 2019) sheet of 10 — Thailand – Thailand Post #TH1062 (January 1, 2019) sheet of 10

Thailand - Thailand Post #TH1062 (January 1, 2019) first day cover — Thailand – Thailand Post #TH1062 (January 1, 2019) first day cover

January 2, 2019

Algeria

January 2, 2019: International Year of the Periodic Table

Andorra (French Administration)

January 2, 2019: Coat of Arms Definitive (International Rate)

French Andorra - Definitive: Coat of Arms, international rate (January 2, 2019) — French Andorra – Definitive: Coat of Arms, international rate (January 2, 2019)

Belarus

January 2, 2019: 100th Anniversary of Byelorussian SSR

Belarus - 100th Anniversary of Byelorussian SSR (January 2, 2019) first day cover — Belarus – 100th Anniversary of Byelorussian SSR (January 2, 2019) first day cover

Belgium

January 2, 2019: Mourning Prior Philippe

Belgium - Mourning Prior Philippe (January 2, 2019) - design 2, sheet of 10 — Belgium – Mourning Prior Philippe (January 2, 2019) – design 2, sheet of 10

Denmark

January 2, 2019: National Flag

Denmark - National Flag (January 2, 2019) booklet pane of 10 — Denmark – National Flag (January 2, 2019) booklet pane of 10

January 2, 2019: Life of Vikings

Denmark - Life of Vikings (January 2, 2019) — Denmark – Life of Vikings (January 2, 2019)

Denmark - Life of Vikings (January 2, 2019) booklet pane of 10 — Denmark – Life of Vikings (January 2, 2019) booklet pane of 10

January 2, 2019: Definitive Stamp — Wavy Lines & Hearts

Denmark - Wavy Lines & Hearts definitive (January 2, 2019) — Denmark – Wavy Lines & Hearts definitive (January 2, 2019)

Denmark - Wavy Lines & Hearts definitive (January 2, 2019) booklet pane of 10 — Denmark – Wavy Lines & Hearts definitive (January 2, 2019) booklet pane of 10

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

January 2, 2019: American Bay Cabin

January 2, 2019: White Tern

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - White Tern (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – White Tern (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Minerals — Sapphire

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Minerals: Sapphire (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Minerals: Sapphire (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: French Cruiser Colbert

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - French Cruiser 'Colbert' (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – French Cruiser ‘Colbert’ (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Antarctic Horsefish

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Antarctic Horsefish (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Antarctic Horsefish (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Kerguelen Island — Bras Jules Laboureur

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Kerguelen Island: Bras Jules Laboureur (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Kerguelen Island: Bras Jules Laboureur (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Kerguelen Island — Lake Sediment Sampling Program

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Kerguelen Island: Lake Sediment Sampling Program (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Kerguelen Island: Lake Sediment Sampling Program (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: B2M Champlain

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - B2M 'Champlain' (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – B2M ‘Champlain’ (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Insects — Neomaso Antarcticus

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Insects: Neomaso Antarcticus (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Insects: Neomaso Antarcticus (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Yves Valette, 1920-2014

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Yves Valette, 1920-2014 (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Yves Valette, 1920-2014 (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Mario Zucchelli, 1944-2003

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Mario Zucchelli, 1944-2003 (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Mario Zucchelli, 1944-2003 (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Birds

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Birds souvenir sheet (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Birds (January 2, 2019) souvenir sheet

January 2, 2019: Seashells

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Seashells (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Seashells (January 2, 2019) souvenir sheet

January 2, 2019: Restoration of Phylica Arborea Trees on Amsterdam Island

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Restoration of Phylica Arborea Trees on Amsterdam Island souvenir sheet (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Restoration of Phylica Arborea Trees on Amsterdam Island (January 2, 2019) souvenir sheet

January 2, 2019: Photovoltaic Plant, Tromelin Island

French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Photovoltaic Plant, Tromelin Island souvenir sheet (January 2, 2019) — French Southern and Antarctic Lands – Photovoltaic Plant, Tromelin Island (January 2, 2019) souvenir sheet

Germany

January 2, 2019: Treasures of German Museums — “The Lonely Tree” by Caspar David Friedrich

