Introduction

This article/Blog deals with postage labels issued by Correos Costa Rica.  The two franking labels that we focus on here illustrate two birds: the Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus)  and the Coppery-headed Emerald (Microchera cupreiceps). 

These two labels come from a set of four, with the two other labels making up the set of wildlife endemic to Costa Rica.  For completeness, the other two labels illustrate:

• The Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis nigrovirdis); and
• A Jumping Spider (Phiale Formosa) from the Salticidae family.

The Franking Labels

Issue Information: Some years ago, my sister once went on one of these adventurous rainforest holidays in Costa Rica. When she made the booking, I don’t think that she had fully appreciated that Costa Rica is home to over 100 species of snake, some 20 of which are venomous.  Equally, Costa Rica is home to some of the world’s most dangerous spiders.  Anyway, I am pleased to say that she returned safely home without having encountered either.  The Isle of Man is about as exotic as it gets for me (it’s snake free).  But back to the birds.