News Archive 2006 - 2007
For newer items, se News Archive 2008 and News Archive 2009.
A Lion in the Citadelle
This PAP (prêt-à-poster or pre-stamped envelope) was probably issued sometime in the second half of 2007, but we have not found the exact date of issue yet. If you have any more information, please let us know.
The Citadelle of Besançon contains a Zoo, and this lion is one of a set of 5 designs promoting the Citadelle (the only cat). A Previous PAP (issued in 2004) promoting the Citadelle has shown a tiger.
Further information on the Citadelle de Besançon can be found at their website.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Lions Club Jubilee Postmark
From Bangalore in India comes a commemoratice postmark and an India Post Commemorative Envelope celebrating the Golden Jubilee of International Leo Day (Lions is known as LEO in India). The postmark was in use at Bangalore GPO on 5 December 2007, and the envelope was issued in cooperation with the local chapter of Lions.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Louisiana Tiger Postmark
A tiger is the mascot of Louisiana State University of Baton Rouge, and features on a comemmorative postmark in use on 10 November 2007.
As all US comemmorative postmarks it is available for 30 days by sending a self-addressed stamped card or envelope (US stamps) to:
LA/LSU Trademark Licensing
LSU Tigers Homecoming Station
Postmaster
750 Florida Street
BATON ROUGE, LA 70801-9998
USA
Rates: US: 41c, CA/MX: 69c, World: 90c
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Dutch Semi-postal Cat
TNT Post of The Netherlands issued a sheetlet of six stamps in the traditional Dutch series of "Children Stamps" (Kinderpostzegels) welfare issues. Children Stamps - for many years marked "Voor het Kind" (For the Child) - has been issued annually in the Netherlands since 1933. The lower middle stamp of the sheet shows a stylized child with a cat.
The sheet is available from the TNT Post Online Shop.
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Almaty Zoo Miniature Sheet
The Kazach Post Office issued a Miniature sheet on 31 October 2007 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Almaty Zoo. The stamps themselves do not offer any cats, but the central, undenominated label shows a lion - and there is also a snow leopard on the selvedge.
The First Day Postmark shows a lion.
The single stamps are available from Kazpost's webshop, but we have not been able to find the MS and FDCs listed there.
Reported by T.S. Tan and Geir Arveng
Russian Snow Leopards....and a Tiger Too!
This Fall the Russian Post offers us a WWF Snow Leopard stamp and two pre-stamped envelopes.
The stamp is issued along with a stork and a bison in a set of three diamond-oriented square stamps issued on 1 October. The set is sold as single stamps from sheets, as well as in sheetlets of 8 stamps (3 x Snow Leopard).
The First Day Postmark for the set features a Siberian Tiger.
The PSEs were issued in two formats, in C6 (114 x 162 mm) on 27 August and in E6/5 (110 x 220 mm) on 22 October, both denominated 'A'.
The 27 August 2007 C6-envelope is numbered 3.2007-149 and dated 02.07.2007 (printing date).
See the Russian Post's web-catalogue for further details of the stamp set, August and October PSE respectively.
Reported by T.S. Tan and Geir Arveng
Albania issued a set of four stamps featuring the Pink Panther on 25 October 2007. The set is the 8th installment in their series of cartoon characters which last included Tom (and Jerry) in 2005. The set was issued se-tenantly, and sold in sheetlets of 16 stamps with additional PP artwork on the selvedge..
Sadly the Albanian Post's philatelic website is not up-to-date with this issue.
The set has been assigned Michel nos. 3148-3151.
Reported by Geir Arveng amd Marci Jarvis
Kipling's 'Just So Stories' on new Alderney stamps and MS
Alderney brings us another issue featuring Rudyard Kipling's popular 'Just So Stories'.
The cats in the set are 'The Cat That Walked By Himself', on the miniture sheet and a single stamp; 'How the Leopard Got His Spots' is on the selvage of the miniture sheet.
The stamps, MS, FDC and presentation pack will be available at Guernseypost's webshop from the issue date (or shortly thereafter).
Reported by Bridget Robinson and Marci Jarvis
Costa Rica issues Childrens' literarture set
On 18 October 2007 Costa Rica issued a set celebrating Carmen Lyra's book 'Cuentas de mi Tia Panchita' ('Stories of my Auntie Panchita'). The set consists of a Miniature Sheet comprising 4 stamps valued CRC 100, and a giant stamp valued CRC 1000.
Carmen Lyra is a pseudonym for Maria Isabela Carvajal (1888-1949), one of Costa Rica's most prominent writers.
