Latest update of this archive: 21 September 2014
For older items, see News Archive January - June 2014
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News Archive January - June 2013
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News Archive July - December 2011
News Archive January - June 2011
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News Archive January - June 2010
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125th Anniversary of the Gera Philatelic Society
The Gera Philatelic Society (Verein für Briefmarkenkunde zu Gera e.V) in Germany was founded in 1889 and thus celebrates its 125th Anniversary this year. This event does not pass unnoticed by the German Post, which takes part in the celebrations with a commemorative postmark on the club?s Big Exchange Day on 27 September 2013. The postmark show the Gera coat of arms with its Lion Rampant.
The stamp club will also issue a EUR 0.60 pre-stamped envelope with a personalised cachet showing the postmark as well as three Stamp Day stamp issues from the 40s and 50s. We have no ordering information at the time of writing, but the Society cn be contacted at:
Verein für Briefmarkenkunde zu Gera e. V.
Werner Clement
Plauensche Straße 73
DE-07545 GERA, Germany
Tel.: +49 365 3 53 88
A photo of the PSE can be seen in the local newspaper's announcement of the event.
Should you find yourself in Gera or thereabouts on the date, the postmark will be in use at Clubzentrum Comma, Heinrichstr. 47, 07545 Gera (hours not anounced yet but they are normally 0900 - 1400 / 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.).
The postmark can be also ordered by sending addressed envelopes/ postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
DEUTSCHE POST AG
Niederlassung Privatkunden/Filialen
Sonderstempelstelle
DE-92627 WEIDEN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 18/270", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last date of use.
Postage rates:
Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.60
International: Postcard/letter:
EUR 0.75
Reported by Geir Arveng
International Children's Day
The German Post takes part in celebrating International Children's Day with a special postmark i Herford on 20 September 2014. The postmark shows a scene from the fairy tale Hansel & Gretel, with the witch?s cat featuring prominently in the foreground.
The postmark can be ordered by sending addressed envelopes/postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
DEUTSCHE POST AG
Niederlassung?Brief
Sonderstempelstelle
DE-53253 BONN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 17/247", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last date of use.
Postage rates:
Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.60
International: Postcard/letter: EUR 0.75
Reported by Geir Arveng
On 15 September 2014, Gibraltar issued the 3rd installments in the ongoing series of issues dedicated to Royal Airforce Squadrons. As in previous installments, there are 4 stamps showing airborn aircraft and the respective squadron's insignia, and a miniature sheet of four stamps each showing a larger version of the insignia.
One of the squadrons featured this time around is the No. 208 Squadron 'Vigilant'. The squad was based in Egypt from 1920, and this is reflected in the Sphinx shown in its insignia.
The Squadron Insignia is shown on both the GBP 0.70 from the single stamps set, as well as on the GBP 0.70 stamp from the MS.
The squadron insignia is also shown on the cover of both presentation packs, sold at GBP 4.63 each.
The products can be ordered from the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau as well as from WOPA.
Read the presentation article from Gibraltar's the Bulletin.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Israel: Wild Cats on Simchat Torah Flag
In a stamp issue dedicated to Festivals, the Israel Postal Company issues a series of three stamps depicting flags used on the Simchat Torah holiday. The holiday celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle.
For evening festivities, Children are often given flags, candies and other treats. Such flags are shown on the three stamps in the series, and the ILS 2.00 value shows a flag with a lion and a leopard in the centre and two winged lions on top.
The set is presented on the Israel Postal Company's philatelic site, and is available fram the webshop. Israeli stamps can also be ordered from WOPA.
Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky
Swiss Garfield Stamps
On 4 September 2014 Ireland's An Post will issue a set of four EUR 0.68 stamps (inland letter rate) dedicated to domestic cats. The stamps shows a Maine Coon, a Burmese, a British Shorthair and a Persian.
The stamps are sold in sheetlets of 16 stamps printed se-tenantly. The sheetlet has a stylized cat in the upper margin as well as traffic-light colour markers in the form of cats' paw prints in the right margin.
The FDC shows a cat's toy in the cachet and a stylized cat in the first day postmark.
There's also a prestige booklet with all stamps (we are not certain how many of each) as well as photos and information about the breeds presented. The prestige booklet is sold at EUR 12.00.
The products can be ordered from An Post's online store.
