News Archive 2009

For older items, see News Archive 2008 and News Archive 2006-2007.

Issues to keep an eye on in 2009

The stamp programmes for 2009 are begnning to be published, and in this section we will list issues that might be of interest to cat stamp collectors.

Switzerland
On 8 May 2009 Switzerland will issue a single CHF 0.85 stamp featuring a European Wild Cat.

Ukraine
Ukraine will issue a set to commemorate the 100the annversary of Kyiv Zoo in February 2009.
In January there will also be a new installment of the Ukrainian Folk Costumes series. This series has twice before included cats.
In July there will be set called "Reserves and Natural Parks of Ukraine". Natural reserve "Horhany".

USA
The USPS will at least issue two stamps of interest to cat collectors in 2009. The first one comes at the end of January for the Lunar New Year (Year of the Ox) and features a Lion Dance Costume.

On 4 September will follow a new installment in the ongoing 'Flags of our Nation'-series, in which the stamp representing Montana will show a Puma/Cougar/Mountain Lion aside the state's flag. UPDATE: This stamp will be dealyed until 2010.

Reported by Marci Jarvis and Geir Arveng

2009 (unknown date):

Burundi Lions

We have found the above Miniature Sheet of 6 stamps from Burundi on several auction sites during November/December 2009. The six stamps, denominated BIF 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600. We have no exact date of issue (and frankly do not even know if they are bona-fide).

If you have any more information on this issue, please let us know.

Reported by Geir Arveng

2009 (unknown date):

Lion Statue of Saint-Maixent-l'École

Sometime during the last half of 2009, the local post of Sain-Maixent-l'École issued an update of its local PAP (Prêt-à-poster or pre-stamped envelope). One of the three photos in the cachet shows a military monument with a seated Lion in front. The same cachet has been used on previous PAPs in 2007 with different stamp indicae.

This PAP can probably be ordered from:

La Poste
FR-79403 ST MAIXENT L'ÉCOLE CEDEX

They normally sell for just under EUR 1 or EUR 4.30 for packets of 5 envelopes.

Reported by Geir Arveng

14 December 2009:

Russian Tiger PSE

Reported by Geir Arveng

13 December 2009:

Old Postcards in Recanti

There will be a commemorative postmark showing a Heraldic Lion for "Cartovagando" - a regional exhibition of postcards from 1890-1950. It will be in use in Recanati (MC) on 13 December 2009.

It can be ordered by sending addressed mail franked with Italian stamps to:

Poste Italiane
Filiale di Macerata
Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia
Piazza Oberdan, 2
IT–62100 MACERATA, Italy

Refer to postmark no. 1871

Italian special postmarks are normally available for 8 weeks after the last date of use.

Postage:
Italy/San Marino/Vatican: EUR 0.60
Europe/Mediterranean: EUR 0.65
The Americas and other countries in Asia and Africa: EUR 0.85
Oceania: EUR 1.00

Reported by Marco Carelli

6 & 12 December 2009:

Lions International: Italian Postmarks in December

Poste Italiane offers two postmarks for Lions International events and showil the Lions logo. One will be in use in Genova on 6 December 2009.

It can be ordered by sending addressed mail franked with Italian stamps to:

Poste Italiane
Filiale di Genova 1
Servizio
Commerciale/Filatelia
Via Dante, 4
IT-16121 GENOVA, Italy

Refer to postmark no. 1793

The other will be in use in Codogno (LO) on 12 December 2009, and can be ordered from:

Poste Italiane
Filiale di Lodi
Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia
Via Fascetti, 1/a
IT–26900 LODI, Italy

Refer to postmark no. 1816

Italian special postmarks are normally available for 8 weeks after the last date of use.

Postage:
Italy/San Marino/Vatican: EUR 0.60
Europe/Mediterranean: EUR 0.65
The Americas and other countries in Asia and Africa: EUR 0.85
Oceania: EUR 1.00

Reported by Marco Carelli

4 December 2009:

Monaco Cat Show

Monaco issues a stamp on 4 December 2009 on the occasion of the 2010 Monaco Cat Show.

The show, arranged by the Association Féline de Monaco, is the 3rd International WCF Cat Show in Monaco and it will be arranged on 20 and 21 February, 2010 at the Rainier III Auditorium.

The cat on the stamp is a French bred Bengal female named Junglewhisper Elia of Jaipur’s Angels, winner of the WCF World Champion title in 2009 and LOOF Grand European Champion.

You can read more about Elia at the Jaipur' Angels Cattery Website.

The stamp issue is presented at the Monegasque Stamp Office's web-pages and will become available in the OETP webshop.

Reported by Patrick Roberts

Vietnam issues their set to honour the Year of the Tiger on 1 December 2009. The two stamps each shows a stylized Tiger, and is denominated VND 2000 and VND 8500 respectively. They have been issued in both perforate and imperforate versions.

1 December 2009:

YoT from Taiwan

Taiwan are allways issuing the New Year's Greeting stamps in good time for the season's greetings, and so the Taiwanese can prepare their New Year mail allready from 1 December 2009.

The Year of the Tiger is celebrated with two stamps, denominated TWD 3.50 and 13.00 respectively, and a single stamp miniature sheet at TWD 12.00.

The FDC shows a tiger in the cachet as well as in the First Day Postmark.

Chungwa Post also offers 5 tiger-themed pre-franked lottery postcards. There are tigers both on the picture side and in the stamp indicum.

Further details at the Chungwa Post's website.

This issue will also become available at the online shop of Chungwa Post from the date of issue.

Reported by TS Tan

South Korea also issues their stamps in good time for New Year's greetings. On 1 December 2009 Korea Post issues a single KRW 250 stamp showing a cortoonish Tiger and a miniature sheet with two copies of the same stamp and a Tiger on the selvedge.

The ordinary stamp sheets are composed of 20 stamps, and it is worth noting that the "traffic lights" or colour print indicators in the margin come in the form of little tiger paws.

There's also an FDC with a tiger cachet and the first day postmark also features a tiger.

On 23 November 2009 Belarus issued a miniture sheet showing an absolutely charming litter of Russian Blue kittens and their mother. The MS, denominated BYR 7500 consists of 3 BYR 2500 stamps and a label with cat silouhettes.

Belpochta has also produced afirst day cover with the three stamps (the official envelopes were too small for the entire MS), and a First Day Postmark showing the cat silhouette from the label.