The stamps features illustrations by Juan Manuel Sànchez an three of the CRC 100 stamps and the CRC 1000 stamp includes drawings of Jaguars.
The first CRC 100 stamp is dedicated to the story 'Por qué Tio Conejo tiene los orejos tan largas' ('Why Uncle Rabbit have such large ears'). The jaguar is featured in the bottom of a heap of characters.
Stamp number two is dedicated to the stiry 'La Mica' ('The Monkey'), and features an "indigenous style" drawing of a stylized jaguar.
The third CRC 100 stamp has no cat theme, but stamp no. 4 is dedicated to the story 'Tio Conejo y los caites de su abuela' ('Uncle Rabbit and his grandmother's sandals'), and shows a jaguar asleep outside a dog house (?).
The CRC 1000 stamp shows a big jaguar and represents the story 'De como Tio Conejo salió de un apuro' ('How Uncle Rabbit got out of a pinch'). This stamp is issued in single stamp "sheetlet" (94 x 140 mm) - no print on selvedge.
There are reportedly 3 FDCs for this issue. One with the four individual CRC 100 stamps, one with the MS of the same stamps, and finally one with the CRC 1000 "sheetlet".
The set is presented at the Correos de Costa Rica's web site, but there is no online ordering facility.
The Costa Rican Philatelic Service can be contacted at:
Correos de Costa Rica S.A.
Officina de Filatélia
Apt. 12900, Correos Central,
CR-1000 SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica
Tel: +506 233-5182
Fax: +506 223-5182
e-mail: dalvarado@correos.go.cr
Reported by Marci Jarvis and Geir Arveng
Austrian Leo (updated)
The theme of the issue is the Western Zodiac, with one booklet for each sign.
In 24 pages you will get to know everything about Leos, and the booklet contains 3 x 55c stamps of different designs.
It sells for EUR 4.99 at Post.at's online store.
Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky
New Sri Lanka Definitives
Sri Lanka issued new definitives last year (9 October 2007), of which the 4 Rupee value shows a Leo.
The whole series is shown at the Sri Lanka Post Office's homepage alongside other 2007 issues from Sri Lanka.
If anyone's got a better scan of this stamp, it would be most welcome in our mailbox.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Brazilian Zoo Issue
On 5 October the Brazilian Post Office issued a set of 6 stamps (all valued at BRL 0.60) dedicated to Brazilian Zoos.
Two of the stamps show felines; a tiger and a lion. The other stamps show giraffes, an elephant, chimpanzees and a parrot.
Technical notes for this issue seems to indicate that there are also some pre-franked postcards with the same motifs as the stamps, but we have seen no further details of these.
For further information see the Brazilian Post's webshop.
Reported by T.S. Tan
Peruvian Pedigree Cats
With a set issued 1 October 2007, Peru joins the countries in which sets presenting different cat breeds have been issued. The set of four stamps shows a Turkish Angora, a Persian, a Bengal, and a Siamese. The stamps are all denominate PEN 6.00 and is printed se-tenantly in gummed sheets, with a print run of 50 000 sets.
In addition to the cats on the stamps, there is also a stylized cat on the sheet's selvedge.
Peruvian stamp issues are presented at Serpost's Internet site. You will find all stamp issues by choosing 'Filatélia' and then 'Calendario de Emisiones'. Unfortunately there is yet no information of this set at the time of writing.
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Snow Leopard from Kraków Zoo
In a new set celebrating Polish Zoos the PLN 3.55 top value shows a Snow Leopard from Kraków Zoo. The set consists of a total of 4 values, and the other animals shown are Emperor Tamarin (PLN 1.35), Black Stork (PLN 2.40) and African Elephant (PLN 3). There were individual First Day Cancellations for each animal.
The design is similar to the 2005 set, which included a Siberian Tiger.
Unfortunately there's no online shop from Poczta Polska, but information on the set can be found at their website.
Reported by T.S. Tan
In August 2007 (exact date not confirmed) Turkmenpochta issued a definitive stamp showing a Cheetah with cubs. The stamp is denominated A (inland letter rate). As has been customary with Turkmen definitives lately the stamp is issued as a self-adhesive on rather thick backing paper and with a very crude perforation.
The Turkmenpochta webiste is at the time of writing only in the template-phase, so if you want to contact them for further information, the address is given below. If your Turkmen is somewhat failing, Russian is probably your best shot. We've so far had little luck with English..........
