Category Archives: 2022 New Issues

Mauritshuis Art Museum’s 200th Anniversary (Netherlands 2022)

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Issue: Mauritshuis Bicentenary Celebration
Date of issue: 21 February 2022
Appearance: sheet with six stamps in six different designs, with value 1 for post up to and including 20 grams for a destination within the Netherlands
Item number: 420262
Design: Studio Maud van Rossum, Amsterdam
Photography: Mauritshuis, The Hague
Lithography: Marc Gijzen, Voorburg

On 21 February 2021, PostNL issued a new stamp sheet with six stamps about the famous flower still-lifes at the Mauritshuis in The Hague. Mauritshuis bicentenary celebration is being issued to mark two centuries since the museum opened its doors to the public. The denomination on these stamps is ‘1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20g destined for the Netherlands. The stamp sheet was designed by Studio Maud van Rossum from Amsterdam.

The Mauritshuis in The Hague houses a world-famous collection of 17th-Century Dutch paintings. The collection is on display in two historic buildings in The Hague: the Mauritshuis and the Galerij Prins Willem V. The Mauritshuis is a 17th-century city palace on the Plein, and the Galerij Prins Willem V is an 18th-century museum on the Buitenhof.

The history of the collection in the Mauritshuis begins in the Galerij Prins Willem V. This gallery was opened in 1774 and was the first museum open to the public in the Netherlands. This is where Stadtholder Willem V displayed his collection of paintings to the general public. His son, King William I, donated a large number of these works to the Dutch state. In 1822, 200 years ago this year, the collection moved to the Mauritshuis. The most famous paintings, such as The Bull by Paulus Potter, View of Haarlem with Bleaching Fields by Jacob van Ruisdael, Two African Men by Rembrandt, View of Delft and Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer are always on display. There are also special exhibitions on different subjects that change three times a year.

Opening on 17 February 2022 – the anniversary year –, the In Full Bloom exhibition will focus on the most beautiful floral still-lifes from the Mauritshuis collection. In the 17th Century, still-life paintings with flowers were a specialised genre in the Low Countries. It emerged in Middelburg and Antwerp and then also became popular further north. To celebrate the bicentenary, a flower installation inspired by the collection of paintings is being built in and around the Mauritshuis. The façade of the Mauritshuis will also be adorned with an ‘impossible bouquet’ of flowers, consisting of sustainable imitation flowers combining spring, summer and autumn, just like the still-lifes from the 17th Century.

‘The Mauritshuis has a fantastic website that even allows you to visit the museum online,’ said stamp designer Maud van Rossum. “They took advantage of the lockdown to digitise the entire museum. So you can take a virtual walking tour through the exhibition rooms from the comfort of your own sofa. That same evening, I was able to view each flower still-life in the collection on my own screen.’

In 2020, graphic designer Van Rossum designed the stamp issue that celebrated the 450th anniversary of the publication of the world’s first atlas. In 2021, she created the stamps for Queen Máxima’s 50th birthday. ‘This is a completely different subject,’ says Van Rossum about the Mauritshuis bicentenary celebration stamp sheet.

The stamps are available while stocks last at the post office counter in Bruna shops and at www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels [in Dutch].

Technical Details:
Stamp size: 25 x 36mm
Sheet size: 108 x 150mm
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Gum: gummed
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
Edition: 95,000 sheets
Appearance: sheet of six stamps in six different designs
Studio: Maud van Rossum, Amsterdam
Photography: Mauritshuis, The Hague
Lithography: Marc Gijzen, Voorburg
Printing company: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 420262

Ukraine Stamp Tells Off Russia

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Ukraine’s postal agency, Ukrposhta, is issuing a stamp to make clear how the Ukrainian people feel about the Russian invasion. According to Linn’s Stamp News and other sources, Ukrposhta invited proposed designs, then winnowed the 500 submissions down to 20 and invited voting on its Facebook page.The announced theme was, “Russian warship, go to —.”

