New York Exhibition (UK 2016)

Stamps for World Stamp Show-New York 2016

[press release]
New York Exhibition Sheet & Post & Go Collectors Strips
Issue Date: 28th May 2016 uk_nycsheetEach year the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) nominate countries to host World Stamp Exhibitions to develop philately and promote the stamps of member countries. In 2016 the nominated hosts are New York, USA and Taipei, Taiwan.

Royal Mail will be issuing an Exhibition sheet to promote and celebrate the New York event which takes place May 28 through June 4 at the Javits Center in New York City. This sheet will feature the definitive size Hello stamp, as used in the Melbourne, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and London sheets and features images that represent the host city. They include:

The Statue of Liberty “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and became a National Monument in 1924.

Please note the full Statue of Liberty image comprises of five labels.

Manhattan Island Manhattan, one of the five boroughs of New York City, and is the heart of the Big Apple, featuring Times Square, Greenwich Village, Broadway and Central Park.

uk_nyc_sights1New York City Subway The 24-hour subway system’s 24 lines take around five million New Yorkers every day, making it the busiest public transport system in the Western world.

The High Line A rotting elevated railway track abandoned for 30 years was transformed into what is now a glorious garden park beautifying the concrete and brick blocks of Manhattan’s west side.

Wall Street New York’s financial district. The New York Stock Exchange is at No.11 Wall Street and at No.48 is the Museum of American Finance.

Ellis Island Ellis Island was the famous first port of call for immigrants to the USA. It is estimated that half of the country’s population today can trace their ancestry back to an immigrant who arrived via Ellis Island.

Central Park A true NYC icon for locals who stroll and socialise in its 843 acres. Top spots include the Strawberry Fields meditation garden in memory of John Lennon, assassinated nearby in 1980, and the Literary Walk, boasting statues of Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.

uk_nyc_sights2Central Park Zoo More than 130 species call the zoo their home, from grizzly bears and snow leopards to red pandas and poison dart frogs.

Little Italy This Manhattan quarter is a byword for colourful Italian culture, food and cool boutiques.

Chinatown Real Chinatown is Columbus Park where the Chinese community practise kung fu, watch Chinese opera troupes and play mah-jongg.

Staten Island Ferry The 25-minute trip to the island from Lower Manhattan offers one of the best views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbour.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden 10,000 plants flourish in themed gardens – cacti from Namibia to Bolivia grow in the Desert Pavilion and there are 350 small but perfectly formed trees in the Bonsai Museum.

uk_nyc_sights3Metropolitan Museum of Art The ‘Met’ holds two million art works spanning more than 5,000 years.

Grand Central Terminal With its soaring arches, marble floors and zodiac-themed ceiling featuring 2,500 stars, this station is grand indeed. It has 44 platforms, 67 tracks – and its own tennis club.

Brooklyn Bridge Stretching 6,000ft across the East River, the bridge connecting Brooklyn Heights with Manhattan has starred in dozens of movies, including Annie Hall and The French Connection.

Coney Island The seaside playground is famous for its Luna Park amusements, Cyclone rollercoaster and cold beer beach picnics in the salty Atlantic air.

Technical Details
uk_nycsheetNumber of stamps: 20
Stamp: Hello stamp from the Smilers® range.
Sheet Design: Studio Up
Sheet Format: Landscape
Stamp Format: Definitive
Stamp Size: 20mm x 24mm
Printer: International Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Perforations: 15 x 14
Phosphor: Bars
Gum: Self-adhesive

Post & Go Royal Mail will also be offering Post & Go New York (from the Sea Travel Post & Go set) and Union Flag Collector’s strips from our stand at the exhibition and GB versions in the UK.

uk_nyc_postnThe New York Collector’s Strip – GB Version Featuring the New York image from the Sea Travel issue. Consisting of 6 rates – 1st up to 100g, 1st Large up to 100g, Euro 20g/World 10g, Europe up to 100g, Worldwide up to 20g & Worldwide up to 100g. This product will feature the ‘World Stamp Show NY2016’ overprint and will only be available from Tallents House by mail order. Price: £7.75 per strip Code: ZS043

Please Note: This stamp was produced using a four colour digital press instead of the original gravure printing. Royal Mail is trialling this production method to assess its viability from a quality viewpoint and the potential for shorter production runs of specific designs.

