Category Archives: 2023 New Issues

All stamps in 2023

Terry Pratchett & Discworld (UK 2023)

Posted on by
1

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates Terry Pratchett’s Fantasy Discworld Series with Special Stamps

Issue date: 10 August

  • The eight stamps also mark the 40th anniversary of the publication of the first Discworld book, The Colour of Magic
  • The stamps include characters Rincewind, The Librarian, Granny Weatherwax, Sam Vimes, and Great A’Tuin, as well as specially commissioned artworks of Death and Mort, Tiffany Aching and Moist von Lipwig
  • The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/discworld, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK

Royal Mail has revealed images of a set of eight Special Stamps being issued to celebrate Terry Pratchett’s globally popular, fantasy Discworld series, and the 40th anniversary of the first book in the series, The Colour of Magic.

The stamps include characters Rincewind, The Librarian, Granny Weatherwax, Sam Vimes, and Great A’Tuin (left), as well as specially commissioned artworks of Death and Mort, Tiffany Aching and Moist von Lipwig by Terry Pratchett’s illustrator of choice, Paul Kidby.

Sir Terry Pratchett, OBE (1948–2015) is regarded as one of the UK’s greatest fantasy writers. His defining work is the Discworld series, which spans 41 novels that have been translated into over 40 languages, with more than a hundred million copies sold worldwide.

Discworld is a flat, circular planet revolving on the shoulders of four giant elephants who stand atop a vast star turtle called the Great A’Tuin. This turtle is 10,000 miles long and of the species Chelys galactica. Its shell is scarred with meteor craters, and its eyes are as big as seas.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “These striking stamps will be loved by generations both young and old. Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels remain as popular as ever and it is fitting that in the 40th anniversary year of The Colour of Magic, we celebrate with a set of stamps that honour the work of an iconic and globally admired writer.”

Royal Mail worked closely with Terry Pratchett’s estate, as well as Paul Kidby, who has been illustrating Discworld for 30 years.

Paul began working with Terry Pratchett in 1993 and has designed the Discworld book jackets since 2002. He has illustrated many Discworld publications including ‘The Art of Discworld’, best-selling ‘The Last Hero’ and the 2017 publication ‘Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Imaginarium’. In 2019 he illustrated ‘Good Omens’ written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Illustrator, Paul Kidby said: “It has been a huge honour to illustrate this set of stamps to commemorate 40 years of Discworld. I am delighted to finally be able to tell people about it as it has been a big secret to keep! It’s a wonderful celebration of Terry’s ongoing legacy and continued popularity.”

The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/discworld, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all eight stamps in the set is priced at £13.50. The stamps go on general sale on 10 August.

River Wildlife (UK 2023)

Posted on by
2

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Stamps Celebrate the Wildlife of the UK’s Rivers

  • Issue date: 13 July
  • The stamp images celebrate many of the birds, mammals, insects and fish that inhabit the UK’s rivers and streams
  • Featured on the stamps are the: Beaver; Atlantic Salmon; Kingfisher; Beautiful Demoiselle; Water Vole; Grey Wagtail; Common Mayfly; Otter; Brown Trout; and Dipper
  • The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/riverwildlife, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK

Royal Mail has issued a set of 10 stamps that celebrate the diversity of birds, mammals, insects and fish that inhabit the UK’s rivers and streams.

Featured on the stamps are the: Beaver; Atlantic Salmon; Kingfisher; Beautiful Demoiselle; Water Vole; Grey Wagtail; Common Mayfly; Otter; Brown Trout; and Dipper.

The physical geography of the UK, coupled with its maritime position and high rainfall, have combined over geological time to create an extensive and diverse network of flowing waters.

Over 380,000 kilometres of streams and rivers range from the becks, burns and rills rising in cooler mountain landscapes, to large, lowland rivers such as the Thames, Severn and Trent.

Across the four UK nations, famous rivers such as the Clyde, the Bann, the Tyne and the Wye bring cultural identity, landscape character and a window into a world of freshwater nature.

Royal Mail worked with Professor of Ecology at Cardiff University Steve Ormerod on the stamp issue.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, said: “The UK’s rivers and riversides are beautiful to look at, but how many of us stop to think about how they came to exist in the first place? In these stamps we celebrate our unique natural environment with a strong focus on the rich variety of creatures that live in and alongside our rivers.”

Professor Steve Ormerod, of Cardiff University’s Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences said “These stamps are a timely reminder of the special, highly adapted, and diverse array of animals that need our streams and rivers to be in healthy condition. This is such a wonderful way to celebrate the UK’s rivers and to send a message – quite literally – of why they are important.”

The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/riverwildlife, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is priced at £10.15.

[VSC notes: Other products include first day covers with either a Tallents House or Ottery St. Mary’s postmark; picture postcards; a Collector Sheet (right), which “includes all 10 new stamps paired with labels containing alternative images of the creatures featured;” framed stamps; and full- and half-sheets of the stamps. The latter are grouped by the denomination.]Other individual stamp images:

Let’s Take The Ferry! (Canada 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

[from Details magazine; day of issue press release is below] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Let’s Take The Ferry!

5 stamps Issue date: 12 July

Ferries are part of Canada’s marine heritage and continue to play a role in regional transit systems. Harkening back to a more leisurely mode of travel, these stamps, featuring Canadian ferries still in service, are sure to inspire both nostalgia and wanderlust.

