2023 Minnesota Stamp Expo Canceled

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From the show committee:

We regret to announce that circumstances have forced us to cancel the 2023 Minnesota Stamp Expo. This is very disappointing to the show committee and our sponsoring clubs.

Our show is held at the Crystal Community Center, the show venue since 1999. This spring we were informed that the City of Crystal elected to undertake a major renovation of the Center’s main parking lot, with space for 300 vehicles. The renovation is more than a simple repavement; it involves installation of a large storm water collection tank under the parking lot. We were told the project would begin in early spring and take about a month. With that timetable the project should have been completed well before our show dates of July 21-23. On that basis we continued to plan for the show as scheduled.

Last week we were informed the project is behind schedule and will stretch into August. While the Community Center remains open, there is no parking available in the main parking lot (see above), and only minimal parking available in an adjacent lot that also serves the Crystal Aquatic Center (which is always busy during the summer months).

The show committee considered options for holding the show as scheduled, including staying at the Community Center and trying to come up with alternative parking options, or relocating the show to another suitable venue. Unfortunately, no options appear viable. Suitable alternate venues are not available on short notice. Telling show dealers, exhibitors, judges and attendees to find their own place to park in the surrounding community was deemed to be very undesirable. A remote parking and shuttle service was also considered but, if the details could be worked out (not assured), would still be a major inconvenience to anyone wanting to attend the show. Many would no doubt simply skip the show completely, resulting in poor attendance and disappointing sales for our dealers.

Given all the obstacles, the committee made the difficult decision to not hold the 2023 show. We have asked the APS to grant a bye for our show for this year, thus preserving our World Series of Philately status for future years.

Thanks for your past, present and future support of the Minnesota Stamp Expo.
We look forward to seeing you in 2024!

Martin Kent Miller Is New AFDCS Exec

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[press release]
Martin Kent Miller Is New AFDCS Executive Secretary

The American First Day Cover Society has chosen Martin Kent Miller as its new Executive Secretary and contracted with his firm The Image Forge to manage the AFDCS Central Office. The new address is P.O. Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027. The office telephone number remains (540) 940-1629 and the email address still is afdcs@afdcs.org.

Miller, 55, succeeds David Lorms, who became Executive Secretary in November 2020 and resigned to pursue other interests. Miller has been married for 33 years to Jennifer Miller, the executive director of the American Topical Association. They have three children and one granddaughter.

He currently edits First Days, the official journal of the AFDCS; Topical Time (American Topical Association), The U.S. Specialist (United States Stamp Society), The Philatelic Exhibitor (American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors), and the Pennsylvania Postal Historian (Pennsylvania Postal History Society). He is a past editor of The American Philatelist (American Philatelic Society) and was chief content officer of the APS.

Miller holds a BFA in Computer Graphic Design from Harding University. He created The Image Forge firm in 2003 so that he could work in design, graphics, printing, marketing, and communications, all in one job.

For the first time, he will have a cachetmakers bourse table at Great American Stamp Show 2023, for his new Philatelic Press line of cachets and stamp art. He also collects Fluegel cachets and FDCs of the 1934 National Parks issue, as well as Bohemia and Moravia (Czechoslovakia in World War II). His exhibit of the latter, Böhmen und Mähren: Nazi Propaganda in World War II Czechoslovakia, will be his first competitive exhibit. His major topical interests are emus on stamps and Albrecht Dürer, and the postal history of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

The AFDCS Central Office process membership and other records, coordinates activities and handles other administrative tasks. Miller and The Image Forge are also charged with providing the AFDCS with a new integrated records system and website.

“I see the job as an opportunity to make a contribution to one area of philately that I truly love, FDCs and cachet making,” he says. “While I enjoy editing, my professional experience is in integrated communications. This gives me an opportunity to make a bigger contribution.”

In addition to First Days, the AFDCS also publishes handbooks, catalogs and multimedia programs. It is also a cosponsor of the big annual national stamp collecting show, Great American Stamp Show, which is scheduled this year for August 10-13 in Cleveland, Ohio.

For more information on the society, visit www.afdcs.org or write to the AFDCS.

Stephen D. Ross, VSC Webmaster

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Virtual Stamp Club behind-the-scenes webmaster Stephen Ross has passed away at the age of 73. He had begun hospice care due to the rapid spread of merkel cell carcinoma.