State Mail Service Company "TURKMENPOCHTA"
16 str. 2023
TM-744000 ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan
Tel.: +993 12 39 89 36; +993 12 39 89 31
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Endangered Species Set from Peru
SERPOST - the Peruvian postal operator issues a set of stamps dedicated to endangered species. One of the stamps shows a cat - on the stamp designated as a Pampas Cat, but by some experts believed to rather be an Andean Mountain Cat.
The stamp is one in a set of four, printed in sheets of se-tenant blocks of four forming a composit design that also runs into the sheet margin. The face value of the cat is PEN 3.00.
Further details at Serpost's Internet site. You will find all stamp issues by choosing 'Filatélia' and then 'Calendario de Emisiones'.
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Bolivian Zoo Issue
On 20 July 2007 The Bolivian Post issued a set of 2 stamps dedicated to the Santa Cruz Zoo both showung big cats. The 6b value shows a jaguar, and the 9b shows a puma.
Reported by T.S. Tan
Canadian Lynx
From Canada Post comes a booklet and a gutter strip showing a Canadian Lynx. The lynx is found in the product margins and not on the stamps themselves.
You can read more about the issue in Canada Post's press release.
The stamp products are available from the Canada Post Web Store.
Reported by Nahum Shereshevsky
Tigger on Belgian DuoStamps
Belgium's La Poste/De Post continues its series of "semi-personalised" stamps with cartoon characters. This Summer they have issued a set called Winnie Summer featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends, amongst whom Tigger makes an appearance on 4 of the set's five labels.
The DuoStamps can be ordered online from La Poste / De Post's web-shop.
Reported by T.S. Tan
Several new French PAPs
In June the local post in Toulouse issued a PAP (pre-paid envelope) for the festival Toulouse-Sénégal. The envelope is number three in a series of ten envelopes promoting Toulouse festivals this year. The stamp is an ordinary NVI Marianne, but the cachet shows a globe with a symbolic bridge, over which crosses a Senegalese prosession lead by a lion.
The set of ten sells for EUR 8.00, and is available from:
La Poste
Att.: Sandrine Michelson
FR-31706 BLAGNAC CEDEX, France
We have also seen at least three different new PAPs promoting the International Cat Museum in Richelieu issued sometime this spring.
All have the new PAP-tree in the stamp-imprint, and shows various cat paintings in the cachet.
These should be easy to order, as they can be obtained from the museum (who probably would like to up their income).
Musée du Chat
15, Grande Rue
FR-37120 RICHELIEU, France
Tél/Fax : +33 2 47 58 19 23
Email : musee.du.chat@wanadoo.fr
Web-site: http://www.museeduchat.fr/
There's also a tiger on one of the regional PAPs issued un 1 July 2007 commemmorating the new Eastern Upper Rhine TGV train line. Having only seen the scans on the internet at the time of writing, we're a little bit uncertain where there are tigers in North-Eastern France, but think it might bee in the Mulhouse Zoo.....
The Tiger is one of a set of 5 that can be ordered in La Poste's online store.
Reported by TS Tan, Nahum Shereshevsky and Geir Arveng
Cat set from Moldova
On 20 June 2007 Posta Moldovei issues a set of 4 cat stamps showing a European Shorthair (MDL 0.65), a Siamese (MDL 1), a Sacred Birman (MDL 1.50) and a Persian (MDL 6.20).
The Posta Moldovei web pages are sadly far from up-to-date. We have so far only seen this issue at a Lithuanlian dealer's web shop.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Ukrainian cats
On 15 June 2007 the Ukranian post gives us a set and MS of 6 cat stamps, each denominated UAH 0.70. The breeds represented are
- American Shorthair
- Sphynx
- Scottish Fold
- Snowshoe
- Russian Blue
- Somali
See the Marka Ukrayni web pages for further details and the possibility of online ordering.
Reported by Geir Arveng
The 4th Fair of Images and Writing took place in the French city of Montmorrillon on 9 and 10 June 2007. The local post office offerred a commemorative postmark for the event showing a lion. Unfortunately this came to our knowledge long after the deadline for ordering.
Pre-Colombian Peruvian Cat
Serpost of Peru issued a set of 2 stamps dedicated to pre-Colombian cultures on 21 May 2007. Both are denominated PEN 6.00. One of the stamps shows a cat figurine, probably a Jaguar, since the domestic cat probably hadn't been introduced to the Americas at the time.
Further details at Serpost's Internet site. You will find all stamp issues by choosing 'Filatélia' and then 'Calendario de Emisiones'.
