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St Pierre et Miquelon 2021 Issue

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Purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima)

The 2021 addition to the long-running birds series from St Pierre et Miquelon is the Purple Sandpiper. 

One initial curiosity about this stamp, on which the French Monthly “L’Écho de la Timbrologie” sought clarification – from the image that was sent to them for the magazine – is that the original 2021 stamp included a small spelling error in the Latin name of the bird, with the text on the stamp reading: “Calidris martima”.  It would appear that at first, no-one spotted the missing “i”: a minor hiccup in the proofing process that for us collectors might have made the stamp a bit more alluring.   However, from the image provided on La Poste’s website (see below), it would appear that La Poste ordered a reprint of the stamp with the correction to the spelling error.

Philippe Lahiton created (photographed) the Purple sandpiper stamp and as far as I am aware (though I am missing one or two from this series) he has not previously been involved in this series.

The information from St Pierre et Miquelon suggests that this particular stamp and the previous one from 2020 are part of a mini-series featuring waders.

La Poste has printed 30,000 of these stamps for St Pierre et Miquelon.   They are available in sheets of 25.       eBird Canada says about this bird:

“Hardy denizen of rocky coastlines regularly pounded by heavy surf. In winter, often in flocks foraging among large rocks. Generally dark grayish; purple sheen only visible at close distance in good light. Bill droops slightly and has an orange base. In winter, legs are yellowish-orange and belly is white with gray spots. Rarely seen on remote Arctic breeding grounds. Breeding plumage more brownish with contrasting dark speckling on back and breast.”

https://ebird.org/canada/species/pursan

Conservation, New Issues, News

Isle of Man

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Europa 2021 Endangered National Species
The Calf of Man and 70th Anniversary of the Manx National Trust

Introduction

On 12 April 2021, the Isle of Man Post Office issued a set of 10 stamps which simultaneously commemorate:

  • The Europa 2021 “Endangered National Species” stamp theme, with one stamp (NVI “EU”), illustrating a Manx Sheerwater (Puffinus puffinus) chick;
  • The 70th Anniversary of the founding of the Manx National Trust (MNT); and
  • The Calf of Man nature and conservation reserve, which is managed by the MNT. 

Five of the stamps have a 1st NVI, for use on postage within the Isle of Man and valid for post to the UK; and five stamps with the “EU” NVI. 

There is an additional stamp featuring a bird; and this is the EU stamp illustrating the Calf of Man Bird Observatory and the Common Whitethroat: more of which below. 

The consultancy EJC Design developed the stamp illustrations, each stamp being available in sheets of 20.  The printing is in offset lithography and each stamp measures 40.00 x 31.66mm in portrait format.  The set is available in a presentation pack (limited to 1,500), and the usual First Day Cover (FDC) is available (limited to 2,250).  The Europa 2021 stamp also has its own FDC and miniature sheet (see below).  Isle of Man Post Office has also issued a set of postcards to accompany the stamp issue, which carry enlarged illustrations of each stamp.

The Manx Shearwater
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News, Overprints

Fiji Definitive Overprints – New finds!

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Further to my original piece on the Fiji overprints of some months ago, The Pacific Islands Study Circle (PISC) have now reported two new additions to the already large list of overprinted bird definitives. The original definitives were issued in 1995 but due to a severe shortage of postage stamps to cover their postal rates in early 2006, Fiji resorted to overprinting with new denominations the large stocks of these definitives with redundant values. As my article hopefully showed, the overprintings have resulted in a huge number of overprints with new values while at the same time producing a stunningly complex array of varieties and errors. Frankly, they have become a collector’s paradise!

6c/44c “xxx” overprint

In the latest edition of Pacifica magazine, PISC have announced that two new overprints have been found on the original 44c Purple Swamphen. In January this year they reported that a 6c with lower case triple “x” obliterating the 44c (“xxx”) had been found with an overprinted line measuring 11mm. This combination has not been seen before. More recently a 23c new value, also with triple lower case “x” obliterations appeared. It is thought that this was issued in either March or April. There are currently no further details on the crucial overprinting measurements for this 23c/44c arrangement. Only one other version of this overprint combination – appearing in late 2016 – is known.

23c/44c “xxx” Overprint

As can be imagined, COVID has had a substantial impact on tourism for the Pacific island nations and this has contributed to severe economic difficulties, leading to substantial cutbacks in their issuing of new stamps. It is possible – perhaps probable – that Fiji has responded by further plundering of its old stocks. Some of the original values were never used for the overprintings, perhaps because of insufficient numbers, but I now wonder if more examples might emerge.

News

Bye, Bye BIOT?

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Those who have read the recent philatelic trade press (and The Guardian) may have seen articles questioning the future of stamps from the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

The ruling council of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) has now recommended that BIOT stamps should now cease to be recognised. This arises from a long-running dispute over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands which make up the whole territory. BIOT was created in the mid-1960s when Britain took the islands from Mauritius prior to granting independence to that island in 1968. The Chagos islands are comprised of just 23 square miles of land.

One of the islands, Diego Garcia, was subsequently developed into a military base and then leased to the United States. In creating the base, the native population of Chagossians – about 2,000 – were expelled and replaced by around 3,000 military staff and associated contractors.

However, the original islanders continued to campaign for their right to return to the islands and in 2019, the International Court of Justice found that in maintaining its claim, Britain was in breach of international law and that sovereignty should pass to Mauritius. This verdict was upheld by the United Nations Maritime Court earlier this year and in response the UPU Council has now made its recommendation. Paradoxically, the US has said it has no objections to the islanders returning.

The UPU Congress meets in the Ivory Coast in August and will then vote on its Council’s recommendation. If upheld the, “distribution and forwarding of any and all postage stamps issued by the territory,” will cease. Effectively, the stamps would then be internationally invalid. Could this be bye, bye to BIOT?  

June 2021

New Content

Bird Symbols of Canada

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Part 5 – Manitoba

Provincial Birds: Great Gray/Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa)

In 1987, under “The Coat of Arms, Emblems and Manitoba Tartan Act”, the Manitoba Legislature decided to adopt the Great Gray Owl as the Provincial bird. The exact text of the Act states: 

“5(2) The bird ornithologically known as Strix nebulosa and commonly called the “Great Gray Owl” is adopted as and is the avian emblem of Manitoba.”

Nature North says about the Great Gray Owl:

“…… A rare bird, this species has been seen more regularly in parts of Manitoba than elsewhere in Canada. It is thus fitting that on July 16, 1987, by an Act of the Manitoba Legislature, the Great Gray Owl was officially named the Provincial Bird Emblem. Elevation of the status of the Great Gray Owl from unprotected in 1962 to provincial bird emblem in 1987, is in recognition of owls and other birds of prey as a valuable and treasured part of the natural world, and worthy of protection.”

Nature North also goes on to say that the Great Gray Owl is larger than the Great Horned Owl (the Provincial bird of Alberta) and the Snowy Owl (the Provincial bird of Québec).  The males and females of the species look the same, but as is common with birds of prey, the female is larger than the male: the male owl weighs up to 1.2 kg, whereas the female weighs up to 1.8 kg.  The Great Gray Owl has bright yellow eyes and a broad round face, with marked white chin patches that are a key identifying characteristic of this bird. 

The Canada Government website states that the Great Gray Owl is the largest owl in North America, with a wingspan of over 1.3-1.5 metres.  The Great Gray Owl is a Manitoba resident all year round.

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