Steve was not a stamp collector; he put together and did the HTML work for The Virtual Stamp Club website, starting in December 1996 when Delphi told its moderators we had to create websites or be dismissed. I balked. I didn’t think the World Wide Web was necessary. His wife Leigh, then the moderator of Delphi’s Arts ‘n Crafts Forum, put us together.

He was still doing the bulk of the HTML work until May 2023 — the last remaining VSC “staffer” from our glory days on Delphi.

Strangely, although we both lived in New Jersey, I have never met Steve. He lived “down the Shore” as we say, and I invited him to StampShow 2002 in Atlantic City, but he declined. This photo, from the funeral home’s website, is the first time I’ve seen him.

However, we “talked” frequently by e-mail, and and not just about the VSC website. His outside-philately observations helped me greatly during some of the unpleasantness 10 years ago. (“What is it with you stamp collectors?” he asked, and then admitted his wife’s artists could be just as…vehement.) He also came up with the WordPress blog as a way I could post news stories quickly, after VSC had lost its message boards. He named the WP section, “The LloydBlog.”

Leigh, who passed away a few years ago, partly as a result of the pandemic, also designed the look of the website and the border. She liked the then-new 1998 Remember the Maine stamp (Sc. 3992). It was my decision, though, to make the website simple, never the latest HTML tech: I wanted it to be accessible by as many stamp collectors as possible, not all of whom were technically proficient. That’s still true.

In recent years, I’ve been doing all the updates to the U.S. stamp program myself and simple updates to the home page. He did the more complex updates, and earlier this year when the “RSS feed” (the list of the most recent pages in the LloydBlog) broke, Steve figured out a low-cost way to replace it. (The Virtual Stamp Club hasn’t broken even in years.)

I’ll miss him, and not just for the technical support. When he entered hospice, I asked his daughter to let him know how much I appreciated his help and friendship over the past 26+ years.

Indigenous Leaders (Canada 2023)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] [click on the name in the sub-headline to go to that person’s press release]
Canada Post to Pay Tribute to Indigenous Leaders with Second Stamp Set in Multi-Year Series
New stamps will honour lives and legacies of Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux

Issue date: 21 JuneOTTAWA – Canada Post will once again mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 by issuing a set of stamps honouring three Indigenous leaders.

Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux will each be featured on a stamp recognizing their dedication to advocate for the rights of the Inuit, First Nations and Métis communities they proudly served.

This stamp issue is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders stamp series, launched last year. Each stamp will be unveiled at local events in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, North Vancouver, British Columbia and St. Albert, Alberta.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp honours Nellie Cournoyea, the first Indigenous woman to lead a provincial or territorial government in Canada
Cournoyea fought for Indigenous self-determination while leading numerous organizations, including the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement.

ULUKHAKTOK, Northwest Territories –Canada Post has unveiled a stamp honouring the life and work of Nellie Cournoyea, at a community event in Ulukhaktok.

Champion of her people – the Inuvialuit of Canada’s western Arctic – Nellie Cournoyea is known for the unwavering vision, work ethic and heart that have guided her fight for Indigenous self-determination and Inuit empowerment. She became the first Indigenous woman, and second woman, to head a provincial or territorial government in Canada, as Premier of the Northwest Territories (1991-95).

This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The set is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

The life and legacy of Nellie Cournoyea
Nellie Cournoyea was born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories. Her father was a trapper and immigrant from Norway; her mother, an Inuvialuit (or Inupiaq) woman from Herschel Island, Yukon.

Cournoyea grew up living a traditional lifestyle, completing most of her education by correspondence courses sent to her family’s bush camp. She embarked on a career in radio and, later, as a land claims fieldworker.

As co-founder of the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement, she helped negotiate the ground-breaking Inuvialuit Final Agreement, which included a land settlement of more than 90,000 square kilometres.

Cournoyea was elected to the legislature in 1979 and held many ministerial portfolios prior to her selection as Premier. She played a significant role in the discussions leading to the creation of Nunavut and, after leaving office, headed the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation for 20 years.

An Officer of the Order of Canada, Cournoyea is now in her 80s and remains active as chair of the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board and vice-chair of the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation.

