Continue reading “Christmas 2020: A Checklist of Stamps & Seals”
Tag: Christmas Island
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)”
Christmas Island
Christmas 2019
01 November 2019
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Israel
January 1, 2019: ATM Labels — Fighter Jets in the Israeli Air Force
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
January 1, 2019: Happy New Year 2019
Thailand
January 1, 2019: Year of the Pig
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)
Belarus
January 2, 2019: 100th Anniversary of Byelorussian SSR
Belgium
January 2, 2019: Mourning Prior Philippe
Denmark
January 2, 2019: National Flag
January 2, 2019: Life of Vikings
January 2, 2019: Definitive Stamp — Wavy Lines & Hearts
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
January 2, 2019: American Bay Cabin
January 2, 2019: White Tern
January 2, 2019: Minerals — Sapphire
January 2, 2019: French Cruiser Colbert
January 2, 2019: Antarctic Horsefish
January 2, 2019: Kerguelen Island — Bras Jules Laboureur
January 2, 2019: Kerguelen Island — Lake Sediment Sampling Program
January 2, 2019: B2M Champlain
January 2, 2019: Insects — Neomaso Antarcticus
January 2, 2019: Yves Valette, 1920-2014
January 2, 2019: Mario Zucchelli, 1944-2003
January 2, 2019: Birds
January 2, 2019: Seashells
January 2, 2019: Restoration of Phylica Arborea Trees on Amsterdam Island
January 2, 2019: Photovoltaic Plant, Tromelin Island
Germany
January 2, 2019: Treasures of German Museums — “The Lonely Tree” by Caspar David Friedrich
January 2, 2019: Young Animals — Racoon
January 2, 2019: 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage
January 2, 2019: Endangered Animals – Harbor Porpoises
Netherlands
January 2, 2019: Beautiful Netherlands — Texel
January 2, 2019: Experience Nature
Spain
January 2, 2019: Engineering — Panama Canal
January 2, 2019: 12 Months, 12 Stamps — Huesca
January 2, 2019: Tourism
January 3, 2019
Moldova
January 3, 2019: National Emergency Service
January 4, 2019
Andorra (French Administration)
January 4, 2019: The Legend of the White Horse of Solana
Andorra (Spanish Administration)
January 4, 2019: Andorran Flag Definitive
Jersey
January 4, 2019: Year of the Pig
Lithuania
January 4, 2019: Symbols of the State — Flags
Maldives
January 4, 2019: Birds — Ibis
Monaco
January 4, 2019: International Circus Festival
January 4, 2019: 10 Years of the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque
Mongolia
January 4, 2019: Year of the Pig
Myanmar
January 4, 2019: 71st Anniversary of Independence
Norway
January 4, 2019: European Green Capital — Oslo
January 4, 2019: Antarctica
Romania
January 4, 2019: Council of the European Union Presidency
Singapore
January 4, 2019: Year of the Pig
January 5, 2019
People’s Republic of China
January 5, 2019: Year of the Pig
Sri Lanka
January 5, 2019: Theravada Tripitaka
January 5, 2019: AFC Asia Cup
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
Italy
January 8, 2019: 30th Anniversary of the Pitti Immagine Foundation
January 9, 2019
Croatia
January 9, 2019: 100th Anniversary of the Medjimurje Liberation
Russian Federation
January 9, 2019: Collection of Christmas — Omsk
Spain
January 9, 2019: International Year of the Periodic Table
Turkey
January 9, 2019: Precious Stones
January 10, 2019
People’s Republic of China
January 10, 2019: Chinese New Year Greetings Stamp
Sweden
January 10, 2019: Tulips
January 10, 2019: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia
January 10, 2019: The Power of Handicrafts
United States of America
January 10, 2019: Hearts Blossom
Uruguay
January 10, 2019: Definitive Issue — José G. Artígas, 1764-1850
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.