“The stamp will have to be international so that everyone can send it to any country,” said Ukrposhta on its website.

This one, by Ukrainian artist Boris Groh, garnered more than 1,700 votes of the 8,000 cast — better than 1 in 5, according to Ukrposhta’s message on Facebook.

The issue date has not been announced.

According to Linn’s, Ukrposhta has said it may use the other designs on future postal products.

The Business Insider web publication had a short version of the story on March 8th.

Other postings on the Ukrposhta page show some of its employees during the crisis — emphasizing that 80% of its employees are women — and assuring Ukrainians who receive pensions that Ukrposhta offices will be open so that recipients can get those payments.

150th Anniversary of the FA Cup (UK 2022)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup with Special Stamps
Issue Date: 8 March

  • A set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the Emirates FA Cup such a prestigious competition
  • A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue
  • Stamps in the set show:
  • Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
  • Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley
  • A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
  • Classic Finals – Keith Houchen equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final
  • FA Cup Upsets – In 2017, Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals
  • Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937
  • Royal Mail collaborated closely with The FA on the stamp issue
  • Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural season of the FA Challenge Cup in 1871/72 compared to the 729 clubs taking part 150 years later in 2021/22
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre order from today (1 March) at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641
  • The stamps go on general sale from 8 March

Royal Mail has announced the launch of a set of 10 stamps to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emirates FA Cup’s very first edition.

Royal Mail collaborated closely with the FA, choosing images that celebrate the heritage and tradition of the longest-running and most famous domestic football competition in the world.

The main set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the competition so prestigious, and a mixture of colour and black and white photographs relive some of the most famous moments in its 150-year history.

Stamps in the main set show:

  • Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
  • Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley
  • A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
  • Classic Finals – Keith Houchen equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final
  • FA Cup Upsets – Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 in 2017 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals
  • Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937

A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue.For 150 years, few other sporting events have produced as much joy and heartbreak or as many moments of raw emotion. It is a competition in which amateurs and semi-professionals can play in the finest stadia in the land, and the world’s best players run out in grounds holding only a few thousand people.

Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural 1871/72 edition, and while they might not have much else in common with the 729 modern day sides taking part in 2021/22, they shared the same dream: glory.

The Emirates FA Cup has always been a unique competition. For many fans it is about memories and moments on a football pitch that they associate with a time in their lives. Like the game itself, aspects of it have changed over the course of those years. But when fans of all ages think about the competition, they think of names, places, matches, moments. One thing is guaranteed – the Emirates FA Cup will keep creating memories for generations to come.

Natasha Ayivor, Royal Mail, said: “The Emirates FA Cup has given the world some of the greatest displays of competition football and these stamps celebrate the magic of those moments. We feel there is no more fitting tribute to its 150th anniversary than this collection of Special Stamps.”

The FA’s Director of Pro Game Relations, Andy Ambler, said: “The Emirates FA Cup continues to capture the imaginations of both football fans and the wider public in its 150th anniversary season. Its historic moments from the non-league to the very elite create lasting memories, and we’re delighted that a selection of iconic moments are being celebrated by these Special Stamps.”

The individual stamps in the set:

1st Class – Lifting the Cup
90th FA Cup Final
8 May 1971

 

1st Class – Wembley Stadium
48th FA Cup Final
28 April 1923

 

£1.70 – A Big Day Out
87th FA Cup Final
18 May 1968

 

£1.70 – Classic Finals
106th FA Cup Final
16 May 1987

 

£2.55 – FA Cup Upsets
FA Cup Fifth Round
18 February 2017

 

£2.55 – Royal Patronage
62nd FA Cup Final
1 May 1937

The individual stamps in the miniature sheet:

Supporter’s Memorabilia
A ticket stub from the 1959 Final between Nottingham Forest and Luton Town, held at the original Wembley Stadium (then known as the Empire Stadium). Forest beat Luton 2-1

An Everton rosette which dates from 1966 and features an image of the trophy and a Preston North End rosette which was taken to the 1954 and 1964 Finals

Painted rattle: A hand-painted Colchester United rattle, previously an air-raid rattle, which was taken to a Fourth Round home match against Arsenal in January 1959. The game was drawn 2-2.