About the stamp
Cancelled in Aklavik, Northwest Territories (Cournoyea’s birthplace), the stamp features a photo of Cournoyea taken in 2022 by Peggy Jay. The Official First Day Cover and the inside of the booklet feature a photograph of Cournoyea taken in 1993 by Tessa Macintosh. That image is superimposed over a photograph taken at Trout Lake, Northwest Territories, by Robert Postma.
The cancellation mark, illustrated by Tania Willard, is a white (or Arctic) fox, one of the symbols on the Northwest Territories coat of arms.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders stamp series highlights the contributions of modern-day First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders. These extraordinary people dedicated their lives to preserving their cultures and improving the quality of life of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

The new stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp pays tribute to First Nations political leader, author and champion of his people, George Manuel
Strong-willed and tireless in his dedication, Manuel lobbied for the inclusion of Indigenous and treaty rights in the Canadian Constitution.

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In North Vancouver, Canada Post has unveiled a commemorative stamp honouring the life and legacy of George Manuel.

A member of the Neskonlith Indian Band of the Secwepemc Nation in British Columbia, Manuel (1921 89), was an author, astute political strategist and champion of Indigenous Peoples whom many credit with inspiring the modern Indigenous movement in Canada. During a political career that spanned four decades, Manuel dedicated himself to uniting Indigenous Peoples around the world at the local, regional, national and international levels.

This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The set is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

George Manuel’s work and legacy
George Manuel served as National Chief of what is now the Assembly of First Nations from 1970 to 1976, and as the first president of both the World Council of Indigenous Peoples and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.

Manuel believed that Indigenous Peoples, at home and around the world, could achieve their goals if they united. He fought the Canadian government’s policies of assimilation and organized the Constitution Express, a movement that brought supporters from the west to Ottawa, and to the United Nations headquarters in New York, by train in 1980 – and to Europe in 1981 – to lobby for the inclusion of Indigenous rights in the patriated Canadian Constitution.

His efforts contributed to the recognition and affirmation of existing Indigenous and treaty rights in the Constitution Act, 1982.

Co-founder of the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Manuel was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. He died on November 15, 1989, in Kamloops, British Columbia.

About the stamp
Cancelled in Chase, B.C. (George Manuel’s birthplace), this stamp features a bold reinterpretation of a black and white image taken of Manuel in the 1970s. The multi-coloured designs, illustrated by Secwepemc artist Tania Willard, represent the “shining light” of Manuel’s message for international Indigenous rights, while the deep red ochre evokes the pictographs and other markings found on Secwepemc lands.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders stamp series highlights the contributions of modern-day First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders. These extraordinary people dedicated their lives to preserving their cultures and improving the quality of life of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

This year, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada Post will issue stamps honouring Indigenous leaders Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux.

The new stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp honours Métis leader Thelma Chalifoux, the first Indigenous woman appointed to the Senate of Canada
Chalifoux dedicated her life to advocating for social justice and women’s and Indigenous rights.

ST. ALBERT, Alberta – Canada Post has unveiled a new commemorative stamp honouring Métis activist and trailblazer, Thelma Chalifoux.

The first Indigenous woman appointed to the Senate of Canada, Chalifoux was a powerful force for social justice and women’s and Indigenous rights.

This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The set is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

The life and legacy of Thelma Chalifoux
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Chalifoux (1929-2017) was known for her kind heart and boundless energy. She channelled the strength she gained from her own personal challenges to help others and speak up against discrimination.

After leaving an abusive husband and fighting to regain custody of her children – who, like many other Indigenous children, were forced into the child welfare system – she went back to school and became a fieldworker with Métis Association of Alberta, what is now the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Later working for the Association in Slave Lake, Alberta, Chalifoux co-founded the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre, which provides a range of programs and services to urban Indigenous people. She also ran the community’s first safe house for women fleeing from domestic violence. A land claims negotiator from 1979 to 1982 (and again from 1996 to 1998), she was involved in constitutional talks in the early 1980s as part of a Métis delegation to Ottawa that helped to get First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples recognized as separate and distinct nations.

In 1997, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed her to the Senate, making her the first Indigenous woman to become a senator. She fought tirelessly to improve the welfare of her people, particularly Métis women, and helped create provincial programs for Indigenous Peoples in the areas of housing, education and social assistance.