11 & 21 November 2009:

The Year of the Tiger is Coming - Japan Leads the Way

2010 is the Year of the Tiger, and to our knowledge, Japan is the first country to mark this philatelically with a traditional set of New Year Greetings stamps to be issued 11 November 2009. The set consists of two ordinary stamps denominated JPY 50 and 80, and two semi-postal lottery stamps in the same denomination. each with a JPY 3 surcharge.

We have found at least four different First Day Postmarks. We do not undersand Japanese, and thus cannot tell the difference of these postmarks, but assume they are to be used in different cities. The cancellation details in Japanese, can be found here.

Then, on 21 November 2009 Japan Post issues a Miniature Sheet dedicated to the tiger. The sheet is this year's installment in the "Xhinese Zodiac Characters Greetings" series. Each of the 10 JPY 80 stamps shows signs for the word "Tiger" in different caligraphic styles. On the selvedge, you will find a tiger.

The sheet is sold in a presentation folder that also has tiger artwork. The folder is sold at JPY 1200.

Also for this issue we have found 4 different First Day Postmarks, all showing chaligraphic characters for the word "Tiger".

Again, we have to guess the distinction, but we believe that the first two will be in use at Marunochi Post Office in Tokyo, and that the latter two will be used at the Tokyo Central Post Office. If your Japanese is better than ours, you may want to check out the details at the Japan Post website.

We haven't been able to find any details of these issues in English yet, but if Japanese is your strong suite, you can find the full details of the New Year's Stamps and the Tiger Sheet at Japan Post's website.

Latest: Japan also issues the traditional lottery cards on 28 October 2009, of which 3 shows tigers. Click here for details.

Reported by TS Tan and Geir Arveng

South Korea issued a definitive stamp denominated KRW 1000 on 17 November 2009. The stamp shows an incense burner with a sculpted lion on the lid.

To celebrate Children's Day, India issues a couple of INR 5.00 stamps with children's drawings of animals. One of the stamps shows a Tiger.

The India Post website hasn't been updated for a while, but you can find mor information about this and other Indian issues at the excellent Stamps of India website.

France issued a booklet of greeting stamps on 7 November 2009. The booklet contains 14 self-adhesive stamps, each denominated "Lèttre prioritaire 20g" ("[Inland] Priority Letter 20g" (EUR 0.56 on issue). The booklet is part of the annual "Best Wishes" series of greeting stamps and shows illustrations by French artists Geneviève Marot and Sandra Jayat. One of the stamps shows an angel riding a Lion carrying a banner reading "Meilleurs Vœux" ("Best Wishes"). The Lion is also among the illustrations on the booklet cover.

The Marshall Islands issued a set of 12 stamps with endangered animals on 2 November 2009. Amongst a variety of mammals we also find two cats, namely a Caracal and an Ocelot.

The 12 stamps are offered se-tenantly in a sheetlet and all are denominated USD 0.44.

28 October 2009:

Joint Issue Singapore - Indonesia

SingPost has announced the issue of the Singapore-Indonesia Joint Issue with the theme of tourism, to be issued on the 28 October 2009.

Two stamps in this issue feature mythical cats! One showing the head of Singapore's modern Merlion, a lion-headed fish; the other shows the statue of Singa Ambara Raja statue, a winged lion, being the landmark of Singaraja City in northern part of Bali. In Sanskrit, singa means lion, and raja means king. The Merlion stamp from Singapore is denominated SGD 0.65, while the Singa Ambara Raja stamp bears the denomination "1st Local". The Indonesian stamps bearing the same motifs are both denominated IDR 2500.

The Singapore stamps are issued both in ordinary sheets and a Miniature Sheet with all 4 stamps.

A joint FDC with all 4 stamps from both countries will be offered, and the two mythic felines can also be found in the Indonesian First Day Postmark.

The Lion Statues also feature prominently on the Singapore presentation pack.

The Singapore issues are for sale from SingPost's web-shop.

We have not found any information on Pos Indonesia's web pages yet.

Reported by TS Tan

The Japanese send about 4 billion cards to each other as new year greetings. Many of the so called "nenga-jo" postcards are in fact tickets for the Japanese New Year Lottery. For the 2010 greetings, Japan Post issues 10 different pre-stamped postcards on 28 October 2009, seven of which have tiger motifs - two single-sided with a tuger cub and Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger in the stamp indicae (blank backs) and five double-sided with the tiger print on the picture side.

We haven't been able to find any details of these issues in English yet, but if Japanese is your strong suite, you can find the full details at the New Year Lottery website.

Cat Paintings From the Comoros
3 September 2009: Swedes in Prague
23 July 2009: Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel from Japan
23 June 2009: Zimbabwe's Big Five
15 June 2009: Serval Cubs: 50th Anniversary of Hoyerswerda Zoo
8 May 2009: A Puma on the Seven Seas
23 April 2009: Peruvian Viceroys
16 April 2009: 130th Anniversary of Restoring the Bulgarian State
12 April 2009: Cuban Cats

St. Thomas and Prince issued a total of 18 Miniature SHeets on 20 October 2009. Amongst them are a pair of STD 80.000 sheets dedicated to celebrity cat owners. The 5-stamp MS features Freddy Mercury, Gustav Klimt, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and Frank Zappa. The stamp of the single-stamp MS features David Bowie, and on the selvedge you will find Elizabeth Taylor and Bill Clinton with the famous 'First Cat' Socks.

A Lions Club postmark was in use in Borgomanero (NO), Italy on 17 October 2009 during the 28th Philatelic and Numismatic Meet. In addition to the philatelic event, it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the local Lions chapter.

Italian special postmarks are normally available for 8 weeks after the last date of use, and this one can be ordered by sending addressed mail franked with Italian stamps to:

Poste Italiane
Filiale di Novara
Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia
L.go Costituente, 2
IT-28100 NOVARA, Italy

Postage:
Italy/San Marino/Vatican: EUR 0.60
Europe/Mediterranean: EUR 0.65
The Americas and other countries in Asia and Africa: EUR 0.85
Oceania: EUR 1.00

To mark Lions International's work for the blind, The International Wite Cane Safety Day was celebrated 15 October 2009. To mark the day, a special postmark showing the Lions Club emblem was in use in Bangalore, India.

Lions International Stamp Club and India Post's Karnataka Postal Circle issued a special cover for the occasion.

5 October 2009:

'Le Chat' on Belgian Miniature Sheet

For the 20th Anniversary of the Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art, La Poste/De Post issues a singe-stamp Miniature Sheet showing a wide selection of famous Belgian comic book characters on 5 October 2009. The stamp, denominated 1 Europe (EUR 0.90 at the time of issue), shows the museum's anniversary logo with text in both French and Dutch. In the upper Left corner of the selvedge, right by the tip of Tintin's famous rocket, we see that Philippe Geluck's feline character 'Le Chat' (The Cat) is taking part in the celebrations.