Winner’s Medal and Trophy
A replica of the first FA Cup trophy, known as the ‘little tin idol’, which was used from 1896-1910 after the original Cup was stolen. A new trophy (the design still used today) was introduced in 1911.

The FA Cup winners’ medal awarded to Bradford City captain Jimmy Speirs in 1911. Speirs scored the only goal in the replay against Newcastle United, which secured a win for the ‘Bantams’.

Official Match-day Items
Manchester City’s distinctive red-and-black striped away shirt. It dates from the 1969 Final, when the club beat Leicester City 1-0

Match ball: The leather football used in the 1903 Final. Bury beat Derby County 6-0, achieving a record winning margin in a Final that was equalled only in 2019 when Manchester City beat Watford 6-0

An ornate gold-wire and silk badge, as given to The FA stewards at the 1903 Final between Bury and Derby County

Cup Final Souvenirs
A souvenir gramophone record and sleeve from the 1932 Final, when Newcastle United beat Arsenal 2-1. Each side includes a ‘meet the team’ feature, with the centre label in each team’s colours

A Leeds United FA Cup winners’ pennant, which celebrates United’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the centenary Final of 1972

A souvenir porcelain replica of The FA Cup trophy, which was made to commemorate Cardiff City’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the 1927 Final

The stamps and a range of collectible products can be pre-ordered now at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641.

The stamps go on general sale from 8 March.

VSC Note: If you click on the link, Royal Mail will also offer you a wide range of collectibles, including a £2 gold coin FDC for just £1,125.00 (US$1488, €1361).

Experience Nature: Nieuwkoopse Plassen (Netherlands 2022)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Experience Nature – Nieuwkoopse Plassen

  • Issue: Experience Nature – Nieuwkoopse Plassen
  • Date of issue: 21 February 2022
  • Appearance: sheet of ten stamps in ten different designs
  • Item number: 420261
  • Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
  • Photography: Buiten-Beeld

On 21 February 2022, PostNL will publish the Experience Nature – Nieuwkoopse Plassen issue: a sheet of ten stamps in ten different designs. The denomination on these stamps is ‘1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20g destined for the Netherlands. The stamp sheet about the Nieuwkoopse Plassen 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 2022, it is the turn of the provinces of Zeeland, Zuid-Holland, Limburg and Gelderland.

[The PostNL site for stamp purchases is here.]

The 21 February 2022 issue focuses on the low peatlands of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen, situated in the centre of Zuid-Holland. The stamp sheet issued earlier this year (3 January 2022) was about Fort Ellewoutsdijk in Zeeland. Later this year, stamps will be issued featuring the chalk landscape of the Sint-Pietersberg in Zuid-Limburg (13 June 2022) and the Leuvenum Woods on the Veluwe in Gelderland (15 August 2022).

The Nieuwkoopse Plassen nature reserve covers an area of around 1400 hectares, most of which is owned by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten. The lakes were created by peat extraction, which started in the 16th century. In addition to the larger Zuideinderplas and Noordeinderplas, it also has a number of smaller lakes and watercourses with names such as Maarten Freekenwei, Weide van Vliet, Armengat, Bleigaten, Poeltje and Noordse Plassen. This expansive low peatland bog is home to numerous unusual plants and animals. For example, the area is home to significant populations of purple herons, fen orchids and Tundra voles. In addition to its lakes, ponds and watercourses, the area also has many reed beds, especially in the eastern part. This is also the location of Lusthof De Haeck; an old remnant of swamp forest with paths, bridges and views of the surrounding lakes. The Nieuwkoopse Plassen are still under development. The Ruygeborg – a new natural area between Nieuwkoop and Noorden – has been in development since 2012, for example. In combination with the Groene Jonker – a wetland area created near Zevenhoven in 2008 – it is now an ecological link with the Vinkeveense Plassen.

