2024 New Zealand stamps, covers ‘n discovery

2024 New Zealand stamps, covers ‘n discovery

Another year of New Zealand stamps is done and dusted. It’s time to roll out the 2024 program.  NZ Post has already tossed us a fun one – Making a Game, a series that explores video games developed by New Zealanders. I mention this because one of the games is weirdly fun and captivating Mini Metro.

Making_Games_Stamp_Metro__25669

It’s an addictive game, not because of fancy graphics and fast paced story lines. Mini Metro is a puzzle, a sim that challenges your ability to build a sustainable public transit. Its so absorbing, you won’t even realise how much time passes while playing.  And it’s won a whack of awards:

  • “PAX Australia Indie Showcase” PAX Australia, 2016
  • “Excellence in Audio” Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Seumas McNally Grand Prize”, Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Excellence in Design”, Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Excellence in Visual Art”, Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Best Debut” Game Developers Choice Awards, 2016
  • “Finalist for Best Debut” BAFTA Games Awards, 2016
  • “Finalist” IndieCade, 2014

Despite coming out about a decade ago, it has staying power and is still popular. NZ Post also issued some great pins to accompany these stamps and I want the MM one. 

Making_Games_Pin_Card_Mini_Metro__24573

Yup, I have pin envy. 

So, on to the rest of the year. And I’ll let you know if I get around to ordering the pin… or pins. 

February

2024 Marine Reserves

2023_Marine_Reserves_Stamp_4.00__82749 2023_Marine_Reserves_Stamp_3.30__20129 2023_Marine_Reserves_Stamp_2.00__453392023_Marine_Reserves_Stamp_4.60__12723

2023_Marine_Reserves_MinSht__27686 

2023_Marine_Reserves_MSFDC__43271 

2023_Marine_Reserves_FDC__05296 

2023_Marine_Reserves_Sheets_Combined__73716

4 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 4 sheets of 20, also available barcode a and b blocks
offset

Designer/illustrator: Hannah Fortune

Release date: February 7, 2024


March

Making a Game

Making_Games_Stamp-Bloons__03346Making_Games_Stamp_Depth__43468Making_Games_Stamp_Dredge__90469Making_Games_Stamp_Metro__25669 Making_Games_Stamp_Dead__79790

Making_Games_FDC__29479 Making_Games_MSFDC__29368 Making_Games_MinSht_Cancelled__94334 

Making_Games_PresPack__66161 Making_Games_Maxi_Cards_Set__30734 Making_Games_Stamp_Sheets_Combined__91205 

5 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, souvenir sheet, presentation pack, 5 maxi cards, 5 sheets of 20, also available barcode a and b blocks and 5 pinbacks
offset with metallic silver on miniature sheet

  • $2.00 Bloons TD 6
  • $2.00 Depth
  • $3.30 Dredge
  • $4.60 Mini Metro
  • $5.30 Into the Dead 2

 5 games developed in New Zealand. 

Designer: Chris Jones, Graphetti

Release date: March 6, 2024


April

Veterans Day

2024_Veterans_Stamp_Waite__620722024_Veterans_Stamp_Waite__62072 2024_Veterans_Stamp_Waite__62072 

2024_Veterans_Stamp_Waite__620722024_Veterans_Stamp_Waite__62072 2024_Veterans_Stamp_Waite__62072 

2024_Veterans_FDC__25938 2024_Veterans_MSFDC__12337 2024_Veterans_MinSheet_Cancelled__12385

2024_Veterans_Stamp_Sheets_Combined__06734

6 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, souvenir sheet, 6 sheets of 20
From NZ Post website:

