2023 German stamps – a little Grimm kitty

2023 German stamps – a little Grimm kitty

2023 German stamps prove one thing – if I don’t learn to control myself, I’ll have to break the year down into 3 articles instead of two. There is so much information to share, I have a hard time containing my excitement.  Not only does Deutsche Post supply collectors with some eye poppingly creative stamps, they also offer up an array of post marks that shouldn’t be missed.  

The cancels are both first day and self-promotion  issues. It’s a curious mix of Deutsche Post creations and cancels designed for 3rd party interests to celebrate specific events. Here’s a self promotion cancel for the 1847 Apolda Locomotive from 2021:

Apolda 

So far this year, I haven’t included the sponsor for the self promotions, but if there is a demand, I’d be happy to crack open the translator and add them to the listings. I just got a bit lazy today. 

One thing you can be sure of, Deutsche Post will offer bold colours and sharp designs. You only need to look at the ongoing Grimm’s Fairy Tales  from the past 2 years to see what I mean. 

Grimm's  Fairy Tale - Mrs. Holle samp 2 German stamps 2021 Grimm's  Fairy Tale - Mrs. Holle stamp 3 German stamps 2021 Grimm's  Fairy Tale - Mrs. Holle stamp 1 German stamps 2021 

  Rumplestitkskin stamp 1 Rumplestitkskin stamp 2 Rumplestitkskin stamp 3  

This year’s set, by Professor Henning Wagenbreth of the Universität der Künste Berlin,  surpasses both previous designs. 

Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans  Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans 

I’m not sure how to describe his style, other than cheeky and mildly annoyed with life’s travails.

Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans  Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans   Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans

Of the three sets, his is the strongest. I’m going to bookmark Wagebreth’s name for future reference and hope Germany invites him to design more stamps and cancels.

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January

Methods of Sending Letters
series: World of Letters
Topics: writing 

Bettina Walter World of letters  Bettina Walter World of letters

  Maxirolle briefbahn cancel 2 Maxirolle briefbahn cancel Maxirolle briefbahn cancel 5

Maxirolle briefbahn cancel 4  Maxirolle briefbahn cancel 3

Bettina Walter World of letters Bettina Walter World of letters  Germany's 2023 stamps Bettina Walter World of letters Bettina Walter World of letters  Bettina Walter World of letters Germany's 2023 stamps 

5 stamps, 7 cancels, 5 maxi rolls
offset

This series began in 2021.

The first two cancels (above) were the designed to be used on the maxi rolls (rolls of 500 stamps), one for each stamp was designed. 

Designer: Bettina Walter

Release date: January 5, 2023


Intangible Cultural Heritage – Organ Building & Organ Music
Topics: culture |history | music

Intangible cultural heritage - Organ building organ music  Intangible cultural heritage - Organ building organ music 

Intangible cultural heritage - Organ building organ music Germany's 2023 stamps   
Exhibition document "Bratislava" FDC ORGAN MUSIC

1 stamp,  FDC, cancel (2 locations)
offset

Organ making was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017.

Organ craftsmanship and music has shaped Germany’s musical landscape and instrument-making for centuries, and there are a diverse number of related traditions in the country. Organ craftsmanship and music are closely related since each instrument is created specifically for the architectural space in which it will be played. Organ craftsmanship and music – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO

This UNESCO video (In German/English subtitles) shows the painstaking skills needed to build organs

Designer: Julia Warbanow
Warbanow has designed 23 stamps, starting with the 2010 Christmas set for Deustche Post

Release date: January 5, 2023


Maina Island & Zollverein Colliery
series: Sights in Germany
Topics: tourism|history 

Maina Island
series: Sights in Germany Maina Island
series: Sights in Germany \

  Maina Island
series: Sights in Germany 2023 German stamps Zollverein colliery


series: Sights in Germany 

https://bittergrounds.com/wp-content/uploads/Zeche-Zollverein-stamp.jpg

2 stamps, 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset

Maina Island is called the “flowering island” because of the number of parks and gardens covering the small island. 

The Zollverein Colliery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

During its active industrial period, the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex was the largest coal mine in the world, with the largest coking plant in Europe. Along with its sheer size, the architecture of the Zollverein complex is simply magnificent – it’s not for nothing that the Zollverein is also called the most beautiful coal mine in the world. The celebrated twin-trestle winding tower is the most famous emblem of the Ruhr district, and a symbol for the industrial heritage of an entire region. UNESCO World Heritage Site in NRW: Zollverein in Essen (nrw-tourism.com)

The former colliery  now hosts concerts, cultural events, art shows and sporting events year round. 

Designer: Jennifer Dengler

Release date: January 5, 2023


In Memoriam: Death of Pope Benedict XVI
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

In Memoriam Pope Benedict 2023 

Postmark location: Bonn

Designer: Wittmann Medien
Wittmann Medien is an expert in creating advertising cancels and special postmarks. You’ll see this name associated with many of the self-promotion commemorative cancels. 

Release date: January 5, 2023


Sights in Germany – Zollverein Colliery
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Essen Collerie UNESCO Germany 2023 cancel

UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein, Essen

Postmark place: Essen

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 5, 2023


Donation Pot Payout
special cancel

Post pot payout

Postmark location: Essen

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 12, 2023


Association for Philately and Numismatics “Lower Saxony”
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Day of the stamp Onsabruch philatlia special cancel 2023

Postmark location: Osnabrück

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 15, 2023


Exhibition Pop Art – Classic and Modern
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Exhibition Pop Art – Classic and Modern 

Postmark location: Nürtingen

Association for Stamp Friends Nürtingen e. V and city of Nuertingen

Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg

Release date: January 21, 2023


Year of the Rabbit 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Germany Special cancel Chinese New Year 2023

1 commemorative cancel

Postmark location:  Bonn

Germany issued a special cancel for the Lunar New Year. No stamp was issued.

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 22, 2023


Kaiser Ludwig der Fromme (778 – 840)
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 Germany 2023 cancel Kaiser Ludwig

Postmark location: Hiddenhausen

Created for: 11th Wittekind Exchange Day 823 Herford Abbey becomes an imperial abbey / Emperor Ludwig the Pious (778 – 840)
Stamp Guild Wittekind Herford e. V

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 22, 2023


February

Grimm’s Fairy Tales – Lucky Hans  
series:
Funds aid Federal Working Group for Free Welfare
Topics: literature | fairy tales | writing | cartoons

Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans  Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans  Lucky hans 4th cancel

Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky HansGrimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans

Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky HansGrimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky HansGrimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans 

Grimm's Fairy Tales - Lucky Hans 

3 stamps, 3 sheets of 10, FDC, 4 cancels (4th cancel issued for use with maxi roll) 
offset

You can read the story here Hans in luck – Grimm (grimmstories.com)

  • Hans says goodbye to his master 
  • Hans trades all sorts of items on his journey
  • Hans returns home to his mother

Designer: Professor Henning Wagenbreth, Berlin
Wagenbreth has been a professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin since 1994.  The  Université du Québec à Montréal held an exhibition of his works in 2022, offering Canadians a rare chance to see his works up close. The university’s write up of Wagenbreth’s artistic style offers a great insight into his approach to his Grimm’s stamp and cancel set:

Raised in East Germany, Wagenbreth was involved in some anti-regime activities until the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since then, his critical gaze at society has been embodied in images that are intended to make us think. His social and political commentary is usually leavened with a bit of sarcastic humour and perceptive satire. His playful approach to graphic design first draws his clients in and then, at second glance, leads them to reflect on questions that are serious, even dark. Ultimately, the idea is not to please but to send a message. “The legibility of my idea is important,” he says with a bit of a smile. “I grab people with an interesting image, and then they look at the rest.” Obviously, in Wagenbreth’s view, everything is worth a laugh and he certainly knows how to get us going. The UQAM Design Centre presents the exhibition Henning Wagenbreth – Graphic Design for All Ages – Press room – UQAM

3rd cancel: Jennifer Dengler issued for maxi roll
** I may have mistranslated this. I’m a little unsure of Dengler’s design role. 

Release date: February 2, 2023


Cats
series: popular pets
Topics: pets | animals | cats

Cats
popular pets  Cats
popular pets 

Cats
popular pets

Cats
popular pets

1 stamp, 2 cancels, commemorative pack 
offset

There are about 16.7 million cats in Germany. That’s a lot of MEOW!