Sources: natuurmonumenten.nl, wikipedia.nl

John Pietersen has been a forest ranger at Vereniging Natuurmonumenten since 2009. He was born and raised in the village of Noorden, on the shores of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen. He describes the area for which he is responsible as a unique low peatland bog with lots of water. ‘Even when it looks green, there is a big chance there is water underneath. That’s what we call floating land. The Nieuwkoopse Plassen were created through peat cutting and extraction. You can still see this in the landscape. The water has settled in areas where peat used to be extracted. We call those petgaten. The peat was laid out to dry on artificial drying islands. These still stick out above the water. Actually, it is a man-made area, with a lot of rare nature. Like unique orchids, for example. Right in the centre of the area you’ll even find a swathe of bog heath, the largest in Western Europe. That’s where you can see the Erica in bloom, surrounded by water. It’s an amazing sight. The area is a favourite destination, especially for nature lovers. Not too busy, with a lovely balance between recreation and nature conservation. I know the lakes and wetlands like the back of my hand, I can even navigate through them effortlessly in the dark. I have lived by these wetlands all my life, but the area never ceases to amaze me. I’m a bog man through and through.’

The Experience nature – Nieuwkoopse Plassen stamps feature the following ten inhabitants of the nature reserve:

  • the black tern,
  • hairy dragonfly,
  • Southern Marsh orchid,
  • ragged robin or cuckoo flower,
  • spined loach,
  • marsh cinquefoil,
  • lesser bulrush,
  • water soldier,
  • white water lily, and
  • bittern.

Each has its own stamp. The stamp sheet also features many more images of flora and fauna from this area. These are featured as transparent images in a separate graphic layer: spoonbill (top right), white water lily (top centre), gadwall (top centre right), grebe (centre left) and bitterling (bottom left and right). These transparent images cross the perforations and connect the stamps with each other and the sheet edge.

Design
The Experience Nature – Nieuwkoopse Plassen stamp sheet was designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. On the sheet, the ten plants and animals are depicted in their natural environment, each on their own stamp. In some cases, the image or background colour continues onto the adjacent stamp and onto the sheet edge. All photos are incorporated in a graphic layer of different-sized overlapping circles, which break through the boundaries of the perforations. The circle pattern returns as small droplets on the sheet edge and the tabs. There is another graphic layer on top of the circles featuring transparent images of animals and plants from this area. The monochrome images are almost abstract and link the stamps.

The entire Experience Nature series was designed by Janse. While the focus was on various animal and plant species in the period from 2018 to 2020, in 2021-2023 the focus will be on unique Dutch nature reserves and their flora and fauna.

Nieuwkoopse Plassen in Zuid-Holland is situated near the towns of Nieuwkoop, Noorden and De Meije. The peat river of the same name, the Meije, runs along the south-eastern border of the area.

The denomination on these stamps is ‘1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20 g destined for delivery in the Netherlands.

Technical Specifications:
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: Cartor Security Printers, Meaucé-La Loupe, France
Item number: 420261

Stamp Designer David Gentleman (UK 2022)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
The Stamp Designs of David Gentleman
Royal Mail Pays Tribute to the Man Who Changed British Stamp Design

  • David Gentleman’s designs have featured on more stamps than that of any other designer – 103 issued stamps
  • Royal Mail collaborated closely with David Gentleman to select six iconic stamps for the issue
  • Stamps that feature in the set are:
  • National Productivity Year -1962
  • British Ships -1969
  • British Trees – 1973
  • Social Reformers – 1976
  • 900th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings – 1966
  • 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain – 1965
  • More than 50 years after his first designs, the impact of Gentleman’s work on Royal Mail’s Special Stamps programme can still be seen
  • This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire issue to a designer of its commemorative stamps
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (18 February) at www.royalmail.com/davidgentleman and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641

Royal Mail has announced the launch of a set of six stamps that pay tribute to the designer credited with changing the face of British stamp design, David Gentleman

1962

[Wikipedia article here].