The Union Flag Collector’s Strip – GB Version Consisting of 6 uk_nyc_postn_ujackRates – 1st up to 100g, 1st Large up to 100g, Euro 20g/World 10g, Europe 100g, Worldwide up to 20g, Worldwide up to 100g. This product will feature the ‘World Stamp Show NY2016’ overprint and only be available from Tallents House by mail order. Price: £7.75 per strip Code: ZS044

Israel’s April Issues

These stamps and the ATM label will be issued April 19th.

From Israel Post:

Take a tour through Jerusalem with our April stamp issues: start with the Bridge of Strings at the city’s entrance, through the Mahane Yehuda Market and the impressive Knesset Building. Plus read on for what else is in store…..

isr_spainThe Bridge of Strings in Jerusalem was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava so this makes for a most fitting visual image to express the bridge of friendship developed over 30 years between Israel and Spain.

You can just feel the hustle and bustle of the markets in our Markets in Israel stamp set. Vibrant colors, charming ambiance and many bargains to be found!!

Israel prides herself on her democracy and the Knesset Building is where is all happens. The building was inaugurated 50 years ago and, in addition to being the site of many historic events in the development of the country, it houses many famous works of art.

isr_springOur stamp for Spring stands out in this collection with its stunning red wildflowers. What a great season that symbolizes blooming and renewal!

In the past we have issued many Israeli Achievements stamps. This time we focus on the success in Printing. There are numerous start-up companies in Israel which promote and adapt printing technology to the needs of the 21st century.

Every year we remember the fallen in our Israel’s wars and battles. Our Memorial Day stamp this year illustrates the poignant poem isr_tavitdogby Natan Yonatan, “The Sand Will Remember”.

Our April ATM shows cute Bob from Central Israel. He looks like he’s having great fun!

More designs:

isr_printing

isr_markets_allisr_memday16isr_knesset

Hydrangeas (Canada 2016)

[press release]
Flower series blooms again with set of hydrangea stamps
Endless Summer and Annabelle latest in stamp series that has featured a garden of philatelic delights

hyd_strip4OTTAWA, March 1, 2016 /CNW/ – With spring just around the corner, Canada Post continues its perennially popular flower series with two new stamps featuring the billowy and showy hydrangea cultivars beloved by Canadian gardeners. A celebration of beauty to come, these beautiful blossoms continue a long tradition of flower stamps often sought after by gardeners, plant enthusiasts and brides.

Endless Summer, a cultivar of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), is shown on the stamp with pink blossoms, while Annabelle, a cultivar of smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), sports large, snow-white flower heads.

With approximately 23 species and hundreds of named cultivars – and new ones being introduced – the genus Hydrangea boasts widespread appeal. The name merges the Greek word hydro, meaning water, and angeion, meaning vessel or jug, to evoke the spherical shape of the open flower head. Mostly native to southern and eastern Asia – with other species calling North and South America home – many cultivars draw the eyes of Canadian gardeners. Part of the growing interest in hydrangeas lies in the plant’s relatively few needs to thrive: it requires adequate moisture and grows best with some shade.

hyd_souvThe stamps illustrate yet another attractive quality of hydrangeas. While white is a common colour, some species develop flowers of different colours, depending on the pH of the soil. Acidic soil creates blue flowers, neutral soil creates cream-coloured blossoms, and alkaline soil produces purple or pink, as exemplified by the stamp image of Endless Summer.

Inspired by traditional botanical drawings, the stamps feature high-contrast tones, sumptuous colours, and realistic details. The coil of 50, ideal for mailing large volumes, alternates between the two flowers, while the Official First Day Cover offers a unique perspective on the blossoms with a pattern that is reminiscent of traditional 1940s wallpaper.