Built in 1993, Spirit of British Columbia has a capacity to transport 2,100 passengers and crew, plus more than 350 vehicles, on a 95-minute scenic route that crosses the Salish Sea, connecting Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Victoria (Swartz Bay).

Chi-Cheemaun – “big canoe” in Ojibwe – crosses Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay between Tobermory, on the Bruce Peninsula, and Manitoulin Island. Built in 1974, the passenger and vehicle ferry operates from May to October, with a capacity of 643 passengers and close to 150 vehicles.

Launched in 1910, the rare side-wheeled paddle steamer Trillium was retired in 1956 but returned to service in 1976 following a two-year restoration. It now carries up to 800 passengers between Toronto and the Toronto Islands.

Named after the founder of North America’s first credit union and built in 1971, Alphonse-Desjardins can transport up to 590 passengers and more than 50 vehicles. It provides a year-round connection across the St. Lawrence River between Québec and Lévis.

Built in 1990, New Brunswick’s Grand Manan V travels in some of the highest tides in the world, carrying up to 300 residents and visitors and 60 vehicles to Grand Manan, the largest island in the Bay of Fundy.
Updated July 12th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
“Let’s Take the Ferry!” New stamps highlight Canada’s marine heritage
Stamp issue showcases five active ferries representing Canada from coast to coast.

OTTAWA – Canada Post is releasing five new stamps highlighting ferry transportation in Canada. Featuring five ferries that are operating in Canadian waters, the stamp issue honours the country’s rich marine heritage.

Waterway transportation has been a fundamental part of Canada’s history and development, with Indigenous Peoples traditionally using canoes, kayaks, umiaks and other vessels to hunt, transfer goods and carry people along coastal regions and across lakes and rivers. Today, ferries in Canada transport millions of passengers and vehicles each year, playing important roles in regional transit systems and the tourism industry.

The stamp issue presents five ferries, each representing different regions of Canada:

  • Spirit of British Columbia connects Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Victoria (Swartz Bay, Vancouver Island), B.C., across the Salish Sea.
  • Chi-Cheemaun travels between Tobermory (Bruce Peninsula) and Manitoulin Island (South Baymouth), Ont., across Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay.
  • Trillium provides passage between Toronto and the Toronto Islands, Ont., across Lake Ontario.
  • Alphonse-Desjardins links Québec and Lévis, Que., across the St. Lawrence River.
  • Grand Manan V connects Blacks Harbour and Grand Manan Island, N.B., across the Bay of Fundy.

About the ferries:

  • Spirit of British Columbia has a capacity for 2,100 passengers and crew, along with more than 350 vehicles, and is one of the two largest ferries in the BC Ferries fleet. Built in 1993, the vessel was converted in 2018 to dual-fuel propulsion, allowing the ship to use liquefied natural gas and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
  • Chi-Cheemaun, which means “big canoe” in Ojibwe, was built in 1974 and runs from May to October. The ferry features Woodland-inspired artwork on its bow and funnel, while on-board amenities include Muskoka chairs on the upper deck and an art gallery.
  • Trillium is the oldest ferry of the stamp issue. Launched in 1910, the vessel is a rare side-wheeled paddle steamer and, at 564 gross tonnes, is the largest ferry in the Toronto fleet and can carry up to 800 passengers.
  • Alphonse-Desjardins, named after the founder of North America’s first credit union, was built in 1971 and traverses a one-kilometre span of the St. Lawrence River between Québec and Lévis year-round, offering views of the old city and its fortifications from the water.
  • Grand Manan V navigates in some of the world’s highest tides to bring visitors and residents to and from Grand Manan – the largest island in the Bay of Fundy – while providing passengers with a chance to spot wildlife, including whales and seabirds. The vessel also transports millions of dollars of lobster, salmon and dulse each year.

About the stamp issueDesigned by Lionel Gadoury and Owen Gabany of Context Creative, the stamps depict postcard-perfect photos of the ferries in their home waters. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps, an Official First Day Cover (a first day of issue special envelope), and a souvenir sheet of five stamps.

The stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Voyage en traversier: De nouveaux timbres mettent en vedette le patrimoine maritime du Canada
L’émission présente cinq traversiers canadiens toujours en service.OTTAWA, ON, le 12 juill. 2023 /CNW/ – Saluant le riche patrimoine maritime du Canada, Postes Canada lance cinq nouveaux timbres présentant autant de traversiers canadiens toujours en service au pays.

Le transport par voie navigable fait partie intégrante de l’histoire et du développement du Canada, les peuples autochtones utilisant depuis longtemps des canots, des kayaks, des umiaks et d’autres embarcations pour la chasse et pour le transport des gens et de la marchandise le long des régions côtières, ainsi que sur les lacs et les rivières. Aujourd’hui, les traversiers canadiens accueillent des millions de personnes et de véhicules chaque année, et jouent un rôle important dans les systèmes de transport régionaux et l’industrie touristique.

L’émission de timbres met en vedette cinq traversiers, chacun représentant une région canadienne différente:

  • Le Spirit of British Columbia traverse la mer des Salish entre Vancouver (Tsawwassen) et Victoria (Swartz Bay, sur l’île de Vancouver), en Colombie-Britannique.
  • Le Chi-Cheemaun parcourt les eaux de la baie Georgienne du lac Huron entre la péninsule Bruce (Tobermory) et l’île Manitoulin (South Baymouth), en Ontario.
  • Le Trillium fait la navette sur le lac Ontario entre Toronto et les îles de Toronto, en Ontario.
  • L’Alphonse-Desjardins sillonne le fleuve Saint-Laurent entre Québec et Lévis, au Québec.
  • Le Grand Manan V relie Blacks Harbour à l’île Grand Manandans la baie de Fundy, au Nouveau-Brunswick.