Royal Mail collaborated closely with Gentleman to choose a selection of some of his most iconic and influential images from the world of British stamps.

This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire issue to a designer of its commemorative stamps.

David Gentleman has designed 103 issued stamps for Royal Mail. He has also provided many more artworks for issues that did not come to fruition and is the most prolific and influential British stamp designer.

1965

David Gentleman said: “Stamps were fun to design, though squeezing a lot into a small space wasn’t easy. At first it was difficult to fit in The Queen’s head until I turned it into the simple profile which is still used today. Stamps I particularly enjoyed designing were for the Battle of Hastings 1066, and Social Reformers.”

David Gold, Royal Mail, said: “David Gentleman is one of the foremost artists involved in British stamp design. For over half a century, he has made an enduring contribution to British stamp design. His work continues to influence and inspire designers today.”

David Gentleman:
Prior to 1962, stamp design had been as largely symbolic or stylised, and issues had been

1966

few in number. David Gentleman’s first successful designs had been for the National Productivity Year in 1962, using symbolic arrows.

In January 1965 David Gentleman wrote to the new Postmaster General, Tony Benn, in response to a general invitation for ideas about stamps. Gentleman recommended much more interesting subject matter than had been featured previously: special themes for stamp issues rather than commemoratives for conferences or festivals.

With The Queen’s agreement, Gentleman was then commissioned to produce an album of

1976

experimental designs, which would prove to be a source of inspiration for at least 20 years.

The original themes were an exciting range of ideas, from regional landscapes, plants, trees, birds and animals to the Industrial Revolution, bridges, railway engineering and famous people. Gentleman also proposed a new size of stamp and introduced a small cameo of the Queen, based on her profile as depicted by Mary Gillick on coins from 1953.

After characteristic wood engravings for the Shakespeare Festival, his designs for stamps

1969

featuring Winston Churchill and a set on the Battle of Britain, both issued in 1965, were innovative and revolutionary. The Queen’s head was reduced to a minimum and the concept of se-tenent (joined together) designs was first introduced.

His subsequent stamp designs were equally inventive. For the 1966 World Cup stamps, Gentleman used real-life photographs as the basis for his design. For the 1969 stamps celebrating the first flight of the Anglo-French Concorde, he developed some of his ideas from what became known as the David Gentleman Album, and the design process was featured in the GPO film Picture to Post. British Ships in 1969 followed the Battle of Hastings in having some values much larger in size. Other iconic

1973

stamps featured Gentleman’s watercolour paintings of the oak and the horse chestnut, issued in 1973 and 1974.

In 1976 came the Social Reformers stamps. On these, a coal face, chimney stacks, prison cells and the operation of cotton mills were represented in such a way as to create a continuous pattern over a whole sheet of stamps each. These were all in a new size and shape, which later became standard. David Gentleman’s most recent issued stamp designs were for the Millennium Timekeeper miniature sheet, depicting the stylised hands of a clock and globe.

The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (18 February) at www.royalmail.com/davidgentleman and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641.

Medobory Nature Preserve (Ukraine 2022)

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Issue date: 25 February. This is a minisheet of five stamps; note that the middle “stamp” in the top row is not valid for postage.The price of 44 Ukrainian Hryvnia is approximately US$1.54 as of 18 February. Wikipedia has an article on the Medobory Nature Preserve. For those following the latest U.S.-Russia standoff news and curious, it is about 185 miles south of the Belarus border.There are two postmarks for first day covers of this issue. FDCs with the one on the left is 7.00 UAH (US 25¢); the other is 79.00 UAH ($2.77)!You can order these items on the website or, if you don’t speak Ukrainian, in English by clicking on the tiny British flag near the top of the page. (However, as of this posting, I don’t see these stamps for sale yet.)

