The online philatelic business, www.wopa-stamps.com which is a division of the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau has been awarded the 2012 Federation of Small Business Award for Innovation & Achievement in Gibraltar.

WOPA competed against many other businesses for the award and the prize was awarded to its Managing Director, Glendon Martinez at the Federation of Small Business annual dinner held on the 15^th November 2012 which was attended by over 150 business managers and saw presentations from the Chairman of the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. (read more)

published November 22nd, 2012

On this brand new section of their website you will find a selection of different stamp varieties which have been proven to be very popular amongst dedicated and the serious collectors. All the listed stamps are been sold in collaboration with highly reputable stamp dealers.

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published November 18th, 2012

It is estimated that there are 75,000 dolmens worldwide and thirteen may currently be found on the island of Jersey. More yet may lie awaiting to be discovered and excavated. In 1785 a Neolithic dolmen, originally sited at Le Mont de la Ville, was gifted to a former Governor of Jersey and relocated to the grounds of a private house in Berkshire, England. It has since become a scheduled monument of the United Kingdom. La Hougue Bie, a 20.4 metre long Neolithic passage grave is one of the finest examples of a passage grave in Europe. Sunrise at the equinox sees the sun shines through the passage, main chamber and beyond the sanctuary until it reaches the very back of the terminal cell.

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published November 18th, 2012

Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas or Santa, is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil’s feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.

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published November 17th, 2012

Australia Post will recognise the outstanding achievements of Paralympic Gold Medallist and Paralympian of the Year 2012, Jacqueline Freney, with today’s release of a commemorative stamp featuring the inspirational athlete.

A deserving recipient, Freney was named Paralympian of the Year by the Australian Paralympic Committee last night at a Sydney awards ceremony. Previous Paralympians of the Year commemorated on an instant stamp sheetlet were Siohban Paton and Matthew Cowdrey. The Australian Paralympian of the Year instant stamp sheetlet will be available through participating Australia Post retail outlets from 9 November.

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published November 16th, 2012

The Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is a medium-sized antelope with a distinct shoulder hump, long, straight horns, and a tufted tail. It is a bovid, the smallest member of Oryx genus, native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian oryx was extinct in the wild by the early 1970s, but was saved in zoos and private preserves and reintroduced into the wild starting in 1980. In 1986, the Arabian oryx was classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and in 2011, it was the first animal to receive Vulnerable status again after having been listed as extinct in the wild. It is listed in CITES Appendix I. As of 2011, populations were estimated at over 1000 individuals in the wild, and 6000 – 7000 individuals in captivity worldwide.

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published November 14th, 2012

Australia Post has officially marked the start of the festive season with the release of this year’s Christmas stamps featuring symbols of popular Christmas carols and the traditional nativity scene.

“Even with new digital forms of communications, Australians still enjoy sending their Christmas greetings through the post,” said Australia Post General Manager, Merchandise Services, Rowan Howarth.

“Sending cards is a strong Christmas tradition and Australia Post has a long and proud history of helping to connect Australians to their family and friends, wherever they live in Australia – or the world.”

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published November 12th, 2012

Gibraltar is commemorating the bicentenary of the birth of Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) with a wonderful issue alongside institutions from all over the world, most notably the ‘Dickens 2012’ official celebration in the United Kingdom.

Charles Dickens was an English writer, generally considered to be the greatest novelist of the Victorian period and responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic novels and characters. During his lifetime Dickens’ works enjoyed unprecedented popularity and fame, and they remain popular today. It was in the twentieth century, however, that his literary genius was fully recognized by critics and scholars.

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published November 12th, 2012

The stamp celebrates the centenary of the Central Post Office building in Copenhagen.

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published September 23rd, 2012

Jambo (April 17, 1961 – September 16, 1992) was a celebrated gorilla housed at Jersey Zoo.

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published September 21st, 2012

The Olympic movement aspires to contribute to a peaceful future for humankind through the educational value of sport. It brings together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events, the Olympic Games, and it aims to promote the maintenance of peace, mutual understanding and goodwill – goals it shares with the United Nations.

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published August 10th, 2012