After retiring in 2004, Chalifoux went on to help found the Michif Cultural Institute (now Michif Cultural Connections) and the St. Albert’s Meadowview Centre for Women’s Health and Wellness, both in St. Albert. She also served as an Elder at the Nechi Institute: Centre of Indigenous Learning and was Métis Elder in Residence at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She died on September 22, 2017, at age 88.

About the stamp
Cancelled in Calgary, Alberta (Thelma Chalifoux’s birthplace), the stamp features a photo of Chalifoux from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. The background shows detail from The Celebration, a painting by Métis visual artist Christi Belcourt, and pays homage to Chalifoux’s love of flowers.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders series highlights the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders. These extraordinary people dedicated their lives to preserving their cultures and improving the quality of life of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

This year, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada Post will issue stamps in honour of Indigenous leaders Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux.

The new stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada rendra hommage à des dirigeants autochtones avec l’émission d’un deuxième jeu de timbres d’une série pluriannuelle
De nouveaux timbres souligneront la vie et l’héritage de Nellie Cournoyea, de George Manuel et de Thelma Chalifoux.

OTTAWA – Postes Canada soulignera une nouvelle fois la Journée nationale des peuples autochtones le 21 juin en émettant un jeu de timbres rendant hommage à deux dirigeantes et un dirigeant autochtones.

Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel et Thelma Chalifoux seront en vedette sur des timbres individuels émis en reconnaissance de leur dévouement à la défense des droits des communautés inuit, métisses et des Premières Nations qu’ils ont fièrement servies.

Cette émission de timbres est la deuxième de la série pluriannuelle consacrée aux dirigeants autochtones, lancée l’an dernier par Postes Canada. Les vignettes seront dévoilées lors d’événements qui se tiendront à Ulukhaktok, dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest, à North Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique et à St. Albert, en Alberta.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à Nellie Cournoyea : le 11 juin à 13 h 30 he (heure des Rocheuses), à Ulukhaktok (T.N.-O)
Née en 1940, Nellie Cournoyea consacre sa vie à la lutte pour l’autodétermination des Autochtones et l’émancipation des Inuit. Élue première ministre des Territoires du Nord-Ouest en 1991, elle devient la première femme autochtone à diriger un gouvernement provincial ou territorial au Canada. Elle joue un rôle clé dans les discussions menant à la création du Nunavut, puis prend la tête de l’Inuvialuit Regional Corporation pendant 20 ans après sa retraite de la politique. Officier de l’Ordre du Canada, elle est actuellement présidente du Conseil consultatif de Nutrition Nord Canada et vice-présidente de la Société communautaire de Tuktoyaktuk.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à George Manuel : le 12 juin à 13 h (heure du Pacifique), à North Vancouver (C.-B.)
Leader politique des Premières Nations, George Manuel (1921-1989) est aussi défenseur des peuples autochtones et auteur. Au cours d’une carrière politique qui s’étend sur quatre décennies, il occupe de nombreux postes influents et travaille à améliorer les conditions sociales, économiques et politiques des Premières Nations au Canada. Ses efforts contribuent à l’inclusion des droits ancestraux et issus de traités des peuples autochtones dans la Constitution du Canada. Cofondateur du Center for World Indigenous Studies, George Manuel est proposé à trois reprises pour le prix Nobel de la paix et reçoit de nombreuses marques de reconnaissance pour son travail, y compris le titre d’Officier de l’Ordre du Canada.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à Thelma Chalifoux : le 13 juin à 13 h (heure des Rocheuses), à St. Albert (Alb.)
Activiste métisse, Thelma Chalifoux (1929-2017) tire sa force de ses difficultés personnelles pour aider les autres et lutter contre la discrimination. Première femme autochtone nommée au Sénat du Canada en 1997, elle consacre sa vie à l’amélioration du bien-être de son peuple, en particulier des femmes métisses. Elle joue un rôle déterminant dans la création de nombreux programmes provinciaux pour le logement, l’éducation et l’aide sociale venant en aide aux peuples autochtones. Thelma Chalifoux travaille comme aînée en résidence au Northern Alberta Institute of Technology et participe également à la fondation du Michif Cultural Connections, un musée et un centre de ressources, à St. Albert.

