More Harry Potter stamps

Following hot on the footsteps of Isle of Man Post, Taiwan's Chunghwa Post issue a new set of stamps marking the release of new film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

The stamps are issued on 18 November and feature various scenes and characters taken from this latest instalment in the saga.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 29, 2005

NZ's biggest annual stamp auction

The first postage stamps ever issued in New Zealand 150 years ago are among nearly 1200 lots to go under the hammer at Mowbray's major international $1.3 million stamp auction in Wellington on Saturday.

The sale by publicly-listed Mowbray's is easily New Zealand's biggest annual stamp auction.

The penny, two penny and one shilling 1855 full-face Queen Victoria stamps were the first New Zealand postage stamps ever sold in this country.

Up for auction at the West Plaza Hotel on Friday are five one shilling stamps, one penny stamp and eight two penny stamps, all from 1855. The dull carmine-colored one penny stamp, on its own, is expected to fetch $3500.

SCOOP.CO.NZ
October 27, 2005

Guernsey unveil Xmas stamps

Guernsey Post unveil their Christmas stamps on 27 October, with the designs featuring ten examples of stained-glass windows appearing in the island's parish churches.

The designs are as follows:

20p: Christ holding a Guernsey flag from St Pierre du Bois Church
20p: Madonna and Child from St Saviour
20p John baptising Christ from St Martin
20p: Christ, the light of the world from Torteval
20p: Madonna and Child from St Sampson
32p: Madonna and Child from Vale
36p: Three kings from Castel
40p: Portrait of St Nicholas from St Anne in Alderney
45p: Madonna and Child
65p: Portrait of St Marguerite from Forest Church.

A first day cover and presentation pack are also available, with the latter featuring what is considered the most spectacular stained-glass window in Guernsey, located in St Peter Port Church.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 26, 2005

Cremona mosaics for Christmas stamp issue

This year's set of Christmas stamps is being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost plc today.

The four stamps come in face values of 7c, 16c, 22c and 50c. They are a replica of the mosaic pictures copied from the paintings of one of the most famous Maltese artists, Prof. Emvin Cremona, with the background showing ornate sculpture in Maltese stone by Gozitan artist Wistin Camilleri. The Christmas set has been designed by his son Paul Camilleri Cauchi.

The 7c and 16c stamps from this year's Christmas issue are also available for those wishing to use them in conjunction with personalized stamp orders.

MALTAPOST.COM
October 24, 2005

USPS cooks up smiles with Holiday Cookies on new postage stamps

The Postal Service delivered the first taste of the holidays today by dedicating the Holiday Cookies commemorative postage stamps outside the world-famous Pillsbury Kitchens at General Mills Headquarters in Minneapolis. A dedication ceremony also took place in New York City's Madison Square Garden at one of the nation's largest stamp shows, the Postage Stamp Mega-Event.

The four 37-cent stamps - based on photographs of four cookies festively decorated as two snowmen, two elves (one sugar cookie and one made of gingerbread), an angel, and Santa Claus - are guaranteed to remain fresh throughout the holidays and into next year when they become available nationwide at Post Offices and Philatelic Centers beginning Oct. 21.

USPS.COM
October 21, 2005

Joint Trafalgar miniature sheet

Gibraltar and the Isle of Man are teaming up for the first time to issue a joint issue marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Two miniature sheets will be made available on 21 October, one adorned with the Gibraltar Post logo, the other with the logo of Isle of Man Post. A Collectors folder containing the two sheets, two first day covers and text from letters written by Nelson will also be released.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 20, 2005

The wild side of Canada's stamps

On October 20, 2005, Canada Post will issue two new $1 definitive stamps featuring the Atlantic walrus and white-tailed deer.

These new postage stamps showcase the wilder side of Canada.

CANADAPOST.CA
October 20, 2005

Joint hunting dogs issue

The postal administrations of Estonia and Kazakhstan have teamed up to commemorate hunting dogs with a joint issue released on 19 October.

The two stamps feature the Estonian hound and the Kazakh tazi, both of which are used to hunt rabbits, foxes and less frequently wolves. The Estonian hound also appears on the coat of arms of the Estonian Kennel Union, a movement which began on 9 December 1989 following the political changes that swept the region during that period.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 19, 2005

Hungary Breast Cancer semipostal shares U.S. design

The image of the U.S. Postal Service's Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp that has raised millions of dollars to fund breast cancer research is now appearing on Hungarian postage to fuel funding for breast cancer research in that country, U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General John E. Potter announced today.

"Since its inception in 1998, customers have purchased more than 650 million U.S. Postal Service Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamps to raise nearly $44 million for breast cancer research," explained Potter. "The U.S. Postal Service was pleased to share this successful and beautiful design after receiving a request from Magyar Posta Rt.," Hungarian Post Office Ltd. The Hungarian Breast Cancer semipostal stamp for use as Hungarian domestic postage was issued Sept. 29, 2005. It sells for 140 Hungarian forint (67-cents U.S.), with 90 forint (43-cents U.S.) paying for Hungarian domestic postage and 50 forint (24-cents U.S.) for funding Hungarian breast cancer research.