Designers:
Stamp – Thomas Steinacker 

Cancel – Bettina Walter 

Release date: February 2, 2023


Birth of Bertolt Brecht (1898 – 1956)
Topics: film | history | people

Birth of Bertolt Brecht  Birth of Bertolt Brecht 

 Birth of Bertolt Brecht 

Birth of Bertolt Brecht Birth of Bertolt Brecht

1 stamp, 2 cancels, sheets of 10, commemorative pack 
offset

It’s  difficult to break down Bertolt Brecht into a brief digestible write-up and still do his legacy any justice. After searching about, I settled on this video short by The Actor’s Edge Online Series. They manage to create an approachable 3 part series (5 min each) that goes through the basics. This is the first episode, the Intro. You can find the other 2 here Collective Techniques and third Career

Designer: Matthias Wittig
Photo: © akg-images / Ruth Berlau Quote: © Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag

Release date: February 2, 2023


550 Birthday of Nicholas Copernicus
special cover
Topics: science | history | people 

550 Birthday of Nicholas Copernicus
special cover 

550 Birthday of Nicholas Copernicus special cover

cover, cancel
offset

Stamps  – 2009 EUROPA – Astronomy and and automated stamp Write Letters 
 

Design: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: February 2, 2023


Presentation of the 2-euro commemorative coin “Hamburg (Elbphilharmonie)” 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Hamburg Money Fair cancel 2023 

Special cancel issued for the World Money Fair in Berlin.  

Postmark location: Berlin

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: February 3, 2023


March

Day of the stamp 
series: Treasures of Philately
Topics: stamps | history 

Germany 2023 Day of the stamp cancel two  Germany 2023 Day of the stamp cancel one  Straslund letter souvenir sheet Germay 2023 cancel

Day of the stamp Germany 2023   

Straslund letter souvenir sheet Germay 2023 

Day of the stamp 
series: Treasures of Philately
Topics: stamps | history

Day of the stamp Munchen philatlia 2023 

Day of stamp Germany 2023 FDC 

1 stamp, souvenir sheet, 3 cancels (3rd cancel for the souvenir sheet), 2FDCs, special cover issued for the Munich Stamp Show + special cancel
offset

Stamps of the German States 1849-1871. 

The image on the stamp includes a partial view of a Stralsund letter.

Designers:
Stamp – Ruven Wiegert 
Souvenir sheet & special cancel –  Jennifer Dengler  
FDC and Munchen stamp fair cancel – Wittmann Medien 

Release date: March 1, 2023


150th Anniversary of Max Reger’s Birth (1873 – 1916)
Topics: people | history | music

150th Anniversary of Max Reger's Birth  150th Anniversary of Max Reger's Birth

150th Anniversary of Max Reger's Birth 

150th Anniversary of Max Reger's Birth (1873 - 1916)
Topics: people | history | music FDC

1 stamp, 2 cancels, FDC
offset

Fugue State Films documentary on Max Reger and his legacy is an interesting watch. It’s in English and is a decent introduction to Reger. It’s about 17 min long, so you might want to click the “WATCH ON YOUTUBE” tag on the lower left of the video to listen to it on Fugue’s YouTube page. The comments are are interesting.

Designer: Professor Wilfried Korfmacher 

Release date: March 1, 2023


Disney at 100
Topics: cartoons

Disney at 100  Disney at 100  Mickey sheet Germany 2023 cancel

Disney at 100 

Mickey sheet Germany 2023 cancel

1 stamp, sheets of 10, 3 cancels (3rd issued for the maxi rolls)
offset

Designer: Jennifer Dengler using Disney characters

Release date: March 1, 2023


Floral Greeting
Topics: events

Floral Greeting  Floral Greeting  Germany 2023 Spring Greetings cancel 3

Floral Greeting 

Germany 2023 Spring Greetings sheetjpg 
1 stamp, sheets of 10, 3 cancels (3rd issued for the maxi rolls)
offset

Designer: Bettina Walter

Release date: March 1, 2023


Communications Museum Berlin
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Museum for Communication Berlin
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising  

Postmark location: Berlin

Museum of Communication Berlin – Discover the past, present and future of communication! (mfk-berlin.de)

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 3, 2023


Munich Stamp Fair
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Day of the stamp Munchen philatlia special cancel 2023

Postmark location: Munich

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 4, 2023


Philatelia München 2023
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Philatelia München 2023
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising 

Postmark location: Munich

Formerly called Munich International Stamp Exchange, the spring stamp fair took place March 4 and 5th. 

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 4, 2023


Children write to Hanni Hase in Ostereistedt
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Children write to Hanni Hase in Ostereistedt
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Ostereistedt

Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg

Release date: March 8, 2023


Wonderful World of Insects 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Wonderful world of insects special cance 2023  

Postmark location: Berlin

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: March 9, 2023


Middle Rhine Philatelic Association
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Mettelrhein stamp festival 

Postmark location: Duren 

Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg 

Release date: March 11, 2023


1275th Birthday of Charlemagne
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

1275th birthday of Charlemagne
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising 

Postmark location: Berlin

BBC – History – Charlemagne

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 30, 2023


April

South Westphalia Stock Exchange / 150th Birthday of Carl Kraemer
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

South Westphalia Stock Exchange / 150th Birthday of Carl Kraemer
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Siegen

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: April 1, 2023


60 years of Lufthansa jet traffic in Germany
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

60 years of Lufthansa jet traffic in Germany
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising 60 years of Lufthansa jet traffic in Germany
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Dusseldorf and Frankfurt am Main

Graphics: Katharina Kracker, Lübeck
Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg

Release date: April 1, 2023


LOW BROS – New Wave
Series: Street art
3rd in series

LOW BROS – New Wave
Series: Street art
3rd in series cancel LOW BROS – New Wave
Series: Street art
3rd in series cancel two 

LOW BROS – New Wave
Series: Street art
3rd in series stamp 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Title: Mural by brothers Christoph and Florin Schmidt, the Low Bros. Location Mannheim

They illustrate the ambivalence between urbanity and nature and are reminiscent of the aesthetics of early computer games. The LOW BROS have created a consistent style. They combine figurative motifs with strictly geometric and flowing-organic forms and create surreal-looking, complex and detailed worlds of images. pg. 3 Stempel & Informationen AUSGABE 06–2023

LOW BROS website offers a bit of insight into their design philosophy. They “examine the contradictions associated with identity in a digital age”, expressing an “ambivalence” towards modern life. The website is excellent and is a must visit page. 

Artist: Low Bros
Designer: Bettina Walter, Bonn
Photographer: Stadt.Wand.Kunst / Manuel Wagner

Release date: April 6, 2023


Wilhelm Leuschner Square in Leipzig and Reinoldikirche Dortmund
Series: U-Bahn Stations

Wilhelm Leuschner Square in Leipzig and Reinoldikirche Dortmund
Series: U-Bahn Stations cancel one Wilhelm Leuschner Square in Leipzig and Reinoldikirche Dortmund
Series: U-Bahn Stations cancel two

Wilhelm Leuschner Square in Leipzig and Reinoldikirche Dortmund
Series: U-Bahn Stations Wilhelm Leuschner Square in Leipzig and Reinoldikirche Dortmund
Series: U-Bahn Stations

2 stamps, 2 cancels
offset

 
Designer: Jennifer Dengler

Release date: April 6, 2023


175th birthday of Helene Lange

175th birthday of Helene Lange cancel one 175th birthday of Helene Lange cancel two

175th birthday of Helene Lange stamp

175th birthday of Helene Lange FDC

1 stamp, 2 cancels, FDC
offset

Helene Henriette Elisabeth Lange (1849-1930) – pioneer in the feminist movement, civil rights champion. Worked towards equal opportunities for women in education and employment:

1. that the female element be given greater participation in scientific education at the middle and upper levels of the public secondary schools for girls, and that religion and German be placed in women’s hands.

2. that institutions for the training of scientific teachers for the upper classes of girls’ secondary schools may be established by the state. Yellow Brochure, published January 9, 1888

The Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb)’s page Helene Lange | Women’s Movement | bpb.de has a substantial biography on Lange and her influences. It’s in English and very accessible. A good read, one of the better ones available.

Designer: Professor Matthias Beyrow und Constanze Vogt, Berlin
Photograph:  Portrait of Helene Lange with a proclamation © akg-images/bilwissedition

Release date: April 6, 2023


225th Birthday of Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 – 1874)
Commemorative cover

225th birthday of Hoffmann von Fallersleben"
Commemorative cover cancel

225th birthday of Hoffmann von Fallersleben"
Commemorative cover

1 commemorative  cover, cancel

Patriotic poet, literary historian  LeMO August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (dhm.de)

Design/layout: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: April 6, 2023


60 years Fehmarnsundbrücke  – Fehmarn Sound Bridge
Commemorative cover

60 years Fehmarnsund Bridge
Commemorative cover cancel 

60 years Fehmarnsund Bridge
Commemorative cover

1 commemorative cover, cancel
Offset

Construction on this bridge began January 4, 1960 and was completed April 30, 1963. This 1 km long bridge connects Schleswig-Holstein with the mainland. It accommodates 2 lanes of car traffic, 1 footpath and a rail track.

Design/layout: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: April 6, 2023


May

Paralympic Sports 
Series: For Sports

Paralympic Sports 
Series: For Sports Paralympic Sports 
Series: For Sports Paralympic Sports 
Series: For Sports Paralympic Sports 
Series: For Sports Paralympic Sports 
Series: For SportsParalympic Sports 
Series: For Sports

Paralympic Sports 
Series: For Sports FDC

3 stamps, 3 sheets of 10, FDC, cancel
offset

Proceeds from this set go to help the German Sports Aid Foundation. 