À propos des traversiers

  • L’un des deux plus grands navires de BC Ferries, le Spirit of British Columbia peut transporter jusqu’à 2 100 personnes, dont l’équipage, et plus de 350 véhicules. Construit en 1993, il est doté en 2018 d’un système de propulsion à deux carburants, pouvant ainsi fonctionner au gaz naturel liquéfié et produisant considérablement moins de CO2.
  • Construit en 1974, le Chi-Cheemaun (« grand canot » en ojibwé) est en service de mai à octobre. Sa proue et sa cheminée sont ornées d’œuvres inspirées du style Woodland, alors que son pont supérieur offre des commodités comme des fauteuils Adirondack et une galerie d’art.
  • Le Trillium est le plus ancien des navires de l’émission. Rare bateau à vapeur à roues latérales, il est d’abord inauguré en 1910. Avec sa capacité de 564 tonnes brutes, il est le plus grand traversier de la flotte de Toronto et peut transporter jusqu’à 800 personnes.
  • Nommé en l’honneur du fondateur de la première coopérative de crédit en Amérique du Nord, l’Alphonse-Desjardins est construit en 1971. Il sillonne le fleuve Saint-Laurent toute l’année sur un kilomètre entre Lévis et Québec, offrant une vue sur la vieille ville et ses fortifications.
  • Le Grand Manan V navigue sur les plus hautes marées du monde pour transporter touristes et gens de la région entre le continent et l’île Grand Manan, la plus grande de la baie de Fundy, leur permettant de peut-être apercevoir des baleines et des oiseaux marins en cours de route. Le navire transporte également des millions de dollars de homard, de saumon et de main-de-mer palmée chaque année.

À propos de l’émission de timbresConçus par Lionel Gadoury et Owen Gabany de Context Creative, les timbres montrent de merveilleuses photos des traversiers sur leurs eaux respectives. Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de 10 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur, un pli Premier Jour officiel (enveloppe du premier jour d’émission) et un bloc-feuillet de cinq timbres.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

New Crypto Stamp on the Way from PostNL (Netherlands 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

[press release; Google translation] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
PostNL is launching a new crypto stamp this fall
Unique collaboration between postal companies from the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg

PostNL is issuing a crypto stamp for the second time. The new NFT crypto stamp is a unique collaboration between PostNL, Österreichische Post and POST Luxembourg. This fall, the new crypto stamp will be launched simultaneously in the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg.

PostNL launched a crypto seal for the first time in September 2022; the NL crypto stamp. For this stamp, PostNL joined forces with Österreichische Post, never before has a crypto stamp been issued jointly by two postal companies.

The second crypto stamp is again the result of a special international collaboration, this time with Austria and Luxembourg. This crypto stamp is a first for POST Luxembourg. Österreichische Post is a forerunner in the field of crypto stamps. In 2019, they were the first postal company ever to also market stamps as NFT.

First Collection Sold Out
“The first NFT crypto stamp proved to be extremely popular among both classic collectors and NFT aficionados,” says Bob van Ireland, Director Mail Netherlands at PostNL. “All variants of the collection of the first NL crypto stamp are now sold out. By cooperating with the postal companies in Austria and Luxembourg, we hope to make even more people enthusiastic about this new stamp.”

Georg Pölzl, CEO Austrian Post: “Our know-how in crypto and blockchain technology is in demand worldwide. We will be issuing the next joint stamp in autumn, together with the post organizations from Luxembourg and the Netherlands, under license. The next generation of the Crypto stamp will stand under the unifying motifs of our three countries.”

Pierre Zimmer, Deputy managing director of POST Luxembourg: “More than 170 years after the first stamps were issued in the Grand Duchy, this year we will introduce a new, innovative way of collecting and trading stamps through the use of blockchain technology. Through the collaboration with PostNL and Austrian Post, we strive to build a global community of stamp collectors while making collecting and trading more accessible, convenient and secure.”

Secret design
The design of the new crypto stamp remains secret for now. It is already known that the crypto seal, as with the first collection, is characterized by a unique symbol. In the previous edition. That symbol was a bull. The final design will be revealed later this year, but PostNL will announce more details of the design in the near future via the website, the Collect Club and the Crypto Stamp newsletter.

Availability
The new crypto stamp consists of a unique combination of a physical stamp and a digital NFT. The crypto stamp comes in a limited edition with a value of €9.25. PostNL will announce more later about the start of the (advance) sales, circulation and points of sale. [PostNL supplied this illustration without explanation.]

Echt Hollands Definitives (Netherlands 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

[from PostNL handouts] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Echt Hollands (Truly Dutch) Definitives

Date of issue: 3 July 2023

  • A sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs for destinations within the Netherlands (€10.10)
  • A sheet of 5 stamps in five different designs for delivery outside the Netherlands (€8.25)
  • A sheet of 50 stamps in one design designs for delivery outside the Netherlands(€82.50)

“Echt Hollands” means “truly Dutch.”

