On your bike! Slovak stamp to honor paralympian

A new stamp is to be issued in Slovakia on 31st March in order to commemorate the late paralympic cyclist Radovan Kaufman who died from cancer in 2003.

The stamp has been issued in Kaufman's honor and is also intended to raise awareness for the "On wheels against cancer" campaign taking place in Slovakia. Fundraisers are invited to use bicycles instead of cars in order to raise money for Wave System equipment which is seen as vital in the fight against cancer.

Kaufman enjoyed great success by winning events at the 1998 World Championship and 2000 Sydney Olympics whilst breaking world records. He lost his fight against cancer on 19th June 2003 at the age of just 25.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
March 25, 2005

Castles Miniature Sheet Out Now

The 50th anniversary of the first Castles high values is commemorated on 22nd March by a miniature sheet containing four stamps in the designs of the 1955 issue.

The original stamps were designed by Lynton Lamb (1907–77) and include the Dorothy Wilding portrait of The Queen. The sheet has been printed by Joh Enschede Security Print in intaglio (stamps) and litho (background).

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
March 22, 2005

Ghent Flower Show 2005

Belgium Post are to issue three new stamps on 4th April to celebrate this year's Ghent Flower Show which takes place between Friday 15th April and Sunday 24th April.

The show is held only once every five years at the Flanders Expo in Ghent and features an enormous variety of fascinating flowers and plants.

The stamps have been designed by Bernadette Voz and are as follows:

44c: Rosa "Belinda"
70c: Rosa "Pink Iceberg"
80c: Rosa "Old Master"."

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
March 21, 2005

First Rival for Royal Mail

A private firm plans to introduce its own stamps this summer - in competition with the Royal Mail.

DX Services is to be the first company to rival the Royal Mail by trialling a new stamp for business users in Scotland and Northern Ireland next month.

If the trial is successful the stamp will be made available across Britain later in the year.

GUARDIAN.CO.UK
March 19, 2005

Postal Service's popular Black Heritage Stamp series here to stay

To dispel recurring rumors that its long-standing Black Heritage stamp series will be discontinued, a senior postal official reiterated the Postal Service's continued commitment to honoring African Americans on stamps.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. These rumors continue to resurface around this time of year," explained David Failor, Executive Director of Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service, referring to the deluge of inquiries the Postal Service receives shortly after a Black Heritage stamp issuance.

He said, "As a main component of our annual stamp program, the Black Heritage series is alive and well, and here to stay. We're already looking forward to announcing next year's honoree this fall."

The myth started several years ago through an anonymous email that alerted recipients to buy Black Heritage stamps before Post Offices take them off sale due to lack of demand.

USPS.COM
March 17, 2005

Spring flowers blossom on new postage stamps

Echoing the real flowers at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, four beautiful postage stamps honoring the iris, hyacinth, tulip and daffodil were dedicated today. These flowers are mainstays in gardens coast-to-coast, symbolizing new beginnings with their light pastel colors giving a hint of the summer colors to come.

"These four stamps truly dramatize each of these gorgeous flowers at the height of their beauty," said Jo Ann Feindt, Vice President, Area Operations, Great Lakes Area, U.S. Postal Service, who dedicated the stamps. "They are sure to be favorites among the public and stamp collectors."

USPS.COM
March 15, 2005

New Hungarian Issue: Palace of Arts opening celebrated

Hungary Post are to issue a new miniature sheet on 10th March to celebrate the opening of the Palace of Arts in Budapest.

Building began in January 2002 and the Palace has staged a number of small events since January this year, with the official opening taking place on 14th March.

The impressive 10,000 square metre building is situated at the eastern end of Lagymanyos bridge and neighbors the National Theatre.

The stamp depicts the National Concert Hall which has a capacity of 1699 and is located within the Palace of Arts, whilst the sheet shows the exterior of the building.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
March 10, 2005

Sporting Treasures Celebrated: Australia Post issue new stamps

A new set of stamps is to be released by Australia Post on 8th March featuring memorabilia belonging to some of the country’s top sporting legends.

The four stamps have been produced by Adam Pugh and Sean Pethick and feature the following designs:

Sir Donald Bradman's "baggy green"
Lionel Rose's boxing gloves
Marjorie Jackson's running spikes
Phar Lap's racing silks.

In addition to the four stamps, a first day cover, sheets and postcards will also be made available."

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
March 08, 2005

British stamps to mark royal wedding

Photos of Prince Charles and his bride-to-be Camilla Parker Bowles grace a set of royal wedding commemorative postage stamps unveiled by Britain's Royal Mail on Wednesday.

Britons will have a choice of two Charles and Camilla commemorative stamps, which will go on sale at post offices on April 8, the couple's wedding day.

A 30-pence stamp features a profile of the couple looking relaxed and laughing heartily, while a 68-pence stamp, commonly used for posting letters overseas, shows Charles and Camilla in a formal pose.

The photographs, which have been approved for use on the stamps by Queen Elizabeth II, Charles' mother, were taken in Scotland at the queen's Balmoral estate and at a highland games meeting in the country's north.

Prince Charles' first wedding, to Princess Diana in 1981, was commemorated with a special set of stamps. More recently, royal stamps were issued to mark Prince William's 21st birthday in 2003.

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
March 07, 2005

Peterson to be honored on postage stamp

An unprecedented decision has been taken by Canada Post to feature a living individual on a stamp other than the Queen or member of the Royal family.

Canadian jazz icon Oscar Peterson will feature when he celebrates his 80th birthday on 15th August.

"Most Canadians don't remember dead politicians of 200 years ago and are not interested in them. They would be interested in seeing people who have some relationship to their knowledge base", said Charles Verge, president of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada.

Born in Montreal in 1925, Oscar Peterson was one of the most admired and controversial jazz pianists of the post war period. He has since gone on to appear on over 200 albums and despite suffering a stroke in 1993, continues to tour the world.

CBC.CA
March 04, 2005

Fairy Tale Stamps: classic stories featured on new issue

Jersey Post is issuing a set of stamps to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen on 2nd April.

The designs which have been produced by Michael Pollard are as follows:

Little Red Riding Hood
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Rumpelstiltskin
Goose that laid the Golden Egg
The Ugly Duckling

A Miniature Sheet decorated with holographic foil featuring Favorite Fairy Tales by Andersen and other famous children's story writers will also be made available.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
March 03, 2005

Postal service issuing new forest stamps

The post office is giving a nod to the plants and animals of the Northeastern forests in a new set of stamps being issued Thursday.

The 10-stamp set shows a forest scene with 27 plants and animals featured. The common and scientific names are printed on the back of the stamps.

The Northeast Deciduous Forest sheet is the latest in a series detailing various environments across the country. Deciduous trees are those that lose their leaves in winter. Among previous issues have been the Longleaf Pine Forest, Great Plains Prairie and Pacific Coast Rain Forest.

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
March 02, 2005

Proposal to put the Mackinac Bridge on a postage stamp didn't stick

A proposal to put the Mackinac Bridge on a postage stamp didn't stick, but supporters aren't ready to cancel the idea.

A committee was formed in Mackinaw City to apply for a commemorative stamp honoring the bridge's 50th anniversary in 2007.

A US Postal Service manager told the committee the subject matter is too local.

The group will now focus on getting a stamp in 2008.

WOODTV.COM
March 01, 2005