Aerial Image Depicted on Sweden 2013 Europa Issue

The theme for the PostEurop’s 20th anniversary of Europa issues is “Vehicles of the Mail Carriers.”  This year’s Europa issue from Sweden Post features an aerial image depicting a mail carrier’s route overlaid on the image. The March 14, 2013 issued 24.00 KR mini-sheet consists of two 12.00 KR stamps, one vertical stamp showing a mail carrier riding a bicycle and one horizontal stamp of a mail carrier and electric van.  In the background a monochrome image which appears to be an aerial photo or high-resolution satellite image of an urban area is shown overlaid with yellow lines depicting the route of a mail carrier.

Sweden 2013 Europa Issue, 2013-03-14

Sweden 2013 Europa Issue, 2013-03-14

Stylized Map Issue from Ireland

Ireland 2013-01-24

Ireland 2013-01-24

On January 24, 2013, An Post issued a new stylized map design helping promote “The Gathering Ireland 2013” a year long tourist promotion program for all things relating to Ireland. The Gathering is a tourism-led initiative that seeks to harness and strengthen the connections between Ireland and its global diaspora. Billed as a spectacular, year-long celebration of all things Irish, The Gathering is an open invitation from the Irish people, to the 70 million people worldwide that claim Irish ancestry and indeed to anyone with a love of Ireland, to take a trip to Ireland during the year, and join in unique events being staged in their honour. All around Ireland, towns, villages, communities and families are organising events, festivals and special gatherings that will showcase the very best of Irish culture, tradition and sport to the Irish diaspora. It is hoped that The Gathering will deliver an additional 325,000 visitors, while also enhancing the reputation of Ireland as a warm and engaging place to visit.” The 82c single denomination features a square format showing the entire island of Ireland. “The colourful 82c stamp was designed by Irish graphic artists Design Factory, and builds on elements of The Gathering’s official logo to form a map of Ireland, representing the huge range and sheer number of events planned around the country this year.” 82c covers worldwide airmail postage for a standard letter up to 50g. [Design Factory appears to be behind some other postal issues, such as Ireland’s 2011 Europa issue. — web admin]

 

Falkland Islands Featured on Planned Sovereignty Referendum Issue

Falkland Islands 2013-02-15

Falkland Islands 2013-02-15 (planned)

To mark the upcoming sovereignty referendum on March 10-11, 2013, the Falkland Islands Philatelic Bureau plans to issue a set of four single stamps and a mini-sheet. The for single stamps, are planned in denomina-tions of 3p, 40p, 75p and £1.76. The denomination of the single stamp mini-sheet is £3.00.  The stamps and mini-sheet share a common theme showing the islands, with a hand holding a ballot paper, being submitted into a ballot box, with the opening of the box near Falkland Sound, between the two islands. A satellite image of the islands appears to have been used, possibly with alternate band combinations, to match the multi-colored backgrounds of the oceans and text on the stamps.  On the mini-sheet, the question of the referendum, “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?” is shown in the lower right hand corner. In the upper left of the mini-sheet is the quote “a people’s right to self determination is a fundamental modern democratic right” appears to be from a statement given by R. Edwards, a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, in a statement given to the United Nations Committee of 24 (Special committee on Decolonization) June 14, 2012.

New USA Global Forever Rate Features Earth Image

USA Global Forever 20130128

USA Global Forever 20130128

On January 28, 2013, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will introduce a new Global Forever® Rate stamp suitable for international postage.  The Global Forever® stamp offers a single price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world.  The Global Forever® stamp is in response to the USPS rate change which takes effect on January 27, 2013.   This stamp features a rendering of Earth composed of images created from satellite data and redesigned with 3D computer technology. The view of our planet shows the Atlantic Ocean flanked by the Americas, Africa, and part of northern Europe. In the stamp art, the globe is isolated on a white background. The shape of the stamp is round. The text, which surrounds the image of Earth, includes the words “Global Forever.”  The circular stamps are being issued in self-adhesive sheets of 20 at the $1.10 rate, or $22.00 per sheet.

USA ‘Earthscapes’ Issue Features Aerial and Satellite Imagery

USA 2012-10-01

USA 2012-10-01

On October 1st, 2012, the US Postal Service issued a new sheet of Forever stamps featuring fifteen aerial views of landscapes. Two of the stamps are images from the Landsat 7 satellite. The sheet was released October 1 to kick off National Stamp Collecting Month, and portrays a number of landscapes as viewed from heights of several hundred feet above the Earth to several hundred miles in space. The sheet contains imagery in three categories: natural, agricultural, and urban. The two stamps that feature Landsat images Volcanic Crater and Center-pivot irrigation — depict a natural disaster site, Mount Saint Helens, and an agricultural practice that is common in the Garden City, Kansas area. As part of the Landsat 40th Anniversary Celebration this summer, the USGS and NASA held an online contest in which more 14,000 people voted on their Top Five favorite Earth as Art images.

Israel & Nepal Joint Issue Features Elevation Extremes

israel_2012-09

Israel 2012-09

In September 2012, Israel Post released a joint issue with Nepal Post marking full diplomatic relations established between the two countries in 1960. The issue depicts the two elevation extremes on the Earth. The highest, Mount Everest, in Nepal at 8,848 meters above sea level, and the lowest, Dead Sea, in Israel at -422 meters below sea level. CartoPhilatelists will be interested in the map shown on the tabs of the Israel sheet. The stamps themselves and the Nepal issue do not feature maps or tabs, respectively.