Les timbres et les articles de collection seront en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays, dès le 21 juin

U.S. Scott Catalogue Numbers (June 2023)

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Tulip Blossoms Coil
5767 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Pink tulip with yellowish base
5768 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Purple tulip with white base
5769 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Pink and orange tulip
5770 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Lilac tulip
5771 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Orange and red tulip
5772 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Dark purple tulip
5773 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Brownish tulip with white base
5774 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Pink tulip with white base
5775 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – Pink tulip with yellowish background
5776 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾ vert. coil stamp – White tulip with purplish base
a. Horiz. strip of 10, #5767-5776
Plate number strips are listed in strips of 10 (one of each stamp) and 17 (containing #5770-5772 and two each #5767-5769, 5773-5776.

Tulip Blossoms Booklet
5777 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Brownish tulip with white base
5778 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Pink tulip with yellowish base
5779 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Pink tulip with white base
5780 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Orange and red tulip
5781 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Purple tulip with white base
5782 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Lilac tulip
5783 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Pink and orange tulip
5784 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Dark purple tulip
5785 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – White tulip with purplish base
5786 (63¢) Tulip Blossoms serpentine die cut 10¾x11 on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp – Pink tulip with white background
a. Block of 10, #5777-5786
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 2 each #5777-5786

Flag & Freedom (Updated July 3)
5787 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ sheet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe (Banknote printing)

5788 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 9½ vert. coil stamp, with microprinted “USPS” below lower left corner of flag field (Ashton-Potter print)

5789 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 10¾ coil stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe, stamps not adjacent on roll (Banknote printing)
5789A (63c) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe, stamps adjacent on roll (Banknote printing)

5790 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” below lower left corner of flag field (Ashton-Potter print)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

5791 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe (Banknote printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

Roy Lichtenstein
5792 (63¢) Paintings by Roy Lichtenstein – Standing Explosion (Red), 1965
a. Imperforate
5793 (63¢) Paintings by Roy Lichtenstein – Modern Painting I, 1966
a. Imperforate
5794 (63¢) Paintings by Roy Lichtenstein – Still Life with Crystal Bowl, 1972
a. Imperforate
5795 (63¢) Paintings by Roy Lichtenstein – Still Life with Goldfish, 1972
a. Imperforate
5796 (63¢) Paintings by Roy Lichtenstein – Portrait of a Woman, 1979
a. Imperforate
b. Horiz. strip of 5, #5792-5796
c. Imperforate horiz. strip of 5, #5792a-5796a

Tomie dePaola
5797 (63¢) Tomie dePaola
a. Imperforate

Experience Nature: De Wieden (Netherlands 2023)

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[summarized from a PostNL press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Experience Nature: De Wieden

Issue date: 12 June

Appearance: sheet of ten stamps in ten different designs
Item number: 430761
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Photography: Buiten-BeeldThe stamp sheet about De Wieden is part of the multi-annual Experience Nature 2021-2023 series. In the series, four stamp sheets are issued every year, each comprising ten different stamps. The stamps feature images of plants and animals in unique Dutch nature reserves across the country. In 2023, it is the turn of the provinces of Flevoland, Friesland, Overijssel and Noord-Brabant.

The Experience Nature – De Wieden issue focuses on the peat bog of nature reserve De Wieden, located in the province of Overijssel. The stamp sheets issued earlier this year (2 January 2023) featured Marker Wadden in Flevoland and Strok en Skrins in Friesland (13 February 2023). On 24 August 2023, the last stamp sheet in the series will be issued, which will be about the Oisterwijkse Bossen en Vennen in North Brabant.

Peat bog De Wieden is an area that covers over 6,000 hectares [14,826 acres or 23 square miles] in the Kop van Overijssel. The nature reserve is part of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park. De Wieden is owned by Natuurmonumenten. Within the National Park, Natuurmonumenten works closely together with Staatsbosbeheer (the Forestry Commission), which owns the Weerribben.

De Wieden owes its name to its distinctive broad lakes (wieden or wijden), including the Belterwijde and the Beulakerwijde. The wetland character of De Wieden is the result of peat excavations, storms, and the flooding of the Zuiderzee in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The nature reserve can be visited by open tour boat from the visitor centre in Sint Jansklooster [about 110 kilometers or 68 miles east-northeast from Amsterdam] and other locations. There are also paths for walkers and cyclists through the greenery and along the water. In the middle of De Wieden, the water tower of Sint Jansklooster offers spectacular views.

