Category Archives: Stamps

New Issues

St Pierre et Miquelon Annual Bird Issue (7th January 2023)

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Written by Steven Ardron

Wilson’s Phalarope

Valid for postage solely from St Pierre et Miquelon for internal use, or for postage to France and Overseas Territories, for postal items up to 20g. Wilson’s Phalarope  (Steganopus tricolor) belongs to the family of Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae)  and is classified as a bird of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.  Geographically, this bird is primarily native to the western and central areas of North and South America; as well as being present in Central America.  The IUCN Red List indicates that the numbers of the Wilson’s Phalarope are on an upward trend, though there are no accurate estimates of the population size.  Within St Pierre et Miquelon, the Wilson’s Phalarope is considered an extant and vagrant bird, given that the distribution is largely to the west of the North American continent.

Technical details: Dimensions: 52mm x 31mm. Printing: offset. Designer: photograph by Valérie Jackman.  Print run: 20,000, available in sheets of 25 stamps.

New Issues, News

International Falcons and Hunting Festival

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Al Mazayen Championship 2020-21

Written by Steven Ardron

Introduction

In January 2022, Qatar Post issued a sheetlet of six stamps (all priced at 3.50 Rials) illustrating three images of a Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) and three pictures of a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus).  The stamps commemorate the International Falcons and Hunting Festival which I understand the Qatari Society of Al Gannas helps sponsor each year.   The Society itself has interests in falconry as well as scientific and veterinary research into falcons and hawks in Qatar, including their migrations

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New Issues, News

Mauritius – New National Bird

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Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus)

Written by Steven Ardron

Introduction This news item, about the new National Bird of Mauritius, is courtesy of the May 2022 edition of Stamp Magazine, supplemented by information from the Mauritius Government website.

On 12 March 2022, the Republic of Mauritius celebrated its 30th anniversary.  As part of these celebrations, Mauritius Post issued a single new stamp illustrating the Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus) as the new national bird, replacing the extinct Dodo. 

The Mauritius Government website says of the new national bird:

“The Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus) is unique to Mauritius and is one of the nine endemic bird species still left on the island. The species was saved in-extremis with an increase from just four birds in 1974, including a single breeding female, to a peak of about 600 individuals. However, because of the degradation of the Mauritian native forests, the kestrels are now found only on the eastern and western part of the island – where they continue to face the effects of habitat degradation and predators. The actual population of the Mauritius Kestrel in the wild amounts to some 350 individuals“

Hopefully, the nomination of the Mauritius Kestrel as the new national bird will give greater impetus to conservation efforts both by the public authorities and wildlife and bird protection charities.

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Conservation, New Issues, News

Norfolk Island Morepork – Back from the Brink

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Written by Steven Ardron

On 21 June 2022, Australian Post issued a set of two stamps that celebrate the Norfolk Island Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata).  The Norfolk Island Morepork, a small, brown-mottled Owl, is an exclusive resident to the island; and is considered a distinctive sub species of the New Zealand Morepork (Ninox nouvaeseelandiae). It is one of the world’s rarest owls. Locally, the Norfolk Island Morepork owl was also known as the Boobook.

But first, before looking at the current status of the Morepork, we must begin with the stamps.

The Stamps

The stamp set consists of two individual stamps and a sheetlet, all of which are issued by Australia Post under the “Norfolk Island” country designation. 

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New Issues

Liechtenstein – Bird Definitive Overprint

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Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella)

Written by Steven Ardron

On 3 January 2022, Liechtenstein Post re-issued the 1.00 CHF Citril Finch stamp with a “90” overprint in black ink. The Citril Finch was one of four bird stamps that Lichtenstein Post issued in 2021.
As indicated in its first philatelic newsletter of 2022, it is some 10 years since Liechtenstein Post has used the overprinting method for revaluing its definitive stamps. The postal authority also revalued the 2.20 CHF Peacock Butterfly stamp originally issued in 2011; the Butterfly is overprinted “110”.
The two new overprinted values reflect increased prices for postage of “A” mail letters (from 1.00 to 1.10) and “B” mail letters (from 0.85 to 0.90). This is apparently the first price increase in 17 years for these letter mail categories.
Liechtenstein Post have described these stamps as “Provisional”, so presumably they will be replaced later this year with more permanent definitive stamps at 0.90 and 1.10 CHF.
The Liechtenstein Post philatelic website has made available both first day covers and maximum cards featuring the two new overprinted stamps (https://shop.philatelie.li). The overprints were also available in sheets of 20, but Lichtenstein Post has now sold out of these offerings, though you can still obtain them in single sets and in blocks of four stamps.
Liechtenstein Post describes the two stamps on the philatelic website as “self-adhesive”. I think that this is incorrect: in our parlance, the stamps are gummed. The details in the bulletin also use “selfadhesive” to mean gummed. This terminology is repeated in the French version too.
The designer of the four bird stamps was Christine Böhmwalder, about which I have not been able to learn very much, other than that she has contributed other (none bird) designs to Lichtenstein stamps.

Technical details: Width: 32mm x 38mm Height. Perforations: 12.75 x 12.75. Printer: CMYK Gutenberg AG, Schaan. Designer: Christine Böhmwalder.