Royal Mail’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Her Majesty the Queen are launched by the first of three special Royal stamp issues on 2 February, 2012.

The House of Windsor Stamps feature the five monarchs from the start of the 20^th century. The Queen takes pride of place on the final stamp of Royal Mail’s epic ‘Kings and Queens’ series, marking the 60^th year of her reign, the second longest for a British monarch after Queen Victoria.

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published February 5th, 2012

The young Princess Elizabeth was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Together with her sister Princess Margaret, who was born when Elizabeth was six years old, she enjoyed a quiet life with her family; they resided at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park and the four of them were very close.

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published February 5th, 2012

The Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present a set of six stamps to commemorate the Queen’s reign. Each year one of the themes of the Christmas message to the Nation and the  Commonwealth is a reflection of events during the year, we are pleased to include extracts from some of the broadcasts.

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published February 4th, 2012

One of the nation’s highest honors today was presented to pioneering entrepreneur and publisher John H. Johnson who was commemorated on this year’s Black Heritage Forever Stamp by the United States Postal Service.

Johnson, the founder of Johnson Publishing Company, which publishes Ebony and Jet magazines, is the 35th honoree in the Black Heritage stamp series. The Postal Service has recognized the achievements of prominent African Americans through the Black Heritage series since 1978. Past honorees have included Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Madam C.J. Walker, Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, Marian Anderson, Langston Hughes and Barbara Jordan.

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published February 2nd, 2012

Football champions Gary Ablett Junior, Mark Schwarzer, Billy Slater and David Pocock will take on legendary status by appearing on postage stamps released for Australia Day.

All-time legends Ron Barassi, Joe Marston, John Raper and David Campese will also be immortalised on the 2012 Australia Post Australian Legends stamp issue, which recognises Australia’s four dominant football codes – Australian rules, football, rugby union and rugby league.  (read more)

published January 22nd, 2012

The United States Postal Service has unveiled a commemorative Forever Stamp honoring legendary entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The unveiling took place at a star-studded gala in Los Angeles this past weekend to celebrate Thomas’ 100th birthday and the St. Jude’s 50th anniversary.

“The Danny Thomas stamp, which will be officially dedicated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, and go on sale on Feb. 16, will become an ambassador for philanthropy, travelling on letters and packages to households and businesses throughout America and the world,” said Ed Ruiz, USPS Los Angeles district manager.  (read more)

published January 15th, 2012

To celebrate a remarkable 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II as Monarch of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the seas, are pleased to announce the issue of a new stamp issue from Ascension Island.

2012 will be the year we commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty became Head of the Commonwealth and Queen in 1952 and was crowned in Westminster Abbey on June 2nd 1953. During her 60 year reign she has become the most widely travelled Head of State in World history. During this time she has witnessed numerous wars and conflicts as well as landmark historical events from the landing of the first man on the moon up to the present day of the digital age.  (read more)

published January 15th, 2012

On 14 January 2012, forty years have passed since Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II became Queen of Denmark. Queen Margrethe is the constitutional head of the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Denmark and the two autonomous regions: Greenland and the Faroe Islands. On this occasion the Faroese Posta, Post Denmark and Post Greenland issue a common stamp sheet.

Queen Margrethe was born on 16 April 1940 at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Her parents were Crown Prince Frederik, later King Frederik IX, and Crown Princess Ingrid. In 1944 and 1946 the couple had two more daughters, respectively Princess Benedikte and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark.

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published January 7th, 2012

Magyar Posta has issued a philatelic novelty in memory of Steve Jobs. The numbered commemorative sheet includes a perforated photograph and has been issued in a limited edition. The commemorative sheet is available in a special holder for collectors of philatelic rarities and people who wish to preserve the memory of the visionary genius.

The perforated design of the commemorative sheet features a portrait of Steve Jobs. On the right of the border design there is the inscription “In memoriam Steve Jobs 1955-2011” and at the bottom left the inscriptions “EMLÉKÍV” and “Commemorative Sheet”.

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published December 31st, 2011

Magyar Posta is issuing a special stamp to commemorate Saint Martin, the bishop of Tours, who was born in the province of Pannonia and is the patron saint of the diocese of Savaria (today Szombathely), Gaul (today France) and Burgenland (Austria) as well as of soldiers, beggars and many crafts. Many hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of places and churches around the world bear his name. His legend has inspired a multi-tude of artworks and the events of his life are captured by folk traditions. Besides religious deference, many folk traditions enliven his feast day, 11 November, and the surrounding period. Saint Martin’s day is the start of winter, when it is the custom to taste the new wine and to eat goose. The bird’s wishbone is then used to forecast the weather.  (read more)

published November 18th, 2011

Mario Vargas Llosa, the Nobel Prize in Literature 2010, is internationally acknowledged as one of the most significant contemporary writers in Spanish. He was born in 1936 in Arequipa (Peru) and obtained the Spanish citizenship in 1993 due to his life-long bonds with Spain and the existing dual nationality agreement with Peru. All his life has been marked by his vocation as a writer which began as a journalist for several newspapers in his native country. He was born to a wealthy family, studied law and literature at the University of San Marcos, Lima, and later conducted doctorate studies at the University Complutense of Madrid. In 1960 he moved to Paris. He has also lived in London, Barcelona and Madrid, places where he has spent most of his extensive literary life.  (read more)

published November 11th, 2011