  • $2.00 Rebecca Brierton – Rebecca joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as a midshipman, supply officer in 1994 and was deployed to East Timor, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan. She served until 2015 and is currently studying law. 
  • $2.00 Ben Peckham – Ben served in the New Zealand Territorials before transferring to the Regular Force of the New Zealand Army in 1992. In September 1994 he was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of the United Nations Protection Force. Ben has completed a graduate diploma in psychosocial studies and is currently studying international humanitarian law. He is a prominent supporter of the veteran community. 
  • $3.30 Kelley Waite – Kelley joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 2000 as a telecommunications operator and technician. In 2010 she was reassigned to become a helicopter crewman. Kelley is now working with Philips Search and Rescue Trust as a helicopter crewman and emergency medical technician. 
  • $3.30 Vance Leach – Vance joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1999 as an ordinary electronics technician. At the completion of his training, he was posted to HMNZS CANTERBURY and then deployed to East Timor. Vance left the Navy in 2009 as a petty officer weapons technician to pursue a law degree at the University of Auckland and now works in employment relations. 
  • $4.00 Ange Coyle – Ange joined the New Zealand Army in 2006 as a signaller and left in 2014. Ange leads a project at the Department of Corrections that aims to support both staff and prisoners who have served. Having had first-hand experiences of some of the difficulties that some face when transitioning out of service, Ange is passionate about supporting the wellbeing of veteran staff at Corrections and across the public sector, and those entering the criminal justice system. 
  • $4.60 David Bennett – David joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in January 2001 as an avionics technician. He served in No.40 Squadron as an aircraft maintainer before training to join the flight engineer trade in 2007 as a C-130 Hercules flight engineer. He took part in operations in East Timor, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. David left the Air Force in July 2012 and is currently a project manager, inspecting and maintaining oil and gas pipelines. 

Designers: Helen Perkins and John Ward, NZ Post

Release date: April 3, 2024


 

Flying in with Butterflies from Botswana’s 2024 stamp program

Flying in with Butterflies from Botswana’s 2024 stamp program

Botswana’s 2024 stamp program flies in on a quartet of butterfly wings. Okay, yea, I apologise for that, but it was irresistible. It’s hard not to be excited when one of my favourite countries issues a new series. Botswana is a treasure trove of artists to discover!  Botswana Post doesn’t just issue stamps, they go all out in supporting local artists, which includes running workshops to help train up new generations in stamp design. Last year saw Keitshupile Tshiba’s two stamps, and this year, 2024 kicks off with Kedumetse Tshidiso’s very first, Butterflies of the Great Thirstland

As much as I loved Tshiba’s work last year, the true star of 2023 turned out to be a reprint of Professor Walter Whall Battiss’ 1980 Folktales stamps. The series explored 4 Botswanan folktales. Chiwele and the Giant, Kgori is not Deceived, Nyambi’s Wife and Crocodile and Clever Hare.

Folktales - Cryptostamps
2nd set of NFTs Botswana 2023   Folktales - Cryptostamps
2nd set of NFTs Botswana 2023

Folktales - Cryptostamps
2nd set of NFTs Botswana 2023Folktales - Cryptostamps
2nd set of NFTs Botswana 2023

They reached into Botswana Post’s rich design history for this second Crypto stamp release. I’m hoping there will be a third set, but in all seriousness, Folktales will be hard to surpass. 

I’d like to thank Botswana Post for sending me a link to the Butterflies brochure. I appreciate their quick response to my inquiries. Without their help, most of the details for the first issue would have been missing. 

Enjoy the year
Catpaw

February

Butterflies of the Great Thirstland

African Migrant (Catopsilia florella)  Spotted Joker (Byblia Ilithyia)  

Painted Lady (Vanessa Cardui Cardui)African Monarch (Danaus chrysippus)   

Butterfly_FDC
Botswana's 2024 stamp program

Butterfly_Souvenir_Sheet   

4 stamps, FDC, cancel, souvenir sheet, sheets of 40 and gutter pairs
offset

The Great Thirstland is a name for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where the land experiences long, spells with no rain, resulting the riverbeds running dry. 