There's also a set of four pre-stamped postcards featuring characters from Belgian comic books, an amongst the we find a cat on the card dedicated to the Comic Clifton by Turk de Groot.

At the time of writing, these issues are still not available in La Poste/De Post's web-shop, but will certainly become available after the date of issue.

Reported by Geir Arveng and Marci Jarvis

Lions International District 108 Ta3 arranges its 14th District Congress in Treviso 4 October 2009. A special postmark showing a map of the district and the Lions Club Logo will be in use for the event.

Italian special postmarks are normally available for 8 weeks after the last date of use, and these one can be ordered by sending addressed mail franked with Italian stamps to:

Poste Italiane
Filiale di Treviso
Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia
Piazza Vittoria,1
IT-31100 TREVISO, Italy

On September 30, 2009 Sierra Leone issued two sets of cat stamps: wild and domestic.

The Wildlife Miniature Sheet pictured above features a Cheetah and a Lion among the four stamps each denominated SLL 2000.

The domestic cats - four single stamps and an four-stamp Miniature Sheet - features some interesting descriptions : Blue Tortie Tabby and White Scottish Fold, Lilac Point Birman, Lilac Shades & Silver Asian, and Sepia Agouti Singapura, pane of 4 se-tenant.

Lilac Somali, Red-shaded British Angora, Maine-weave Maine Coon, & Tortie & White Turkish Van.

Though reported simultaeously, we are not a 100% sure that the domestic cats were issued 30 September 2009. If you have any further information on this set, please let us know.

On 27 September 2009, Poste Italiane offers no less than two Lions Club postmarks. One is to mark the Lions District Conference in Feltre, and in addition to the Lions Club Logo, this also features a Winged Lion. The other one celebrates the 10th Udine Marathon, sponsored by Lions Club, and shows the Lions Logo.

Italian special postmarks are normally available for 8 weeks after the last date of use, and these one can be ordered by sending addressed mail franked with Italian stamps to:

Postage:
Italy/San Marino/Vatican: EUR 0.60
Europe/Mediterranean: EUR 0.65
The Americas and other countries in Asia and Africa: EUR 0.85
Oceania: EUR 1.00

As a salute to the Sassari Brigade, parting for service in Afghanistan, The Italian Post is offering a special postmark to be used in Sassari 21 September 2009. The postmark show the brigade's crest with two heraldic lions.

13 September 2009:

Italian Griffin Postmark

In Castelfranco Veneto in Italy, a commemorative postmark showing a Griffin will be in use 13 September 2009.

The postmark marks this year's Palio del Castel d'Amore - an annual medeival festival commemorating the 11th and 12th century construction of the Castelfranco city walls.

Italian special postmarks are normally available for 8 weeks after the last date of use, and this one can be ordered by sending addressed mail franked with Italian stamps to:

Poste Italiane
Filiale di Treviso
Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia
Piazza Vittoria, 1
IT-31100 TREVISO, Italy

Refer to postmark no. 1199

Postage:
Italy/San Marino/Vatican: EUR 0.60
Europe/Mediterranean: EUR 0.65
The Americas and other countries in Asia and Africa: EUR 0.85
Oceania: EUR 1.00

Reported by Marco Carelli

10 September 2009:

Nagorno-Karabakh Lynx

In a wildlife set issued 10 September 2009 by the internationally unrecognized Republic of Mountainous Karabakh - or Nagorno-Karabakh - you will find an AMD 100 stamp featuring a Eurasian Lynx (RMK uses Armenian currency). Though unrecognized by most countries, RMK stamps are valid for postage - international relations are handled by Haypost in Armenia.

The stamp is issued in sheetlets of 10 stamps, and also in "decorative sheetlets" of 8 stamps and 2 labels.

The First Day Postmark and the FDC cachet also features a Lynx.

The stamps can be ordered from RMK Stamps, situated in Artsakh in Nagorno-Karabach, so this is a good chance to having a genuine letter posted to you from Nagorno-Karabakh. Paypal accepted.

Reported by Geir Arveng

7 September 2009:

New Zealand Health Stamps

For 80 years New Zealand has issued Health Stamps - semipostals for the benefit of vulnerable children and families. Several of the earlier sets of Health Stamps have featured cats.

This year's set, issued 7 September 2009, presents earlier Health Stamps. On the stamps themselves we do not find any catstamps, but on the Miniature Sheet, however, the 1983 30+2 c Persian (MI 880) can be seen in the middle of the bottom "row" of the selvedge. The 3-stamp MS sells for NZD 2.30 (franking value 2.00).

There are two different FDCs (different cachets for stamps and MS). The Persian, as well as the Siamese from the same set, can also be seen in the FDC cachets.

Reported by TS Tan

The Northern German town of Bleckede celebrated its 800th anniversary in September 2009, and the German post marked the occasion with a special postmark on which we see a heraldic lion.

It was in use 5 September 2009. Unfortunately I found this too late for ordering.

21 August 2009:

Tulbria Philatelic Exhibition

The Stamp Club of Tulln-on-the-Danube in Austria was the host of Tulbira - a single frame regional stamp exhibition - on 21 August 2009. The club also arranged an "exchange day" for all members and interested collectors during the show.

Austria Post marked the occasion with a pictorial postmark, and the club issued a persoanlized stamp featuring a cat drawing simiar to the one used in the postmark. The personalized stamp was issued 1 June 2009.

Unfortunately this postmark came to our attention after the ordering deadline.

Reported by Geir Arveng with additional information from Bruno Pengl

Please note: We have corrected the date of issue for the envelopes since the first report of this issue.

In a set of pre-stamped envelopes issued by the Romanian Post 28 July and 27 August 2009, we find no less than two lynxes. One is in the stamp indicum of a white envelope with a turtle cachet (28 July), and another one in the cachet of a yellow envelope with an eagle in the indicum (27 August).

On 28 August 2009 a set of stamp with the same title was issued, with a RON 0.50 stamp showing a Lynx, and it is also featured in the First Day Postmark and in the FDC's cachet.

The stamps are presented at the website of Romfilatelia.

Reported by Geir Arveng with additional information from Valentina Tanu, Romfilatelia

19 August 2009:

Serb Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina: First Domestic Cat Stamps (UPDATED)

Pote Srpske, the postal administration of the Serb Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina issues its first ever stamps showing domestic cats on 10 August 2009.

