Latest update of this archive: 20 September, 2017
For older items, see News Archive July - December 2016
News Archive January - June 2016
News Archive July - December 2015
News Archive January - June 2015
News Archive July - December 2014
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.
Norshaft Lions Club Postmarks
The Norshaft Lions Club in Vermont celebrates the Lions International Centenary with two commemorative postmarks in June and July.
The first one is used in Shaftsbury, VT on 30 June 2017. This postmark is available until 30 July 2017, by sending envelopes or postcards franked with US postage to:
Norshaft Lions Club
Norshaft Station
PO Box 9998
SHAFTSBURY, VT 05262-9998
USA
The second will be used in North Bennington, VT on 5 July 2017. This one is available until 4 August 2017, by sending envelopes or postcards franked with US postage to:
Norshaft Lions Club
Norshaft Station
Postmaster
PO Box 9998
NORTH BENNINGTON, VT
05257-9998
USA
Postage:
US postcard:
USD 0.34 or a postcard stamp
US letter:
USD 0.49 (or a Forever stamp)
International postcard/letter:
USD 1.15 (or a Global Forever stamp)
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Singapore Baby Animals
Singapore issues a set of stamps dedicated to baby animals on 28 June 2017. One of the stamps, denominated 1st local (SGD 0.30 on issue), shows a kitten and a pupy.
The FDC - sold at SGD 4.15 - also shows cats in the cahet, and there's also a presentation pack sold at SGD 5.20 where cats are featured on the cover and inside artwork.
The products can be ordered from Singpost's philatelic webshop.
Reported by TS Tan
BBC Earth Stamp Pack from Australia
Australia Post issued a stamp pack with pre-personalised stamps showing wildlife photos from BBS Earth. The Cover features a Leopard, and the same picture can be found on a label on pane 1.
There's also a Lion on one of the labels at pane 2. The stamp pack was issued on 20 June 2017, and sells for AUD 23.00 (franking value 20.00) from Australia Post.
Repported by Geir Arveng
750th Anniversary of Reinheim in Gersheim
To mark the 750th anniversary of Reinheim in Gersheim, the German Post will use a commemorative postmark in Gersheim on 18 June 2017. The postmark shows the Church of St. Mark's in Reinheim alongside the Reinheim CoA. The CoA shows a Griffin Passant.
The Post Office stand can be found at the Reinheim Festival Grounds (Festplatz) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (1000-1600).
The postmark can also be obtained by sending addressed envelopes/postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
Deutsche Post AG
Niederlassung Privatkunden/Filialen
Sonderstempelstelle Brief:
DE-
92627 WEIDEN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 11/150", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last day of use.
Postage rates:
Germany:
Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.70
International: Postcard/letter: EUR 0.90
Reported by Elisabeth Hallsjö
10 June 2017:
Ukrainian Definitives
Ukraine issued a new stamp in its ongoing series showing Coats of Arms of Ukrainian Cities. The stamp shows the CoA of Yalta (in occupied Crimea - currently de-facto part of Russia). The stamp is denominated V (inland letter up to 20g - UAH 4.00 on issue).
The CoA of Yalta can also be found in the FDC cachet.
The stamp can be ordered from Ukrposhta's online Mini Market.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Heinz Sielmann Postmark
The famous German animal photographer and film maker Heinz Sielmann was born 100 years ago.
He is celbrated in Duderstadt, the seat of his foundation, on 8 June 2017. The German post takes part in the celebrations with a commemorative postmark showing Mr Sielmann holding a kitten.
The venue for the celebrations is the local bank:
Sparkasse Duderstadt
Bahnhofstr. 41
DE-37115 Duderstadt,
and the Post Office stand is staffed between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. (0900-1800).
The postmark can also be obtained by sending addressed envelopes/postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
Deutsche Post AG
Niederlassung Brief Berlin 1
Sonderstempelstelle
DE-11508 BERLIN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 10/127", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last day of use.