In winter there can be severe frosts with temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F) and it is not unusual for summer daytime temperatures to be well over 40°C (104°F). Out of the 250 species of butterflies that occur in Botswana, only 41 are found in the Kgalagadi region. Most butterfly species cannot cope with the low or erratic rainfall, and many of those that can cope with drought cannot survive frost.
Botswana brochure Butterflies of the Great Thirstland March 2024

  • African Migrant (Catopsilia florella)  
  • African Monarch (Danaus chrysippus)  
  • Spotted Joker (Byblia Ilithyia)  
  • Painted Lady (Vanessa Cardui Cardui)

 Butterflies of the Great Thirstland – letting nature back in has a great article and beautiful photos that cover all of the above butterflies. 

Download Botswana Post’s info brochure here me-qr.com/mobile/pdf/21131367 

Artist: Kedumetse Tshidiso
This is Tshidiso’s first stamp design. He is a self-taught artist. 
Designer: Onica Lekuntwane
Lekuntwane started her stamp design life in 2015 (African Elephant (Loxodonta africana), Crane, Herons). She has used her background in education and graphic design to create workshops to encourage artists to learn the how to design stamps. This is one thing Botswana Post excels at – encouraging a new generation of artists to take designing stamps with respect.   

Release date: February 29, 2024

 

A new year for Mongolian stamps – 2024 begins

A new year for Mongolian stamps – 2024 begins

It’s time for a new year for Mongolian stamps. And I’ll bet you can’t tell I’m beyond excited. Last year Mongolia’s post office revamped their website and I’m having more fun than is natural poking around. Mongol Post is offering up very high-quality scans of all their issued, including FDCs, special envelopes and postcards. So, this means a GREAT year ahead.

The good news doesn’t stop there. Mongol Post also loaded up most of their back catalogue, complete with good scans. It goes back to 1954, which means we now have an excellent research tool at our disposal. The one thing still lacking is info on the artists and designers. It’s a bit of a struggle figuring out the names, so that will still be hit and miss here. I’m still hunting for good sources in Mongolia for the artists, so this means this part will be lacking. 

Over the summer, I did a deep dive into Mongolian resources, so hopefully you will see more details about the stamps. It’s exciting! I am, however, still debating about how to handle the different graphic covers like this one released for the Year of the Rabbit:

Year of the rabbit envelope 2023

21 different covers were released, and that’s quite a few. To go with this nearly 50 post cards were issued as well. If you are a postcard collector, this is a rich source to tap. The cards showcase different scenes and aspects of Mongolia and are beautiful. If last year is a sample, that’s too many to post here. But if you are interested in seeing them check out this link stamps (mongolstamps.com) they start with the 2013 releases. 

2024 begins with the traditional Lunar New Year stamp. This year, it’s the dragon. Keeping with tradition, I’m posting the previous releases in the current cycle.

Year-of-the-Monkey  Year-of-the-GoatYear-of-the-RoosterYear-of-The-Dog-2018

 Year-of-the-Pig-2019 Year of the ratYear of OxYear of the Tiger Mongolia 2022Mongolia 2023 Year of the rabbit Mongolia Year of Dragon 2024

This is such a nice way to start a year. The artist is G. Battur, who also designs a large portion of Mongolian’s stamps. I’m on the hunt for information, or maybe an interview with Battur, but so far, no luck. 

Enjoy the year.

January

Year of the Dragon

Mongolia Year of Dragon 2024 Mongolia Year of Dragon 2024 FDC 

2 stamps, FDC, cancel

Designer: G. Battur

Release date: January 8, 2024


50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Mongolia and The Federal Republic of Germany

50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Mongolia and The Federal Republic of Germany 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Mongolia and The Federal Republic of Germany FDC

2 stamps on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel

Release date: January 31, 2024

Canada’s Spring Flowers – 17 years & counting

Canada’s Spring Flowers – 17 years & counting

Each year, Canada Post ushers in spring with a fresh pair of flower stamps. It’s one of the highlights of the year and has proven to be immensely popular. The long running series began in 2007 with a Canadian favourite Lilacs

Although the series officially started in 2007, a preview of sorts popped up March 2005 and 2006. 2005 saw a set of daffodils issued for Pacific Explorer 2005 World Stamp Expo. The second unofficial Spring Flowers release was a 4-stamp set titled Gardens that featured gardens, birds and insects. It was directly due to the success of both the ’05 and ’06 stamps that led Canada Post to follow up with the annual Flower series, now in its 17th year. 