The set consists of 4 stamps, each valued BAM 0.70 (domestic letter rate). All forur stamps show cats, namely a Siamese, a Domestic Shorthair, a Russian Blue and a Persian.

The stamps are sold in sheetlets of 20 stamps, with an additional cat presented se-tenantly on a central column of labels.

Further details can be found at Pote Srpske's website, or by contacting:

Pote Srpske - Filatelija
Kralja Petra I
Karaorevia 93A
BA-78000 BANJA LUKA
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Phone: +387 51 215 882
Fax: +387 51 216 563
e-mail: filatelija@postesrpske.com

Reported by Marci Jarvis with additional information from Patrick Roberts

On 18 August 2008, Korea Post issues a set dedicated to “Samgukyusa” (the historic chronology of the Three Kingdoms written by the Venerable Ilyeon), and this issue concentrates on Geumwawang of the Buyeo Kingdom. One of the stamps shows the Crown Prince sitting against a backdrop of glyphs, and among the glyphs is Tiger (on his right, i.e. left side of the stamp).

Linns Stamp Weekly has announced the USPS lineup for 2010. We already knew there would be a "Year of the Tiger" and the fourth installment of "Flags of Our Nation" (delayed from 2009) with a cougar on Montana's stamp.

In addition, we are delighted to learn about the booklet set of 10 stamps titled "Animal Rescue", due in April (?). Five of the stamps will be cats and five will picture dogs, all photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce who did such a lovely job with the Spay-Neuter kitten, Samantha in 2002. Two booklet covers will be available--one with a cat, the other with a dog.

And if that isn't enough--"Sunday Funnies," a set of five stamps, will include both Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes!

A postmark showing a Heraldic Lion for the VI Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa International Literary Prize was in use 8 August 2009 in Santa Margherita di Belice, Italy.

It is available for 8 weeks after the date of use from:

Poste Italiane
Filiale di Agrigento
Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, 7
IT-92100 ARIGENTO, Italy

Send pieces of mail franked with Italian stamps and refer to Postmark no. 1070.

Postage for postcards and letters < 20g:
Italy/San Marino/Vatican: EUR 0.60
Europe and Mediterranean: EUR 0.65
The Americas and other countries in Asia and Africa: EUR 0.85
Oceania: EUR 1.00

On 30 July 2009, the West African islands of St. Thomas and Prince (São Tomé e Principe) issued another large batch of high denominated miniature sheets. Also this time they have something on offer for us cat people.

In a set called "African Trains and Animals", we have a stamp denominated STD 30.000 (appx. EUR 1.30) from a four-stamp MS and a single-stamp MS denominated STD 100.000 (appx. EUR 4.50) with a Lion Couple in the selvedge.

Furthermore there's a set called Buddhist Temples with another STD 100.000 single-stamp MS showing a Stone Lion in the stamp.

In a set of miniature sheets dedicated to Global Warming and Threatend Species, Guinea Bissau issued a XOF 700 stamp with a Tiger. The date of issue was 29 July 2009.

Tajikistan issued a set called Fauna of Asia on 28 July 2009. The set consists of 8 stamps showing animals. One of the TJS 1.00 stamps shows a Tiger and a TJS 1.50 stamps shows a Caracal. The stamps are also issued in imperforate versions.

The stamps come in sheetlets of 9 stamps + a label with a chipmunk-like animal, and camels, elephants and pandas in the margin, as well as in a miniature sheet comprising all stamps in the set.

The Tajik Post's website seems to have been discontinued, but their contact details are:

State Unitary Enterprise "Markazi Marka"
State Department "Post Tojikiston"
Ministry of Communications
Abu ali ibn Sino avenue, 42/2
TJ- 34058 DUSHANBE, Tajikistan

Tel: +992 372 36 00 66
Fax: +992 372 35 23 25
e-mail: markazi_marka@tajik.net

A commemorative postmark for the 15th Congress of Lions District 108 Ia1 was in use in Trino (VC), Italy on the 18 July 2009. Unfortunately we only became aware of this postmark after the deadline for ordering.

To commemorate Costa Rican-Swiss diplomatic relations, Costa Rica issues a CRC 225 satmp showing the flags of the two countries, an Ibex to represent the Swiss and a Jaguar to represent the issuing country.

6 - 10 July / 7 August 2009:

Two Lions Club Postmarks from the US

In July and August the USPS offers two special postmarks for Lions Club events. The first is for the Lions International Convention in Minneapolis, MN and can be ordered by sending self-addressed stamped envelopes or postcards within 9 August to:

Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International Convention Station
Postmaster
100 S. 1st St., Rm. 127
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55403-9998
USA

The other one is for the Lebanon, CT Lions County Fair and will be in use 7 August 2009. Same procedure as above, but the address is:

Lebanon Lions Club
Lebanon Lions Country Fair Station
Postmaster
562 Exeter Rd.
LEBANON, CT 06249-9998
USA

So far we have only seen the Lions Club Logo for this one, but suspect that som text and dates will be added to the real postmark.

The Lebanon, CT postmark will be available until 6 September.

Postage rates:
US USD 0.28 (post card)/
USD 0.44 (letter)
Canda/Mexico: USD 0.75
World: USD 0.98

Reported by Marci Jarvis

In a set of two miniature sheets dedicated to prehistoric animals and cave art issued 3 July 2009 by Guinea Bissau, we find Sabre-toothed cats both on an XOF 600 stamp from a 5-stamp miniature sheet, and on the selvedge on a XOF 3300 single-stamp MS.

2 July 2009:

More Turkmen Cheetahs and Caracals

Turkmenistan issued another set of its Animal Definitives this Summer. Again a stamp denominated 'A' shows a group of Cheetahs, and another denominated 'G' shows a Caracal.

The set was issued 2 July 2009.

Click here for details of the 2008 Cheetahs and Caracals.

We have had no luck in getting in touch with them them electronically, but the contact details for the Philatelic Department of Türkmenpoçta are:

State Mail Service Company "TÜRKMENPOÇTA"
Philatelic Department
16 str. 2023
TM-744000 ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

Tel.: +993 12 39 89 36;
+993 12 39 89 31
e-mail: tmpost@online.tm or email@turkmenpocta.tm

Reported by Geir Arveng

To draw the attention to the project 'SMS Venice', Poste Italiane issued a stamp 2 July 2009 showing a Venetian skyline, including the statue of the winged Lion of St. Mark at St. Mark's Square.

In Prato Martini in Italy, a comemmorative postmark showing both a Leopard and a Lion head was in use fro the "Festa Bella 2009" on 21 June 2009.

We do not know what the Festa Bella is all about, and unfortunately this postmark came to our attention to late for ordering.