  • Para Alpine Skiing
  • Para Athletics
  • Wheelchair basketball 

Designer: Thomas Serres 

Release date: May 4, 2023


“Preserving and reviving churches” fortified church Walldorf/Werra

"Preserving and reviving churches" fortified church Walldorf/Werra "Preserving and reviving churches" fortified church Walldorf/Werra

"Preserving and reviving churches" fortified church Walldorf/Werra 

  "Preserving and reviving churches" fortified church Walldorf/Werra

1 stamp,  sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Prof. Sandra Hoffmann Robbiani, Bern

Release date: May 4, 2023


International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023

International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023 cancel International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023 cancel International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023 cancel

International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023 

International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023 

International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023 cover

1 stamp,  sheets of 10, FDC, 3 cancels
offset

Designer: Jan-Niklas Kröger 

Release date: May 4, 2023


EUROPA 2023 – PEACE – humanity’s greatest asset

EUROPA 2023 - PEACE - humanity's greatest asset EUROPA 2023 - PEACE - humanity's greatest asset

EUROPA 2023 - PEACE - humanity's greatest asset 

EUROPA 2023 - PEACE - humanity's greatest asset 

1 stamp,  sheets of 10
offset

Designer:  Goldstein, Rheinstetten

Release date: May 4, 2023


300 years since Johann Sebastian Bach took office as Thomaskantor
Commemorative Cover

300 years since Johann Sebastian Bach took office as Thomaskantor
Commemorative Cover 

1 prestamped cover

The stamps on this cover are:
SPWZ “600 Years University of Leipzig” (55 cents, 2009)
Automated postage stamps “Write letters” (30 cents)

Release date: May 30, 2023


June

Protect nature! Ensuring survival!

Protect nature! Ensuring survival! 

Protect nature! Ensuring survival! Protect nature! Ensuring survival!

1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset

Humanity is running out of time if it does not act immediately

Designer: Thomas Steinacker using welikerock ©/shutterstock.com

Release date: June 1, 2023


Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023
Topic: sports

Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023
Topic: sports 

Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023
Topic: sports

1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Susann Stefanizen

Release date: June 1, 2023


Set an Example for Democracy

Set an Example for Democracy 

Set an Example for Democracy 

1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Jan-Niklas Kröger

Release date: June 1, 2023


100 Years of the Schleizer Triangle

100 Years of the Schleizer Triangle

 100 Years of the Schleizer Triangle  

100 Years of the FDC Schleizer Triangle

1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC
offset

The Schleizer Triangle is the oldest street race circuit in Germany. Schleizer Dreieck – Germany’s oldest street circuit – Circuits of the past

Designer: Hanno Schabacker

Release date: July 1, 2023


Helgoland 
Topic: lighthouses

Germany 2023 Hegoland lighthouse cancel one Germany 2023 Hegoland lighthouse cancel two 

Germany 2023 Helgoland lighthouse 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Designer: Carsten Wolf
Photographer: Alexander Savin

Release date: July 6, 2023


Ivenacker Oaks – First National Natural Monument

IVenacker Eichen cancel two IVenacker Eichen cancel one 

IVenacker Eichen stamp 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

The oak tress in the Ivenacker Oaks are among the oldest in North Germany. Some of them date back 1000 years.

Designer: Kym Erdmann
Photographer: Günther Bayerl Fotografie

Release date: July 6, 2023


FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
special cover

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023
special cover 

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023
special cover 

1 graphic cover, cancel

Designer: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: July 6, 2023


NASPOSTA 2023 TRIER

NASPOSTA 2023 TRIER 

NASPOSTA 2023 TRIER 

1 graphic cover, cancel

Designer: DPS Wermsdorf and Wittmann Medien 

Release date: July 6, 2023


Delivered with pride – Cologne Pride 2023 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Delivered with pride - Cologne Pride 2023   

Postmark location: Cologne

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: July 7, 2023


EUROPEADE GOTHA
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

EUROPEADE GOTHA  

Postmark location: Gotha

Europeade is the largest European Folk Culture festival that began in 1964. It’s advertised as “… a five day party for 5,000 dancers, musicians and singers”.

Europeade > Home (available in German, English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Italian)

Europeade 2023 | Gotha | 12.-16. July 2023 – Europeade 2023 | Gotha | 12.-16. July 2023 (europeade-gotha.de)  (available in English and German)

Designer: Geo Müller

Release date: July 15, 2023


August

World of Letters – Watering Can Waters Letter Flowers

World of Letters - Watering Can Waters Letter Flowers World of Letters - Watering Can Waters Letter Flowers 

World of Letters - Watering Can Waters Letter Flowers

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Designer: Bettina Walter

Release date: August 1, 2023


For the Youth

For the Youth For the Youth 

For the Youth For the Youth For the Youth

3 stamps, 2 cancels
offset

Portion of funds from this stamp goes to the German Youth Foundation. To date, over 200 million Euros has been raised through this series.

German Youth Brand Foundation (jugendmarke.de)

Designer: Werner Hans Schmidt

Release date: August 3, 2023


Jimi Hendrix
Legends of Pop and Rock Music

Jimi Hendrix cancel 1 Jimi Hendrix cancel 2 

Jimi Hendrix stamp

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Designer: Jan-Niklas Kröger

Release date: August 3, 2023


International Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem 70 Years

International Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem 70 Years International Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem 70 Years

International Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem 70 Years

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Photograph of the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center |

Designer: Stefan Guzy
Photographer: © Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images

Release date: August 3, 2023


100 Years Weimar Bauhaus Exhibition  

Bauhaus cover

Cover, 2 stamps

If you are unfamiliar with the Bauhaus movement, this page from Artnet has page that will help you understand the many facets of Bauhaus. The Bauhaus Museum is another good source Bauhaus Museum Weimar – Klassik Stiftung Weimar (klassik-stiftung.de).

100 years of Bauhaus: Berlin and beyond | Germany holidays | The Guardian is another good look at the movement. 

The first comprehensive exhibition of the State Bauhaus took place on 15 August until 30 September 1923 in Weimar. The Bauhaus, one of the most innovative and one of the most influential architecture and design schools of the 20th century, [with] three locations. …Workshops and
lessons as well as free art [were available from] the masters themselves. An exhibition of international architecture showed photographs, models and design drawings, e.g. by Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius. Performances took place at high-profile events such as the “Bauhaus Week” in August contemporary modern music…
ISSUE 15 – 2023 Stamp & Information, 5 July, 2023

This year’s celebration will happen August 15 – 31, 2023

Joost Schmidt, 1923

Poster for the 1st Bauhaus Exhibition in 1923
Artist: Joost Schmidt, 1923

 Designer: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: August 3, 2023


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Checking in on Brazil’s 2022 stamps

Checking in on Brazil’s 2022 stamps

I’m playing catch up with Brazil’s 2022 stamps. I know, I know, I’m late in posting this. Which is a shame, because Brazil offers some fantastic cancels to chase down.  One of the year’s best was the joint Ireland celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Ulysses.

Brazil & Ireland - Centenary of the first publication of Ulysses
Series Diplomatic Relations cance

I would love to have seen that on a cover! 

If you are a collector or, thinking of starting a Brazilian stamp collection, don’t miss the information Brazil posts on their website. It’s chocked full of details about each stamp, complete with first class images. Correios also issues info sheets for every stamp, including details on theme, type of paper, print method, etc. They are free to download and in both Portuguese and English. Here’s a sample of what you get:

edital_4_2022_profissao_bombeiro_web_Page_1

edital_4_2022_profissao_bombeiro_web_Page_1

 I reference these information sheets quite a bit throughout the post, so thanks to Brazil for making a writer’s life a bit easier. 

Alas, 2022 had no food issues, unlike the cheese fun rom 2021. Have to admit, I was a little disappointed because I was looking forward to a few tasty stamps.  

8 stamps showing different Brazilian cheeses

But, we are rewarded in another way with August’s solid bit of 1st flight artwork

Centenary of the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic 3 setenant stamps

Beautiful artwork from the brush of Brazilian-American painter Gustavo Ramos. I’ve included a few tidbits of history around this flight and a bit of a philatelic scandal post-flight to amuse you. 

There are no more updates for this page, but don’t let that stop you from subscribing to my weekly newsletter. It goes out Sunday nights (or Monday morning, depending on where you are) and includes a list of all updated stamp programs, new article links and subscriber only content. It’s free! 

