The bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) was released from Auckland to Southland in 1898 and 1899. Today its range is significantly reduced, but small numbers are thought to persist in southern Auckland and northern Hawke’s Bay. Few hunters have ever seen the bobwhite quail in the wild, with the majority of birds now in game farms. Their population is maintained by the release of hand-reared birds by enthusiastic aviculturists. (read more)

published January 29th, 2012

The U.S. Postal Service salutes five kings of the sky with the Birds of Prey stamps:  the northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, osprey and northern harrier. The 85-cent definitive Birds of Prey stamps are being issued in self-adhesive sheets of 20 at a price of $17.00 per sheet. The stamps can be used with virtually all domestic First-Class Mail weighing up to 3-ounces. (read more)

published January 27th, 2012

The work of BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2011 finalist Jeremy Paul features on this beautiful six-stamp set.

The Europa stamp is the 68p value while the 58p stamp has been selected to represent Isle of Man in the SEPAC Collection for 2011.  (read more)

published October 24th, 2011

The present commemorative shows a sight typical of this region, a pair of nesting storks, and celebrates 90 years of Burgenland as part of the Republic of Austria.
In 1919, the victors of the First World War decided in the Treaty of St Germain to award German West Hungary to Austria, and in the Treaty of Trianon Hungary was then obliged to abandon this part of its territory.  (read more)

published October 4th, 2011

Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the former President of Iceland, was asked by Iceland Post to suggest the theme for the September issue. Mrs. Finnbogadottir, who is named the protector of Audlind Nature Fond, an instution working for the conservation of Icelands natural resources, proposed Wetland Conservation, a subject of great interest to her. February 1971 saw the signing of The Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands, named after the town of Ramsar in Iran. Iceland became party to the convention in 1978.  (read more)

published September 9th, 2011

Take a numerical journey from 1 to 21 in a quintessentially ‘Kiwi’ way with the Counting in Kiwi stamp issue. With each number, you’ll discover unique and quirky aspects of New Zealand’s culture, history and Kiwiana.

Each of the 21 stamps in the issue has a distinctive ‘Kiwi’ flavour. Of course we start at number 1, which is represented by State Highway 1 – the road that runs the length of both the North and South Islands. As we count higher, we discover snippets of the New Zealand way of life until we reach 21 – the milestone birthday that is widely celebrated in New Zealand with a traditional 21st key.  (read more)

published August 17th, 2011

A stamp sheetlet on the theme of “170th Anniversary of Hong Kong Postal Service” will be released for sale with associated philatelic products on 25 August 2011 (Thursday).

The first post office in Hong Kong was opened on 25 August 1841, heralding the beginning of the local postal service. In response to subsequent socio-economic developments, our postal service has moved with the times, ever expanding and innovating to meet public demand. The year 2011 marks the 170th anniversary of postal services in Hong Kong. Hongkong Post issues a stamp sheetlet to commemorate the occasion.

(read more)

published August 16th, 2011

Guernsey Stamps is proud to announce the release of a stamp issue in celebration of one of the greatest publishing successes of recent times – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a novel which has already sold three million copies worldwide.

The book, first published in 2008, is the only published work of American writer and former librarian Mary Ann Shaffer who visited Guernsey in 1980 and became interested in the wartime Occupation of the Channel Islands, which was the focus for her novel.  She died before it was finished, and it was completed by her niece, author Annie Barrows who earlier this year headlined the first Guernsey Literary Festival.  (read more)

published August 13th, 2011

In the souvenir sheet’s background, a forest symbolizing the Park can be seen. Green in different tones was used to create a harmonious effect by overlapping the elements portrayed in the stamps, which represent typical fauna and flora species: the violet-capped woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis), the green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon), the hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou insidiosus) and the orchid Hadrolaelia lobata, which is the symbol of the Tijuca National Park, an endemic species threatened by extinction. On the upper left corner, one can see the logo of the International Year of Forests and the logo of the World Philatelic Exhibition Brasiliana 2013 can be seen on the right. Digital illustration techniques were used.

(read more)

published August 11th, 2011

Jersey Post is delighted to celebrate, together with the National Trust for Jersey, their 75th Anniversary by issuing a set of five stamps on 3rd August 2011 together with a seperate 75p stamp.  The National Trust for Jersey is an independant and charitable organisation dedicated to preserving and safeguarding areas of historic, aesthetic and environmental interest for the benefit of the entire Island.  Each stamp depicts both one such area or building together with the wildlife with which it is associated.  Known locally as the White House, La Caumine a Marie Best was painted green for 2011 to highlight various green issues and it is depicted on the special 75p stamp which is accompanied by its own First Day Cover envelope.  (read more)

published August 7th, 2011

The three species of tropicbird all have tropical distributions. Two species are found in the tropical Atlantic and both breed on Ascension Island, with the majority of both species breeding on Boatswainbird Island. The most numerous is the Yellow-billed Tropicbird, or Boatswainbird (so called because its call is likened to that of a Bosun’s whistle) after which the island was named. About 500 pairs of Red-billed Tropicbirds breed on Ascension.

(read more)

published August 6th, 2011