Postage rates:
Germany:
Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.70
International: Postcard/letter: EUR 0.90
Reported by Geir Arveng
Croatian Lions International Centenary Stamp
Reported by Geir Arveng
New Caledonia Celebrates Lion International
Reported by Geir Arveng
Australian Lions Jubilee
Reported by Geir Arveng
36th Annual Teenies Seniors & Handicapped Fishing Derby
For the 36th time Teenies Seniors & Handicapped Fishing Derby takes place in Chittenden in Vermont on 4 June 2017.
As usual, US artist Donna Wilson has designed a commemorative postmark showing a blind tabby cat.
The postmark i available until 4 July 2017, by sending envelopes or postcards franked with US postage to:
United States Postal Service
Fishing Derby Station
Postmaster
PO Box 9998
CHITTENDEN, VT 05737-9998
USA
Postage:
US postcard:
USD 0.34 or a postcard stamp
US letter:
USD 0.49 (or a Forever stamp)
International postcard/letter:
USD 1.15 (or a Global Forever stamp)
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Tulsa Zoo Tiger Postmark
A special postmark showing a Tiger is in use at the Tulsa Zoo on 1 June 2017.
The postmark is available until 1 July 2017, and can be ordered by sending postcards or letters franked with US postage to:
Tulsa Zoo
Lost Kingdom Station
Postmaster
333 West 4th St.
TULSA, OK 74103-9998
USA
Postage:
US postcard:
USD 0.34 or a postcard stamp
US letter:
USD 0.49 (or a Forever stamp)
International postcard/letter:
USD 1.15 (or a Global Forever stamp)
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Monegasque Lions International Stamp
Reported by Geir Arveng
Ireland Celebrates the Lions Centenary
Reported by Geir Arveng
Indonesia's Also Celebrates Lions Centenary
Reported by P.K. Brandang
Iberian Lynxes on Pre-personalised Dutch MS
Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky
France's Lions Centenary Stamp
Reported by Geir Arveng
Finlandia 2017: Centenary of Finnish Independence
In 2017 Finland celebrates its Centenary of Independence from Russia in 1917. There might be more cat related issue for the jubilee, but we know that on 24 May 2017, a miniature sheet with two NVI-stamps good for inland postage (indicated by an outline of the Finnish map). The MS is issued for the opening of the Finlandia 2017 International Stamp Exhibition in Tampere.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Austria Celebrates the Lions Centenary
Reported by Elisabeth Hallsjö
70th Locarno Film Festival
For the 70th time, film enthusiast will gather in Locarno in Switzerland in August. To mark the occasion, the Swiss Post issues a stamp on 11 May 2017.
The stamp shows the film festival's emblem animal - a Leopard.
The stamp is denominated CHF 1.00 (inland letter rate).
The stamp can be ordered from the Swiss Post's webshop and also from WOPA.
Reported by Marci Jarvis
50th Anniversary of the ch Foundation for Federal Cooperation
The ch Foundation for Federal Cooperation was established 50 years ago to promote and facilitate inter-cantonial cooperation in Switzerland. The jubilee is marked by the Swiss Post by the issue of a CHF 1.00 stamp (inland letter rate) on 11 May 2017. The stamp shows a composite design with elements from the coats of arms for the 26 cantons of Switzerland.
Thurgau's coat of arms shows two Lions Passant, parts of which can be found in the upper left quarter of the stamp.
The stamp can be ordered from the Swiss Post's webshop and also from WOPA.
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Estonian Europa Stamps
The Europa theme for 2017 is castles, and in a set of two EUR 1.40-stamps, Estonia presents the castles of Maarjamäe and Keila-Joa. On the stamp for the latter, a Lion is prominently featured.
The Lion is also used on the marginal labels of the 10-stamp sheetlets.
The Lion in real life is a marble statue just outside of the castle.
The stamps can be ordered from the Estonian Post webshop and also from WOPA.