These three stamp sheets are part of the basic range of stamps, which consists of permanent stamps from the basic range and special stamps from the annual collection. Permanent stamps include stamps with the portrait of King Willem-Alexander, the love stamps, birth stamps, mourning stamps, business stamps on rolls and these. The previous permanent stamps were issued in 2014 white-and-blue 3D icons. PostNL regularly redesigns its permanent stamps to reflect the spirit of the times.

The Echt Hollands 10 x Nederland 1 stamps feature 10 ‘Truly Dutch’ (Echt Hollandse) images: a vase with tulips, a carrier pigeon with a letter, a bakfiets (cargo bicycle) with plants, a coffee pot and mug with a Boerenbont motif, a lighthouse, a herring, canal houses, a whipped cream cake, a caravan and a cheeseboard. Of the 10 images, five are also featured on the Echt Hollands 5 x Internationaal 1 stamps: the herring, the vase with tulips, the lighthouse, the carrier pigeon and the coffee pot with mug. The Echt Hollands 50 x Internationaal 1 features the vase with tulips.

All the illustrations were hand-drawn by illustrator Sanny van Loon from Amsterdam, and are placed in the centre of the stamps against a background of diamonds or stripes in different shades of turquoise. The stamps for domestic destinations have a drawn golden-yellow perforated border. The foreign destination stamps have a dark blue border.

Van Loon previously designed the 2018 December stamps. She began by grabbing pen and paper. “My desk was littered with A4 sketches in no time. I drew all kinds of things: landscapes, food, flowers, art, buildings and so on,” she says. “Based on the sketches, I made a selection of subjects that made me happy.”

Sanny’s illustrations are often nostalgic in character. “I love vintage, retro or whatever you want to call it. It is an important aspect of my work, but I always create fresh images that everyone can recognise,” she says. “The 1970s caravan [camper] on the stamp is a good example of how to mix nostalgia with contemporary. Many people will think of past holidays with their parents, but camping has also been rediscovered by younger generations. So this image combines the traditional and what is currently cool.”

Sanny describes the illustrations as “miniature paintings,” each with its own story. “The image of the tulips in the enamelled jug [above] was in my head right from the start. One of the tulips has already hung its head; everybody knows that phenomenon. Some of the petals have fallen onto the table. This refers to the flower still lifes of the Dutch masters, which always show something fleeting, something transient.

“The illustration featuring the cheeses had many iterations,” van Loon says. “I drew countless sketches: cheese sandwiches, cheese markets, cheese cubes, whole cheeses, cheese shops, cheese knives, cheese paper, and so on. Everything finally fell into place when I saw the cheese board in front of me, with the familiar Dutch cheese cubes on skewers and a pickle and a tomato on top.

“I wanted to feature the herring on its wee square cardboard plate on a separate stamp [below right]. Surely no one in the world eats herring the way we do?” she says.

“All these subjects relate to my own life. I often base my work on memories, but I depict them in such a way that they appeal to everyone. For example, when I see Boerenbont crockery [below], I’m always reminded of the cosiness of visits to my grandmother. And the canal houses [below] look like the ones near where I was born and where I live now.”

Technical Details:
Echt Hollands 10 x Nederland 1
Stamp size (wxh): 20.8 x 25.3mm:
Sheet size (wxh): 75 x 126mm:
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Glue: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
Print run: 2,050,000 sheets
Appearance: sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs
Design: Sanny van Loon, Amsterdam
Printer: Cartor Security Printers, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Item number: 430961
Copyright: stamp w/ Boerenbont pattern Boerenbont® Royal Boch Bvba

Echt Hollands 5 x Internationaal 1
Stamp size (wxh): 20.8 x 25.3mm:
Sheet size (wxh): 58 x 126mm:
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Glue: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
Print run: 1,060,000 sheets
Format: sheet of 5 stamps in 5 different designs
Design: Sanny van Loon, Amsterdam
Printer: Cartor Security Printers, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Item number: 430962
Copyright: stamp w/ Boerenbont pattern Boerenbont® Royal Boch Bvba

Echt Hollands 50 x Internationaal 1
Stamp size (wxh): 20.8 x 25.3mm:
Sheet size (wxh): 120 x 498mm:
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Glue: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
Print run: 75,000 sheets
Format: sheet of one stamp in one design
Design: Sanny van Loon, Amsterdam
Printer: Cartor Security Printers, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Item number: 430963

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Sail Den Helder (Tall Ships Races) (Netherlands 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

[taken from a PostNL handout] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Sail Den Helder (Tall Ships Races)

Date of issue: 26 June 2023

On 26 June 2023, PostNL will publish the Sail Den Helder 10-stamp sheet. This year’s maritime event will take place from 29 June to 2 July. Sail Den Helder is organised together with the 2023 Marinedagen (Navy days), marking the start of the Tall Ships Races 2023. The ten stamps feature photos with examples of the types of ships that are present at these three events. A sheet of ten stamps costs €10.10.

This is the 6th time the port of Den Helder has hosted this maritime event. It is expected to attract 300,000 visitors. Den Helder’s harbour and quays will give them the opportunity to learn about what the maritime sector has to offer: from sailing heritage and tall ships to modern training ships and naval vessels. Besides the many hundreds of ships, the focus will be on social issues such as energy transition and protecting life on and under water.