About the Stamps
hyd_coilThe stamps measure 26 mm x 32 mm and are available together in booklets of 10 stamps and coils of 50 stamps. They were printed by Canadian Bank Note Company and use lithography in six colours. The souvenir sheet of both stamps measures 120 mm x 84 mm. The Official First Day Cover bears the cancellation site of Sunny Corner, NB. Designed by Benny Corrigan, with art directed by Karen Satok and David Sacha of Toronto’s Sputnik Design Partners Inc., the stamps were illustrated by Montréal artist Marie-Élaine Cusson.

hyd_pcOne postcard is illustrated with a close-up image of two species of hydrangea. The white flower featured on the stamp is the cultivar Annabelle, a selection of smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea aborescens). Native to the United States, Annabelle is one of the most cold hardy hydrangeas. The pink flower on the second stamp is Endless Summer, a cultivar of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Native to eastern Asia, this species will also produce blue or lavender flowers, depending on soil acidity or alkalinity.

hyd_pc2The other postcard features two selections of hydrangea, aligned in an alternating pattern of diagonal lines. The pink flower featured on the stamp is Endless Summer, a cultivar of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Native to eastern Asia, this species will also produce blue or lavender flowers, depending on soil acidity or alkalinity. Endless Summer is unique among hydrangeas in that it flowers on both old and new growth. On the second stamp is the snow-white flower of Annabelle, a cultivar of smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea aborescens). Annabelle, native to the United States, is one of the most cold hardy hydrangeas.hyd_fdc

To purchase philatelic products or for more information, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

Women’s Suffrage (Canada 2016)

[press release]
New stamp marks centennial of women’s suffrage in Canada

can_suffrageOTTAWA, March 8, 2016 /CNW/ – Canada Post today issued a new stamp that pays tribute to the women who fought and won the right to vote 100 years ago in this country. While the suffrage movement began to form nearly four decades earlier, the struggle to secure the vote did not significantly advance until the First World War, when women worked in hospitals, factories and offices, and often raised families alone, spurring demands for equality. In 1916, women in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta became the first in Canada to win the right to cast provincial ballots.

Designed by Winnipeg-based Tétro, the commemorative stamp is illustrated in the black and gold colours that symbolized the North American movement and incorporates the Venus symbol of femininity as the letters “O” and “T” in the word Vote. Vertical text in English and French at the right highlights the women’s suffrage theme and indicates the dates of its centennial.

can_suff_fdcThe Official First Day Cover features one of the most important figures of the women’s suffrage movement, Nellie McClung. Her portrait is set over an image of the 1915 petition to the Government of Manitoba that helped secure full political rights for women in that province. At the bottom is a black and gold banner reading “Votes for Women,” one of several artifacts currently on display in a women’s suffrage exhibit atWinnipeg’s Manitoba Museum.

can_suff_bklt2After Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, women gained their voting rights in British Columbia and Ontario in 1917, Nova Scotia in 1918, New Brunswick and Yukon in 1919, Prince Edward Island in 1922, Newfoundland in 1925 (before it became a Canadian province), Quebec in 1940 and the Northwest Territories in 1951. However, it wasn’t until 1960 when all Canadians, including Inuit and First Nations, were eligible to vote regardless of race or ethnicity.

About the Stamp
The stamp measures 26 mm x 32 mm and is available in a booklet of 10 stamps. The Official First Day Cover bears the cancellation site ofWinnipeg (Manitoba). Designed by Tétro, the stamp was printed by Lowe-Martin. To purchase philatelic products or for more information, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

Royal Mail Heritage: Transport (UK 2016)

[press release]
Royal Mail Heritage: Transport
Issue Date: Wednesday 17th February 2016

P&G-HT-Post-Boy-stampPRODUCT RANGE AT A GLANCE

  • 6 * 1st Class stamp set with carrier
  • First Day Cover
  • First Day Envelope (New Generic version)

REASON & INSPIRATION
The Royal Mail Heritage: Transport set of stamps reflects the movement of mail via methods of transport. The earliest method of transport for mail was by foot, but increased distance and a greater volume of letters led to the employment of horses. Even greater volumes of mail entailed the use of horse-drawn carts and then vans for road transport, as well as the early adoption of railways, while sailing ships carried the mail still farther, P&G-HT-Mail-Coachacross the globe. These have been the favoured forms of mail transport for much of the past five centuries.In the 19th century, inviting contractors to tender for mail routes proved very effective, and they provided the transport and drivers that operated to strict demands of time. The availability of fairly reliable second-hand vehicles following the First World War pushed forward the creation of state-owned fleets, while advances in air travel meant that letters and parcels could be delivered even faster. Today, mail continues to be carried throughout the day and night by land, sea and air.