BHUTAN: Year of the Dog, released January 20, 2018
![2018-01-20 [Bhutan] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-20-bhutan-chinese-new-year-miniature-sheet-1.jpg)
CANADA: Chinese New Year, released January 15, 2018
![2018-01-15 [Canada] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-15-canada-chinese-new-year-sheet-stamp.jpg)
![2018-01-15 [Canada] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-15-canada-chinese-new-year-booklet-stamp-2.jpg)
![2018-01-15 [Canada] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-15-canada-chinese-new-year-souvenir-sheet-international-rate-2.jpg)
![2018-01-15 [Canada] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-15-canada-chinese-new-year-souvenir-sheet-international-rate.jpg)
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: Year of the Dog, released January 5, 2018
![2018-01-15 [Canada] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-05-china-chinese-new-year-1.jpg)
![2018-01-15 [Canada] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-05-china-chinese-new-year-2.jpg)
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: Spring Festival, released January 10, 2018
![2018-01-15 [Canada] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-10-china-spring-festival.jpg)
CHRISTMAS ISLAND: Year of the Dog, released January 8, 2018
![2018-01-08 [Christmas Island] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-08-christmas-island-chinese-new-year.jpg)
![2018-01-08 [Christmas Island] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-08-christmas-island-chinese-new-year-souvenir-sheet.jpg)
![2018-01-08 [Christmas Island] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-08-christmas-island-chinese-new-year-miniature-sheet.jpg)
FRANCE: Happy New Year, released February 2, 2018
![2018-01-08 [Christmas Island] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-02-chinese-new-year-sheet-france.jpg)
FRENCH POLYNESIA: Year of the Dog, released February 16, 2018
![2018-02-16 Chinese New Year [French Polynesia]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-16-chinese-new-year-french-polynesia.jpg)
GIBRALTAR: Year of the Dog, released January 30, 2018
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-30-gibraltar-chinese-new-year-pair.jpg)
GUERNSEY: Year of the Dog, released February 3, 2018
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-03-guernsey-chinese-new-year-6.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-03-guernsey-chinese-new-year-5.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-03-guernsey-chinese-new-year-4.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-03-guernsey-chinese-new-year-3.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-03-guernsey-chinese-new-year-2.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-03-guernsey-chinese-new-year-1.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-03-guernsey-chinese-new-year-miniature-sheet.jpg)
HONG KONG S.A.R., CHINA: Year of the Dog, released January 27, 2018
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-27-hong-kong-chinese-new-year-1.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-27-hong-kong-chinese-new-year-2.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-27-hong-kong-chinese-new-year-3.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-27-hong-kong-chinese-new-year-4.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-27-hong-kong-chinese-new-year-mini-sheet-1.jpg)
![2018-01-30 [Gibraltar] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-27-hong-kong-chinese-new-year-mini-sheet-2-printed-on-silk.jpg)
INDONESIA: Chinese New Year, released February 1, 2018
![2018-02-01 Chinese New Year [Indonesia]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-01-chinese-new-year-indonesia-2.jpg)
![2018-02-01 Chinese New Year [Indonesia]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-01-chinese-new-year-year-of-the-dog.jpg)
ISLE OF MAN: Year of the Dog, released February 8, 2018
![2018-02-01 Chinese New Year [Indonesia]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-08-isle-of-man-chinese-new-year-2.jpg)
JERSEY: Year of the Dog, released January 5, 2018
KAZAKHSTAN: Chinese New Year, released January 1, 2018
![2018-01-01 [Kazakhstan] Chinese New Year miniature sheet](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-01-kazakhstan-chinese-new-year-miniature-sheet.jpg)
KYRGYZSTAN: Chinese New Year, released January 30, 2018
MACAU, CHINA: Year of the Dog, released January 5, 2018
MALAYSIA: Working Dogs, released January 13, 2018
MONGOLIA: Year of the Dog, released January 5, 2018
![2018-01-05 [Mongolia] Chinese New Year](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-05-mongolia-chinese-new-year.jpg)
THE NETHERLANDS: Year of the Dog, released January 29, 2018
NEW CALEDONIA: Year of the Dog, released February 16, 2016
![2018-02-16 Chinese New Year [New Caledonia]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-16-chinese-new-year-new-caledonia.jpg)
NEW ZEALAND: Year of the Dog, released January 10, 2018
SINGAPORE: Year of the Dog (personalized stamps), released January 5, 2018
![2018-01-05 [Singapore] Chinese New Year [peronalized stamps]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-05-singapore-chinese-new-year-peronalized-stamps.jpg)
SLOVENIA: Year of the Dog, released January 26, 2018
![2018-01-26 Chinese New Year [Slovenia]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-26-chinese-new-year-slovenia.jpg)
TAJIKISTAN: Year of the Dog, released January 26, 2018
![2018-01-26 Chinese New Year [Slovenia]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-26-tajikistan-chinese-new-year.jpg)
THAILAND: Year of the Dog, released January 1, 2018
![2018-01-01 Year of the Dog [TH-1141]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-01-year-of-the-dog-th-1141.jpg)
UNITED NATIONS: Chinese New Year personalized sheet, released February 2, 2018
![2018-01-01 Year of the Dog [TH-1141]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-02-02-chinese-new-year-personalized-sheet-united-nations.jpg)
UNITED STATES: Zodiac Year of the Dog, released January 11, 2018
![2018-01-11 [United States] Year of the Dog [Honolulu, HI]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2018-01-11-united-states-year-of-the-dog-honolulu-hi.jpg)
WALLIS & FUTUNA ISLANDS: Year of the Dog, released February 16, 2018
![2016-02-16 Chinese New Year [Wallis & Futuna]](https://philatelicpursuits.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/2016-02-16-chinese-new-year-wallis-futuna.jpg)