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January

Feast of The Lord Good Jesus of Bonfim

Feast of The Lord Good Jesus of Bonfim cancel 

Feast of The Lord Good Jesus of Bonfim stamp one Feast of The Lord Good Jesus of Bonfim stamp two

2 stamps, cancel 
offset

Designer: Ateliê 15

Release date: January 14, 2022


April

Centenary of Modern Art Week

Centenary of Modern Art Week cancel

Centenary of Modern Art Week sheet of stamps

4 stamps on souvenir sheet, cancel
offset

This stamp is broken down into what are called the “Four Artistic Pillars” of modern art:

  1. literature – Carybé (1911-1997) was Brazilian artist, journalist and historian
    “Carybé influenced the pillar of Literature, in his illustrations made for the book Macunaíma. With a hint of irreverence, the
    main character is lying on Mário de Andrade’s glasses painting.” 
  2. painting – Zina Aita (1900 – 1967) anchors the painting pillar their work ““À Sombra” which depicts ” workers are motorcycle delivery men, characters in Brazilian daily lives in large urban centers” 
  3. music – Villa-Lobos (1887- 1959) represents the 3rd pillar with “Trenzinho do Caipira” (Countrymen Little Train)
  4. architecture – the last pillar is fittingly MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art), a museum devoted to Modernism
    All quotes are from Brazil’s info sheet EDITAL 2/2022

In the right center of the souvenir sheet there is a already grown tree in reference to the one created by Di Cavalcanti for the event poster. Illustrations inspired by the works of Tarsila do Amaral are elements of connection between the postage stamps and giving motion to the entire composition. The background of the souvenir sheet, in silver, shows a mosaic with different patterns that refer to the mix of Brazilian culture: Yoruba patterns, Ipanema sidewalk, São Paulo sidewalks, Marajoara ceramics, the tiles of the São Luís mansions and the tiles of Cândido Portinari. EDITAL 2/2022

Designers: Juliana Souza and Paulo Baptista

 Release date: April 15, 2022


May

Sunset

brazil sunset2023

Sunsets of Brazil cancel

15 Stamps on a sheet, cancel (there are numerous cancel locations to collect)
offset

Cancel release locations:

  1. Figueiredo-AM
  2. Boa Vista-RR
  3. Aracaju-SE
  4. Conde-BA
  5. Salvador-BA
  6. Rio de Janeiro
  7. Fernando de Noronha-PE
  8. Acreúna-GO
  9. Quirinópolis-GO
  10. Alto Paraíso-Go
  11. Goiânia-GO
  12. Ouro Preto-MG
  13. Arraial do Cabo-RJ
  14. Presidente Epitácio, SP
  15. São Paulo-SP
  16. Bauru-SP
  17. Porto Alegre-RS
  18. Florianópolis-SC

15 stamps from 5 regions of Brazil, with 3 stamps for each region. Not sure if I got all the cancel locations, so if I’m missing one, leave it in the comments. 

Photographers:
Rosinaldo Azevedo Santos
Neivo Soares Guimarães
Francisco Ronaldo Neves da Silva
Mônica Alves Guimarães
Márcia Tereza Dias de Oliveira
Patrícia Fernandes Cardoso
Rauphe Cassimiro da Silva
Carlos Moura Júnior
Virggillius G. E. Ferreira Maia
Ana Paula Soares
Priscila Verginia C. Frattini
Ariane Cristina Dutra.
Antônio Sérgio de Sena Vaz
Ayrton Castro de Oliveira
Lucy Juliana Reiter Kleinowski

 Release date: May 3, 2022


Firefighters
Series: Professions

Firefighters
Series: Professions cancel one Firefighters
Series: Professions cancel two Firefighters
Series: Professions cancel three

Firefighters
Series: Professions

1 stamp, cancel (3 locations)
offset & embossed

Designer: Adriana Shibata
Shibata’s first design for Brazil was the 2012 Bicentennial of Chinese Immigration in Brazil

 Release date: May 4, 2022


Tribute to Daniel Azulay (1947 – 2020)

Tribute to Daniel Azulay cancel 

Tribute to Daniel Azulay

1 stamp, cancel
offset, embossing, intaglio ink

Daniel Azulay was a Brazilian media figure, active in many disciplines, from paintings, children’s books, TV shows, video games to comics. Early in his career he made the superhero parody comics ‘Capitão Sol’ (1967) and ‘Capitão Cipó’ (1968-1969), but he is best remembered for the ‘Turma do Lambe-Lambe’ (1975) franchise, which inspired both a children’s TV show as well as its own 1983-1984 comic magazine. Always dressed in colourful ties, shirts and suspenders, Azulay gave children a positive outlook on life with respect for the environment.  Daniel Azulay – Lambiek Comiclopedia

Daniel Azulay, renowned Brazilian artist and educator, dies of coronavirus at 72 – Jewish Telegraphic Agency (jta.org) 

Designer: Lidia Marina Hurovich Neiva 
“it not just a profession, for me, Art is a way of life, of thinking and expressing my emotions and hopes,a way of transforming and creating my own world, despite everything terrible that happens everywhere.” lidia marina hurovich neiva artist illustrator art about
Artist: Daniel Azulay

 Release date: May 30, 2022


June

Joint Issue Brazil & Ireland – Centenary of the first publication of Ulysses
Series: Diplomatic Relations

Brazil & Ireland - Centenary of the first publication of Ulysses
Series Diplomatic Relations cance 

Brazil & Ireland - Centenary of the first publication of Ulysses
Series Diplomatic Relations 

Brazil & Ireland - Centenary of the first publication of Ulysses
Series Diplomatic Relations

1 stamp, sheets of 8, cancel
offset

Designer: Daniel Effi  

 Release date: June 16, 2022


Independence of Brazil 
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil  

Independence of Brazil 
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil 

Independence of Brazil 
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil

1 stamp, cancel
Spot color (green and yellow)

The stamp shows the official logo of the Bicentennial of Independence.  

The purpose of this series in honor of the Bicentennial is to visually show that Independence went through different expressions
in Brazilian territory, with a multiplicity of actions and political projects. Commemorative Postal Issue | Bicentenary of Independence – Oficial Logo (febraf.com.br)

Designer: Philately Manager

Release date: June 17, 2022


Bicentenary of Independence – Popular Movements
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil

Bicentenary of Independence - Popular Movements
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil
Bicentenary of Independence - Popular Movements
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil
 

Bicentenary of Independence - Popular Movements
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil

1 stamp, cancel (2 locations)
offset

Although difficult to see on a small stamp, the image is composed of “thousands of letters, phrases and words”. 

Using the word as a symbolic object, the artist creates an image composed of thousands of letters, phrases and words that propose the reinvention of the Brazilian utopia through the power of memory… Emissão Postal Comemorativa EDITAL 8/2022

Designer: Hal Wildson

Release date: June 25, 2022


Joint Issue Brazil and Portugal – Bicentennial of Brazil’s Independence
Series:  200 years of independence of Brazil & Diplomatic Relations

Joint Issue Brazil and Portugal - Bicentennial of Brazil's Independence
Series:  200 years of independence of Brazil & Diplomatic Relations

Joint Issue Brazil and Portugal - Bicentennial of Brazil's Independence
Series:  200 years of independence of Brazil & Diplomatic Relations

1 stamp, sheets of 12, cancel
offset

In January 1822, with the “Dia do Fico” (‘I shall stay’ Day), for the first time, Dom Pedro deliberately disobeyed orders coming from Lisbon. The process of convincing Dom Pedro to disobey the courts and assume the leadership of the Brazilian resistance movement was the result of the combination of many efforts and the most diverse civil society organizations. Emissão Postal Comemorativa EDITAL 9/2022

Designer: Ely Borges and Isabel Flecha de Lima
Paintings: 
“Sessão do Conselho de Ministros” by Georgina Moura Andrade de Albuquerque. Held by the National History Museum. 
“Dom Pedro I” by Simplício Rodrigues. Held by the Imperial Museum

Release date: June 29, 2022


July

Cayenne Villages and Populations of Brazil

Cayenne Villages and Populations of Brazil cancel  

Cayenne Villages and Populations of Brazil

1 stamp, sheets of 12, cancel
offset

Photographer: Daniel Chapaval
Co-designer: Mariana Balduzzi
Art-finishing: Lidia Marina Hurovich

Release date: July 1, 2022


August

Centenary of the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic

Centenary of the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic Centenary of the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic Centenary of the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic

Centenary of the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic 3 setenant stamps Centenary of the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic sheet of 12

3 se-tenant stamps, sheet of 12, cancel (2 locations)
offset embossed

Artur de Sacadura Freire Cabral and Carlos Viegas Gago Coutinho flew a modified Fairey III-D seaplane “the Lusitânia” from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. Taking off March 30, 1922 they landed  June 17, 1922. How the dramatic first South Atlantic aerial crossing influenced modern navigation | World Air Sports Federation (fai.org) has an good write up on the flight and how it “didn’t go to plan”, which was pretty much the norm for pioneer flights. 

In total, the flight took 62 hours and 26 minutes. 