PRODUCTS IN DETAIL Stamp Set with Carrier Card
Price: £3.78 Code: ZS042P&G-Transport-Carrier-Card

First Day Cover Inland (Tallents House Handstamp)
Price: £5.02 Code: ZF022P&G-Heritage-Transport-TH-FDC

First Day Cover Inland (Alternative Handstamp)
Price: £5.02 Code: ZF022
The alternative handstamp location Letters, Gavre has been chosen based on its name.P&G-Heritage-Transport-FDC

Filler Card
Price: 30p Code: ZE020P&G-Heritage-Transport-Filler-Card

STAMP SPECIFICATIONS
Post & Go Stamps Royal Mail Heritage: Transport

  • Number of stamps: Six
  • Date of issue: 17th February 2016
  • Design: Howard Brown
  • Illustrations: Andrew Davidson
  • Acknowledgements: The Post boy illustration based on an image courtesy of The British Postal Museum and Archive.
    Carrier design Godfrey Design Words Julian Stray Acknowledgements all images © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2016, courtesy of The British Postal Museum and Archive, except The Mail Arriving at Temple Bar photo © Guildhall Library & Art Gallery/Heritage Images/Getty Images Card design © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2016
  • Printer: International Security Printers
  • Process: Gravure
  • Format: Landscape
  • Size: 56mm x 25mm
  • Perforations: Die-cut simulated
  • Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
  • Gum: Self-adhesive

Value/Description
P&G-HT-Post-Boy-stampAs overprinted by Post & Go machine: Post boy, 1640s. Post boys could be of almost any age and carried messages between relay points some 20 miles (32km) apart, the distance a horse could travel at speed before being replaced. Post boys kept to time and carried a horn, blown periodically, to warn of their approach.

P&G-HT-Mail-CoachAs overprinted by Post & Go machine: Mail coach, 1790s. The first mail coach ran between Bristol and London on 2 August 1784. At the time, coaches were among the swiftest vehicles on the road. The only postal employee on board was the heavily armed mail guard. The last London-based mail coach ran in April 1846.

P&G-HT-Falmouth-packet-shipAs overprinted by Post & Go machine: Falmouth packet ship, 1820s. The earliest packet ships were designed for speed rather than security and were subject to many hazards, including poor seas and the possibility of being attacked by pirates. Falmouth became an important port for ships sailing to the West Indies and the Mediterranean.

P&G-HT-Travelling-POAs overprinted by Post & Go machine: Travelling Post Office, 1890s . The first purpose-built Travelling Post Office (TPO), in which mail was sorted en route, ran on 20 January 1838. Many of the trains exchanged mail pouches without stopping via trackside bag exchange apparatus. The last exchange took place in 1971. Today, mail still travels in sealed train carriages.

P&G-HT-AirmailAs overprinted by Post & Go machine: Airmail, 1930s. The world’s first scheduled airmail service began on 9 September 1911. The use of airplanes for long-distance transport of mail increased significantly during the 1920s and 1930s. Originally intended for Imperial Airways’ European mail routes, HP 45 G-AAXE Hengist first flew on 8 December 1931.

P&G-HT-RM-Minivan-stampAs overprinted by Post & Go machine: Royal Mail Minivan, 1970s. Minivans were purchased in large numbers in the 1970s following the demise of the Morris Minor. They were ideal for smaller collection and delivery duties in towns, but low height and limited ground clearance made them less suitable for rural deliveries.

ROYAL MAIL POST & GO STAMPS
Post & Go stamps are available from self-service machines in main Post Offices. The first Post & Go stamps to feature pictorial designs were introduced in 2010. The Royal Mail Heritage: Transport set is the first in a series of Post & Go stamps to explore the transportation of mail, to be continued in 2017. For more information, please visit www.royalmail.com/postandgo.