Reported by Geir Arveng
The British & Irish Lions 2017 Tour to New Zealand
Every four years The British & Irish Lions tour the Southern Hemisphere, and in 2017 it's New Zealand's turn to host and compete in a rugby series that captivates a nation. The series will begin in Whangarei on 3 June 2017, and over the course of six weeks, ten matches will be played in seven different cities against eight different New Zealand teams.
On 3 May 2017 New Zealand Post issues a miniature sheet with 7 stamps, each representing one of the seven cities. All the stamps includes a Lion Passant Guardant from the Lions' team logo.
The Lion Passant Guardant is also represented in the first day postmark and the entire logo is shown in the FDC cachet alongside a real Lion.
The stamps and other philatelic products can be ordered from the New Zealand Post website.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Manul on Tajikistan WWF-stamps
Tajikistan has issued a set of WWF-stamps showing Manuls. The set was issued 30 April 2017. The set consists of 4 stamps, denominated TJS 3.50, 4.50, 5.10, and 8.70.
The stamps are issued in sheetlets of 10 stamps with Manuls also shown in the marginal labels.
There's also a miniature sheet with 2 sets of stamps.
The stamps are also issued in imperforate versions.
Since this is an official WWF issue, there's bound to be official FDCs and possibly maximum cards, but we have not seen any of these (yet).
Reported by D.G.Naryshkin (FSU New Issues Website)
29 April 2017:
Portugese Lions Centenary Stamps
Reported by Jørgen Kristiansen
Lions International Centenary: Estonia
Reported by Geir Arveng
Icelandic Kitten
In a two-stamp set called The Young of Iceland's Domestic Animals, Iceland Post gives us a beautiful stamp showing a kitten. The self-adhesive stamp is denominated 50g Innanlands - or inland letter up to 50g (ISK 195 on issue). The stamp is sold in sheetlets of 10.
Official FDCs are produced for individual stamps, sets of two (the other one shows a baby goat), as well as for blocks of four, and there's a cat silhouette in the FDC cachet.
The first day postmark shows a cartoon cat.
The set can be ordered from Iceland Post' Postphil website, and also (in time) from WOPA.
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Quincentenary of the Reformation
For the combined celebration of the Reformation Quincentenary, 450th Anniversary of the Death of Philip I of Hesse, and the 125th Anniversary of the Marburg Stamp Club, a special postmark will be in use at the Jubilee Exhibition in Marburg Town Hall on 13 April 2017.
Should you be in Marburg on the day of use, the German Post's Stamp Team Hanau will be in the City Hall at Markt 7 from 1000 to 1600 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.). You can also obtain this postmark by sending addressed envelopes/postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
Deutsche Post AG
Niederlassung Privatkunden/Filialen
Sonderstempelstelle Weiden
DE-92627 WEIDEN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 06/060", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last day of use.
Postage rates:
Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.70
International: Postcard/letter: EUR 0.90
Reported by Elisabeth Hallsjö
Jerusalem Reunification 50 Years
Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky
Hungary Celebrates Centenary of Lions International
Reported by Geir Arveng
Aussie Footy and Rugby Stamps
Reported by Geir Arveng
Cyprus Celebrates Lions International
Reported by Geir Arveng
UN Celebrates International Dance
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Slovenian Cave Lion
Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky
Tom & Jerry Stamp Pack and Looney Tunes Postcard
Reported by Geir Arveng
Australian Lions Club Convention
Reported by Geir Arveng
Transnistrian Domestic Cats
Reported by Geir Arveng
Swiss Baby Animals
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Another Bremen Town Musicians Postmark
The Bremen Town Musicians are definitely «à la mode» in Germany in February. The four animal musicians are also featured on a commemorative postmark for the Young Philatelists of Stockelsdorf's Exchange Day on 25 February 2017.
Should you be in Stockelsdorf on 25 February, the commemorative postmark will be in service in the Gemeindehaus, Ahrensbökerstr. 5, 23617 Stockelsdorf from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (0900-1400).