Sail Den Helder will be combined with the Marinedagen, the open days of the Dutch Royal Navy. In addition, the port of Den Helder will be the starting location for the Tall Ships Races 2023 on 1 July. This race, in which just under 100 tall ships are expected to participate, will run via Hartlepool (England), Frederikstad (Norway) and Lerwick (Shetland Islands) to Arendal (Norway). The Tall Ships Races are designed to introduce young people to the world of seafaring and sailing. That is why half of the crew of the participating ships are between the ages of 15 and 25.

The sheet features two different designs. On the left side, the stamps are rotated 180 degrees compared to those on the right side. Both stamp designs feature photos of two different sailing ships. The landscape image features a Navy motor vessel on the right-hand side, on the tab next to the stamp. The perforations extend to the sheet edge. This allows each stamp to be torn from the sheet together with its corresponding tab. The typography on the stamp runs between the pictures at right angles.

All events are listed on the edges of the sheet. At the top is the title Sail Den Helder 2023, with Marinedagen underneath. At the bottom is the title The Tall Ships Races 2023, with, in chronological order, all the ports of call of the sailing race and their corresponding latitude and longitude. The five ships on the stamps are typical of the types of ships that will be present during Sail Den Helder 2023 in June and July. The ships pictured are the air defence and command frigate Zr. Ms. De Ruyter from 2002 (Netherlands), the two-master Abel Tasman from 1913 (Netherlands), the tall ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano from 1927 (Spain), the three-master ARM Cuauhtémoc from 1982 (Mexico) and the three-master Mircea from 1938 (Romania).

The sheet was designed by graphic designer Maud van Rossum from Amsterdam. She explored the subject partly by visiting the Maritime Museum in her hometown. “What fascinates me about this maritime subject is how everything works on board those big ships,” Van Rossum says. “Reflecting the many aspects of the subject on two different stamp designs was a real challenge. And not just Sail Den Helder, but also the Marinedagen and the Tall Ships Races that are linked to it.”

For PostNL, Van Rossum also designed 200 years of the Mauritshuis (2022), Queen Máxima at 50 (2021) and The first atlases (2020). With Piet Gerards, she collaborated on the World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands (2014), Inauguration of Willem-Alexander (2013) and 100 years of Heemschut (2011) stamps.

Technical Details:
Format: sheet of ten stamps in two different designs, with value 1 for post up to and including 20g for destinations within the Netherlands
Item number: 430861
Design: Studio Maud van Rossum, Amsterdam
Photography: Sail Den Helder
Lithography: Marc Gijzen, Voorburg
Stamp size: 40 x 30mm
Sheet size: 170 x 122 mm
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Gum: gummed
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
Print run: 80,000 sheets
Printing company: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 430861

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Filmmaker Denys Arcand (Canada 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

Updated June 27th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp recognizes Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand
The internationally acclaimed artist has been captivating and challenging audiences for more than 60 years

MONTRÉAL – Canada Post today issued a new stamp to honour internationally acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand, whose incredible career has spanned more than 60 years. Known for his intellectual curiosity, the Quebec-born artist has written and directed over two dozen films, television shows and documentaries.

Arcand first developed a passion for politics and history while studying at the Université de Montréal, where he also co-wrote and co-directed his first film, Seul ou avec d’autres (1962). A year later, he joined the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as a documentarian where he began cultivating his reputation for pushing boundaries. His first feature-length documentary On est au coton (1970) was about Quebec’s textile industry – it was so controversial that the NFB waited six years before releasing it.

As he moved into fiction, Arcand found more freedom to express his views and to challenge audiences, which would earn him critical acclaim.

In 1986, he experienced box-office success with Le déclin de l’empire américain. The biting comedy about sexual mores won several honours, including eight Genie Awards. It also became the first Canadian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Arcand would build on this success with hits that include Jésus de Montréal (1989) and Les invasions barbares (2003), which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film – the first for Quebec (and Canada). After more than 60 years in the industry, Arcand continues to direct.

Among Arcand’s many honours are a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 1995 and a Canada’s Walk of Fame induction in 2004. He is also a Companion of the Order of Canada (2004) and a Compagnon de l’Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec (2015).

About the stamp
The stamp features a black and white photograph by Bertand Carrière of Arcand behind the camera during the filming of Le déclin de l’empire américain in 1985.

Designed by Paprika and printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover, which showcase the photography of Alexandre Isard and Rick Eglinton. The cancel site is Deschambault, Quebec, where Arcand spent his childhood.

The stamp and collectible are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Un nouveau timbre rend hommage au cinéaste canadien Denys Arcand
Le cinéaste de renommée mondiale Denys Arcand pousse le public à jeter un regard critique sur le monde depuis plus de 60 ans

MONTRÉAL – Postes Canada a émis aujourd’hui un nouveau timbre en l’honneur du cinéaste canadien de renommée mondiale Denys Arcand, dont la carrière exceptionnelle s’étend sur plus de 60 ans. Reconnu pour sa curiosité intellectuelle, le célèbre Québécois a écrit et réalisé plus d’une vingtaine de films, d’émissions de télévision et de documentaires.

Denys Arcand cultive une passion pour la politique et l’histoire pendant ses études à l’Université de Montréal, où il coécrit et codirige son premier film, Seul ou avec d’autres en 1962. Un an plus tard, il devient documentariste pour l’Office national du film du Canada (ONF) et commence à se bâtir une réputation de cinéaste qui repousse les limites. Son premier long métrage documentaire, On est au coton (1970), sur l’industrie du textile au Québec, est tellement controversé que l’ONF attend six ans avant de le lancer.