Portugal issued a commemorative 16 stamp issue a year after the flight, on May 30, 1923. The same design was used on all the stamps – both the Brazilian and Portuguese presidents where in the top corners and pilots Cabral and Goutinho in the centre of the image. There were some shenanigans involved in the sale of this stamp, courtesy Portuguese postal officials. According to Sanabria’s Air Post Catalogue 1944 the developemnt and sale were rigged to make them scarce

This issue was manipulated by a syndicate of employee of the Post Office who had the privilege of buying ll remainders at a large discount from face value. The time of sae was so arranged that the public had only half a day in which to purchase the stamps. They were sent to only a few cities and complete sets were not obtainable anywhere. Sanabria, p. 696

Artist: Gustavo Ramos

Release date: August 1, 2022


Personalities – Bicentennial of Brazil’s Independence
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil

Personalities - Bicentennial of Brazil's Independence Personalities - Bicentennial of Brazil's Independence 

Personalities - Bicentennial of Brazil's Independence

4 stamps on souvenir sheet, cancel (two locations)
offset, silk printing

  • Cipriano Barata – Conspiracy of Tailors 
  • Frei Caneca
  • Pedro Pedroso 
  • Maria Quitéria

Designer: Cordeiro de Sá

Release date: August 20, 2022


September

Centenary of Radio in Brazil

100th anniversary Brazil Radio 100th anniversary Brazil Radio 

100th anniversary Brazil Radio

4 stamps on souvenir sheet, cancel (two locations)
offset

The man in the stamp is Edgard Roquette-Pinto:

Roquette Pinto (1884-1954), professor, physician, director of the National Museum and anthropologist, partner of Cândido Rondon, researched radio-electricity for physiological purposes, followed everything and, enthusiastic about the transmissions, convinced the Brazilian Academy of Sciences to sponsor the creation of the Rádio Sociedade do Rio de Janeiro, which would become PRA-2. The radio only began operating, however, on April 30, 1923, with a transmitter donated by Casa Pekan, from Buenos Aires, installed at the Escola Politécnica, in the then federal capital, Rio de Janeiro. His staunch defense of educational radio made him donate his station to the Ministry of Education and Culture in 1936, and today it is Rádio MEC. He also created, in 1934, the Rádio Escola (Radio School) do Rio de Janeiro, which today carries his name: Rádio Roquette-Pinto. Emissão Postal Comemorativa EDITAL 13/2022

The first radio transmission went out September 7, 1922, to celebrate Brazil’s Centenary. 

Designer: Felipe Honda

Release date: September 7, 2022


Mercosur Emission – Fauna and flora – Succulents

Centenary of Radio in Brazil Centenary of Radio in Brazil 

Centenary of Radio in Brazil

4 stamps, sheets of 16, cancel (two locations)
offset

  • Okra-da-lapa cactus (Uebelmannia pectinifera)
  • Mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru)
  • Stone Plant (Lithops lesliei)
  • Sisal (Agave sisalana)

Photographer: Fábio Raya

Release date: September 22, 2023


October

Participation of the Post Office – Bicentenary of Independence
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil

Participation of the Post Office - Bicentenary of Independence Participation of the Post Office - Bicentenary of Independence Participation of the Post Office - Bicentenary of Independence

Participation of the Post Office - Bicentenary of Independence  

1 stamp, cancel (3 locations)
offset

Designer: Taisa Borges

Release date: October 9, 2022


Christmas 2022

Christmas Brazil 2022 cancel

Christmas 2022 Brazil

1 stamp on souvenir sheet, cancel (28 locations) 
offset + spot UV glitter varnish + gold hot stamping

Designer: Adriana Shibata

Release date: October 31, 2022


November

Centenary of the Army Physical Education School – Cota – Article 9 of Ordinance No. 2,014/2021/MCOM

Centenary of the Army Physical Education School - Cota - Article 9 of Ordinance No. 2,014/2021/MCOM

Centenary of the Army Physical Education School - Cota - Article 9 of Ordinance No. 2,014/2021/MCOM

1 stamp, cancel
offset

Designer: André de Souza Ferraz Alves

Release date: November 9, 2023


Historic Buildings – Bicentennial of Independence
Series: 200 years of independence of Brazil

Historic Buildings - Bicentennial of Independence cancel two Historic Buildings - Bicentennial of Independence cancel one 

Historic Buildings - Bicentennial of Independence 

Historic Buildings - Bicentennial of Independence

2 stamps on 2 souvenir sheets, 2 cancels
offset

First image: National Historical Museum of Rio de Janeiro for 100th anniversary
Museu Histórico Nacional | Conteúdo completo sobre o Museu Histórico Nacional (museus.gov.br)

Second image: façade of the Palácio dos Correios
Palace of Boxes and Packaging (palaciodascaixas.com)

Designer: photos of National Historical Museum from the  MHN/Ibram collection with art-finishing  by Jamile Costa Sallum – Correios (MHN)
Correios Palace – Lidia Marina Hurovich Neiva – Correios 

Release date: November 15, 2023


Vaccines

Vaccine Brazil 2022 cancel

Vaccine Brazil 2022

6 stamps, cancel
offset

Designer: Alan Magalhães

Release date: November 22, 2022


December

Upaep: Arte – Forró – Intangible Cultural Heritage
Series: America

Upaep: Arte - Forró
Series: America Upaep: Arte - Forró
Series: America

Upaep: Arte - Forró
Series: America

1 stamp on souvenir sheet, cancel (2 locations)
offset

Forró was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO) in 2021.  Forró is a combination of dance and music, involving a broad number of instruments such as the accordion, guitars (accoustic and electric), violins, and zambumba (to name a few).

What is Forró  by Y IVAN DIAS E SANDRINHO DUPAN is a fun resource that goes into some depth on the music and dance that makes up Forró, as well as it’s origins. 

Designer: Daniel Effi

Release date: December 13, 2022


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A Canadian study in 4 seasons

A Canadian study in 4 seasons

I’ve been looking through my Canadian stamps a lot lately, picking over some of my favourites. The 1971 Four Seasons was one of the earliest sets my mom brought home for me, so I’ve always had a soft spot for it. It wasn’t until lately that I began to wonder about how it came about. That’s the thing about stamps, you can look at them a million times and still find something new to think about. 

If a person decided to do a Canadian study in 4 seasons, there would be no better symbol to focus on than the maple leaf.  The maple leaf has been closely associated with Canada since sometime in the 18th century. It appeared on Canadian coins as early as the 1850s.  They first started popping up in stamps during Queen Victoria’s reign, most notably on the 1897-98 Maple Leaf  issues.  

1897-98 Maple Leaf issues Canada QV stamp 1897-98 Maple Leaf issues Canada QV stamp  
** 1897-98 Maple Leaf issues from author’s collection

But it wasn’t until 1959 that the maple leaf became more than decorative trim on stamps. The humble leaf moved from ornamental status to an integral part of the featured design in two issues that year – the Joint US-Canada St. Lawrence Seaway and the Bicentenary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.  

1959 Joint Canada US ST. Lawrence Seaway stamp ntebook0060
 ** 1959 stamps from author’s collection

In 1965, after a long, contentious debate, Canada adopted a national flag, which prominently featured a single red maple leaf. With the new flag, came a proliferation of stamps using the maple leaf as the prime image. One of the best was the 1971 Four Seasons, by  Canadian artist Alma Duncan. The series consisted of 4 stamps, one for each season. This was the first of 2 commissions Duncan completed for Canada Post, her second, Floral Aerogrammes, was released in In 1973.    

Alma Duncan self-portrait 
Self-portrait by Alma Duncan pen, ink and
coloured pencils on paper Image courtesy Archives Canada

A person could argue that this is just a standard flora design, and if they were issued by any country other than Canada, I’d agree. But given the importance of the maple leaf as part of Canada’s national identity, it takes on a deeply symbolic feel. Any leaf could have been picked, but Alma chose the iconic maple. 

We’re lucky Archives Canada has some of the artwork and proofs for the stamps so we can follow the design’s progression from detailed sketch to final product. The images remain unchanged, but crucial elements such as font position, colour and style shift throughout the stages, as did the placement of the season. It moved from a center position along the top of the drawing to the small print on the lower left corner of the artwork. 

Spring maple keys  

First stamp in the set with original artwork and specimen
 

Canada Maple Leaf Spring drawing proof A Canadian study  in 4 Seasons    Canada Maple Leaf Spring specimen  
  **Images courtesy Archives Canada

Summer green maple leaves

Second stamp in the set with original artwork and specimen
     

Canada Maple Leaf Summer draft image    Canada Maple Leaf Summer proof 
**Images courtesy Archives Canada

Fall with the iconic red leaves 

Third stamp in the set with original artwork and 2 specimens showing different font colours.

It’s interesting to see how Canada Post played around with colours to match the seasons. Above, the summer font is green to match the leaf and the first one is an earthy brown colour to go with the maple key.
 

Canada Maple Leaf Fall draft      Canada Maple Leaf Fall Specimen proof    Canada Maple Leaf Fall specimen 2
**Images courtesy Archives Canada

Winter fall leaves in the snow

Two specimens testing two font colours.

I couldn’t find the original drawings in the Archives, just these two specimens showing two colour choices. The first uses blue for the font, which picks up the blue shades in the snow. The second falls back on a darker blue-black which brings out the leaf more effectively. 
Image courtesy Archives Canada

Canada Maple Leaf Winter with blue print    Canada Maple Leaf Winter black print  
**Images courtesy Archives Canada

Here are 4 specimen covers for each stamp, printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company. Note the season is still on the top of each stamp and 4 font colours have been used. 