Germany - Treasures of German Museums (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10 — Germany – Treasures of German Museums (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10

January 2, 2019: Young Animals — Racoon

Germany - Young Animals: Racoon (January 2, 2019) — Germany – Young Animals: Racoon (January 2, 2019)

Germany - Young Animals: Raccoon (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10 — Germany – Young Animals: Raccoon (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10

January 2, 2019: 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage

Germany - 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage (January 2, 2019) — Germany – 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage (January 2, 2019)

Germany - 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10 — Germany – 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10

Germany - 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage (January 2, 2019) first day cover — Germany – 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage (January 2, 2019) first day cover

January 2, 2019: Endangered Animals – Harbor Porpoises

Germany - Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019) — Germany – Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019)

Germany - Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10 — Germany – Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019) sheet of 10

Germany - Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019) self-adhesive — Germany – Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019) self-adhesive

Germany - Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019) self-adhesive booklet — Germany – Endangered Species: Harbor Porpoises (January 2, 2019) self-adhesive booklet

Netherlands

January 2, 2019: Beautiful Netherlands — Texel

Netherlands - Beautiful Netherlands: Texel (January 2, 2019) prestige booklet — Netherlands – Beautiful Netherlands: Texel (January 2, 2019) prestige booklet

January 2, 2019: Experience Nature

Netherlands - Experience Nature (January 2, 2019) miniature sheet of 10 — Netherlands – Experience Nature (January 2, 2019) miniature sheet of 10

Netherlands - Experience Nature (January 2, 2019) first day cover 1 — Netherlands – Experience Nature (January 2, 2019) first day cover 1

Netherlands - Experience Nature (January 2, 2019) first day cover 2 — Netherlands – Experience Nature (January 2, 2019) first day cover 2

Spain

January 2, 2019: Engineering — Panama Canal

January 2, 2019: 12 Months, 12 Stamps — Huesca

Spain - 12 Months, 12 Stamps: Huesca (January 2, 2019) — Spain – 12 Months, 12 Stamps: Huesca (January 2, 2019)

January 2, 2019: Tourism

Spain - Tourism 2019 (January 2, 2019) — Spain – Tourism 2019 (January 2, 2019)

January 3, 2019

Moldova

January 3, 2019: National Emergency Service

Moldova - National Emergency Service (January 3, 2019) sheet of 10 — Moldova – National Emergency Service (January 3, 2019) sheet of 10

Moldova - National Emergency Service (January 2, 2019) first day cover — Moldova – National Emergency Service (January 3, 2019) first day cover

January 4, 2019

Andorra (French Administration)

January 4, 2019: The Legend of the White Horse of Solana

French Andorra - The Legend of the White Horse of Solana (January 4, 2019) — French Andorra – The Legend of the White Horse of Solana (January 4, 2019)

Andorra (Spanish Administration)

January 4, 2019: Andorran Flag Definitive

Spanish Andorra - Definitive: Andorran Flag (January 4, 2019) — Spanish Andorra – Definitive: Andorran Flag (January 4, 2019)

Spanish Andorra - Definitive: Andorran Flag (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Spanish Andorra – Definitive: Andorran Flag (January 4, 2019) first day cover

Jersey

January 4, 2019: Year of the Pig

Jersey - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) sheet of 10 — Jersey – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) miniature sheet of 10

Jersey - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) souvenir sheet — Jersey – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) souvenir sheet

Jersey - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Jersey – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) first day cover

Jersey - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) souvenir sheet first day cover — Jersey – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) souvenir sheet first day cover

Lithuania

January 4, 2019: Symbols of the State — Flags

Lithuania - Symbols of the State: Flags (January 4, 2019) three sheets of 25 — Lithuania – Symbols of the State: Flags (January 4, 2019) three sheets of 25

Lithuania – Symbols of the State: Flags (January 4, 2019) strips of 5

Lithuania - Symbols of the State: Flags (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Lithuania – Symbols of the State: Flags (January 4, 2019) first day cover

Maldives

January 4, 2019: Birds — Ibis

Monaco

January 4, 2019: International Circus Festival

Monaco - International Circus Festival (January 4, 2019) sheet of 10 — Monaco – International Circus Festival (January 4, 2019) sheet of 10