20 June 2009:

Extinct and Endangered Species

France's La Poste keeps up its tradition of issuing a Miniature Sheet dedicated to the animal world.

This year's theme is 'Extinct and Endangered Species', and while the four stamps are absolutely cat-free, theres a Snow Leopard looking out at all the featured animals from a cliff in the upper left corner of the MS.

The 2009 installment is slated for advance sale and first day ceremonies 20 June 2009, with the general release on 22 June 2009.

At the time of writing the issue has only been presented in La Poste's magazine PhilInfo (the full article is available for paying subscribers only). The MS will, however, most likely be available at La Poste's online shop from 22 June 2009

Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky

On 20 June 2009, Cuba issued a set of stamps showing animals from the National Zoo in Havana. The CUP 0.15 stamp of the set shows a Cheetah.

15 June 2009:

Birthday Celebrations with Dikkie Dik and Friends

Dikkie Dik is a feline character from a series of Dutch children's books. On 15 June 2009 TNT Post issued a "postbox" containing a Miniature Sheet with three "feestpostzegels" or "party stamps" and three postcards with the same design. The stamps are all denominated EUR 0.44.

The issue was not listed in the stamp programme and there doesn't seem to have been any particular first day cancellations or ceremonies.

The "postbox" is for sale from the TNT Post web-shop (in Dutch only) for EUR 3.95 (franking value 1.32).

Further details can also be read in the TNT Post press-release (in Dutch, that too).

Reported by Geir Arveng

As in the past few years there will be a special postmark with a tabby cat for the Handicapped Fishing Derby in Chittenden, VT. This year's Derby will take place on 7 June 2009, and like for the past two years, the postmark has been designed by artist Donna J. Wilkins.

The postmark is available until 6 July 2009, and can be acquired by sending stamped postcards or covers to

Teenie’s Tiny Poultry Farm &
Museum
Fishing Derby Station
Postmaster
PO Box 9998
Chittenden, VT 05737-9998
USA

A second annual repeat is the Cat'n Around Festival in Catskill, NY, this year slated for 13 June. It's available until 12 July from

U.S. Postal Service
Cat’n Around Catskill Station
Postmaster
PO Box 9998
Catskill, NY 12414-9998

Postage rates:
US USD 0.28 (post card)/

USD 0.44 (letter)
Canda/Mexico: USD 0.75
World: USD 0.98

In a set of stamps showing Children's Drawings from Uzbekistan issued 1 June 2009, we find a UZS 200 stamp showing a lion.

The drawing won 2. prize in a competition, and was made by Godovanyuk Nikita, 8 years old from Tashkent (if my ability to decipher Rusiian hasn't failed me - corrections welcomed!).

Information can be found in Russian or in Uzbek (if that's more your cup of tea) at the Uzbek Postal Service's website. At the time of writing the English pages have not been updated with this issue (yet).

On the 1 June 2009 Singapore Post issued a special "MyStamp"-sheetlet (personalised stamps) to commemorate the Asian Youth Games 2009 to be arranged in the city state 29 June - 7 July 2009. As with all "MyStamp" issues, the sheet consists of 10 stamps denominated "1st Local" (SGD 0.26 at time of issue). The games' mascot is a Lion named Frasia, and he is featured on all 10 "peronalised" labels on the sheet. If you want to know more about Frasia, we found a thorough presentation of him at the Youth Games homepage.

The sheet was presented in Singapore Philatelic Bureaus bulletin Miniature World no. 78, but at the time of writing we cannot find it in Singapore Post's web-shop. The sheetlet was sold at selected Singapore post offices for SGD 7.50.

Lions Club members in Piedmonte in Italy met for a District Assembly of he organisation on 10 May 2009. The meeting took place in Abano Terme Bagni in Piedmonte, and the occasion was marked by a pictorial postmark. Unfortunately this came to our attention too late for ordering.

7 May 2009:

Marge Simpson & Cat

On 7 May 2009 the US Postal service issues a series of stamps featuring the Simpsons. The Simpsons' home town is Springfield, and in a number of Springfields throughout the US, pictorial postmarks with characters from the cartoon show are in use on the day of issue. Three Springfields have Marge Simpson and a cat in their postmarks, namely the ones in Virginia, Montana and Wisconsin. The postmarks are available until 7 June. Send your SASE(s) to:

U.S. Postal Service
The Simpsons Station
Postmaster
PO Box 9998
(all three addresses are the same so far), then
SPRINGFIELD, VA 22150-9998

or
SPRINGFIELD, WI 53176-9998

or
SPRINGFIELD, MO 65801-9998

USA

Postage rates:
US 0.28 (post card)/0.44 (letter)
Canda/Mexico: 0.75
World: 0.98

LATEST UPDATE:

Two more towns are reported to having used the Marge Simpson & Cat design:

U.S. Postal Service
The Simpsons Station
Postmaster
101 Stoneblock Row
MONTCHANIN, DE 19710-9998
USA

and

U.S. Postal Service
The Simpsons Station
Postmaster
PO Box 9998
RICHMOND DALE, OH 45673-9998
USA

These are also available until 7 June following the instructions above.

Reported by Marci Jarvis

Peru issued a set of 4 stamps on 23 April 2009 showing Peruvian Viceroys. Each stamp, and also a marginal label shows the Coat of Arms of the Viceroyalty with several heraldic lions.

The Peruvian Post's website is currently not updated (since 2007.....), but the Philatelic Service can be contacted at:

Serpost SA
Sub-Gerencia de Publicidad y Filatelia
Av. Tomás Valle s/n. Cdra. 7
Los Olivos
LIMA 39
Perú

30 April 2009:

Polish Cheetahs

On 30 April 2009, the Polish Post issued a Miniature Sheet dedicated to African Animals. The PLN 1.55 value of the sheet shows a very nice group of Cheetahs. All photographs are taken by the famous Polish photographer Tomasz Gudzowaty.

Further details can be found at the Polish Posts Philatelic pages, and ordering details can be found here (no webshop, no credit cards, PLN 40 minimum order).

As usual, the Polish post issues separate FDCs for each stamp in the set, and the Cheetah FDC shows a handsome litter of three cubs on the cachet.

Reported by Geir Arveng

Bangledesh used a commemorative postmark at China 2009 World Stamp Exhibition showing a Tiger's Head. The postmark were used both for CTO items at the exhibition and for mail actually brought back to Bangladesh and posted via Dhaka GPO. Possible dates are 10 - 16 April 2009. Unfortunately this postmark came to our attention after the ordering deadline.