The landscape gets its unique character from the combination of the large open waters of De Wieden with small pools and winding ditches and canals. As is the case in all peat bogs, open water, moorlands, floating mats, reed beds, fenlands, shrublands and swamp forests alternate. They are home to many rare plant species, including the meadow thistle, tawny sedge, devil’s bit, and slender cottongrass. The abundance of water makes De Wieden popular with large fish-eaters such as the cormorant, osprey, bittern and purple heron. Other unusual birds include the black tern, marsh harrier, barn owl and short-eared owl.

“Water is the dominant factor in De Wieden,” says ecologist Rosalie Martens, co-manager of the reserve. “Everything is done by boat around here. There is one farmer who still has small numbers of cattle grazing in De Wieden. So he ferries his animals across by boat.

“The nature reserve was man-made through the excavation of peat until 1940. The area requires intensive management, otherwise trees will take hold and the area will become forest again,” Martens added. “In my opinion, it is the most beautiful nature reserve in the Netherlands, where man and nature are in perfect harmony.”

The ten residents of this nature reserve featured on the Experience Nature – De Wieden stamps are the marsh harrier, small pearl-bordered fritillary, common hawthorn, fringed water-lily, English oak, water rail, blackthorn, barn owl, purple heron and oblong-leaved sundew. Each has its own stamp. The stamp sheet also features many more images of flora and fauna typical for this area. The following are shown as monochrome images in a separate graphic layer: oblong-leaved sundew (top right), barn owl (top left), western marsh harrier (just above centre), leaf of the black elder (left of centre and centre), leaf of the English oak (bottom left), small pearl-bordered fritillary (bottom centre) and blackberry (bottom right).

The nature reserves in the Experience Nature series were chosen in consultation with experts from the nature conservation organisation Natuurmonumenten. A number of considerations played a role in the selection of these diverse landscapes. Each area had to have plenty of interesting flora and fauna, for example. There had to be enough diversity, so every species could be represented: from plants, trees and mammals to insects, reptiles and amphibians.

“I also wanted to have a decent choice of beautiful images and it had to have a captivating story attached to it,” said series graphic designer Frank Janse. “The common factor of this issue about De Wieden is the wet, marshy nature of this nature reserve.”

“The large white barn owl at the top left is a real eye-catcher,” added Janse. “The centre features a white image of the marsh harrier. I selected a picture on which the harrier’s wings are almost in the same position as those of the water rail below.”

The Experience Nature – De Wieden mminisheets are available while stocks last at all PostNL sales outlets, the post office counter in Bruna shops and at www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels [in Dutch].

Technical Details:
Stamp size: 40 x 30mm
Sheet size: 122 x 170mm
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Glue: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
Print run: 285,000 sheets
Appearance: sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Photography: Buiten-Beeld
Printing company: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 430761

Britain Celebrates “Warhammer” Game Series (UK 2023)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of “Warhammer” with 10 Special Stamps

  • Issue date: 8 June
  • Six stamps depict characters from the worlds of “Warhammer 40,000;” “Warhammer: Age of Sigmar” and “Warhammer: The Old World”
  • A further four stamps of the popular British miniatures wargame capture the unique visual style of Warhammer with iconic paintings and illustrations from the Warhammer archive
  • The stamps are available to pre-order now and go on general sale on 8 June 2023

Royal Mail has announced the launch of 10 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the internationally popular miniatures Hobby, Warhammer.

Six stamps in the main set depict characters from the worlds of “Warhammer – Space Marines” and Orks from “Warhammer 40,000”; Stormcast Eternals and Slaves to Darkness from “Warhammer Age of Sigmar”; and High Elves and Dwarfs from “Warhammer: The Old World”.The Miniature Sheet shows four stamps featuring iconic illustrations from the last 40 years of Warhammer – Crimson Fists Space Marines from the first edition of “Warhammer 40,000”; The Emperor of Mankind from “Warhammer: The Horus Heresy”; Yndrasta, the Celestial Spear from the current edition of “Warhammer: Age of Sigmar”; and The Battle for Skull Pass from “Warhammer: The Old World”.