Denys Arcand se tourne par la suite vers la fiction, genre lui offrant plus de liberté pour exprimer sa vision et provoquer le public, et qui finit par lui valoir les éloges de la critique.

En 1986, il connaît du succès au guichet avec Le déclin de l’empire américain. La comédie mordante sur les mœurs sexuelles récolte plusieurs honneurs, dont huit prix Génie. Il s’agit également de la première production canadienne à être mise en nomination pour l’Academy Award du meilleur film en langue étrangère.

Le cinéaste poursuit son ascension avec des films comme Jésus de Montréal (1989) et Les invasions barbares (2003), qui récolte un Academy Award du meilleur film en langue étrangère – le premier au Québec (et au Canada). Après plus de 60 ans dans l’industrie, Denys Arcand poursuit sa carrière de réalisateur.

Entre autres honneurs, Denys Arcand reçoit un Prix du Gouverneur général pour les arts du spectacle en 1995 et une étoile sur l’Allée des célébrités canadiennes en 2004. Il est également fait Compagnon de l’Ordre du Canada (2004) et Compagnon de l’Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec (2015).

À propos du timbre
Le timbre présente une photographie en noir et blanc de Denys Arcand derrière la caméra prise par Bertrand Carrière lors du tournage du film Le déclin de l’empire américain en 1985.

Conçue par Paprika et imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de six timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel mettant en vedette des clichés d’Alexandre Isard et de Rick Eglinton. Le lieu d’oblitération est Deschambault, au Québec, où Arcand a passé son enfance.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

Original post, June 20th:
Denys Arcand is a French Canadian film director, screenwriter and producer. He will be 82 when this stamp is issued June 28, and he is expected to attend the unveiling ceremony. His film The Barbarian Invasions won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2004 and he has also received three other Oscar nominations. He has also won several awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including the Best Screenplay Award and the Jury Prize. Read more about him at Wikipedia and Internet Movie Database. The photo is by GCD Graphics via Wikipedia and was taken at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.

[media advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post recognizes acclaimed filmmaker Denys Arcand

Canada Post invites you to attend the unveiling of a special stamp to celebrate internationally acclaimed filmmaker Denys Arcand on Tuesday, June 27, in Montréal.

The upcoming stamp will be officially issued on Wednesday, June 28, after it is unveiled on Tuesday, June 27, and three days after Mr. Arcand’s birthday on June 25.

Who: Denys Arcand will be joined by family, friends, and a line-up of special speakers, who will be a surprise to Mr. Arcand.

Where:
Théâtre Outremont
1248 avenue Bernard Ouest, Montréal

When: Tuesday, June 27, at 5 pm ET

RSVP: As this is a small and private event for Mr. Arcand’s family and friends, we request that media RSVP to media@canadapost.ca if planning on attending.

[en Francais, Avis aux médias]
Postes Canada rend hommage au grand cinéaste Denys Arcand

Postes Canada vous invite au dévoilement d’un timbre spécial consacré au cinéaste de renommée internationale Denys Arcand le mardi 27 juin, à Montréal.
Le timbre sera dévoilé le mardi 27 juin et officiellement émis le mercredi 28 juin, soit trois jours après l’anniversaire de naissance de M. Arcand, le 25 juin.

Qui: Se joindront à Denys Arcand des membres de sa famille, des proches et des personnalités qui prendront la parole à la surprise de l’invité d’honneur.

Ou:
Théâtre Outremont
1248, avenue Bernard Ouest, Montréal

Quand : Le mardi 27 juin, à 17 h (HE)

Prière de confirmer votre présence: Comme il s’agit d’un petit événement privé, nous demandons aux médias de confirmer leur présence à media@postescanada.ca.

75th Anniversary of Caribbean Migration (UK 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Stamps Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Arrival of MV Windrush

  • The stamp images celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their influence on life in the UK
  • The original artworks were exclusively designed by five Black British artists: Bokiba; Kareen Cox; Tomekah George; Alvin Kofi and Emma Prempeh
  • The stamps are now available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/windrush, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK

Royal Mail is marking the 75th Anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush to the UK on 22nd June 1948. Eight new stamps featuring vibrant illustrations, created exclusively to celebrate the occasion, were revealeded at a launch event at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton on 15 June.

The MV Empire Windrush arrived at the Port of Tilbury on 21 June 1948 and its passengers disembarked a day later. It carried several hundred West Indian migrants, many of them veterans of the Second World War. It has come to symbolise the mass migration of people from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom in the post-war era.

The original artworks were created by five Black British artists – all with Caribbean heritage: Kareen Cox, Bokiba, Tomekah George, Alvin Kofi and Emma Prempeh and Alvin Kofi. Cox, Bokiba and Prempeh designed two stamps each.

The artists were commissioned to create illustrations which celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their influence on life in the UK.

The stamps depict the artists’ personal interpretations of the following themes: arrivals; education/Saturday schools; music/carnival; working life/everyday life in the UK; political activity/peaceful protests; sports; food/markets; and sound systems/dancehall scene.

For the wider product range, Royal Mail also worked with Colin Grant – a British writer of Jamaican origin who is the author of several books, a historian, associate Fellow in the Centre for Caribbean Studies and a BBC radio producer, and Sonia Grant, an independent historian, writer, researcher and photographic exhibition curator.