10 - 16 April 2009:

German Stone Lion

The German Post will take part in China 2009 World Stamp Exhibition in Luoyang, China 10 - 16 April 2009. A pictorial postmark showing a stone lion will be in use.

The postmark can be ordered by sending addressed, stamped postcards or envelopes to:

Sonder-Stempel 06/076 "China 2009"
DEUTSCHE POST AG
NL Produktion BRIEF
Sonder-Stempelstelle
DE-53253 BONN, Germany

Postage rates:

Germany: Postcard EUR 0.45 / Letter EUR 0.55

Europe: Postcard EUR 0.65 / Letter EUR 0.70

World: Postcard EUR 1.00 / Letter EUR 1.70

Reported by Geir Arveng

On 2 April 2009 Hungary issued a miniature sheet honoring the famous writer Benedek Elek. He is particularly famous for his tales for young people and children, as well as for his Hungarian translations of the Brothers Grimm and 1001 Nights. Characters from his works are featured on three of the four stamps, along with a portrait of Elek on the fourth.

One of the characters is King Kacor the Cat who's featured on one HUF 100 + 50 semi-postal stamp.

Many postal admnistrations have issued stamps and other philatelic products for China 2009 World Stamp Exhibition in Luoyang. The Tajik Post has decided to resirculate stock of their 2003 Philatelic Exhibitions sheetlet showing animals overprinted "World Stamp Exhibition China 2009 Luoyang" and the same text in Tajik. To your cat collection you may thus add a copy of the TJS 0.20 Tiger with the overprinted inscription "d Stam - ina 200".

We do not knoww the exact date of issue, but it has been reported to be in the beginning of April 2009.

Unfortunately, previous websites of the Tajik Post seems to bee inactive, but the philatelic Service can be contacted at:

State Unitary Enterprise "Markazi Marka"
State Department "Post Tojikiston"
Ministry of Communications
Abu ali ibn Sino avenue, 42/2
TJ-734058 DUSHANBE
Tajikistan

Tel: +992 372 36 00 66
Fax: +992 372 35 23 25
e-mail: markazi_marka@tajik.net

On 31 March 2009 St Thomas and Prince issued a Miniature Sheet of 4 stamps, each denominated STD 25 000 dedicated to the bi-centenary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe. If you look closely, you can see Poe's cat, Catarina, perched on his shoulder on the bottom right stamp.

On 31 March 2009 St. Thomas and Prince issued another batch of thematic miniature sheets, amongst them 3 sheets dedicated to wild cats. All are single stamp sheets denominated STD 100 000 (appx. EUR 4.50 / USD 6.50) each.

One sheet shows lions on the stamp and also a lion and leopards on the selvedge.

The second cat sheet has Cheetahs on the stamps an Caracals on the selvedge.....

.....while the third shows Jungle Cats on the stamp and on the selvedge, and the selvedge also has African Wildcats.

On 27 March 2009 - Hungary issued a set in the international "Save the Glaciers and the Polar Regions" omnibus series. And Hungary gives thought to the Snow Leopard!

Along with Polar Bears, Penguins, Moscus Ox, Polar Fox and various sea mammals, the feline appears on one of 4 stamps (the set also consists of an MS of two stamps). It' denominated HUF 145.

See the Hungarian Post's Webshop (English version seems to have disappeared) or the Hungarian Philatelic News Section. Both pages only seem to be available in Hungarian, and if that language is not your strongest force, the Philatelic Service can be contacted at:

19 March 2009:

Mythic Icelandic Felines

On 19 March 2009 the Icelandic Post issues a sheetlet with 10 stamps, each denominated ISK 80, titled Legendary Animals (a more accurate translation would probably be 'Fable Animals' or 'Mythic Animals').

Amongst the many not-so-very-charming mythic creatures are two felines - or to be very exact: one feline and one creature with feline ancestry.

The Skoffín (upper Right corner) is a cross between a fox and a cat. It's a creature you do not want to meet anywhere. It's positively eveil in every way, and can kill you with a mere stare.

Click here for more details of this North Atlantic fellow.

The Ur∂arköttur (lower Left corner) is all cat, but not a much more likeable chap. We have not found much info on him in English, but from what we can make of the Icelandic texts we find, he spends his time underground in graveyards and lives off buried human bodies. He can also kill you with a look (must be a common way to frighten Icelandic children) and seemilngly also enjoys the occasional meal of unburied prey.......

The Ur∂arköttur is shortly mentioned in this article

So if you're tired of the fluffy, cuddly, sweet-dreams kittens - here's a chance to make a darker album page.

The stamps (also single values) can ne ordered from the Icelandic Post's online store.

Reported by Geir Arveng

18 March 2009:

Hello Kitty and the Zodiac

Singapore Post has decided to take part in the celebrations of the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty by issuing no less than 19 sheets and sheetlets of postally issued "personalised" stamps. The Singapore version of personalised stamps, MyStamp, is in the form of definitive stamps flanked by personalised labels.

There are 12 sheetlets sized 148 mm x 105 mm, one for each sign of the Western Zodiac, and each containing 4 SGD 1.10 stamps with "personalised" labels.


Aries	Taurus

Gemini	Cancer

Leo	Virgo

Libra	Scorpio

Sagittarius	Capricorn

Aquarius	Pisces

Furthermore there are 7 sheets slightly smaller than A4, or appx. US Letter size. One sheet contains 12 SGD 1.10 stamps with one of each of the Zodiac signs. The 6 remaining sheets each contains 4 stamps and labels - two for each sign.


Al 12 signs in one sheet - SGD 13.20

Aries / Taurus	Gemini / Cancer

Leo / Virgo	Libra / Scorpio

Sagittarius / Capricorn	Aquarius / Pisces

Our scans of the 7 sheets ar not very good - we have actually found them on e-bay. If you have better scans of these sheets, we would be grateful for copies.

At the time of writing, the Singapore Post Online Shop only offers these sheets to Singapore residents.

There are further details of this issue in the Singapore Post press release.

The Singapore Philatelic Bureau can be contacted at:

Singapore Philatelic Bureau
10 Eunos Road 8, #07-31
Singapore Post Centre
SINGAPORE SG-408600

Tel: +65-1800-741-4111
Fax: +65-6841-3378
e-mail: sinstamp@singpost.com

Reported by TS Tan

17 March 2009:

Iraqi Lion Sculpture

The Iraqi Post Office issued a set of three stamps dedicated to the International Campaign to Regain Stolen Iraqi Antiques on the 17 March 2009.