The postmark can also be obtained by sending addressed envelopes/postcards franked with German stamps (computer postage not allowed) to:
Deutsche Post AG
Niederlassung Brief Berlin 1
Sonderstempelstelle
DE-11508 BERLIN, Germany
The outer envelope should be marked with "Sonderstempel nr. 03/014", and must arrive at the Special Postmark Office no later than the last day of use.
Postage rates:
Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Standard letter EUR 0.70
International: Postcard/letter: EUR 0.90
Reported by Geir Arveng
'Our Pets' Stamp Pack
Reported by Heather Symes
The Netherlands: Living Heritage Pre-personalised Stamps
Post.nl - the Dutch Post Office - has commissioned four artist to portrait three traditional farm animals each for a series of pre-personalised stamps to be issued 10 February 2017 in a set called Living Heritage ('Levend erfgoed' in Dutch). The stamps are issued in miniature sheets of 3 stamps - one for each artist. Two of the artists have included cats amongst their chosen subjects.
Hiske Wiersma has included a handsom black and white shorthair called Poeske on one of her stamps, while Hinke Posthuma has chosen a brown-tabby and white (or possibly tortie-tabby and white) cta by name of Pinky.
The stamps are all denominatied 1 (inland postage - EUR 0.78 on issue). They can be ordered for Post.nl's Collect Club, and also from WOPA.
Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky
Moldovan Coats of Arms
Reported by Elisabeth Hallsjö
Lion Sculptures at Ludwigsburg Castle
Reported by Geir Arveng
Bremen Town Musicians
Reported by Geir Arveng
Gibraltar: 65th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's Accession
Reported by Geir Arveng
Serbian Year of the Rooster Stamps
Reported by Uglješa Stefanović
Indian Nature Stamps
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Finland and Taiwan Celebrate the Lions International Centenary
Reported by Geir Arveng
Belarus Kittens
Reported by Geir Arveng and Marci Jarvis
Christmas Island Year of the Rooster
It's the Year of the Rooster, and as usual one of the first countries to mark the Zodiac New Year philatelically is Christmas Island. A Tiger is shown on a AUD 0.50 stamp from the zodiac sheetlet. As usual the sheetlet consists of the two main high-value stamps for the issue representing this year's sign, as well as the usual 12 lower values - one for each zodiac animal. In the upper part of the sheetlet there are also silhouettes of 5 animals, among them what cannot be interpretated as anything but a domestic cat. Whether this is meant to symbolise the Tiger, or constitutes a nod to the Vietnamese Year of the Cat (replacing the Rabbit), we do not know. If any of our readers can interpret the sign on the cat's body, or know anything about the symbolism, please let us know. The sheetlet has a combined value of AUD 8.00. Christmas Island stamps issued by Australia Post are valid for postage throughout Australia an all Australian territories (Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, and the Australian Antarctic Territory).
The cat can also be found at the AUD 4.00 miniature sheet.
In addition to the gummed MS on general sale from post offices, there are also two special versions only sold in a special Silk Minisheet Pack sold at AUD 25.00. One is a self-adhesive MS, and the other is printed on silk.
The Tiger is also represented in the prestige booklet selling for AUD 20.95 (AUD 20.00 franking value).
As usual you can also find the Tiger on a label in the gutter strip of the letter rate stamp.
Finally, there's a 24 ct gold replica of the MS, framed in a clear Perspex presentation mount and sold in a gift box at AUD 99.00.
The products can be ordered from Australia Post's website.
Reported by Geir Arveng
41st Monte Carlo Circus Festval
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Inauguration of the New Puerto Rico Governor
Reported by Marci Jarvis
New Austrian Definitives
Reported by Elisabeth Hallsjö
For older items, see News Archive July - December 2016
News Archive January - June 2016
News Archive July - December 2015
News Archive January - June 2015
News Archive July - December 2014
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.