British Definitives Get Barcodes (UK 2022)

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[press release][click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Barcodes All Definitive Stamps In Advance Of Further InnovationsKey points of the announcement, provided in an email to the press, are:

  • We are announcing a permanent move to adding unique barcodes to all of our ‘every day’ (Definitive) stamps, as part of our extensive modernisation drive.
  • The move follows a successful national trial.
  • The barcodes sit alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line. They will match the colour of the stamp.
  • The unique barcodes lay the path for further services and innovations which will be announced in due course.
  • Non-barcoded Definitive stamps will be phased out but will remain usable until 31 January 2023.
  • We are encouraging customers to find any non-barcoded stamps they have at home so they can use them up.
  • Unused stamps will be exchangeable under a ‘Swap Out’ scheme.
  • Each stamp contains a special video of Shaun the Sheep, which the recipient of the stamped item can watch using the Royal Mail App on their smartphone. Further videos will follow later in the year.

The formal press release follows:

  • Following a successful national trial, barcodes will be added to all Definitive stamps, the ‘everyday’ stamps featuring the profile of HM The Queen
  • Recipients of mail featuring a barcoded stamp can watch an exclusive video featuring Shaun the Sheep by scanning the stamps in the Royal Mail App
  • The video was created exclusively for Royal Mail by the multi- award-winning British animation studio, Aardman
  • Non-barcoded Definitive stamps will be phased out but will remain usable until 31 January 2023
  • Royal Mail is encouraging customers to find any non-barcoded stamps they have at home so they can use them up, unused stamps will be exchangeable under a ‘Swap Out’ scheme

Royal Mail has announced that following a successful national trial, it is adding unique barcodes to all its Definitive stamps.

The move is part of the Company’s extensive and ongoing modernisation drive and will allow the unique barcodes to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers.

Scan the App for an exclusive video featuring Shaun the Sheep
Recipients of mail featuring a barcoded stamp can watch an exclusive video by scanning the stamps in the Royal Mail App. The video features Shaun the Sheep, created exclusively for Royal Mail by the multi-award-winning British animation studio, Aardman. The video is the first in a series of planned videos to be released during 2022 that will allow customers sending stamped mail to choose which video the recipient can see when they receive an item of mail.

The new barcoded stamps will have a digital twin and the two will be connected by the Royal Mail App. The barcodes match the stamp colour and sit alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line.

Definitive stamps are the regular ‘everyday’ stamps featuring the profile of HM The Queen created by the sculptor Arnold Machin. The design has changed very little since it was introduced in June 1967. The image has become one of the most iconic pieces of artwork in the world and has been reproduced in excess of 175 billion times.

Non-barcoded Definitive and Christmas stamps will remain valid until 31 January 2023. Customers are encouraged to use their non-barcoded stamps before this date. Alternatively, non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through Royal Mail’s ‘Swap Out’ scheme.

The ‘Swap Out’ scheme will open on 31 March 2022. Customers will be able send unused stamps via a Freepost address. Forms will be available via a variety of channels, including: local Customer Service Points; the Royal Mail website and via our Customer Experience team. Further details will be announced shortly.

Nick Landon, Royal Mail Chief Commercial Officer said: “Introducing unique barcodes on our postage stamps allows us to connect the physical letter with the digital world and opens up the possibilities for a range of new innovative services in future.”

Calla (Canada 2022)

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On March 1, Canada Post will issue stamps and a souvenir sheet for the Calla flower. The souvenir sheet comes in two versions: One is a limited edition with an overprint promoting CAPEX 2022, the international stamp show in Toronto June 9-12.
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are souvenir sheet 3319, pink coil 3320, pink bklt 3323, white coil 3321, white booklet 3322.