Canada Maple Leaf 4 covers 
Image courtesy Archives Canada

Final stamps

The final production saw a number of significant changes to the design. Canada Post opted for a thin, sleek font, discarding the boxy one on the specimens above. As well, the different font colours were dropped in favour of a standardized blue-grey on all 4 stamps. Discarding the proposed brown, red, green and blue was a good move. When this article was sent out to subscribers for a pre-release view, one frequent follower sent a bit of extra information regarding the font. Many thanks!

One note about the typeface. The typeface was actually the same on all the samples — it was the weight that changed…. The sans serif typeface used for all the samples was Helvetica. Helvetica is available in many weights (or fonts) – light, medium, regular, bold, black etc. The original sketches show a very bold font but the final decision to use a medium weight was the correct one. Newsletter subscriber 

The shifting colours was a little distracting, and by using one colour, the artwork is the main focus now. One last change was made with the price of the fall and winter stamps increased to 7c.

Canada Maple Leaf  Spring 1971 final stampCanada Maple Leaf  Summer 1971 final stampCanada Maple Leaf  Fall 1971 final stampCanada Maple Leaf winter 1971 final stamp
** 1971 stamps from author’s collection

This first day cover solidifies the notion that the use of a maple leaf was a deliberate choice. The cover trumpets the maple leaf as “Canada’s National Emblem”  

Canada Maple Leaf FDC with all 4 stamps Canada's Four Seasons stamps 1971
Image courtesy Archives Canada

Of the dozens of Canadian flag/maple leaf motifs issued over the decades, the Four Seasons still stands as one of the best. It isn’t an overt display of nationalism, which in my opinion makes it more effective.  

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All finished? How about something completely random to read: 

Time for Norway’s 2023 stamp program!

Time for Norway’s 2023 stamp program!

Norway’s 2023 stamp program is kicking into gear (slowly) with two stamps celebrating the northern most regions of the country.  Magnus Rakeng once again begins the year with stunning designs, this time of Svalbard. A number of familiar names, including Enzo Fingers, have created this year’s stamps and covers, so we know to expect high quality and clean designs from start to finish for 2023. 

Images are slow to trickle in (as of publication date), so patience is needed. The first two stamps are set for release on February 21, but only 2 scans are available. Don’t forget to come back to see the detailed list of items that will include must see FDCs, gold FDCs, presentation packs, maxi cards and cancels. 

As regular readers are aware, I love a good postmark, and Norway offers uncluttered cancels that easy to overlook.  Although I love a highly detailed cancel, there’s something about the simplicity of Norway’s cancels that make them an attractive addition to any cancel hound’s collection. Here are a few samples from the previous 2 years. 

Motorcycle FDC cancel Norway Christmas 2021 cancel  1647 QR code cancel   Tromso Museum cancel 2022 

A number of reoccurring themes are back, including:

  • Town anniversaries
  • EUROPA
  • Research, Innovation, Technology
  • Christmas 
  • pets

One new theme is intriguing #Norwaymemories2022. Not sure what that will be about, but we won’t have to wait long, it’s due in April. If you’d like to be notified when this page is updated sign up for my weekly newsletter. It goes out Sunday nights (or Monday morning, depending on where you are) and includes a list of all updated stamp programs, new article links and subscriber only content. It’s free! 

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February 

Svalbard

Svalbard cancel

Svalbard  2023 NorwaySvalbard   NORWAY 2023 reindeer Norway's 2023 stamp program 

Svalbard fdc Svalbard gold fdc

2 stamps, 2 FDCs (one gold FDC), cancel, 2 maxi cards, collector’s set, presentation pack
offset

Forlandet National Park and Svalbard reindeer
Svalbard is home to 47 National Park. If you are looking at a map, locate Norway and then go north, keep going until you hit the islands. That’s Svalbard. Don’t forget your long underwear.

Welcome to the High Arctic of Svalbard! – Visit Svalbard

Designer: Magnus Rakeng
Photo: Henrik Strømstad, Adobestock

Release date: February 21, 2023


Arendal and Risør 300th Anniversaries
Series: Town anniversaries

Norway town anniversary cancel 2023  

  Norway Risor stamp one Norway Arendal stamp one

   Norway town anniversary fdc 2023 Norway town anniversary fdc gold 2023

2 stamps, 2 FDCs (one gold FDC), cancel, 2 maxi cards, collector’s set, presentation pack
offset

 

Designer: Kristin Slotterøy

Release date: February 21, 2023


April 

#Norwaymemories2022

#Norwaymemories2022 #Norwaymemories2022#Norwaymemories2022 #Norwaymemories2022 #Norwaymemories2022 #Norwaymemories2022

6 stamps (more images coming)
offset

  • The Northern light in Lofoten
  • Olden in Nordfjord
  • Wharf buildings in Trondheim
  • Hovdsundet, near Bodø
  • A herd of goats near Skei, Sunnfjord
  • Svolværgeita Mountain
  •  

The images were picked from about 13,000 photos submitted for the Norway Memories contest.   Norway’s press release on this issue includes info on where the photos were taken Issue 21st April 2023 Norway Memories – Posten.no/en

Designer: Camilla Kvien Jensen
Photographers: ené Ringnes, Lisa Christensen, Carolina Llodra Millás, Rita Arhaug, Jan Finstad, Nathalie Monnier
FDC photographer: Soria Moria-traversen på Kvaløya, @pudderpiken / Hege Nilsen

Release date: April 21, 2023


May

EUROPA 2023: Peace 

EUROPA 2023: Peace  cancel 

EUROPA 2023: Peace  stamp 

EUROPA 2023: Peace  FDCEUROPA 2023: Peace  gold cover

1 stamp, FDC, gold cover, cancel (also available collector’s set, presentation leaflet, maxi card)
offset

Peace knot designer: Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir 
Designer: Jørn O. Jøntvedt

Release date: May 9, 2023


June

Jakob Weidemann (1923-2001) 100 Years 

14th June 2023 Jakob Weidemann Centenary cancel 

14th June 2023 Jakob Weidemann Centenary stamp 

14th June 2023 Jakob Weidemann Centenary 14th June 2023 Jakob Weidemann Centenary fdc 14th June 2023 Jakob Weidemann Centenary gold fdc

1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC, gold cover, cancel (also available presentation pack and collector’s set) 
offset/steel print

Art: Game Bird Takes Off

Jakob Weidemann – Artvee 
Issue 14th June 2023 Jakob Weidemann Centenary – Posten.no/en

Designer: Enzo Finger
Photographer
: © Jacob Weidemann/BONO, Rolf M. Aagaard / Aftenposten / NTB

Release date: June 14, 2023


Crown Prince Couple 50 Years

Royal couple cancel 

Crown Prince Couples 50th Birthdays 2Crown Prince Couples 50th Birthdays 

Norway Royal couple FDC 2Crown Prince Couples 50th Birthdays gold FDC

2 stamps, FDC, gold cover, cancel (also available 2 maxi cards, presentation pack and collector’s set) 
offset

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Illusrator: Trond Bredesen
Designer: Camilla Kvien Jensen

Release date: June 14, 2023


October

Research, Innovation, Technology  

Norway technology cancel

Research, Innovation, Technology stamp one Research, Innovation, Technology stamp two  

Norway technology fdc Norway technology gold fdc

2 stamps, FDC, gold FDC, cancel, also available presentation pack, 2 maxi cards & collector’s set 
offset

  • Animal feed from spruce
  • COVID-19 diagnostics

Designer: Enzo Finger

Release date: October 7, 2023


Ferries 

Norway Ferries 2023 cancel 

MF “Ampere”, “Svelvik”, MF “Værøy”, MS “Angvik” 

Norway Ferries 2023 FDC Norway Ferries 2023 gold FDC

4 stamps, FDC, gold FDC, cancel, also available 4 maxi cards, presentation pack & collector’s set
offset

A special 28 page prestige booklet is also available.

Designer: Jørn O. Jøntvedt

Release date: October 7, 2023


November

Pets 
2nd in series

Designer: Cecilie Sørgård
Sørgård designed the 2008 Pets stamps featuring Norwegian Elkhound Puppy and Norwegian Forest Kitten 

Release date: November 7, 2023


Christmas Stamps

Designer: Ragnar Aalbu

Release date: November 7, 2023


 

UN 2023 stamp program starts

UN 2023 stamp program starts

The UN 2023 stamp program starts, like so many others, with the annual Lunar New Year.  For the second year in row, Chinese artist Tiger Pan supplies artwork for the celebration, taking over from Wang Humming, who created the 2021 Year of Ox set. The United Nations taps artists from around the world to create special issues, so collectors get a chance to acquire tiny pieces of art from some of the best in the business. 

However ….

The UN Post office is very parsimonious in the advanced information they release regarding artists and designers. They release a tentative list, well before the first issue appears, but no information beyond the date, topic and number of issues. That’s okay, it gives us something to look for.  

