First Class Stamps to rise: 2p increase from Royal Mail

Royal Mail are to increase the price of first class stamps by 2p to 30p from April. The price of second class stamps though will remain at 21p.

Chief Executive Adam Crozier defended the move, insisting that the price increase "reflected the true cost" of providing postal services. He added that Royal Mail lost 5p for every first class letter and 9p for every second class letter sent last year.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
December 28, 2004

41-cent stamp could be on way

The U.S. Postal Service is expected to start seeking approval for a double-digit percentage increase in postage rates early next year.

Such a rise would push the price of a first-class stamp to at least 41 cents - and hurt consumers and businesses that already have shouldered three rounds of rate increases in the past few years.

First-class stamps have jumped 12 percent since early 2001, with the last increase of three cents to the current 37 cents coming in 2002.

SEACOASTONLINE.COM
December 26, 2004

New from Jersey

Though small in size, perhaps a square inch at most, stamps can include much information - such as the complete menu of traditional foods of the Island of Jersey in the English Channel.

In its 2005 program, Jersey announced that four commemoratives will be issued in March with the menus as its gastronomy issue for the annual Europe issue.

JERSEYSTAMPS.COM
December 24, 2004

USPS introduce Color Postmark

Stamp collecting will take on new color January 6 when the U.S. Postal Service introduces a First-Day Digital Color Postmark product with the issuance of the Lunar New Year Souvenir Stamp Sheet.

"This new product will do for traditional black and white first-day postmarks as color television has done for black and white TV," explained David Failor, Executive Director, Stamp Services, "by adding vibrant color, clarity and definition previously unattainable."

Of next year’s issues, the FDC color postmark has been confirmed for the following:

Lunar New Year Souvenir Sheet; Arthur Ashe; Jim Henson & Muppets; The Art of Disney: Celebrations; Spring Flowers; To Form a More Perfect Union; Henry Fonda; Rio Grande Blankets; Masterworks of Architecture; Greta Garbo; Constellations; Advances in Aviation; Latino Dance; Holiday Cookies; Love Bouquet; Sporty Cars of the 50s.

USPS.COM
December 22, 2004

Easy as ABC: Hong Kong to issue alphabet stamps

Hong Kong Post are to issue an unusual set of stamps on 4th January based upon the letters in the alphabet. The sheet consists of stamps where the designs combine each letter of the alphabet with the following everyday objects:

A Clothes Peg
B Scissors
C Desk Lamp
D White Glue Bottle
E Steaming Rack
F Calliper
G C-clamp
H Bamboo Ladder
I Torch
J Cleaning Brush
K Stapler
L Sock
M Set Square
N Nail Clippers
O Rubber Band
P Scoop Colander
Q Padlock
R Sunglasses
S Coat Hanger
T Floor Brush
U Flip-flops
V Compasses
W Wine Opener
X Faucet Handle
Y Barbecue Fork
Z Paint Roller

Each stamp has a face value of $1.40 and Hong Kong Post are hoping people, and particularly businesses will use them to personalize mail with their own messages.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
December 20, 2004

Elves put stamp on holiday

Sweden Post's new holiday stamps feature a blend of humor, tradition, and the postal debut of technology that may catch the attention of youngsters looking for gift ideas.

The five stamps, all nondenominated for first-class postage and issued early in November, depict elves playing leapfrog, mailing letters, riding old-fashioned snow scooters and hauling Christmas trees. In a wry touch, the fifth stamp shows a modern elf clutching a sack of gifts and chatting on a cell phone.

Many postal agencies have been including lighthearted themes in holiday designs, and some even are eschewing the solemn religious motifs.

Royal Post of Britain also opted for the secular theme. Its five commemoratives, issued in early November, show a cartoonlike Santa Claus battling the temperamental weather while delivering gifts during his Christmas Eve shift. Five stamps show Father Christmas, as Santa is known in Britain, and Santa braving rain, wind, hail, fog - with a flashlight - and the sun on values of 28, 21, 40, 57 and 68 pence and 1.12 pounds.