From Details magazine (philatelic catalogue):

Most of us refer to the graceful trumpet-shaped flowers that often adorn weddings and other occasions as calla lilies. But it seems we’ve been wrong all along! The calla (Zantedeschia) – native to the southern parts of Africa – isn’t a lily at all. It’s a member of the unusual arum family (Araceae), which includes peace lily, skunk cabbage and jack- in-the-pulpit. The cut flower’s beauty and longevity may account for its ubiquity in floral arrangements but, like many plants now cherished for their aesthetic value, the calla has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes.

In the Victorian language of flowers, the calla has much to say, each message determined by its colour. White, for example, signifies purity and innocence, while pink conveys admiration and appreciation, and near-black evokes elegance and mystery.

Designed by Paprika, with illustrations by Fanny Roy, the stamp issue depicts the calla in the popular colours of white and pink. Given that the annual flower stamp is popular for mailing wedding invitations and that the calla is one of the top choices for nuptial flowers, we think we’re looking at a perfect match.

The stamps will be issued in both the booklet and coil formats, and the latter will note on the backing paper that 2022 is the Year of the Garden. Collectors need not purchase the entire coil of 50 stamps: Strips of 4 and 10 will be sold.

Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee (Canada 2022)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] [specifications and video follow English version]
Canada Post issues stamp to mark the platinum jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Canada’s longest-reigning monarch has appeared on more than 70 stamps

OTTAWA –Canada Post has unveiled a stamp to commemorate the platinum jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The new issue celebrates 70 years since The Queen ascended the throne on February 6, 1952.

Since 1935, when then-Princess Elizabeth adorned a stamp for the silver jubilee of her grandfather, King George V, Canada Post has featured Queen Elizabeth II on more than 70 Canadian stamps. Over the years, the stamps have been issued for visits of the Royal Family to Canada, historical events and special anniversaries, including The Queen’s silver, golden and diamond jubilees.

Booklet cover

This latest stamp honours an extraordinary milestone as Queen Elizabeth II is the only Canadian sovereign to reign for 70 years.

On this occasion, Canada Post is releasing its first stamp to feature the Royal Mail’s profile of The Queen, sculpted by Arnold Machin. First appearing on a definitive stamp issued in 1967, the classic “Machin” profile has been used by the Royal Mail ever since.

The Platinum Jubilee stamp issue also features a Canadian emblem, created by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, to celebrate this significant anniversary.

“Our iconic national stamp program has a long-standing tradition of commemorating The Queen’s reign and her connection to Canada. We are proud to continue that tradition by celebrating this historic 70-year anniversary with a new stamp, and the first of our stamps to feature the Royal Mail’s classic ‘Machin’ profile,” says Doug Ettinger, President and CEO of Canada Post.

About the stamp issue
The Platinum Jubilee stamp was designed by Paprika and printed by Colour Innovations. The issue includes a booklet of 10 self-adhesive stamps; a pane of 16 stamps, printed on water-activated gummed (WAG) paper; four collectible corner blocks, and an Official First Day Cover, cancelled in Ottawa, Ont. The cancel is the commemorative emblem created for the platinum jubilee by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

The Platinum Jubilee stamp and collectibles will be available on canadapost.ca and at post offices starting February 7 [not yet active].Canada Post video: Seventy Years of The Queen on Canadian Stamps

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada émet un timbre en l’honneur du jubilé de platine de Sa Majesté la reine Elizabeth II
Le monarque ayant régné le plus long au Canada est apparu sur plus de 70 timbres

OTTAWA – Aujourd’hui, Postes Canada a dévoilé un timbre commémoratif en l’honneur du jubilé de platine de Sa Majesté la reine Elizabeth II. Cette nouvelle émission marque le 70e anniversaire de l’accès au trône de la reine le 6 février 1952.