Each set comes with 2 stamps, souvenir sheets, FDCs and special cancels as well as booklets and (sometimes) rolls. I’ve opted to include only the stamps and souvenir sheets. I’ll return each year to add onto this page for as long as the series is issued. 

March 10, 2005 – Daffodils

White-Daffodils Yellow-Daffodils

Daffodils-Narcissus Sheet

  • Yellow Daffodils
  • White Daffodils

Pacific Explorer 2005 World Stamp Expo

Unfortunately for the designer, when it came time to photograph daffodils for these stamps last April, there wasn’t a bloom to be found. “I called florists and grocers all over the Montreal region,” says Isabelle Toussaint. “But potted daffodils are grown much earlier in the season, and they weren’t yet flowering naturally in this area, so no one could sell us any. We actually began looking at fabric reproductions, to see how realistic they would appear. A couple of weeks later, as I was driving home one evening, I saw some daffodils just opening in my neighbour’s garden. I called the photographer right away and said, ‘I’ve got some! Can you shoot this week?’

With her neighbour’s permission, Toussaint dug up two varieties of daffodil, complete with bulbs and a good shovelful of earth. “I left the holes in the soil, and after the photo shoot, I just put them back,” says Toussaint. Throughout their celebrity moment, the daffodils remained healthy, and returned to the garden to continue blooming. Daffodils | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint using photos by Marc Montplaisir

_________

March 8, 2006 – Gardens

Water-Garden-Green-Darner-Dragonfly-Anax-junius Shade-Garden-Black-throated-Blue-Warbler-Dendroica-caerule Rock-Garden-Blue-spotted-Salamander-Ambystoma-laterale Flower-Garden-American-Painted-Lady-Vanessa-virginiensis

2006_gardens_booklet

  • Shade Garden, Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerule)
  • Flower Garden, American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
  • Water Garden, Green Darner Dragonfly (Anax junius)
  • Rock Garden, Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

Issued for the Canada Blooms Garden Show in Toronto.

Adams took this idea of creating a garden as natural habitat as a central theme and sought out gardens that showcased native plants, as much as possible, then accented each stamp with a meticulously detailed illustration of a wild creature that would be enticed by the particular type of garden. The flower garden stamp features an American painted lady butterfly; the shade garden a black-throated blue warbler; the rock garden, a blue-spotted salamander; and the water garden, a green darner dragonfly. Gardens | Canada Post

Designer: Debbie Adams using artwork by Jeff Domm and photographs by Andrew Leyerle

_________

March 1, 2007 – Lilacs

Princess-Alexandra-Syringa-vulgaris Isabella-Syringa-X-prestoniae 

Lilacs Canada Souvenir sheet

  • Princess Alexandra, Syringa vulgaris – originally cultivated by James Dougall of Windsor in 1874. Named after Alexandra, the Queen-consort of King Edward VII
  • Isabella, Syringa X prestoniae – a 1927 hybrid cultivated by Isabella Preston at the Central Experimental Farm

“We wanted two typically Canadian lilacs for these stamps,” explains Danielle Trottier, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post. “So we chose the white Syringa vulgaris ‘Princess Alexandra’ and the Syringa x prestoniae ‘Isabella’, which is pale purple.” Lilacs | Canada Post

Photographs for this series were taken at the Central Experimental Farm. Toussaint had to choose from more than 700 lilac varieties. As the oldest Canadian hybrid, the Princess Alexandra was a natural choice. But grabbing the best shots was fraught with weather vagaries. 