As well as designs from UN stalwarts Sergio Baradat and Rorie Katz, the 2022 program also gave us art from Martin Mörck and Olga Shtonda. But hands down, the best design from 2022, was Tiger’s Tigers

Year of the Tiger United Nations 2022

I think what made this such an extraordinary issue were Pan’s thoughts about the design:

Inspired by the classic verse “Tiger in the heart, smell the rose” in Sigfried Sassoon’s masterpiece “In My Past, Present and Future”. This verse is wrapped in a universal value, and everything has two sides, one representing strength and the other representing delicacy. Tiger Pan Pan on Behance

That’s one of the great thing about the Internet. It has allowed stamp collectors a bit of insight into the artist’s thought process. It’s not always easy to find, but hunting down the information is part of the joy, for me, of stamps.  It often brings a greater appreciation of the design and art. 

Did you know you can get updates sent directly to your mailbox? My newsletter goes out Sunday nights (or Monday morning, depending on where you are) and includes a list of all updated stamp programs, new article links and subscriber only content. It’s free! 

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January

Chinese Lunar Calendar Year of the Rabbit

UN Year of the Rabbit 2023 sheet  

UN Year of the Rabbit 2023 sheet with cancels Sarasota-Rabbit-2023-Green-Card

1 stamp, sheets of 10, show card
Show cards issued for SARASOTA NAT’L STAMP EXHIBITION

Once again, Pan’s design included the Gongbi 工笔 art style by illustrator Li Jing.  To learn more about Gongbi start with  Cultural Treasures of China – Gongbi & Shuimo Painting – Cultural Keys. It’s a nice introduction  to understand this ancient artform that dates to 206 BCE – 220 CE. This page Gongbi Painting: Traditional Chinese Realistic Painting (chinaculture.org), goes into a bit of detail explaining the techniques.

The stamp interface continues the style of the United Nations Year of the Tiger stamps, using a painting technique with Chinese characteristics – “Gongbi”. Combined with the auspicious clouds painted in white, concise and clean, without embellishment, a vivid and expressive rabbit, soaring up the clouds and looking high into the future. Show the charm of traditional Chinese aesthetics and art, so that more Chinese people have a strong resonance and affect homesickness.  Tiger Pan Pan on Behance

Designer: Tiger Pan (China)
TIger Pan also designed the 2022 Year of the Tiger and the 2018 Year of the Dog sets
Gongbi Illustrator: Li Jing

Release date: January 20, 2023


March

Endangered Species (CITES 50TH Anniversary)

UN 2023 Endangered Species FDC   3 different cancels

Endangered Spcies - 3 blocks of stamps with 4 different animals n each  

UN 2023 Endangered Species FDC   3 sheets of 16 with 4 animals on each sheet

UN 2023 Endangered Species FDC  with 3 bocks of stamps   

UN 2023 Endangered Species UN 2023 Endangered Species

UN 2023 Endangered Species maxi card set

UN 2023 Endangered Species souvenir folder coer UN 2023 Endangered Species  inside folder Endangered Species UN 2023 silk cover

3 stamps, 3 sheets of 16, 3 maxi cards, FDCs, 3 cancels, souvenir collection folder, Limited Edition silk cover 
Offset lithography

  • Dalbergia saxatilis (Dalbergia saxatilis)
  • Chelonia mydas (Green turtle)
  • Equus przewalskii (Przewalski’s horse)
  • Gymnogyps californianus (California condor)
 
 
  • Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback whale)
  • Galanthus elwesii (Snowdrop)
  • Lynx pardinus (Iberian lynx)
  • Saiga tatarica (Saiga antelope)
 

50th anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)  
UN 2023 Endangered Species poster from UN Website

Friday, 3 March 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of a landmark convention that stands at the crossroads of wildlife conservation and sustainable trade. Today we also celebrate the day when 10 years ago the United Nations General Assembly agreed an international day to honour the importance of wild animals and plants. Both anniversaries fall at a time of unprecedented challenge for nature and biodiversity, with millions of species of wild animals and plants affected by the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. Celebrating 50 years of CITES conserving the world’s wild animals and plants on World Wildlife Day 2023  | CITES

Artist: 王荣亮 Rlon Wang  
Rlon is a Shenzhen, Guangdong based artist. He is also known as Rlonart. 
RLoN Wang – Official website of Rlonart
This is Rlon’s second set of stamps for the United Nations. Previous design was Endangered Species 2019
Designer: Rorie Katz

Release date: March 3, 2023


The Fifth UN Conference of Least Developed Countries (LDC5)

United Nations March 5 2023 souvenir sheet "Least Developed Nation"

3 stamps on a numbered souvenir sheet, cancel
16,000 souvenir sheets were released 

The mission of the Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) is to raise awareness about the economic, social and environmental potential that exist in these countries. They aim to ensure that the pressing needs of the 1.1 billion people who live in those countries remain high on the international agenda. 
UN press release 

Photographs: 

  • Mali (sunset in water) © UN Photo/Marco Dormino
  • Afghanistan (group of girls) © UNOCHA/Charlotte Cans
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo (Woman with arms out) © UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti,
  • Timor-Leste (hands with coffee beans) © UN Photo/Martine Perret.

Designer: OHRLLS

Release date: March 5, 2023


April 

WHO – Health for all

WHO

2 stamps, sheets of 10
offset

Release date: April 7, 2023


World Art Day

Henry Moore UN 2023 Hamano UN 2023 Corbusier UN 2023 Pede UN 2023 Pujol UN 2023 Picasso UN 2023

Henry Moore sheet UN 2023 Hamano sheet UN 2023 Corbusier sheet UN 2023 Pede sheet UN 2023 

Pujol sheet UN 2023 Picasso sheet UN 2023

6 stamps, 6 sheets of 12 stamps 
offset lithography

 details coming 

This set will include: 

World Art Day was declared in 2019. It is part of a UNESCO initiative to recognise the importance of art & promote public enjoyment and awareness. World Art Day | UNESCO

Designer: Sergio Baradat (United Nations) using designs from UNESCO Art Collection 

Release date: April 15, 2023


UNITAR – United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) 60th Anniversary

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) 60th Anniversary

1 stamp, sheets of 10

This sheet could be personalised. The UN logo could be replaced with a different image.

Release date: April 15, 2023


May  

Postal Stationery

Postal Stationery63¢ pre-stamped envelope large
€ 1,20 revalued pre-stamped envelope (2022 €0,85 + €0,35)
€ 1,90 revalued pre-stamped envelope (2022 €1,80 + €0,10)Postal Stationery 

 3 pre-stamped envelopes

63¢ pre-stamped envelope large
€ 1,20 revalued pre-stamped envelope (2022 €0,85 + €0,35)
€ 1,90 revalued pre-stamped envelope (2022 €1,80 + €0,10)

Release date: May 5, 2023


International Tea Day

International Tea Day

10 stamps, sheets of 10 

This sheet could be personalised. The UN logo could be replaced with a different image.

Release date: May 21, 2023


June 

World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs

World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs cancel 3 World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs CANCEL ONE World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs cancel two World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs 

World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs World Ocean Day / Coral Reefs

27 stamps on 3 sheets, 3 FDCs, 3 cancels
Hexachrome

US$ 0.63 The Florida reefs, United States
CHF 1,10 Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
€ 1,00 The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Designer: Sergio Baradat

Release date:  June 8, 2023


Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP

Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP

Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP 

Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP Don’t Choose Extinction – UNDP

3 stamps on 3 souvenir sheet, 3 FDCs, 3 cancels
offset

At the heart of the campaign is a short film launched by UNDP featuring an animated dinosaur named Frankie (voiced by actor Jack Black), who storms up to the General Assembly podium at United Nations Headquarters in New York, shocking diplomats and urging world leaders to take action before it is too late. Frankie the Dino calls out Governments for spending billions on fossil fuel subsidies. Don’t Choose Extinction – UN Stamps

Designer: Rorie Katz using designs by Activista creative agency and Framestore productions

Release date:  June 20, 2023


August 

Body, Mind and Soul

Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music 3 cancels

Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music  Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music  Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music  Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music souvenir sheet one Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music souvenir sheet two Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music souvenir sheet   3 

Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music   FDC with 3 souvenir shets 

Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music   FDC Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music   FDC Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music   DC Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China - Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music   sheets

3 stamps, 3 souvenir sheets, 4 FDCs, 3 cancels, 3 sheets of 20
offset lithography

Celebrating UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China – Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music

Taijiquan, also called Tai chi was inscribed in the intangible list 2020: 

Chinese calligraphy was inscribed in 2009:

Guquin (zither) and its music was inscribed in 2008. This ancient instrument traces its roots back 3000 years:

Artist: Yun Zhang (P.R. China)
Designer: Rorie Katz (United Nations)

Release date:  August 10, 2023


September

UNESCO World Heritage – Türkiye

UNESCO World Heritage – Türkiye FDC 

TGreat Mosque and Hospital of Divriği Turkey-Web-Sing-GE2 Selimiye Mosque Turkey-Web-Sing-NY2 Nemrut Dağ Turkey-Web-Sing-NY1 Historic Areas of Istanbul Turkey-Web-Sing-VI2 Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia Turkey-Web-Sing-GE1 Ephesus Turkey-Web-Sing-VI1 Turkiye-FDC-combo-group Turkiye-FDC-Sing-Group Turkiye-Web-Book-group Turkiye-FS-group

6 stamps, 6 FDCs (single stamps), 3 FDCs (combos), 6 sheets of 20 stamps, 3 prestige booklets 
offset

  • US$ 0.66 Nemrut Dağ
  • US$ 1.50 Selimiye Mosque
  • CHF 1,10 Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia
  • CHF 1,80 Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği
  • € 1,20 Ephesus
  • € 2,10 Historic Areas of Istanbul

Designer: Rorie Katz

Release date: September 8, 2023


October

World Mental Health Day

Mental-Health-cancels 

UN mental health stamp oneUN mental health stamp two Mental-Health-Day-Singles-Group  

Mental-Health-Day-Souv-Card-Blank

Mental-Health-FDC Mental-Health-FDC  

Stampee souvenir cards Mental health sheets

3 stamps, souvenir card (stamped and unstamped), FDCs (single stamps and blocks), 3 sheets of 10 stamps
Hexachrome

World Mental Health Day was established to raise awareness, worldwide, about mental health and supporting those struggling with it. 