One of the stamps denominated IQD 250 shows a terracotta lion sculpture from the temple at Tel Harmal. Both this stamp and the other two of the set (IQD 500 and 750) show an image of Ishtar Gate in Babylon which is decorated by numerous Lions as well as Dragons of Marduk - a mythological creature with lion's paws.

We have no ordering info, but the set will be presented in an article in the August issue of CatMews.

Reported by TS Tan with additional information from Marci Jarvis and Greg Balagian

The Comoros issued two miniature sheets dedicated to African Cats on 2 March 2009.

There's a six-stamp MS dedicated to domestic cats:

KMF 200 Sokoke
KMF 250 Ruddy Abyssinian
KMF 350 Egyptian Mau
KMF 450 Sokoke
KMF 500 Sorrel Abyssinian
KMF 1000 Egyptian Mau

Theres also a single-stamp KMF 3000 MS with a Black-footed Cat in the
stamp, and a Serval and the domestic cats in the selvedge.

100 KMF (Comoro Francs) corresponds to appx. USD 0.30 or EUR 0.20.

To our knowledge, this is the first time that the Sokoke has been
portrayed in a stamp (but please correct us if we're wrong......).

2 March 2009:

New Cat Designs for French Online Postage Users

Along with the new postage rates that came into effect in France 2 March 2009, La Poste launched a number of new designs for users of their online postage site MonTimbrenLigne. (See original story below.) Two of the designs in the category "Insolite" ("Unusual") shows cats - one features a kitten in a bowl, and the other depicts a cat ready to make himself something nutritious with an electric shaker.....

The ordering procedures on the website requires you to register as a customer, and seems to demand that you register with an address in France. Since there's no actual shipment of anything (you download the generated graphics to your computer and pay with your credit card), any French address will do. "Poste restante, 13001 MARSEILLE" worked fine for us......

LATEST UPDATE: Due to a change in postage rates from 1 March 2009, the face values of the stamps will be changed to EUR 0.56, and the MS will also change to EUR 1.00.

La Fête du Timbre - or the Stamp Festival - is celebrated each year in France, and has for several years now been honoured by La Poste with a stamp issue featuring characters from popular culture. The first Stamp Festival (or Journée du Timbre (Stamp Day) as it was then named) was celebrated in 1938, and if you are interested in its history, the French Federation of Philatelic Associations has made a web-page listing all venues that have hosted official Stamp Day or Stamp Festival celebrations throughout the years.

This year's Festival takes place 28 February and 1 March 2009, and the stamp issue spotlights Warner Bros' famous characters from Looney Tunes, and gives the French a chance to frank their letters with World-famous characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wild E. Coyote, the Road Runner ......... and of course: the yellow canary Tweety and his wannabe predator Sylvester the Cat.

There are 3 ordinary gummed stamps denominated EUR 0.55 (basic inland letter rate). The same designs are also used for a booklet of 12 self-adhesive stamps (4 of each design). The self-adhesives are denominated "Lèttre prioritaire 20 g" ("[Inland] Priority Letter 20 g"). One of the stamp designs features Tweety & Sylvester, and they can also be found on the booklet cover.

Then there's a miniature sheet denominated EUR 0.88 (we have also seen this reported with a EUR 1.00 denomination) with a long stamp showing a tug-of-war with all characters, and you'll also find the 0.55 stamp designs repeated on the selvedge.

Finally there will be three "personalized" sheetlets, each with 5 self-adhesive stamps of one of the designs. The Sylvester stamp wil thus only be in one of the sheetlets, but you will aslo find him on the selvedge of the two other sheets.

The stamps from these sheetlets will be denominated EUR 0.55 - leaving us with 3 varieties of the Sylvester stamp, EUR 0.55 gummed and self-adhesive and the NVI from the booklet.

There will be a First Day of Issue service in Paris and the First Day Postmark also shows Sylvester. Furthermore there will be commemorative postmarks with the same design (but without mentioning "Premier Jour") in a total of 116 venues throughout France, so there'll be enough items to chase for the postmark collector. Click here for a complete list of venues with postmarks.

There's nothing about this issue in La Poste's website at the time of writing, but this issue will surely become available in the online web-shop upon issue.

20 February 2009:

100th Anniversary of Kyiv Zoo

Ukraina's Ukrposhta issues a Miniature Sheet on 20 February 2009. The single stamp MS shows a parrot in the stamp, but on the selvedge, alongside a number of other animals, you will find the zoo's logo showing a male Lion and a Lion Cub.

The logo is also the main motive on the First Day Postmark, and the FDC cachet also features a Tiger.

This issue can be ordered from Ukrposhta's Philatelic subsidiary "Marka Ukrainy". You can order online, but you'll have to supply credit card details by mail or fax. It takes some time, but they have proven very reliable before.

Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky

20 February 2009:

Stone Lion on Macao Miniature Sheet

Macao issues a set called "Opening of Kun Iam Treasury" (should probably be read as "Kuan Yin Temple") on 20 February 2009.

The set consists of 4 stamps and a minature sheet, and it's the MS that is of interest for cat-people as it features a Chinese Stone Lion.

The MS is denominated MOP 10.00 and is available from the Macao Post's Philately Division. There's no online ordering but stamps can be ordered by other means and major credit cards are accepted.

For technical details, see the Macao Post's website.

The Philately Division can be contacted at:

Philately Division
Macao Post Headquarters
Largo do Senado
MACAO

Telephone: +853 8396 8601
Fax: +853 8396 8603 / 2833 6603
E-mail: philately@macaupost.gov.mo

Reported by TS Tan

For the 145th Anniversary of Moscow Zoo, the Russian Post issued a Pre-stamped Postcard denominated 'B' (inland postcard rate) on 9 February 2009. The postcard shows 3 Eurasian Lynxes looking at you from the address side.

7 February 2009:

Monaco Cat Show

On 7 February 2009 l'Office des émissions de timbres-poste in Monaco issues a stamp in honour of the Association Féline de Monaco (Monaco Cat Association) and their International Cat Show in Fontvieille, Monaco.

The stamp is said to be "the beginning of a new thematic", probably indicating that we'll see a catstamp for every AFM-show in the years to come (much like they have been doing with dogs for some years).

The stamp will be issued in sheets of 10 postage-stamps with illuminations (probably meaning marginal artwork).

For the official FDC, a generic envelope is used, but the First Day Postmark shows a stylized cat against the diamond-checkered pattern of the Monegasque Coat of Arms.

Design: Giuseppe MAZZA
Printing process: Offset
Size of the stamp: 40 x 30 mm horizontal

See OETP's web-pages for further details and ordering instructions.