Reported by Marci Jarvis, Nahum Shereshevsky and Paula Fegan
Czech Wildcat and Lynx....and A Heraldic Lion Too
Reported by Vladislav Vancura
Joy of Europe
On 2 September 2014 the Serb Post will issue a stamp to mark this year's children festival 'Joy of Europe'. The RSD 70 stamp features a drawing of a cat made by 10 year old K. Banuchander from India.
The stamp is sold in sheetlets of 8 stamps.
The FDC also shows another cat drawing in the cachet, this one by 11 years old Matilda Milisavljevicz from Poland.
At the time of reporting, the issue is not yet presented at the Serb Post's website.
The stamps and FDC can however be ordered from Balkan Philately in Serbia.
Reported by Uglje
a Stefanovi
Autumn Garden Show of Baden-Württemberg
Just as for the Spring Garden Show in Schwäbisch Gmünd, the German Post takes part in the autumn show in the end of August.
The postmark is the same design as that used in April, showing a simplified version of the Baden-Württemberg coat of arms with its 3 lions passant.
The postmark can be ordered by sending addressed envelopes/ postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
DEUTSCHE POST AG
Niederlassung Privatkunden/Filialen
Sonderstempelstelle
DE-92627 WEIDEN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 17/237", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last date of use.
Postage rates:
Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.60
International: Postcard/letter:?EUR 0.75
Reported by Geir Arveng
Lion Postmark: Heide Posta '14
For the Heide-Posta Philatelic Exhibition in Bad Fallingbostel in Northern Germany, a special postmark will be in use on 23 August 2014. The postmark also marks the 40th anniversary of the local Serengeti Zoo and shows a Giraffe, a Monkey and a Lion.
The postmark can be ordered by sending addressed envelopes/ postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
DEUTSCHE POST AG
Niederlassung Privatkunden/Filialen
Sonderstempelstelle
DE-10770 BERLIN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 15/209", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last date of use.
Postage rates:
Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.60
International: Postcard/letter: EUR 0.75
Reported by Geir Arveng
75th Anniversary of Tallinn Zoo
Reported by Marci Jarvis
775th Anniversary of Netphen
The German Post will use a commemorative postmark in the town of Netphen in North Rhine-Westphalia on 16 August 2014 to mark the 775th Anniversary of the town. The postmark shows the CoA of Netphen with a Demi-Lion Rampant.
The postmark can be ordered by sending addressed envelopes/ postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
DEUTSCHE POST AG
Niederlassung Brief
Sonderstempelstelle
DE-53253 BONN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 15/207", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last date of use.
Postage rates:
Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.60
International: Postcard/letter: EUR 0.75
UPDATE:
The local stamp club - Briefmarkenfreunde Netphen (Netphen Stamp Friends) - has issued a EUR 0.60 personalised stamp for the event. Furthermore there was a personalised pre-stamped postcard (EUR 0.45) with the same motif in the stamp indicium and on one of the panels on the picture side.
Two other postcards shows the town CoA on the side of the first motorized bus coach in Netphen - dating back to 1895. The Siegen-Netphen-Deuz bus line is indeed believed to be the first regular public motorized bus service in the World. The postcards show photos of the coach in black-and-white and colour, respectively. The CoA is shown in the stamp indiciae on both cards, as well as on the picture side of the full-colour card.
All the products were for sale during the Exchange Day on 16 August 2014.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Russian Wild Cats
On 1 August 2014 The Russian Post issued a set of 4 stamps dedicated to small wild cats. The stamps show a Manul (RUB 15.00), a European Wildcat (RUB 16.00), an Amur Cat (sub-species of Leopard Cat) (RUB 17.00) and a Jungle Cat (RUB 18.00). The stamps are sold from se-tenant sheets, so horizontal and vertical pairs, stripes and blocks with stamps of different designs are possible.
There are two official FDCs - one with the Manul and the Amur Cat - and one with the Jungle Cat and the European Wildcat.
The FDC cachet and the postmark both shows an unspecified wild cat's pawprint.
There's a large presentation pack showing a Manul on the cover containing a block of four stamps and both FDCs. The PP is sold at RUB 365.00
PP Inner cover
PP Contents
PP Back cover
The stamp issue is presented at the Russian Post's Philatelic Website (Russian version only at the time of reporting).
Reported by Marci Jarvis and Nikolay Tuz
For older items, see News Archive January - June 2014
News Archive July - December 2013
News Archive January - June 2013
News Archive July - December 2012
News Archive January - June 2012
News Archive July - December 2011
News Archive January - June 2011
News Archive July - December 2010
News Archive January - June 2010
News Archive 2009
News Archive 2008
News Archive 2006-2007.