Monaco - International Circus Festival (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Monaco – International Circus Festival (January 4, 2019) first day cover

January 4, 2019: 10 Years of the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque

Monaco - International Festival of the Circus (January 4, 2019) — Monaco – International Circus Festival (January 4, 2019)

Mongolia

January 4, 2019: Year of the Pig

Mongolia - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) sheet of 10 — Mongolia – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) sheet of 10

Mongolia - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) official first day cover — Mongolia – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) official first day cover

Mongolia - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) unofficial first day cover — Mongolia – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) unofficial first day cover

Myanmar

January 4, 2019: 71st Anniversary of Independence

Myanmar - 71st Anniversary of Independence (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Myanmar – 71st Anniversary of Independence (January 4, 2019) first day covers

Norway

January 4, 2019: European Green Capital — Oslo

Norway - European Green Capital: Oslo (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Norway – European Green Capital: Oslo (January 4, 2019) first day covers

January 4, 2019: Antarctica

Norway - Antarctica (January 4, 2019) design 1 — Norway – Antarctica (January 4, 2019) design 1

Norway - Antarctica (January 4, 2019) design 2 — Norway – Antarctica (January 4, 2019) design 2

Norway - Antarctica (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Norway – Antarctica (January 4, 2019) first day covers

Romania

January 4, 2019: Council of the European Union Presidency

Romania - Council of the European Union Presidency (January 4, 2019) sheet of 10 — Romania – Council of the European Union Presidency (January 4, 2019) sheet of 10

Romania - Council of the European Union Presidency (January 4, 2019) first day cover — Romania – Council of the European Union Presidency (January 4, 2019) first day cover

Singapore

January 4, 2019: Year of the Pig

Singapore - Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) souvenir sheet — Singapore – Year of the Pig (January 4, 2019) souvenir sheet

January 5, 2019

People’s Republic of China

January 5, 2019: Year of the Pig

China - Year of the Pig (January 5, 2019) sheet of 16 — China – Year of the Pig (January 5, 2019) sheets of 16

China - Year of the Pig (January 5, 2019) miniature sheet of 6 — China – Year of the Pig (January 5, 2019) miniature sheets of 6

China - Year of the Pig (January 5, 2019) first day cover — China – Year of the Pig (January 5, 2019) first day cover

Sri Lanka

January 5, 2019: Theravada Tripitaka

January 5, 2019: AFC Asia Cup

United Arab Emirates - AFC Asia Cup 2019 (January 5, 2019) sheet of 9 — United Arab Emirates – AFC Asia Cup 2019 (January 5, 2019) sheet of 9

January 6, 2019

Myanmar

January 6, 2019: Equestrian Festival

January 7, 2019

France

January 7, 2019: African Inspiration: Fabric

January 8, 2019

Christmas Island

January 8, 2019: Year of the Pig

Christmas Island - Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) sheet of 10 — Christmas Island – Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) sheet of 10

Christmas Island - Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) first day cover 1 — Christmas Island – Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) first day cover 1

Christmas Island - Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) souvenir sheet — Christmas Island – Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) souvenir sheet

Christmas Island - Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) souvenir sheet first day cover — Christmas Island – Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) souvenir sheet first day cover

Christmas Island - Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) miniature sheet of 12 first day cover — Christmas Island – Year of the Pig (January 8, 2019) miniature sheet of 12 first day cover

Italy

January 8, 2019: 30th Anniversary of the Pitti Immagine Foundation

Italy - 30th Anniversary of the Pitti Immagine Foundation (January 8, 2019) first day cover — Italy – 30th Anniversary of the Pitti Immagine Foundation (January 8, 2019) first day cover

January 9, 2019

Croatia

January 9, 2019: 100th Anniversary of the Medjimurje Liberation

Russian Federation

January 9, 2019: Collection of Christmas — Omsk

Russia - Collection of Christmas: Omsk (January 9, 2019) — Russia – Collection of Christmas: Omsk (January 9, 2019)

Russia - Collection of Christmas: Omsk (January 9, 2019) sheet of 15 — Russia – Collection of Christmas: Omsk (January 9, 2019) sheet of 15