The background to the miniature sheet is a classic piece of artwork depicting Harald Hammerstorm, a Chaos Champion whose origins can be traced back to the first edition of “Warhammer: The Game of Fantasy Battles”.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “With millions of devotees across the globe, Warhammer is a creative, collaborative pursuit with a unique power to spark the imagination. We are delighted to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of this immersive tabletop wargame with a set of Special Stamps.”

Helen Smallridge, Global Head of Marketing at Games Workshop commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Royal Mail to mark the 40th anniversary of Warhammer. From humble beginnings, Warhammer has grown into a British institution and a global success, with our fantasy miniatures collected by millions around the world. We hope this new stamp range will be a treat for fans, and for those who have yet to discover our rich and fantastical worlds.”

First produced in 1983, by the budding miniature gaming company, Games Workshop, Warhammer quickly became the most successful table-top miniatures hobby in history. With models, paints and games designed and produced in-house its own magazine, White Dwarf, and a bespoke publishing imprint known as Black Library producing novels set in the Warhammer universes, Games Workshop has become a real independent success story.

The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/warhammer, 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 £18.10. The tamps go on general sale on 8 June 2023.

The products include FDCs with both the Tallents House and Lenton postmarks (£8.60), two “medal covers” (£19.99 each), framed stamps, postcards, sheets in various configurations, and “stamp ingots” for two of the series, “a silver-plated replica of the [Space Marines or Stormcast Eternals] stamp with the design reproduced in full colour” (£24.99).

2023-24 Duck Stamp (U.S. FWS 2023)

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Technically, the “Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.”

The earlier Fish & Wildlife Service press release follows this information from the Postal Service. The Scott catalogue numbers are
RW90 $25 Tundra Swans Hunting Permit Stamp, self-adhesive
RW90A souvenir sheet of 1

From the Postal Bulletin:
On June 23, 2023, in Memphis, TN, the U.S. Department of the Interior will issue the $25 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2023–2024 waterfowl hunting season. The pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) stamp will go on sale nationwide June 23, 2023, and is valid through June 30, 2024.

No automatic distribution for the pane of one (336900)

The pane of 20 (337000) will only be sold by Stamp Fulfillment Services and by consignment by Amplex Corp.

Technical Specifications (Single-Stamp Pane):

Issue:-Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number:-336900
Denomination & Type of Issue:-$25.00, Special
Format:-Pane of 1 (1 design)
Series:-Federal Duck
Issue Date & City:-June 23, 2023, Memphis, TN 38105
Art Director:-Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist:-James Hautman
Modeler:-Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process:-Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type:-Muller A76
Stamps per Pane:-1
Print Quantity:-2,468,185 stamps
Paper Type:-Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type:-Pressure-sensitive
Processed at:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors:-Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation:-Horizontal
Image Area (w x h):-1.7188 x 1.2656 in. / 43.658 x 32.146 mm
Overall Size (w x h):-1.89 x 1.417 in. / 48.006 x 35.992 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h):-6.125 x 2.625 in. / 155.575 x 66.675 mm
Plate Size:-36 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers:-N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front:-Selvage Text: 2023–2024 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp • U.S Fish and Wildlife Service • 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act • Informative text • Artist: James Hautman, Tundra Swans© • If applicable, sign your stamp.
Back:-Verso text • Ordering information • Barcode • U.S. Department of the Interior logo • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo

Technical Specifications (Pane of 20):

Issue:-Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number:-337000
Denomination & Type of Issue:-$25.00, Special
Format:-Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series:-Federal Duck
Issue Date & City:-June 23, 2023, Memphis, TN 38105
Art Director:-Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist:-James Hautman
Modeler:-Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process:-Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type:-Muller A76
Stamps per Pane:-20
Print Quantity:-53,600 stamps
Paper Type:-Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type:-Pressure-sensitive
Processed at:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors:-Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation:-Horizontal
Image Area (w x h):-1.7188 x 1.2656 in. / 43.658 x 32.146 mm
Overall Size (w x h):-1.89 x 1.417 in. / 48.006 x 35.992 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h):-8.25 x 8.25 in. / 209.55 x 209.55 mm
Plate Size:-180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers:-“P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front:-Selvage Text: “Artist: James Hautman” (4 locations) • “Department of the Interior 20 x $25.00” (2 locations) • Image of Swans printed in Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent • Plate number (4 corners)
Back:-Verso text behind each stamp • Four barcodes • Plate position (9)