Photographing the ‘Isabella’ went according to plan. However, when the earlier-blooming ‘Princess Alexandra’ was at its most beautiful, the weather wasn’t, leaving Toussaint wondering if she would be able to photograph the flowers without resorting to artificial light.

“The blooming season was ending,” says Toussaint. “And it had been raining for a week. There wasn’t an inch of blue sky to be seen. I had reluctantly started to shoot using artificial light when the clouds suddenly parted and the sun came out.” Lilacs | Canada Post

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

March 3, 2008 – Peonies

Paeonia-lactiflora--Elgin- Paeonia-lactiflora--Coral--n-Gold- 

2008_peonies_souvsheet

  • Paeonia lactiflora “Coral ‘n Gold”
  • Paeonia lactiflora “Elgin”

To photograph appropriate specimens, Isabelle Toussaint, a freelance designer in Montréal, travelled to Ottawa and visited greenhouses at the Central Experimental Farm and Algonquin College. In the design, Toussaint created a soft, neutral background and used close-cut and shadowing techniques to emphasize the blooms and foliage.

“I love to work in my garden, although I’m by no means an expert,” says Toussaint. “The challenge was to create a stamp that mimics the impact that peonies have-when they flower, they make a bold statement.”  Peonies | Canada Post

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

March 13, 2009 – Rhododendrons 

White-Rhododendrons Pink-Rhododendrons

2009_Rhodo_SS

  • White Rhododendrons
  • Pink Rhododendrons

The photographs featured on the stamps were taken at the 2008 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada exhibition in Kentville, Nova Scotia. An extensive rhododendron selection was in full-bloom by mid-June, when stamp designer Isabelle Toussaint visited the site.

To capture the flowers in all their glory, natural light was needed. “I didn’t want to resort to artificial lighting, fearing I might lose some of the more striking features,” explains Toussaint. Luckily, weather conditions helped realize her hopes. “It was a partly cloudy day, but I was able to take advantage of the brief intervals of sunshine that occurred throughout.” Rhododendrons | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

March 10, 2010 – African Violets

Decelles--Avalanche Picasso African Violet

2010_African_Violets_Souvenir_Sheet_2

  • Decelles’ Avalanche
  • Picasso

“The idea was to show the violets as decorative indoor plants, which is how we’re accustomed to seeing them,” explains designer Isabelle Toussaint. The photographs were taken by Toussaint at an SSM show at the Montréal Botanical Garden in April 2009. She later added the pots digitally using Photoshop. “I sought to create nice, aesthetic pots that were simple enough not to overshadow the flowers.” The similarity between the two pots creates a mirror effect when the stamps are positioned side by side. African Violets | Canada Post

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

March 3, 2011 – Sunflowers 

Sunflower--Sunbright- Sunflower--Prado-Red- 

Sunflowers souvenir sheet

  • Sunbright
  • Prado Red

While sunflowers originated in North America, thanks to exploration and colonization, they made a rather circuitous route to hybridization, via Russia and Eastern Europe. However, it was Canada that established the first official government sunflower breeding program in 1930, drawing the expertise of Mennonite farmers whose families had originated in Russia. The demand for sunflower oil grew and by 1946, these farmers built a small crushing plant. In 1964, the Canadian government licensed a Russian cultivar called Peredovik. 

… 

 “Both as a single flower and as part of entire field of blooms, there’s something so compelling about the tall sunflower and how it stretches and grows directly facing the sun. How it’s pulled by the light. I wanted to convey the majesty of this flower, to highlight its size and height, to focus all attention on it, a goal that was achieved by simply letting it stand alone against an immense blue sky.” Sunflowers | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

March 1, 2012 – Day Lilies

Daylilies-purple Daylilies-orange 

2012_daylilies_souvenir_sheet

  • Daylilies purple
  • Daylilies orange

 “I always try to get early morning and late afternoon shots, when the lighting allows for lots of contrast and detail,” says Isabelle Toussaint, photographer and designer for the long-running series. “Although the sun was shining for both sessions, the light was completely different for each, and I was able to get many great shots.”