Russia - Collection of Christmas: Omsk (January 9, 2019) first day cover — Russia – Collection of Christmas: Omsk (January 9, 2019) first day cover

Spain

January 9, 2019: International Year of the Periodic Table

Turkey

January 9, 2019: Precious Stones

Turkey - Precious Stones (January 9, 2019) first day cover — Turkey – Precious Stones (January 9, 2019) first day cover

January 10, 2019

People’s Republic of China

January 10, 2019: Chinese New Year Greetings Stamp

China, PRC - Chinese New Year Greetings Stamp (January 10, 2019) — China, PRC – Chinese New Year Greetings Stamp (January 10, 2019)

China, PRC - Chinese New Year Greeting Stamp (January 10, 2019) sheet of 20 — China, PRC – Chinese New Year Greeting Stamp (January 10, 2019) sheet of 20

Chins, PRC - Chinese New Year Greeting Stamp (January 10, 2019) miniature sheet of 8 — Chins, PRC – Chinese New Year Greeting Stamp (January 10, 2019) miniature sheet of 8

Sweden

January 10, 2019: Tulips

Sweden - Tulips (January 10, 2019) booklet pane of 10 — Sweden – Tulips (January 10, 2019) booklet pane of 10

Sweden - Tulips (January 10, 2019) coil stamps — Sweden – Tulips (January 10, 2019) coil stamps

Sweden - Tulips (January 10, 2019) first day cover — Sweden – Tulips (January 10, 2019) first day cover

Sweden - Tulips (January 10, 2019) PostNord Sverige AB — Sweden – Tulips (January 10, 2019) PostNord Sverige AB “Collector’s Sheet”

January 10, 2019: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia

Sweden - King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia (January 10, 2019) — Sweden – King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia (January 10, 2019)

Sweden - King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia (January 10, 2019) first day cover — Sweden – King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia (January 10, 2019) first day cover

Sweden - King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia (January 10, 2019) PostNord Sverige AB — Sweden – King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia (January 10, 2019) PostNord Sverige AB “Collector’s Sheet”

January 10, 2019: The Power of Handicrafts

Sweden - The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) booklet pane of 5 — Sweden – The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) booklet pane of 5

Sweden - The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) coil stamp — Sweden – The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) coil stamp

Sweden - The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) souvenir sheet of 4 — Sweden – The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) souvenir sheet of 4

Sweden - The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) stamp from souvenir sheet — Sweden – The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) stamp from souvenir sheet

Sweden - The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) first day cover — Sweden – The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) first day cover

Sweden - The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) PostNord Sverige AB — Sweden – The Power of Handicrafts (January 10, 2019) PostNord Sverige AB “Collector’s Sheet”

United States of America

January 10, 2019: Hearts Blossom

United States - Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) — United States – Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019)

United States - Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) sheet of 20 — United States – Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) sheet of 20

United States - Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) first day of issue ceremony program — United States – Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) first day of issue ceremony program

United States - Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) first day cover, pictorial cancellation, unofficial cachet — United States – Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) first day cover, pictorial cancellation, unofficial cachet

United States - Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) first day cover, digital color postmark, unofficial cachet — United States – Hearts Blossom (January 10, 2019) first day cover, digital color postmark, unofficial cachet

Uruguay

January 10, 2019: Definitive Issue — José G. Artígas, 1764-1850

New Issues – Thematic Wrap-Up: Year of the Dog

Posted on 2018-02-16 by Mark Jochim

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, known popularly as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival (simplified Chinese: 春节; traditional Chinese: 春節; pinyin: Chūn Jié). For a number of years, my adopted home of Thailand issued Zodiac stamps usually on January 1 and then a Chinese New Year set (often depicting various deities) a few weeks later. Last year, there was no Chinese New Year stamp and that has been repeated this year as well. Many nations have released Year of the Dog stamps, most with a distinctive Chinese slant, and a few have released issues more focused on the Spring Festival itself. If you are a dog lover, there are some very attractive topical stamps issued so far in 2018. To read more about the background of Chinese New Year, please have a look at my article on A Stamp A Day.