  • Number of stamps six
  • Date of issue 17 February 2016
  • Design Howard Brown
  • Illustrations Andrew Davidson
  • Acknowledgements the post boy illustration based on an image courtesy of The British Postal Museum and Archive Printer International Security Printers Stamp designs © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2016 Carrier design Godfrey Design Words Julian Stray Acknowledgements all images © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2016, courtesy of The British Postal Museum and Archive, except The Mail Arriving at Temple Bar photo © Guildhall Library & Art Gallery/Heritage Images/Getty Images Card design © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2016P&G-Transport-Carrier-Card

Further details about British postage stamps and philatelic facilities may be obtained from: Royal Mail, FREEPOST, Edinburgh EH12 9PE or visit our website: www.royalmail.com/stamps. Royal Mail and the Cruciform are registered Trade Marks of Royal Mail Group Ltd © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

To send any feedback on the design and content of this product, please email the following address: stamp.team@royalmail.com.

Stamps Celebrate Royal Mail’s 500th Anniversary

[press release]

Royal Mail 500
Issue Date: 17th February 2016 rm500set
REASON & INSPIRATIONIn 2016, Royal Mail celebrates 500 years of operating a regular, organised postal service. We have marked this historic landmark by telling the story of how a formal postal network was established and expanded to ensure efficient movement of communications.

PRODUCT RANGE AT A GLANCE

  • rm500packetStamps (3*1st & 3*1.52) separate sheets £6.45
  • Miniature Sheet (2*1st & 2*1.33) £3.92
  • FDC Stamps £8.22
  • FDE Stamps £0.30
  • FDC Miniature Sheet £5.18
  • FDE Miniature Sheet £0.30
  • Non Personalised Stamp FDC £8.22
  • Non Personalised Miniature sheet FDC £5.18
  • Presentation Pack £10.90
  • Stamp Cards (11 in set) £4.95

Please Note: the following products will be issued on 18th February 2016

  • Royal Mail 500 Prestige Stamp Book (inc. 1st Class Penny Red from 175th Anniv. Generic Sheet) £16.36
  • Royal Mail PSB FDC (inc. 1st Class Penny Red from 175th Anniv. Generic Sheet) £6.53
  • PSB FDE £0.30
  • 175th Anniversary of the Penny Red Generic Sheet £13.10
  • 175th Anniversary of the Penny Red Stamp book £3.78

Complementary products
RM500 miniature sheet with Stampex overprint in pack. Serially numbered limited edition of 7500. Only available at Stampex.

RM500 miniature sheet stamp card with Stampex overprint. Serially numbered Limited edition 3000. Only available at Stampex.

PRODUCTS IN DETAIL
Stamp Set
rm500set

  • 1st Class Sir Brian Tuke: Foreground Sir Brian Tuke, c.1527-8 or c.1532-34. Background Letter from Brian Tsuke to Cromwell (BPMA)
  • rm500pillar1st Class Packetship: ‘Mail Packet off Eastbourne’ Oil on canvas by Capt Victor Howes, RN. Image courtesy of the BPMA
  • 1st Class Penfold Pillar Box: Foreground Penfold Pillar Box (BPMA). Background Letter written by Anthony Trollope proposing pillar boxes in St Peter’s Port, Guernsey, 19 December 1851 (BPMA)
  • £1.52 Riverpost Girl: Image courtesy of the IWM
  • £1.52 Mailcoach: Foreground Mailcoach (BPMA). Background Letter from John Palmer re introduction of Mail Coaches in Portsmouth (BPMA)
  • £1.52 Medway Mail Centre: The recently opened £70 million mail centre which replaced four sites based in Kent. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

First Day Cover Inland (Tallents House Handstamp) rm500fdc

Price: £8.22 Code: AF402
The Tallents House handstamp features a map of the UK with the six great post roads highlighted.
First Day Cover Inland (Alternative Handstamp)
Price: £8.22 Code: AF402
The alternative handstamp features a quote from Brian Tuke (who was appointed to the role of Master of the Posts in 1516) and London WC1 has been chosen as it is the location of the British Postal Museum & Archive/The Postal Museum

First Day Envelope Price: 30p Code: AE358

Miniature Sheet FDC
rm500sheetfdcPrice: £3.92 Code: MZ114
First Day Cover Inland (Tallents House Handstamp)
Price: £5.18 Code: MF113
The Tallents House handstamp features a map of the UK with the six great post roads highlighted.