“We wanted to be sure to show a daylily that Canadians would recognize, so we decided to use the common orange ones,” says Danielle Trottier, Stamp Design manager. “The purple daylily, which has been identified as “Louis Lorrain,” was chosen not only because it was a bit more exotic but also contrasted so beautifully with the orange.” The third variety, shown on the souvenir sheet is known as the “Jeff Holden.” Daylilies | Canada Post

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

March 4, 2013 – Magnolias

Magnolia--Yellow-bird- Magnolia--Eskimo-

March 4, 2013 – Magnolias

  • Yellow bird
  • Eskimo

The name magnolia comes from French botanist Pierre Magnol. There are over 200 varieties of magnolias.

According to photographer and designer Isabelle Toussaint, “During my first trip to the Experimental Farm in Ottawa in May 2011, I photographed a wide variety of the typical white and pink magnolias. But this year, we wanted to show a less known variety of flower in the stamp duo. We learned that the rarer yellow magnolias would bloom two weeks later, so I made a second trip to photograph them on a beautiful sunny day. The choice was so vast that we could pick three more hybrids for the souvenir sheet, the OFDC and the inside of the booklet.”

She adds, “Since the magnolia is a tree and the flowers extend beyond the leaves, there was a bare effect, so I chose to keep the sky in the background, on both the stamps and the other collectibles.” Magnolias | Canada Post

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

April 23, 2014 – Roses 

Konrad-Henkel-red Maid of Honour (white) 

canada-stamp-2727-roses-1-70-2014

  • Konrad Henkel (red)
  • Maid of Honour (white)

 “I initially took several pictures reflecting two colours of flowers – classic red and white. But the choice was so vast that I also took dozens of pictures of other varieties, each one more beautiful than the last. Some have been used for the cover and inside the booklet, and on the Official First Day Cover and the souvenir sheet.” Roses | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Isabelle Toussaint

_________

March 2, 2015 – Pansies 

Midnight-Glow-Pansy---from-booklet Delta-Premium-Pansy

March 2, 2015 – Pansies

  • Delta Premium Pansy
  • Midnight Glow Pansy

The flower’s name comes from pensée, the French word for thought or remembrance. Pansies bloom in three visually distinctive classifications – blotched (or faced), single-coloured (clear) and single-coloured with dark lines radiating from the centre (whiskers). While the flowers are considered perennials, they tend to diminish after their first year, so most gardeners treat them as biennials. Pansies | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Paul Haslip from HM&E Design

_________

March 1, 2016 – Hydrangeas

Hydrangea-macrophylla Hydrangea-arborescens

hydrangea_souvenir Sheet

  • Hydrangea macrophylla
  • Hydrangea arborescens

Inspired by traditional botanical drawings, the stamps feature high-contrast tones, sumptuous colours, and realistic details.  Flower series blooms again with set of hydrangea stamps | Canada Post

Designer: Sputnik Design Partners 

_________

March 1, 2017 – Daisies

Tetraneuris-herbacea Erigeron-speciosus 

Daisy sheet

  • Hydrangea arborescens
  • Tetraneuris herbacea

While named after a shoreline village in Ohio, the lakeside daisy is now almost exclusively found on southern Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. Designated “threatened” on both federal and provincial species-at-risk lists, the perennial plant thrives in development-prone areas of exposed bedrock with scant soil.