Reported by Patrick Roberts
Looney Tunes Down Under
Australia Post continues its series of Souvenir Stamp Sheets, or custom made sheets of personalised stamps. On 15 May 2007 we'll see a sheet dedicated to characters from Warner Bros' Looney Tunes cartoons. It consists of ten 50c stamps with 'personalised' labels. Both the sheet selvedge and one of the labels will include Sylvester.
The sheet is available from Australia Post's online store.
Reported by Geir Arveng
New US Florida Panther Definitive
On 12 May 2007 the USPS will issue a definitive stamp to match the new inland postcard rate of 26c. The stamp features a Florida Panther (Puma Concolor Coryi), designed by well known illustrator Nancy Stahl.
There are five varieties of this stamp. A normally gummed stamp sold in panes, and four self-adhesive stamps from small panes, coils and booklets respectively. The self-adhesive pane stamp is perforated on all sides 11 1/4 : 10 3/4, the coil stamp is perforated 11 1/4 vertically only, and the booklet stamps comes with alternate left- and right-side imperforated sides.
The stamps and FDCs are available in the USPS online store (unfortunately not in singles), and the press release may be found here.
Reported by Marci Jarvis
Overseas Endangered Species Set from France
France issues a stamp series and a miniature sheet entitled Overseas Protected Species (i.e. species from the Overseas French Departments). The stamps are
€0.86 Barau's Petrel (Réunion)
€0.54 Caribbean Iguana (Guadelopupe, Martinique)
€0.54 Racoon (Guadeloupe)
€0.60 Jaguar (French Guyana)
There's no official FDCs being issued in French Guyana, but the Paris first day postmark will feature a Jaguar.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
FDCs were serviced at all the French Overseas Departments:
Guadelooupe Martinique French Guyana Réunion
At time of writing there's nothing on the French POs website yet, but the set will undoubtly be available at La Poste's Webshop.
UPDATED INFORMATION: La Poste also issued prepaid envelopes - Prêt-à-Posters - with the Jaguar stamp imprint at the same issue date. The PAPs were without any additional illustrations and were issued in both C6 and E6/5 formats without windows. There are also rumours of an illustrated. locally issued PAP sold in French Guyana.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Bangladesh: Cricket World Cup Stamp with Tiger
To commemmorate the ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in the West Indies, the Bangladesh PO issued a set of stamps on 17 April 2007. One of the stamps show a tiger.
Reported by TS Tan
Another postcat from Germany
On 12 April Germany issues a set of stamps called "POST - Picture Story (i)". The name indicates that we might have more stamps in this series later on. The stams show a boy writing a letter, and on the next stamp posting it - on both stamps accompanied by his cat.
The stamps are available from the German Post website.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
One of the stamps from this set has also featured as an imprint on a pre stamped envelope (presumably) issued 28 April 2007 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the DGEG (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte - The German Railway History Society) and the 30th anniversary of the Railway Museum in Bochum.
To our knowledge this envelope has not been for sale at the German Post site. It is probably available from a number of German sources, but I found mine at Briefmarken Haller in Drachselried, who has an excellent website with a valuable news section for the German readers amongst us.
Reported by Geir Arveng
France: Cartoon Cat on Commemmorative Postmark
The 13th Comic Book Festival in the French town of Hauteluce was celebrated with a commemmorative postmark used during the festival on 11 and 12 April 2007.
Unfortunately this came to our attention too late to place orders. Orders for the postmark was handled by the mail centre in Beaufort-sur-Doron.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Lynx MS Voted Best Ukrainian Postage Stamp 2006
The Ukranian MS for "Shatsk National Natural Park” issued 14 July 2006 has been voted Best Ukrainian Postage Stamp for 2006. Very little information about the vote at Ukrposhta's English web site, but if you understand Ukrainian, maybe there's more there.
Reported by Geir Arveng
Russia: PSE with Kittens
Russia Posts issued a pre-stamped envelope on th 3 April 2007. The enselope is denominated 'A' (inland letter rate). It measures 110 x 220 mm and is issued in a print-run of 5 million copies. Curiously, we have so far (November) not seen it for sale in any of the big auction sites.
See the Russian Post's online catalogue for further details.
Antique Danish Lion Jug
On 28 March the Danish Post issued a series of stamps celebrating the bi-centenary of the Danish National Museum. The DKK 6.00 value shows a jug in the form of a lion. The stamp is available at the Danish PO's webshop. They are fast and reliable and accept credit cards. And they sell single values from sets separately!!!!
http://www.stamps.postdanmark.dk
Reported by Geir Arveng