First Day Cover (Alternative Handstamp)
Price: £5.18 Code: MF113
rm500tukeThe alternative handstamp features a quote from Brian Tuke (who was appointed to the role of Master of the Posts in 1516) and London WC1 has been chosen as it is the location of the British Postal Museum & Archive/The Postal Museum

First Day Envelope Price: 30p Code: ME111

World War I Black Unit (Canada 2016)

[press release]
Stamp honours Black Canadian unit in First World War
Battalion’s men volunteered and served in face of prejudice

can_wwiunitOTTAWA, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ – With their country going to war in 1914, Black Canadians stepped forward to join the fight but many were turned away because of racial prejudice. By persevering, they finally won the right to serve overseas, with hundreds of them joining a new, predominantly black unit.

Today, 100 years after the No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed, Canada Post is honouring its determined soldiers on a new stamp that marks Black History Month.

The stamp uses archival photographs in the foreground to depict the faces of some members of the unit, who represent their comrades. Below, against a backdrop of tall conifers, members of a forestry crew move in silhouette, their tools on their shoulders. The men felled trees in a mountainous region of France, then milled the timbers into lumber that supported the walls of trenches, built encampments and repaired the railway lines and roads that supplied the front.

They worked 10 hours a day, six days a week, using hand tools. Living and working conditions were harsh. They endured some segregation: their sleeping quarters were separate from those of white soldiers, as was the hospital wing where they received medical treatment, but they ate meals with white comrades. While most never saw combat, some died from pneumonia or other diseases.

“The Battalion’s creation is a story of persistence in the face of adversity,” says The Honourable Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurements, responsible for Canada Post Corporation. “They helped to pave the way for later generations of Black men and women to enjoy equal status in our army, navy and air force.”

“Their determination to serve and their contribution to the war effort were an important step on the journey to racial equality in this country,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO, Canada Post. “We are proud to highlight this little-known aspect of Canadians’ participation in that epic conflict.”

When the First World War broke out in August 1914, military recruiting offices were flooded with men eager to serve in a war that many thought would be over by Christmas. But Black Canadians who tried to enlist needed permission from the local regiment’s commanding officer. It was rarely granted.

By 1916, Canada had been at war for two years and began to face a growing manpower shortage. Black Canadians had continued to pressure the government to allow them to serve. In response, the No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed to recruit Black Canadians from across the country. Hundreds joined up, primarily from Nova Scotia, but also many others from Ontario, New Brunswick, Western Canada, and Quebec, as well as more than 160 recruits from the United States. They sailed overseas in the spring of 1917.

All of its officers, including the colonel who commanded the unit, were white – except one. The Reverend William White, the son of former slaves from Virginia, was a distinguished graduate of Acadia University and an influential pastor who spoke out against segregation in Nova Scotia. As the unit’s chaplain, he was given the rank of Honorary Captain, becoming one of the Army’s very few Black officers.

About the stamp
can_wwiunitThe No. 2 Construction Battalion stamp measures 32 mm x 32 mm and uses lithography in six colours. Lowe-Martin has printed the stamps, which are available in booklets of 10. The booklet’s cover and a first day of issue special envelope feature the unit’s badge. The stamps were illustrated by Dennis Budgen, use a photograph from the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia and were designed by Lara Minja (Lime Design of Victoria). The Official First Day Cover will be cancelled in Pictou, N.S., site of the Battalion’s first headquarters.

To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

Israel’s February 9, 2016 Stamps

From The Israel Philatelic Service; links go to specific pages for those issues:

isr_winterOur February stamps celebrate Winter, Israel-Greece relations, influential writers and the importance of rescuing Turtles and Dogs!

Winter is upon us and in Israel we enjoy clear crisp air, sun-filled moments, much needed rainy days and green landscape filled with flowers. Everyone is excited when snow falls in Jerusalem and on the high mountain peaks.

The Israel – Greece Joint issue features our ports Haifa and Thessaloniki. Interestingly most of the Thessaloniki dockworkers were Jewish and when they immigrated to Israel they continued their expertise and hard work in the Haifa port. Israel and Greece celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations and have forged multidimensional partnerships in many fields.

isr_kishonAuthor, playwright, film and theater director, Ephraim Kishon is considered to be one of the greatest Israeli satirists of all time. This stamp celebrates his life and work which is enjoyed by millions around the world.