The usually lavender showy fleabane is found in wet meadows and open forests in higher elevation areas of British Columbia and Alberta. Canada Post picks Daisies for 2017 | Canada Post

Designer: Debbie Adams

_________

March 1, 2018 – Lotus

Nelumbo-nucifera Nelumbo-lutea

March 1, 2018 – Lotus

  • Nelumbo nucifera
  • Nelumbo lutea

Stamp designers Gary Beelik and Kristine Do of Parcel used watercolour portraits by Eunike Nugroho to depict different bloom phases in a set of connected (se-tenant) stamps. The blue background evokes a watery habitat, while a spot gloss varnish reveals a Chinese Bulbul bird, a koi fish and a dragonfly – creatures that share surroundings with lotuses. Lotus | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Gary Beelik and Kristine Do from Parcel Design using artwork by Eunike Nugroho

_________

February 14, 2019 – Gardenias

Gardenias-Green-Background Gardenias-Pink-Background 

gardenia-souvenir-sheet

  • Gardenias (Pink Background)
  • Gardenias (Green Background)

inspired by a photograph by Natasha V. – these delightful stamps will pin an attractive corsage on your next piece of mail. Gardenia | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Andrew Conlon and Lionel Gadoury, from Context Creative using artwork by Chantal Larocque

_________

March 2, 2020 – Dahlias

Dahlias Dahlias (1)

March 2, 2020 – Dahlias

Dahlias

Dahlias can be found in almost every colour of the rainbow, except blue. Said to symbolize honesty, balance, inner strength, creativity, positive change and kindness, they have more recently come to be associated with diversity because of the seamless way their many petals form a single, dazzling blossom. Dahlia | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designers: Lionel Gadoury, Malika Soin and Umaymah Motala

_________

March 1, 2021 – Crab Apple Blossoms

Malus--Maybride-Malus--Rosseau-

March 1, 2021 – Crab Apple Blossoms

  • Malus “Maybride”
  • Malus “Rosseau”

The pretty bright-pink flower of Malus ‘Rosseau’ was introduced in 1928 by the Central Experimental Farm’s pioneering ornamental plant breeder, Isabella Preston. The delicate white bloom of Malus ‘Maybride’ is a dwarf cultivar bred by Preston’s successors, Daniel Foster Cameron and Dexter Reid Sampson. Crabapple Blossoms | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Sputnik Design Partners using artwork by Marie-Élaine Cusson and photography by Mark Olson 

_________

March 1, 2022 – Calla Lilies

Calla-Zantedeschia-sp Calla-Zantedeschia-sp (1) 

Capex 22 Calla lillies special souvenir overprint

  • Zantedeschia sp

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. Calla | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer:  Paprika Communications using artwork by Fanny Roy  

_________

March 1, 2023 – Ranunculus

Persian-Buttercup-Ranunculus-asiaticus (1) Persian-Buttercup-Ranunculus-asiaticus

Spring Flowers - ranunculus annual series souvenir sheet

  • Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus)

Native to southwestern Asia, southern Europe and northern Africa, Ranunculus asiaticus is also known as Persian buttercup. The name Ranunculus comes from the Latin words for “little frog,” since many species grow near streams – although the variety shown on the stamps is more partial to sunny hillsides and pastures. While the wild Ranunculus is usually yellow, cultivated blooms can be orange, red, violet or various shades of pink. Ranunculus | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

Designer: Stéphane Huot using artwork by Veronique Meignaud

_________

March 1, 2024 – Wildflowers

Wildflowers Coil Stamp Purple 400P Wildflowers Coil Stamp Orange 400P
Canada's Spring Flowers 

Wildflowers Souvenir Sheet   

  • butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata)

These two wildflowers are native to parts of southern Ontario and southwestern Quebec and are protected in Quebec.

Both plants are perennial herbs that can grow up to a metre tall. The glossy leaves of butterfly milkweed, and the leaves of other milkweeds, are the sole source of food for monarch butterfly caterpillars. These striking pollinators are affected by deforestation, climate change and the loss of native plants along their migratory corridors. Annual flower stamp issue showcases environmentally important wildflowers | Canada Post

Designer: Andrew Perro using artwork by Alain Massicotte

 

China’s 2024 stamp program treats us to Wang Huming’s dragons

China’s 2024 stamp program treats us to Wang Huming’s dragons

China’s 2024 stamp program begins with a treat for collectors. The year starts with pair of dragons from designer Wang Huming’s 王虎鸣.  Not only has Wang supplied the artwork for China, but he also designed Jersey’s Year of the Dragon set. Huming is among the top stamp designers in the world, and it’s always exciting seeing his name pop up. 