[FWS press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Minnesota Artist Joseph Hautman Wins 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
Federal Duck Stamp Supports Wildlife ConservationJudges and Department of the Interior representatives show off the winner of this year’s duck stamp competition. Pictured are: (top row) Walter Rhodes, Suzanne Fellows, Jerome Ford, Jen Chin, Larry Mellinger; (bottom row) Sean Murtha, Marshall Johnson, Paul Schmidt, Richard Houk, Chris Nicolai

[from September 2022]

After two days of competition, Joseph Hautman of Plymouth, Minnesota, emerged as the winner of the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with his painting of three tundra swans flying over a wetland. The announcement was made via live stream at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. This is his sixth win of the prestigious contest.

Hautman’s acrylic painting [on the right] will be made into the 2023-2024 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp”, which will go on sale in late June 2023. The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and raises approximately $40 million in sales each year. These funds support critical conservation to protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.

Just this past week, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, approved the allocation of nearly $105 million with grants through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The fund is made up partly of Duck Stamp dollars, to support the acquisition of lands from willing sellers for the Refuge System. The new areas provide additional access to the public to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

“The Duck Stamp Contest is one of my very favorite events every year!” said Service Director Martha Williams. “I am always impressed with the caliber of the art submitted, and each and every entry reminds us of the beauty of the natural world the Duck Stamp is designed to protect. I encourage everyone to buy a Duck Stamp as it makes a real impact in conserving wetlands habitats for waterfowl and many other wildlife species.”

Since it was first established in 1934, sales of the Federal Duck Stamp to hunters, bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts, and collectors have raised more than $1.1 billion to conserve over 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation on our public lands.

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Federal Duck Stamp. Many non-hunters, including birdwatchers, conservationists, stamp collectors, and others also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. Additionally, a current Federal Duck Stamp can be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee.

In addition to Joseph Hautman, Frank Mittelstadt of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, placed second with his acrylic painting of tundra swans, and Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota, took third place with his acrylic painting of an American wigeon.

Of 187 entries judged in this year’s competition, 54 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the tundra (whistling) swan, mottled duck, American green-winged teal, American wigeon, and Barrow’s goldeneye. View the online gallery of the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries.

The judges for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were: Sean Murtha, artist; Richard Houk, philatelist; Marshall Johnson, conservation partner; Paul Schmidt, conservation partner; and Christopher Nicolai, waterfowl biologist and conservation partner.

You can contribute to conservation and America’s great outdoors tradition by buying Federal Duck Stamps at many national wildlife refuges, sporting goods stores, and other retailers, through the U.S. Postal Service, or purchase online.

New Museum Exhibition Highlights Pacific Migration

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum Launches New Virtual Exhibition
Complete Collection of U.S. Postage Stamps Honoring Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans or Their History and Culture

The National Postal Museum’s new virtual exhibition, “Stamps Across the Pacific: A Visual History of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Migrations” is now available for viewing on the museum’s website.

The exhibition showcases the diversity and cultural significance of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander American communities in the United States through the medium of postage stamps. It features every U.S. Postal Service-issued stamp commemorating their unique histories, identities and contributions to American culture. Additional objects from the museum’s vast collection place these migrations within the larger context of U.S. relations with their countries of origin, and they help to illustrate these communities’ experiences in the United States. Detailed descriptions give insights into the rich cultural traditions of these celebrated communities.

Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander immigration to the United States has a long and complex history, dating back to the mid-19th century when Chinese immigrants first arrived in search of economic opportunities. Over time, they were joined by others from countries around the Pacific Rim, including Japan, Korea and the Philippines, who began to arrive in large numbers during the 20th century.

“We are thrilled to share this new virtual exhibit with the public during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month,” said Daniel Piazza, chief curator of the National Postal Museum. “We hope that visitors to this virtual exhibition come away with an appreciation for the diverse experiences of these communities in the United States.”

The experiences of these immigrants in America have been shaped by political and economic factors, including periodic outbreaks of violence against them and discriminatory government policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Despite these challenges, Native Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants have formed strong communities in the United States and significantly contribute to American society in areas such as science, technology, the arts and others.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000.