Depuis le lancement du timbre représentant la reine Elizabeth II alors princesse, dévoilé en 1935 pour le jubilé d’argent de son grand-père, le roi George V, Postes Canada a produit plus de 70 timbres canadiens en l’honneur de la reine. Au fil des ans, plusieurs timbres ont été émis à l’occasion de visites de la famille royale au Canada, d’événements historiques et d’anniversaires, y compris les jubilés d’argent, d’or et de diamant de Sa Majesté la reine.

Ce plus récent timbre marque une très grande étape, puisque la reine Elizabeth II est la seule souveraine canadienne à avoir régné pendant 70 ans.

Pour l’occasion, Postes Canada émet un tout premier timbre à l’effigie de son profil sculpté de type Machin de la Royal Mail, créé par Arnold Machin. Apparu pour la première fois sur un timbre courant émis en 1967, le profil classique de type Machin est utilisé depuis par la Royal Mail.

Un emblème canadien, créé par l’Autorité héraldique du Canada, a aussi été inclus à l’émission de timbre du jubilé de platine pour souligner cet anniversaire important.

« Notre programme de timbres-poste national iconique commémore depuis longtemps le règne de Sa Majesté la reine et ses liens avec le Canada. Nous sommes fiers de perpétuer la tradition en célébrant ce 70e anniversaire historique avec un nouveau timbre, et le premier de nos timbres qui représente le profil classique de style Machin de la Royal Mail », explique Doug Ettinger, président-directeur général à Postes Canada.

À propos du timbre
Le timbre du jubilé de platine a été conçu par Paprika et imprimé par Colour Innovations. L’émission comprend un carnet de 10 timbres autocollants, un feuillet de 16 timbres imprimés sur papier adhésif activé au contact de l’eau, 4 blocs de coin et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à Ottawa, Ontario. Le cachet d’oblitération est l’emblème commémoratif que l’Autorité héraldique du Canada a créé pour le jubilé de platine.

Les timbres et articles de collection de l’émission du jubilé de platine seront en vente sur le site postescanada.ca et dans les bureaux de poste dès le 7 février.

Britain Celebrates Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (2022)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with Eight New Special Stamps

  • The set of eight stamps use photographs of Her Majesty The Queen, marking the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952
  • The stamp issue celebrates The Queen’s dedication to service during her reign. Each stamp shows a different facet of her work from Trooping the Colour to visits across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider world
  • The Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees were also marked with special stamp issues
  • This is the first time a Platinum Jubilee has been celebrated in the UK and will be both of national and international significance
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (4 February) here and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641

Royal Mail is celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with eight new stamps featuring a selection of images showing The Queen’s dedication to service during her 70-year reign.

Each stamp shows a different facet of her work, from Trooping the Colour to visits across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider world.

This is the first time a Platinum Jubilee has been celebrated in the UK and will be both of national and international significance.

Accession Day falls on 6 February. Celebrations are planned to take place throughout 2022, including a special extended Bank Holiday weekend, from 2 to 6 June. The weekend will feature celebratory activities throughout the UK and across the Commonwealth.

Simon Thompson, CEO, Royal Mail, said: “These stamps are a celebration of the second Elizabethan Age and a tribute to a remarkable lifetime of duty and public service. We are honoured to be releasing them to mark the occasion of the first Platinum Jubilee in the UK’s history, a momentous occasion.”

The stamps: [Click on each for a much larger version]

During a visit to the headquarters of MI5, London, February 2020

 

 

With His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh during a tour of the United States, Washington, October 1957

On a walkabout in Worcester, April 1980

 

 

During Trooping the Colour, London, June 1978

 

After touring the Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, May 2005

During the Silver Jubilee celebrations, Camberwell, June 1977

 

During a tour of the West Indies, in Victoria Park, St Vincent, February 1966

At the Order of the Garter ceremony in Windsor, June 1999

 

 

Two platinum “stamps” are being offered, one for the 1978 Trooping the Colour, the other with the 2020 MI5 visit. Each costs £150 (approximately US$203.46).