China always offers a program deep in talent and themes. Designs range from classical artwork to modern photographs, making it difficult to pick one or two best because of the sheer variety of styles. As much as I love stamps like the Masterpieces of Chinese Classical Literature – Journey to the West, I think Yin Huili and Han Lu 会利, 韩璐 humble Insects II were the best designs or 2023. 

China 2023 insects series moth China 2023 insects series dragon fly China 2023 insects series beetle China 2023 insects series longhorn beetle 

 Beautifully illustrated and presented, the set was a winner. Also from last year was an interesting label that accompanied the January 9, Forbidden City stamp. Huming designed the stamp, and the label was the work of Chang Shana, Zhang Panjian. 

Forbidden City 
regular issue  label

I often gloss over the labels, but lately there have been a few eye poppers, so I’ll likely start giving them a bit more attention. As usual, you can find the latest commemoratives as well as some pretty cool postcards. That’s something I wish Canada Post would do a bit more often. Pre stamped postcards make it so tempting to grab and send. 

Enjoy Wang Huming’s art as he ushers us into the Year of the Dragon. 
Cheers
Catpaw

January

Year of the Dragon

Year of Dragon Wan Huming's stamps
China's 2024 stamp
 Year of Dragon Wan Huming's stamps 

Year of Dragon Wan Huming's stampsFDC 

2 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

  • 天龙行健 Tianlong Xingjian / Heavenly Dragon    . 
  • 辰龙献瑞 Chenlong Xianrui

 … the dragon is a sacred beast, symbolizing dignity and strength, and meaning auspiciousness and good luck in the folk…

The first … stamp, titled “Heavenly Dragon Xingjian”, shows a golden dragon with its head held high, symbolizing the spirit of vigorous progress and self-improvement. Its image and posture originate from the Nine Dragons Wall of the Forbidden City, which is agile and majestic without losing its majesty. The golden dragon is decorated with auspicious flames and auspicious clouds and lined with a Chinese red background, showing a beautiful picture of auspicious celebration and auspiciousness… The central jade bi has the word “auspicious” in combination, which means auspiciousness and consummation, blessing and health.

The [second stamp shows a ] pattern [that] conveys …  harmony and auspiciousness, and the water pattern, cloud pattern and dragon image below jointly show the grand scene of the dragon soaring all over the world, expressing the good wishes of the wind and rain and the peace of the country.  “Year of the Jiachen” Special Stamps – China Post Group Co., Ltd

Designer: Wang Huming 王虎鸣 
Huming has designed numerous Lunar New Year stamps for countries around the world, including Jersey’s 2024 Dragons.

Release date: January 5, 2024


Suzhou 2024 Chinese Zodiac Philatelic Exhibition
postcard

Suzhou 2024 National Zodiac Philatelic Exhibition

1 pre-stamped postcard
offset

Designers: Lei Hanlin, Guo Xiaochen 雷汉林、郭晓辰

Release date: January 5, 2024


February

14th National Winter Games
postcard

14th National Winter Games

1 pre-stamped postcard
offset

Designer: Wang Huming 王虎鸣 

Release date: February 17, 2024


March

120th Anniversary of the Founding of the Red Cross Society of China

Red Cross in China

Red Cross in China

1 stamp, sheets of 12

 

Designer: Xia Jingqiu 夏竞秋
Jingqiu is a graduate of the Fine Arts Department of Shenyang University Teachers College. He works in the artwork editorial department for China Post. Previous designs include Tang Monk and his disciples arrived at Xitianling Mountain (2023), China Space Station (one of the artists involved) (2022 and 2023), Convention on Biological Diversity (2021), and 100th Anniversary of the May 4th Movement (2019)

Release date: March 10, 2024

 

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