Gibraltar 2024 stamps kick off with a massive 12 stamp set. It’s unusual to see such a large number this early in the year, or at all, for Gibraltar. Their releases tend to be pretty compact, so Birds of Prey were a bit surprising.  I’m not complaining. Nicholas Ferrary’s photographs are great feathered portraits.

And speaking of large stamp releases, Gibraltar finished up 2023 with an almost as large set of new definitives for King Charles III. I normally don’t think much of royalty stamps, there are so many, but Leslie Gaduzo’s paintings and colour variations are simple and eye catching. 

Yea, I’m as shocked as you are.  This is a first for me. 

 Hope you enjoy the year. And don’t forget to check out last year’s stamps. It took a while, but I finally finished them up earlier today, so lots more to enjoy.

January

Birds of Prey

6 stamps, 6 stamps on mini sheet, 2 stamp packs, 2 FDCs, cancel 
offset    

• Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos): A top predator, the Golden Eagle soars over mountains, preying on a diverse range of mammals and birds. Its presence underscores the importance of apex predators in maintaining ecological balance.
• Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus): Dominating the skies with its broad wings, the Black Vulture is a key member of nature’s cleanup crew, efficiently disposing of carcasses and contributing to ecosystem health.
• Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus): Known for its distinctive white plumage and yellow face, the Egyptian Vulture is an adaptable scavenger that plays a vital role in waste disposal and carrion cleanup.
• Imperial Eagle: The Imperial Eagle symbolises conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of habitat preservation for endangered species and ecosystem health.
• Scops Owl (Otus sp.): The nocturnal Scops Owl, with its haunting calls, controls insect populations and demonstrates the adaptability of owls to diverse environments.
• Red Kite (Milvus milvus): As a graceful glider, the Red Kite efficiently disposes of carrion, contributing to the cleanliness and health of woodland habitats.
• Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus): Soaring in groups, the sociable Griffon Vulture efficiently recycles nutrients through carrion disposal, playing a vital role in ecosystem health.
• Eagle Owl (Bubo sp.): The Eagle Owl, a nocturnal giant, preys on a variety of animals with its acute vision and silent flight, maintaining the balance of nocturnal populations.
• Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni): Agile and vibrant, the Lesser Kestrel hunts insects and small vertebrates, showcasing the importance of birds of prey in regulating insect populations and ecosystem balance.
• Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata): Bonelli’s Eagle, a powerful hunter, controls populations of certain species with strength and precision, contributing to ecological health and balance.
• Black Kite (Milvus migrans): Versatile and agile, the Black Kite soars across diverse landscapes, playing a crucial role in ecological balance through its hunting and scavenging.
• Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus): Known for its feathered legs and agile flight, the Booted Eagle demonstrates remarkable hunting skill, underscoring the significance of adaptability in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
  Details from Birds of Prey Set | Stamps | 2024 | Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau (gibraltar-stamps.com)

Designer: Stehen Perera
Photographer: Nicholas Ferrary
Ferrary is a passionate photographer who documents the beauty of Gibraltar, whether flying or swimming. His first stamps appeared in 2015
Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service 150th Anniversary. 
You can find more of his work on his Flickr account Nicholas Ferrary | Flickr

Release date: January 20, 2024

February

Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 2 presentation packs, sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustrator: © Bajena and Siewhoong at istockphoto.com

Release date: February 20, 2024

April

Post & Go Year of the Dragon

6 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustration: © Bajena and Siewhoong at istockphoto.com

Release date: April 16, 2024

EUROPA 2024 Underwater Fauna and Flora

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 mini sheets of 6, 2 FDC, 2 stamp packs, 2 maxi cards
offset 

• Northeastern Atlantic Orca Meet the different types of orcas – Whale and Dolphin Conservation (whales.org)
• Loggerhead Sea Turtle Loggerhead Turtle | Sea Turtles | Species | WWF (worldwildlife.org)

Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustration / Photographer: Jonathan Pointer
Wales based photographer Pointer focuses on wildlife and sports photography. His photographs have been featured on over 100 stamps from Gibraltar, Tristan da Cunha and Barbados. His first stamps were the 1999 WWF Birds for Barbados.

Inspired by Victorian art, Jonathan’s work has a traditional feel, combining realism and a strong sense of narrative. His approach to painting is highly individual with all the elements within the painting – subject, flora and landscape – being treated with equal importance. His work is therefore, part portrait, part botanical and part landscape, an approach that places the subject within the context of habitat, time and place and gives added opportunity for narrative within the painting. This dedication to all aspects of nature means that his larger paintings can take months to complete, with an output of no more than 10 paintings a year adding to the collectability of his work. Jonathan Pointer – Sporting & Natural History Artist (pointer-wildlife-art.co.uk)

Release date: April 25, 2024

Winston Churchill 150th Anniversary

6 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 2 packs
offset

Designer: Stephen Perera

Release date: April 25, 2024

June

SEPAC – Main Tourist attractions

6 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, pack set, souvenir pack 
offset

• Commonwealth Park Commonwealth Park | Gibraltar Attractions (visitgibraltar.gi)
• Barbary Macaques Barbary macaques: Europe and north Africa’s last monkeys | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)
• The Moorish Castle The Moorish Castle Gibraltar | Welcome to Gibraltar
• Gibraltar Dolphin Watching Dolphin and Whale Watching | Welcome to Gibraltar
• Catalan Bay Beach Catalan Bay Gibraltar | Welcome to Gibraltar
• The Skywalk The Skywalk | Welcome to Gibraltar

Photographer: Jonathan Pointer
Designer: Stephen Perera

Release date: June 25, 2024

Red Arrows 60th Anniversary

6 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, stamp pack
offset

Royal Air Force (RAF) Red Arrows 

Photographer: Claire Hartley
Designer: Stephen Perera

Release date: June 25, 2024

July

Tribute to European Football – crypto mini sheet
NFT/Crypto

16 stamps
offset

Details coming

Designer: Stephen Perera
Photographer: ingimage.com and Charles Cruz

Release date: July 4, 2024

September

Butterflies of Gibraltar II

6 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, 2 pack sets
offset

• cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
• Cleopatra (Goneptery cleopatra
• Provence Orange Tip (Anthocharis euphenoides)
• Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
• Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) 
• Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) 

Illustrator: Jonathan Pointer
Designer: Stephen Perera

Release date: September 30, 2024 

EUROPA 2024 – Post & Go

6 stamps with varying prices, FDC, cancel
offset

Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustration / Photographer: Jonathan Pointer

Release date: September 30, 2024 

November

Christmas 2024  

6 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, 2 pack sets
offset

Designer: Stephen Perera 
Illustration / Photographer:  Donnay Style
These are Donnay’s first stamps.

Release date: November 12, 2024 

320th Anniversary of British Gibraltar

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, stamp pack
offset

A coin  was also released.

Gibraltar was captured by the British Fleet in 1704 during the war of the Spanish Succession. On 4th August 1704, an Anglo-Dutch fleet under the command of Admiral George Rooke took Gibraltar from the Spanish. From dawn on that day and for the next five hours, some 15,000 canons were fired from the fleet into the city. The invaders, led by the English majority, landed the same morning and not surprisingly encountered little opposition. 
You can read about the British capture of Gibraltar here: The History of Gibraltar and how it came to be British

Designer: Stephen Perera 
Illustrationor/ Photographer: Leslie Gaduzo

Release date: November 20, 2024