USPS.COM
October 17, 2005

Exhibit reveals Lennon as a stamp collector

John Lennon's stamp album has been put on display at Washington DC's Smithsonian National Postal Museum - and curators insist the find shows the late Beatle was a fanatical collector.

Officials at the museum bought the album from a stamp dealer in Britain in June (05) and have since discovered all about the collection's history.

They've uncovered that Lennon's cousin Stanley Parkes started the collection and gave it to the young Lennon when he was nine.

The album features Lennon's handwritten notes and 565 stamps.

STAMPNEWS.COM
October 16, 2005

New Zealand Post launches King Kong stamps

New Zealand Post is celebrating Peter Jackson's remake of 'King Kong' with a stamp issue featuring images from the movie.

Five stamps will be released on 19 October, along with a host of related products including a collectors' pack, souvenir cards, first day cover, miniature sheet and bubble bags.

STAMPNEWS.COM
October 15, 2005

New Harry Potter stamps

Isle of Man Post issue a new set of stamps on 21 October to mark the release of new film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

This is the second time Isle of Man Post have commemorated a Harry Potter film, they also marked the release of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanin" in December 2004.

The new stamps feature a variety of characters and scenes from the new movie, the fourth in the series.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 13, 2005

USPS commended for heroic actions

The Mailing Industry CEO Council today commended the leadership and employees of the United States Postal Service for heroic action to restore mail services to businesses and citizens displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Amidst widespread destruction across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, the U.S. Postal Service once again reaffirmed its universal mission to deliver the mail, the members of the CEO Council said.

"The mailstream is literally a lifeline for Americans. It plays a vitally important role in ensuring that people and businesses can communicate with each other swiftly and securely. The steps that the USPS took to mitigate the disruption of daily mail delivery following Hurricane Katrina have been nothing short of heroic," said Michael J. Critelli, the Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes Inc. and President of the Mailing Industry CEO Council.

C. Hamilton Davison, the Secretary/Treasurer of the Council and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Cards Inc., added, "Katrina touched all of us, reminding us of life's basics, including personal and business mail. Thanks to the efforts of postal employees, the families and businesses affected by this terrible storm can now enjoy their regular flow of packages, letters and cards."

BIZ.YAHOO.COM
October 10, 2005

Canada celebrates Stamp Collecting Month

October is celebrated around the globe as the month when collectors celebrate the fun of collecting stamps. Many postal administrations issue stamps with a youth-oriented theme.

This year Canada Post will issue four interesting unusual 50-cent stamps showcasing the youth sports of skateboarding, snowboarding, mountain biking and wall climbing.

Past Canada Post stamp collecting month issues have highlighted fun and educational themes such as astronauts, pets, cartoon superheroes and clowns.

THE STAMP COLLECTING ROUND-UP
October 08, 2005

British stamps commemorate Ashes triumph

Australian cricket fans can expect a bumper postbag from English friends and family in October after Britain's Royal Mail unveiled designs for a range of stamps celebrating England's Ashes series victory.

Images of Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and England colleagues will appear on four stamps to mark the "momentous occasion" of regaining the Ashes from Australia -- two first class domestic stamps and two for letters to be sent overseas.

The English cricketers will be the first living people outside the Royal Family to have their likenesses clearly identifiable on British stamps.

England's cricketers defeated Australia 2-1 over the northern summer, the first time they had won an Ashes series since 1987.

REUTERS.CO.UK
October 05, 2005

Constellations stamps star in national stamp collecting month celebration

Millions of stars took a celestial trip through the galaxy in the form of postage today when the U.S. Postal Service issued the Constellations commemorative postage stamps at the Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Stargazers won't need telescopes to see Orion, Leo, Lyra, and Pegasus today. These four well known constellations are available for viewing close-up in Michigan Post Offices today. They can be seen nationwide day and night, in fact 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Post Offices and Philatelic Centers beginning Oct. 4.

This year's theme for National Stamp Collecting Month, which runs through October, is "Be a Stargazer: Let the Stars Guide You into Stamp Collecting!" It is a shared effort by the U.S. Postal Service and astronomers to familiarize stamp collectors with astronomical sciences. These stamps are expected to be very appealing to both children and adults.

USPS.COM
October 03, 2005

Austria continue Locomotives series

Austria Post have continued their Locomotives series by featuring the Montafon Railway on a new 55c stamp, issued on 30 September.

The 13km railway line provides access to the beautiful mountain region of Voralberg and is celebrating its one hundredth birthday this year, having opened on 16 December 1905.

The stamp has been designed by Peter Sinawehl based on an illustration by Prof. Wolfgang Seidel.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 02, 2005

New issue from Malaysia

Malaysia Post released a new issue on September 28 entitled "Rare Reptiles of Malaysia".

A miniature sheet and first day cover are also available.

STAMPNEWS.COM
October 01, 2005