Liechtenstein 50 Years of Interpol Vaduz

Liechtenstein 2010-06-07 (forthcoming)

Liechtenstein Post will issue a new stamp to commemorate the Principality’s 50th year of participation in Interpol. The June 7th, 2010 planned issue has a denomination of CHF 1.90 and is a part of a three stamp set marking various 50th anniversaries in Liechtenstein. The very interesting issue shows a shadow of a world map overprinted with a fingerprint. This is drawn on a cream colored background which is in the shape of a case folder. The year and month of issue is depicted as part of the case number on the file. The design is is very unique and matches the Interpol theme very well. Each of the 188 Interpol Member States maintains a National Central Police Bureau (NCB) for the processing of police information. The Liechtenstein NCB referred to as “Interpol Vaduz” is affiliated with the National Police Agency in Vaduz and receives about 400 requests for cooperation on various cases from Interpol headquarters each year. This will be an issue not to be missed by fellow cartophilatelists.

Belgium Post Paul Otlet Mini-sheet

Belgium 2010-01-18

Belgium Post issued a mini-sheet on January 18, 2010 commemorating the life and work of Paul Otlet. This uniquely designed mini-sheet contains a single € 4.60 stamp, showing Otlet in front of a large globe. In the foreground are a stack of books. To the left on the mini-sheet is an inscription roughly translated “Mundaneum to the Internet” and what seems to be a card-catalog of a library reaching to the ceiling. Near the top of the card-catalog a series of wires or chains appear to be popping out of some of the drawers and being attached at various positions on the globe.

THailand Earth Observation Satellite (THEOS)

Thailand 2009-12-05

While not the first map stamp issue of 2010, Thailand Post’s Theos issue of December 5, 2009 is sure to be high on the list of important cartophilatelic issues of the previous year. The 3.00 Bath stamp was issued to mark the launch of Thailand’s first Earth Observation Satellite (EOS), on October 1st, 2008. The platform has two cameras, a panchromatic and multi-spectral with resolutions of 2m and 15m respectively. The multi-spectral sensor has 4 bands (B,G,R,NIR). The platform is very versatile supplying imagery for natural resources management, agriculture and vegetation monitoring. The 2m data is suitable for cartographic applications, land use monitoring, and security applications. The satellite was built by EADS Astrium and is operated by Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). You can even track the satellite and others using this link. [ two years ago i had the honor of visiting GISTDA and one of their ground station facilities. it was very fascinating to learn about the infrastructure and the researchers of GISTDA were very excited about the upcoming launch of THEOS. THEOS is one of many EOS that monitor the planet daily, providing massive amounts of data for scientific research. ]

Jersey Post Map Issue

Last year Jersey Post issued a press release about their 2010 issue schedule. On that schedule was a February listing relating to maps, however no image was available at that time. Recently a small image and some sales information about the issue has been made available on the Jersey Post’s Philatelic Sales web site. The following image and description are from that site. This may well be the first cartophilatelic issue of 2010. The GBP 2.10 set appears to be currently on sale.

Jersey 2010-02-09 (Forthcoming)

The issue will consist of five new self-adhesive postage stamps for use on items of mail requiring the minimum postage tariff for the other Channel Islands and United Kingdom destinations. The stamps will feature a variety of maps of Jersey, both antique and modern, dating from 1685 and it is interesting to observe the apparent thoughts of cartographers over the different periods of time. These Non Value Indicator stamps (NVI’s) will be the first set of stamps to bear a change in the wording of Jersey Post’s NVIs. Previously, each NVI stamp in this set would have been titled ‘UK Minimum Postage Paid’ but the stamps will now read ‘UK Letter’ instead.

[More information and a better resolution image will be updated later.]

New Map Issue From Slovenia

On September 25, 2009, Slovenia Post issued a single stamp commemorating the work of Bishop Anton Martin Slomšek and marking the transfer of the Lavantine diocese from Sankt Andrä Austria to Maribor Slovenia in 1859. Bishop Slomšek died in Maribor in 1862. On 19 September 1999, John Paul II announced Slomšek’s beatification in Maribor, instead of Rome, which is the usual custom. The €0.92 denomination stamp depicts an image in the left foreground of Bishop Slomšek with a background map showing what appears to possibly be the historical border between Austria and Slovenia, along with the cities of St. Andraz and Maribor. In the right foreground, an image of a Bishop’s Mitre, some books and letters are shown.

Slovenia 2009-09-25

Slovenia 2009-09-25

The text below is an automated translation from the Slovenia Post web site. [ no responsibility is assumed for the content or accuracy of the following text in italics, shown below. ]

In 2009 we celebrate Slomšek year that it wishes to present Slomšek cultural and historical, pastoral and religious-ethnic dimension of his life and work, especially to move the diocesan headquarters in Maribor (4 September 1859), the establishment of catholic high school in Maribor (14 October 1859) , and the establishment of Mohor Guild St. Cyril and Methodius to the unity of Christians, Slomškova Sunday school with the famous manual blessed and Nežica in Sunday school and its extensive religious, ethnic and spiritual functioning, which is achieved as a shepherd and a teacher with his preaching and issuing of various books, manuals, songbooks and molitvenikov .

In Slomškov time fall under graško Maribor diocese. The border between the then lavantinsko (now Maribor) and graško diocese has taken place for high Vuhred Pohorje to Slovenian Bistrica, Ptuj, Sundays and the Upper Great Radgona. Bishop A. M. Slomšek with his wisdom and perseverance to reach to the diocesan boundaries to postpone the north of the Drava river, on the border line, which in 1918 became the State border between Austria and Yugoslavia. General Maister has defended and endorsed what is the diocesan bishop limit perpetuate A. M. Slomšek, which was established catholic high school in his opening speech, said to become even Maribor what was in his time View and Salzburg, a strong focus of spiritual and material blagra Slovenian nation.

From the above we can see how it had a literary historian Kidrič France when he wrote that the blessed bishop A. M. Slomšek occupies in the history of our spiritual leader.

Recent Map Issues From Mexico 2

As reported on November 12th, 2009 Mexico (Correos de Mexico) Post had released on September 16, 2009 two additional issues entitled “Umbral del Bicentenario de la Independencia de México” were issued. The first issue does not appear to have any map stamps, however the second issue appears to have a large souvenir sheet, depicting a map with what could be routes of some kind. Another single stamp in the set also features a map. [ we have received a better scan of the souvenir sheet from this issue, which is now shown below. thanks Mark! ]

Mexico 2009-09-16

Mexico 2009-09-16