[That “wider product range” includes FDCs, postcards, presentation packs, framed stamps and three different coin covers: Uncirculated, silver proof, and gold proof. The latter is selling for £1,220, or about US$1,564. The gold coin is shown on the right. See other images below. — VSC]

Revealing the stamps at the Black Cultural Archives, Winnie Annan-Forson, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Royal Mail, said: “As Britain marks the 75th anniversary of the 1948 arrival of the MV Empire Windrush, we are honoured to mark this key event with a set of Special Stamps, featuring vibrant illustrations from talented artists that celebrate the culture and contribution of the Windrush generation and those who followed. We are delighted to have brought their stories to life in this special way, passing their legacy on to future generations.”

In addition to the stamps, Royal Mail will be applying a special postmark to stamped mail from 21 to 26 June. The postmark will read:

MV Empire Windrush
Port of Tilbury
22nd June 1948
Windrush 75:
Following the arrival of MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in June 1948 the period between 1948 and 1972 saw over 500,000 Commonwealth citizens settle in the UK; they are often referred to as the Windrush generation. Peter Fryer, a young reporter who at the time was working for the Daily Worker, captured the spirit of the passengers who had disembarked at Tilbury as “five hundred pairs of willing hands”. Indeed, the newcomers were clear-eyed about what they had to offer the ‘Mother Country’. In so doing, they made notable contributions to every sphere of British life, including in the fields of entertainment, education and sport, as well as in the National Health Service (NHS). It can be argued that West Indian nurses paved the way for a multiracial and multicultural NHS, whose current workforce is made up of staff of more than 200 nationalities.

Despite numerous challenges – including race riots and discrimination in housing, employment and education – the Windrush generation left an indelibly positive mark on the UK, thanks largely to the character, fortitude and resilience of those early migrants. Their legacy can be felt in almost every sphere of life in today’s multicultural Britain. In June 2022, the National Windrush Monument, featuring a bronze sculpture by Basil Watson and accompanied by a poem by Professor Laura Serrant OBE, was unveiled at London’s Waterloo train station to offer a place of reflection and to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation to the UK.

The Official First Day Cover with Tilbury postmark:The Gold Proof Coin Cover:

75 years of Solex Mopeds (Netherlands)

Posted on by
Reply

[from PostNL handouts] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
75 Years of Solex Mopeds

Date of issue: 26 May 2023
Format: sheet of 10 personalised stamps in 10 different designs,
denomination 1 for post weighing up to 20g with destinations within the Netherlands
Item number: 830046
Design: Jan van Mechelen, ZEE [typo]graphic design, Rotterdam
Photography: Hans Tak, Rotterdam
Lithography: Marc Gijzen, Voorburg For the post-war generation, the iconic front-wheel-drive moped became synonymous with the reconstruction period. PostNL is commemorating this special anniversary by publishing 75 years of Solex Netherlands stamp sheet on 26 May 2023, designed by Rotterdam-based graphic designer Jan van Mechelen. The denomination on these stamps is ‘1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20g with destinations in the Netherlands. A sheet of ten stamps costs €10.10.

The Solex entered the Dutch market in 1948, at a time when the word ‘moped’ was not yet in common usage or in covered by regulations. The authorities still viewed the first models as motorbikes that required a driving licence, a rear-view mirror and a horn.

The black moped manufactured by French company VéloSoleX near Paris stood out for its typical gooseneck frame, front-wheel roller drive with two-stroke engine and a fuel consumption of 1 litre/100km (about 235 miles per gallon, if we’ve done the arithmetic correctly).

Over 8 million Solexes have been produced worldwide, and almost 700,000 of those in the Netherlands. Sales in the Netherlands were dealt with by R.S. Stokvis & Zonen, while production took place under French licence at the Nederlandsche Kroon Rijwielfabriek owned by the firm Van der Heem. The Dutch Solex is directly derived from the French models, but frame parts such as the chain guard, luggage carrier and saddle are their own designs. The Dutch models were manufactured until mid-1969. After that, only French Solexes were supplied, until the factory in France closed in 1988. (See the Wikipedia entry.)

The 75 Years Solex Netherlands stamps feature the following Solex models:

  • model year 1948, engine number H1000-H2330, 45cc engine, Peperbus
  • model year 1955, engine number 125861-206384, 49cc engine, Suikerpotje/Sleutelgat
  • model year 1962, engine number 446412-491000, 49cc engine, OTO round frame
  • model year 1969, engine number 4003301-5142999, 49cc engine, OTO square frame
  • model year 1980, engine number unknown, 49cc engine, Westerterp

The Solex stamp sheet has 10 vertical stamps, presented in two rows of five. The upper row of stamps features black-and-white photos of 5 iconic Solex models, with a perspective shot at an angle from the front. In the background of each stamp, the model year is visible behind the Solex model, with large numbers covering the total image area of the stamp. Each year has a different colour with a gradient running from bottom to top. The lower row of stamps shows a close-up photograph of the handlebars and engine of the same models, taken from the side. The background of the lower row shows a similar colour gradient to the upper row of stamps, but this time from right to left.

Jan van Mechelen, the designer of the sheet, himself rides a motorbike, but he was introduced to the Solex at an early age. “The boy next door had one,” he says. “I was 10 or 11 at the time, so obviously far too young to ride it,” but he was taken for rides on the Solex. “We had a lot of fun adventures.”