  • US$ 1.50 Confusion
  • CHF 1,80 Rainy days and Mondays
  • € 1,20 Mood swings

Designer: Sergio Baradat

Release date: October 10, 2023


November

UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP28) – Climate Action Superheroes

3 stamps on souvenir sheet  

Release date:  November 6, 2023


 Women in STEM – Marie Curie
 Definitive Stamp

Women in STEM – Marie Curie
 cancel 

Women in STEM – Marie Curie
 

Women in STEM – Marie Curie
Women in STEM – Marie Curie

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 20 

Marie Curie is best known for her pioneering research in radioactivity and her
discovery of two elements, polonium and radium. She was the first woman to
receive a Nobel Prize, the first person to receive a Nobel Prize twice, and the
only person to receive a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields.

UN Bulletin 142

Engraver/artist: Martin Mörck
Designer: Rorie Katz

Release date: November 7, 2023 


 

Tunisia’s 2023 stamp program

Tunisia’s 2023 stamp program

Tunisia’s 2023 stamp program offers a few challenges for collectors. While Tunisia Post issues an outline for their  yearly program well in advance, they are a bit spare in details even after the issues are released. If lucky, I will find the designers and artists, but often, none are mentioned.  Only three names popped up in both 2021 and 2022 – Héla Ben Cheikh, Islem Ouali and Yosr Jamoussi. It’s too early (as of the publication of this article) to say which designers will make an appearance in 2023 or if we’ve seen their work in the recent past.  

Heading into the third year tracking Tunisia’s stamps, I’m hoping to see more multi year themes begin to appear as well as artist names.  16 sets are planned, including the annual EUROMED stamp. This year’s theme is fun – Mediterranean Festivals which should produce a few colourful covers and stamps.  

Nothing to do now but wait for Tunisia Post.  

February

e-Houwiya: Digital Identity through mobile for secure access to electronic services

e-Houwiya_2023stamp

e-Houwiya_Tunisia2023_FDC

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset 

Designer: None listed

Release date:  February 22, 2023


March

90th Anniversary of Tunisian Scouting

90th Anniversary of Tunisian Scouting 90th Anniversary of Tunisian Scouting

1 stamp, FDC, cancel

Designer: unlisted

Release date: March 3, 2023


Distillation of Flowers

Distilllation of flowers Tunisia 2023 Yosr JAMOUSSI's Distillation of flowers stampDistilllation of flowers Tunisia 2023 FDC

2 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

Designer: Yosr JAMOUSSI
Jamoussi has a substantial design portfolio, starting with their 1990 International Year for Literacy issue.  Distillation of Flowers is Yosr’s 54 stamp set for Tunisia post.  

Release date: March 24, 2023


April

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children

Autism awareness Tunisia 2023 stamp 

Autism awareness Tunisia 2023 fdc

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

Designer: Lamia BOUKHRISS
Previous stamp The Ksours of Southern Tunisia 2020

Release date: April 2, 2023


50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Industrial Land Agency (AFI)

50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Industrial Land Agency (AFI) single stamp 50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Industrial Land Agency (AFI) FDC

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

No designer listed

Release date: April 14, 2023


May

Mushrooms from Tunisia

Mushrooms from Tunisia Mushrooms from Tunisia Mushrooms from Tunisia Mushrooms from Tunisia Mushrooms from Tunisia FDC

4 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

  • Lactarius edulis
  • Cantharellus cibarius  
  • Boletus edulis 
  • Amanita Caesarea 

Designer: Sihem Chaabene  

Release date: May 11, 2023


60th Anniversary of the African Union

60th Anniversary of the African Union 60th Anniversary of the African Union FDC

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

The AU is made up of 55 countries from across Africa. It’s multifold purpose is to engender cooperation among African nations, promote and defend African interests and promote sustainable development. About the African Union | African Union (au.int)

Designer: Tunisia Post

Release date: May 25, 2023


June

Islands of Tunisia: Kuriat, Galite

Islands of Tunisia: Kuriat, Galite stamp two Islands of Tunisia: Kuriat, Galite stamp one Islands of Tunisia: Kuriat, Galite FDC

2 stamps, FDC, cancel

Kuriat and Galite are part of a quartet of islands off the coast of Tunisia. 

Designer: Rania JANDOUBI
This is Jandoubi’s fist stamp for Tunisia Post. 

Release date: June 9, 2023


July

EUROMED 2023: Mediterranean Festivals  

EUROMED 2023: Mediterranean Festivals stamp one  EUROMED 2023: Mediterranean Festivals stamp two

EUROMED 2023: Mediterranean Festivals souvenir sheet 

EUROMED 2023: Mediterranean Festivals FDC Tunisia's 2023 stamp program

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel

Designer: Tunisian post office

Release date: July 11, 2023


August

Tunisian Women’s Day Commemorative  

Tunisia womens day 13 stamps on a sheet

Tunisia womens day cover

Sheet of 13 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

  • Alhem Belhaj 
  • Chadliya Bouzgarrou
  • Habiba Jilani
  • Majida Boulila
  • Radhia Haddad
  • Lilia Ben Salem
  • Alia Babbou
  • Kawthar Ben Henia 
  • Nejiba Hamrouni 
  • Fatma Moalla
  • Habiba Msika
  • Oulaya
  • Fatma Bin Saidene 
  • Hassida Rochdi
  • Zina Et Aziza
  • Sainte Monique 
  • La Dame de Carthage
  • Fatma al Fehria 
  • Om Ezzine Jammaliya 
  • Fella
  • Marionnettes de l’Eau 
  • Samida – Resiliente Justqu’a Mettre Fin a la Violence. 

 

Designer: Tunisian post staff

Release date: August 13, 2023


September

Tunisian Harissa 

Tunisia Harissa Tunisia Harissa 2 

Tunisia Harrissa fdc

2 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

If you haven’t tried harissa, then you haven’t lived. It’s a tasty, wonderful paste made from ripe red peppers, garlic and spices.

Harissa is a paste made with sun-dried hot peppers, freshly prepared spices and olive oil, which preserves it and slightly reduces its spiciness. It is found in almost every restaurant in Tunisia and also exported worldwide. UNESCO honours Tunisian spice Harissa with cultural heritage status (france24.com) 

 Last year UNESCO listed it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.  Harissa, knowledge, skills and culinary and social practices – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO

Artist: Amine Chaabane

Release date: September 22, 2023


October

Renewable Energies 

Renewable energies Tunisia Renewable energies Tunisia

2 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

Artists:  Safa Youssef and Yassine Ghorbel

Release date: October 12, 2023


November

Famous Tunisian People: Moncef Charfeddine, Taher Melligi   

Famous Tunisian People: Moncef Charfeddine, Taher MelligiFamous Tunisian People: Moncef Charfeddine, Taher Melligi

2 stamps

Designer:
Hela Bn Cheikh 
Safa Youssef

Release date: Novmber2, 2023


Centenary of the Higher Institute of Fine Arts of Tunis  

t2273 

Centenary of the Higher Institute of Fine Arts of Tunis

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

Institut Supérieur des Beaux-Arts de Tunis – المعهد العالي للفنون الجميلة بتونس (rnu.tn)

Artist: Yassine GHORBEL

Release date: November 15, 2023


December

World Arabic Language Day: Arabic Calligraphy Commemorative  

World Arabic Language Day: Arabic Calligraphy CommemorativeWorld Arabic Language Day: Arabic Calligraphy Commemorative

2 stamps
offset

Artist:
Yassine Ghorbel  
Siham Shabin

Release date: December 18, 2023


30th Anniversary of the Creation of the National Office of Civil Protection  

30th Anniversary of the Creation of the National Office of Civil Protection 

30th Anniversary of the Creation of the National Office of Civil Protection FDC

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

Designer: Post Office staff

Release date: December 27, 2023