Australia Post, on the other hand, decided to combine the traditional Christmas and worldly themes to suggest the religious and secular celebration of the holiday season. Three stamps issued in November depict the familiar Nativity scenes of the Madonna and Child (45 cents), the angel appearing to the shepherds (50 cents), and the three Wise Men ($1). The religious characters share several intricate secular symbols that resemble colorful snowflakes.

INDIANAPOLIS STAR
December 18, 2004

Jane Eyre stamps

The second issue in the Royal Mail’s 2005 release schedule has been unveiled.

Six stamps featuring characters from Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre go on sale on 24th February, a change from the original issue date of 3rd March.

The stamps have been designed by Peter Willberg and feature illustrations by Paula Rego.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
December 16, 2004

India to celebrate Taj Mahal 350th anniversary

India's Department of Posts are to continue to mark the Taj Mahal 350th anniversary with the release of a new stamp.

The Taj, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a shrine for his wife, is one of India's most protected sites.

The white marble mausoleum, situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, is sometimes known as a teardrop on the cheek of time.

PIB.NIC.IN
December 12, 2004

NBA stars on stamps: Top Basketball players featured

Some of US Basketball’s biggest names are appearing on stamps designed by Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation (IPGC), a New York-based stamp manufacturer that makes commemorative stamps for over 50 nations.

The company have produced sports themed stamps in recent times, notably featuring baseball players and boxers. The Basketball stamps are also available in sheets and contain detailed statistics about each player.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
December 09, 2004

North Korea to issue Repatriation stamps

North Korea issue a new stamp on 16th December to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Repatriation of Korean Nationals returning from Japan.

The first of over 90,000 Korean nationals living in Japan returned on 16th December 1959 on a ship named Mangyongbong, which is featured on the stamp.

A special miniature sheet will also be released depicting President Kim II Sung welcoming the first of the returned Korean citizens.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
December 07, 2004

USPS reveal Muppet stamps

It isn't easy being green. It isn't easy getting on a U.S. postage stamp either, but Kermit the Frog will manage it next year, along with his Muppet friends.

New stamps also will recall the late President Ronald Reagan, singer Marian Anderson, actor Henry Fonda and songwriter Yip Harburg, notable scientists, famous Marines and sports cars.

Thousands of suggestions are culled for a few dozen stamps to be issued each year.

If he had to pull strings to get on a stamp, Kermit did it effectively, with no less than 11 stamps honoring the Muppets and their creator, Jim Henson, scheduled for debut in March.

Among those appearing in the set are, of course, Miss Piggy, as well as Statler and Waldorf, the Swedish Chef and Dr. Bunson Honeydew and his assistant Beaker.

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
December 05, 2004

New Caledonia Christmas issue: multiethnic nativity scene depicted on stamp

New Caledonia unveil their Christmas issue on 8th December featuring the nativity. The stamp has been designed by Sebastien Lesire and depicts a multiethnic scene in order to reflect the island.

The island, with a population of around 215,000, has been celebrating Christmas since 1843 after the arrival of four French missionaries: Mgr Douarre, Pierre Rougeyron, Jean Taragnat and Blaise Marmoitton.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
December 03, 2004

New Harry Potter stamps: Isle of Man unveil latest issue

Harry Potter has been given the royal stamp of approval.

JK Rowling's boy wizard is set to appear on a colorful new set of postage stamps.

They feature scenes from his movies and include Harry, pals Ron and Hermione, owl Hedwig and Hagrid, Hogwarts caretaker, played by Robbie Coltrane.

The scenes are drawn from the Potter movies, The Goblet Of Fire, The Order Of The Phoenix and The Prisoner Of Azkaban, based on Edinburgh author Rowling's books.

The special edition of eight stamps is being released by the Post Office of the Isle of Man who had to get royal permission before issuing the stamps.

DAILYRECORD.CO.UK
December 01, 2004