Our Pioneering Women stamp series continues this month with a writer and a poet: Nehama Pohatchevsky and Zelda. Both women have fascinating life histories and have been most influential in Israeli culture.

Let’s delve into the sea and discover the slow but sure Marine Turtles. These steady, harmless creatures are endangered due to human activity and Israel runs a national center for their rescue and rehabilitation.

isr_dogadopt1Our 2016 ATM labels pay tribute to man’s best friend and the importance of adopting rescue dogs. The first label introducing the Dog Adoption in Israel series features a beautiful silhouette picture showing the love between humans and dogs.

Willy from Southern Israel is pictured on February’s label. He’s just waiting for you to throw him the ball!

Dog Adoption ATM Labels (Israel 2016)

From The Israel Philatelic Service; links go to specific pages for those issues:

isr_dogadopt2Our 2016 ATM labels pay tribute to man’s best friend and the importance of adopting rescue dogs. The first label introducing the Dog Adoption in Israel series [issued January 1st and shown below]  features a beautiful silhouette picture showing the love between humans and dogs.

Willy from Southern Israel is pictured on February’s label. He’s just waiting for you to throw him the ball!

The issue date is February 9, 2016.

The first label in the series: isr_dogadopt1

Israel–Greece Joint Issue – 25 Years of Diplomatic Relations (Israel 2016)

Haifa and Thessaloniki Ports
isr_greeceThe issue date is February 9, 2016.

This year, 2015, marks the 25th anniversary of full diplomatic relations between Israel and Greece. Both are modern democratic states, Mediterranean neighbors, with common values representing the proud independence of two ancient nations. The two countries have forged a multidimensional partnership with wide-ranging cooperation in all fields reflecting our peoples’ shared history, close cultural ties and common interests. This historic commemorative stamp symbolizes the close friendship between Israel and Greece as they strive to build a better future, working together to promote the progress and prosperity of our nations and our region.

— Irit Ben Abba
Israeli Ambassador to Greece

The Jews of Thessaloniki stood facing the sea, while other Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora and in Eretz Israel lived with their backs to it.

Yitzhak Ben Zvi, one of the forefathers of the Zionist movement and later President of Israel, visited Thessaloniki in 1914 and was amazed by the Jewish command of the port: “On the eve of the Sabbath, even before sunset, all transport halts at the port. At once, all the Jewish sailors fill the port with their rowboats, dinghies and ships, all sailing to shore… Sabbath!”

Due to the deep economic ties between Thessaloniki and the sea, which reflected the Jewish power on the docks and beyond, the “pearl of the Aegean” became known as “Jerusalem of the Balkans”, in other words – like a city in Israel whose Jewish residents were linked to nature and to physical labor.

The “Jewish muscle” exhibited on the docks of Thessaloniki led the Zionist leadership to include the Thessalonikians in the conquest of the sea in Eretz Israel. Between 1933 and1935 hundreds of Jewish dockworkers from Thessaloniki immigrated to Eretz Israel and helped to realize the national vision of Hebrew labor with their own hands in the key sea ports of Haifa and Jaffa. The routine daily work on the docks was both tedious and dangerous. During the Arab strike that broke out in 1936, Arab workers failed in their attempts to lock the gates of the Haifa and Jaffa ports. Haifa Port remained open thanks to the Thessalonikian dockworkers who continued to come to work despite the atmosphere of terror, and in Tel Aviv the Thessalonikians built the first Hebrew port, as an alternative to the striking Jaffa port. These heroic actions destroyed the Arab blockade of the transfer of goods, passengers and immigrants through the ports of Eretz Israel and garnered the Thessalonikians a place in the national pantheon for their key role in the realization of the Zionist vision during the period of the Jewish Yishuv as it moved toward statehood.

— Dr. Shai Srougo
Researcher of Jewish Communities of the Mediterranean Region
Lecturer, Department of Jewish History, Haifa University

Description of the stamp
The stamp features Haifa Port as represented by a typical freighter and cranes, with the Baha’i Gardens on the slopes of Mt. Carmel in the background; and the Port of Thessaloniki as represented by a typical cruise ship and cranes, with the ancient white tower on the beach in the background.

The stamp tab features the 25 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Israel and Greece logo, designed by graphic artist and illustrator Kelly Matathia Covo.