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Bitter Grounds

exploring the stories stamps tell

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Cyprus stamps for 2026 – nice designs from mystery artists

Jun 20, 2026

Last time I posted Cyprus' stamps was way back in 2023. Somehow I missed them in 2024 and well, 2025 was a dead loss as far as work was concerned. HOWEVER ... I have already laid out and prepped the stamps for last year and you should see it up in a few days. Just need to plunk in a bit more detail. Speaking of details, Cyprus Post isn't very good at supplying designer names. I've trolled...

This day in stamps

See the full calendar here

June 22, 1898 Erich Maria Remarque

June 22, 2026

On June 22, 1898 Erich Maria Remarque, the man Joseph Goebbels declared as unpatriotic, was born in Osnabrück, Germany. His book All Quiet on the Western Front was among the

Retrospective look at France’s Lunar New Year stamps

Chen Jiang Hong 陈江洪 returns for his fifth Lunar New Year issue for La Poste, France. The Year of the Rabbit stamps are his 9th and 10th in the current cycle which began 2019, with the Year of the Pig. "It is important for me to bring the culture to which I am attached to life, to allow it to cross boundaries, and to allow others to be a part of it. I try to tell stories in such a way that...

Catpaw's archive picks

Keep scrolling. More new articles to enjoy.

2026 Jersey stamps – oh the journey we will take!

May 17, 2026

Buckle up mammals, we're off to see the 2026 Jersey stamps! How in hell do I find so much to write about them each year. It's a tiny island. I start with an innocent "just a few links, maybe a few cool facts". Before I hit the end of March I have over 900 words...

Japan 2026 stamps, cancels & pure joy

May 13, 2026

Ah Japan, the post mark cancel capital of the world. If you are a cancel hound, this is the country for you. Many countries create them, few attain the sheer delicate beauty and whimsy of Japan's. Here are a few samples from over the years: The little snowball...

Türkiye 2026 stamps, fdcs & smashing postmarks.

Apr 30, 2026

The stamp program for Türkiye this year is fascinating. It starts off with a bang with a spectacular piece of tech history. Al-Jazari isn't as well known in Western countries as he should be, and you'll learn more in a few minutes. That is followed up with Tughras,...

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Bitter Grounds

2026 updates & misc stuff