Reported by Gertrude Hainzl

5 February 2009:

French Online Postage

On 5 February 2009 La Poste in France inaugurated an internet-based service offering the public the right to buy postage online and print "stamps" and "postal stationary" at home. The service is marketed under the trademark MonTimbrenLigne ("MyOnline-Stamp"). The service allows anyone with a valid credit card to choose from some 200 different designs sorted into various themes. In the first batch of designs currently available there are three cats.

These two designs are available in the "Animals" section

Every stamp produced gets its individual number coded into a two-dimensional code field to the right in the stamp, and this number is registered in the sorting machines of La Poste so that using multiple printouts or photocopies of stamps becomes impossible. The stamps can be made in any denomination up to EUR 99.99.

The third cat can be found in the "Black and White" section.

Any stamp imprint is valid for 60 days from the day of purchase, and the "use before"-date is printed on each impression.

The service is available from the MonTimbrenLigne homepage.

.....and it works!!!

Reported by Geir Arveng

The West African island nation of St. Thomas and Prince (São Tomé e Principe), a country well known for its many highly priced thematic isues, has once again given us a set dedicated to cats. Among their issues of 31 January 2009 are two miniature sheets with cats, one 4-stamp MS at STD 104.000 and one single-stamp MS denominated STD 100.000 (appx. USD 14 / EUR 10 for both sheets).

STD 13000 - Somali and a view of Mogadishu
STD 13000 - Singapura and Singapore skyline
STD 39000 - Egyptian Mau and the Pyramides of Giza
STD 39000 - Russian Blue and Moscow's Red Square

The single-stamp MS shows two Turkish Angoras and the Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul on the STD 100000 stamp, as well as a Bombay and Mumbai's Gate of India and a Himalayan (according to the text) and some Himalayan mountains. The presentations of the breeds are quite good, except for the Himalayan. The Himalayan breed is in many regiistration bodie's books a Colourpoint Persian, and that particular Himalayans's nose wouldn't get past any cat judge I know.......

On 18 January 2009 China issues a four-stamp set dedicated to woodcut prints from Zhanzchou.

The fourth stamp is the woodcut printing illustrating the folktale of "The Mouse Marrying Off the Daughter" - now there's a cat in this stamp. This is a very interesting story:

When the animals were asked to participate in the race, where the 1st 12 animals became the symbols of the Chinese zodiac, the mouse did not wake up the sleeping cat, therefore the cat is excluded from the 12. Consequently the cat became the mouse's sworn enemy. To placate the cat, the mouse tried to marry of its most beautiful daughter to the cat; however that "daughter" ended up in the cat's belly!

This is just short description, interested parties might be able to google for a more complete rendition of the story!

For further information see China Philatelic Information for Chinese and English versions respectively.

2 January 2009:

Lion Statue on Slovakia's First Euro Definitives

Slovakia became the 20th country to join the Euro on 1 January 2009, and on 2 January the Slovak Post issued a new series of definitive stamps showing churches and details from churches accross the country, all denominated in the new currency.

The 50 Eurocents stamp shows a lion statue from the Church of St. Martin in Spiská Kapitula. The statue is believed to origin from the construction of the church in the first half of the 13th century.

Similar sculptures originated in Romanesque Italian art, from which the motif spread also to Central Europe. However, the lion in Spiská Kapitula is special. It is different from others because it has got no mane and holds an open book in the front paws. It is not known whether it was originally placed inside the church or outside in front of the portal. Today, it can be found inside the church, by the northern entrance. It was cut out from travertine and it derives its name from the light colour of the stone – leo albus, a white lion.

See the web-pages of the Slovak Post for further details.

Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky

Argentina
On 4 April 2009 Argentina issues its Year of the Ox Miniature Sheet in time for the China 2009 World Stamp Exhibition. The sheet shows a large stylized Ox surrounded by smaller versions of all the other signs of the Lunar Zodiac as well as the exhibition logo. It is denominated ARS 5.00.

Gerencia de Sellos Postales y Filatelia
C.C. 4224
AR-C1000WBQ BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

Bhutan
Bhutan Post issued a single-stamp Miniature Sheet for the "Female Earth Ox Year 2009" on 25 February 2009. The BTN 30 stamp itself shows an Ox, but it is encircled by twelve masks representing all the animals of the Lunar Zodiac, including a Tiger (at eight o'clock). At the time of writing we have found no information on the Bhutan Post's web-site, but the Philatelic Bureau can be contacted at:

Brazil
Brazil issues a single stmp to celebrate the Year of the Ox on 15 January 2009. The stamp is denominated BRL 2.35 and shows the 12 animals of the lunar circle, including a Tiger (at one o'clock).

Christmas Island
Australia Post's tribute to the Lunar New Year also this year comes in the form of a special issue for Christmas Island. On the main stamp issue you will not find any tigers, but it is featured on a stamp in the so called Zodiac sheet, a sheetlet including one of each of the two principal stamps, as well as low value stamps with all the 12 animal signs of the Lunar Zodiac.

Furthermore you'll find a silhouette of the same animals on the gutter strip of the sheet of 55c stamps.

The tiger is also featured in the AUD 12.95 prestige booklet presenting all the signs of the Lunar Zodiac.

All Christmas Islands stamps issued by Australia Post are valid for postage throughout Australia an it territories.

France
As has been the custom for the last few years, France issues a single stamp and a miniature sheet to comemmorate the Lunar New Year - and, as has been the case for the last few years, all the animals of the Lunar Zodiac features on the selvedge of the MS.

The sheet contains 5 stamps each denominated "Lèttre prioritaire 20g", with a franking value of EUR 0.55 each at the time of issue. The stamp is designed by Aurélie Baras with original artwork by Zhongyao Li.

Indonesia
The Minature Sheet which is part of Pos Indonesia's celebrations of the Lunar New Year also contains graphics symbolizing all the zodic annimals. The stamps are issued on 10 January 2009.

Macao
Macao's Lunar New Year stamps are issued on 8 January 2009. The set of 5 stamps are entirely dedicated to the Ox, but on the selvedge of the Sheetlet of 20 stamps, Miniature Sheet, and all the 5 Maximum Cards also shows the other animals of the Lunar Zodiac.


Poste Italiane Filiale di Belluno Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia Piazza Castello, 14 IT-32100 BELLUNO, Italy	Poste Italiane Filiale di Udine Servizio Commerciale/Filatelia Via Vittorio Veneto, 42 IT-33100 UDINE, Italy
Refer to postmark no. 1339	Refer to postmark no. 1337

News archive 2009