To familiarize himself with the subject, van Mechelen went to the Solex Museum in Colijnsplaat. “It’s extremely interesting to step into a world where people are so passionate about Solex and know so much about it.”

The Solex came to the Netherlands in 1948 and was soon put into production here. The last Dutch Solex rolled off the conveyor belt in 1969. The stamp sheet features the 1948 model and three other models manufactured in the Netherlands, from 1952, 1962 and 1969. “The last model, from 1980, comes from France,” says Van Mechelen. “I knew that there was also an electric version, for example. But that just turned out to be too ugly to put on a stamp.”

The five Solexes were photographed at the museum. “To a layman, they may look similar, but to an enthusiast: of course they don’t,” says Van Mechelen. “Each Solex has been neatly polished, but the images have not been edited to disguise damage and other imperfections.”

Technical Details:
Stamp size: 30 x 40mm (wxh):
Sheet size: 170 x 122 mm (wxh)
Paper: Normal with phosphor print
Gum: Gummed
Printing technique: Offset
Printing colours: Cyan, magenta, yellow, black
Edition: 5,000 sheets
Format: Sheet of 10 personal stamps in 10 different designs
Denomination: Denomination 1 for post weighing up to 20g with destinations within the Netherlands
Design: Jan van Mechelen, ZEE [typo]graphic design, Rotterdam
Photography: Hans Tak, Rotterdam
Lithography: Marc Gijzen, Voorburg
Item number: 830046

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Prehistoric Animals (Netherlands 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

[from PostNL handouts] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Prehistoric Animals

Issue dates: 13 June 2023, 26 September 2023, 14 November 2023, 19 March 2024

On 13 June 2023, the first three stamp sheets in the new Prehistoric Animals series — the Fox whale, the woolly mammoth and the sabre-toothed cat — will be published. Each stamp sheet contains five stamps featuring the animals and their fossils.

The entire series comprises 12 stamp sheets. Each quarter, PostNL will publish three stamp sheets at a time. The denomination on these stamps is ‘1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20g with destinations in the Netherlands.

All 12 prehistoric animals featured on the stamps inhabited the area that is now the Netherlands. Their presence has been inferred from fossils found in Dutch soil, including in the North Sea, in the Eastern and Western Scheldt, along rivers and in quarries. The fossils predominantly comprise bones, skulls, jaws, teeth, molars and horns. Based on the shape of the fossils, palaeontologists can deduce how large the animals were and their other external features. Comparison with surviving related species also provides useful information.

Each stamp sheet includes five personal stamps in five different designs. Three stamps feature various images of the prehistoric animal in its natural habitat. The other two stamps feature fossils of the same animal, surrounded by drawn earth layers in which that fossil was found. The sheet edge features one of the animal photos in large. This photo runs underneath the stamps. Each stamp sheet has a base colour referring to the geological epoch in which the prehistoric animal existed. The timeline of all these epochs is shown vertically on the left-hand side of the stamp sheet, above the series title. The name of the prehistoric animal appears on each stamp and in the top right-hand corner of the sheet. The bottom right-hand corner features a short text about the species and its fossils.

After Velp-based studio026 was commissioned to design 12 stamp sheets about prehistoric animals, Anne Schaufeli and Huub de Lang first of all visited the Natural History Museum Rotterdam. “This museum has a great collection of fossils, mostly from Dutch soil,” Schaufeli said. “Bram Langeveld, the curator, had inspiring stores to tell. He told us about prehistoric animals that we didn’t even know existed.”

However, the Museum did not have visual material, so Schaufeli and de Lang turned to ManimalWorks, also in Rotterdam, which produces models of prehistoric animals based on scientific data and information from sources such as cave drawings.

ManimalWorks builds life-size reconstructions for educational purposes such as museums and scientific exhibitions, said Schaufeli. “It’s just amazing how life-like his animal models look. They’re so life like that you could just encounter them somewhere. Before the models go to the client, they are photographed in an environment that is as close as possible to their original habitat. These photos were used on the stamp sheets.”

The overall design concept is based on the stratification of the earth. “We wanted to show not just the animal and the fossil, but the connection between them as well,” said Schaufeli. “Our narrative is that by looking into the earth, you travel back in time.”

Technical Details:
Design: studio026, Velp
Animal models: ManimalWorks, Rotterdam
Stamp size: 30 x 40mm (wxh):
Sheet size: 170 x 122 mm (wxh)
Paper: Normal with phosphor print
Gum: Gummed
Printing technique: Offset
Printing colours: Cyan, magenta, yellow, black
Print run: 5,000 sheets per issue
Format: Sheet containing 5 personalised stamps in 5 different: designs

6 June 2023
Item number 830032 Prehistoric Animals, the Fox whale
Item number 830033 Prehistoric Animals, woolly mammoth
Item number 830034 Prehistoric Animals, sabre-toothed cat

26 September 2023
Item number 830035 Prehistoric Animals, Nothosaurus
Item number 830036 Prehistoric Animals, woolly rhinoceros
Item number 830037 Prehistoric Animals, aurochs

14 November 2023
Item number 830038 Prehistoric Animals, blunt-snouted dolphin
Item number 830039 Prehistoric Animals, mastodon
Item number 830040 Prehistoric Animals, great auk

19 March 2024
Item number 830041 Prehistoric Animals, large baleen whale
Item number 830042 Prehistoric Animals, giant beaver
Item number 830043 Prehistoric Animals, steppe bison

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.