BRAZIL - Caiçara of Brazil
The Caiçara, a culturally differentiated group, inhabits the coastal areas of southeast and southern Brazil, maintaining its ancestral practices of a secular culture-nature relationship in their traditional territory. The $2.35 stamp, issued on July 1, shows a Daniel Chapaval photograph taken from above showing two canoes on the banks of the water. One canoe has tangled fishing nets and the other some of the day’s catch sorted into a bucket by a fisherman. Issued in sheets of 12 the stamp is available from here.
CANADA - Indigenous Leaders
Canada Post honors three indigenous leaders with a set and souvenir sheet of three permanent stamps issued June 21. The stamps show First Nations Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier, born in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1954, who for “nearly 40 years as leader of the Okanese First Nation, forged her reputation as a matriarch and champion of her people” in front of ceremonial teepees situated in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan; Métis Harry Daniels, (1940-2004), a “charismatic and outspoken politician,” shown with a Métis sash;’ and Jose Kusugak (1950-2011), who “dedicated his life to raising awareness of Inuit identity and issues in Canada”. Tthe stamps are available from here.
ESTONIA – 100 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Estonia and United States
The Republic of Estonia was recognized as an independent nation by the United States since July 28, 1922, and retained that official designated even though the country was once forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union. A stamp issued June 17 features the flags of both nations and was designed by Indrek Ilves. The U.S. flag shown on the stamp was presented in 1991 by Secretary of State James Baker III. The two countries are staunch allies as members of NATO. The stamp also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Estonian tricolor, known as sinimustvalge, and can be purchased online from here.
ISLE OF MAN – Culture Vannin’s 40th Anniversary
The work of Culture Vannin has been paramount in the revival of the Manx language and culture, working closely with up and coming and established artists in the past 40 years. Issued on July 4, six stamps illustrated in cartoon style by Manx artist Jay Cover honor archaeology, industrial development, architecture, arts and crafts, history and law, language and literature, music, folklore and folk-dance. The establishment of a permanent center for art, craft, culture, language, festivals and more began in 1980 and was established by the Manx Heritage Foundation Act of 1982. The se-tenant stamps are available online from here.
ISRAEL – Scuba Diving Sites of Israel
The Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea have two distinct environments enjoyed by Israeli divers, one calm and inviting; the other turbulent and unstable. In an eight-stamp souvenir sheet issued June 28 by Israel Post, both environments are shown in vivid colors. The designs are repeated top and bottom bleeding into the border selvage, with a tab showing two divers in the center. The image include the INS Missile Boat Eilat, scuttled to serve as a diving site; next is Eilat Moses Rock Reef, situated off Almog Beach; on the right is Caesarea, where archeological treasures including anchors, ancient jugs and marble columns; and on the far right is the most Mediterranean reef at the Canyon in Achziv. The souvenir sheet is available from here.
JAPAN – Toy Story
A pair of self-adhesive sheets was issued July 13 by Japan Post in 63- and 84-yen denominations dedicated to the Disney Pixar animated Toy Story franchise. Each sheet contains 10 die-cut stamps and the Disney Pixar logo and shows characters from the popular series of films: Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Woody, Bo-Peep, Rex, Hamm, three aliens, Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head and Slinky are featured on the 63-yen sheet. The 84-yen stamps include a sealed envelope in the design with Woody, Buzz, Woody and Buzz, Bo-Peep, Hamm, three aliens, Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Rex and Slinky. Forky appears on the selvage and little army men on the bottom are registration marks. The souvenir sheets are available from here.
LUXEMBOURG - 250 Years of Animal Husbandry
Post Luxembourg on July 3 issued a set of three stamps and an accompanying souvenir sheet celebrating 250 years of animal husbandry. Individually, the three 80-euro stamps represent 100 years of Ardennes horse breeding by depicting a horse; 100 years of small animals by showing a rooster; and 50 years of Limousin cattle, with a stamp featuring a cow. The stamps are also available on first day covers from here.
NETHERLANDS – 250th Anniversary of King Willem I
Willem I, the Netherlands’ first king from the House of Orange-Nassau, is commemorated on a set of stamps with three different designs in two tones of blue. Issued on June 20, the designs feature images of Willem and his wife, Wilhelmina van Pruisen, from paintings found in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam and Royal Collections, The Hague. The third stamp shows the Stadtschloss, city palace of Fulda in Germany, where Willem ruled before becoming king of the Netherlands. The official monogram of Willem I and a red, white, orange and blue collage of Maltese crosses decorates the stamps and on descriptive selvage. The designs were selected from 40 entrants to a contest. The stamps show the international priority rate and are available online from here.
SWITZERLAND – Marriage for All!
The ‘Marriage for All!’ Initiative, voted favourably for last September, came into law on July 1, and was commemorated with a single CHF 1.10 stamp on that day. Switzerland’s LGBTIQ+ community numbers some half a million people and with the new law stating that anyone will be “allowed to marry from this summer onwards constitutes another milestone on the road to equality.” The image on the stamp features balloons in the traditional colors of the rainbow flag attached to four cards inscribed with the word “yes” in the four national languages of Switzerland. The stamp is available in sheets of 10 self adhesive stamps from here.
UNITED NATIONS – Human Achievements on Planet Mars
The United Nations Postal Administration on April 24 issued a set of six stamps and three souvenir sheets featuring images from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Emirate Mars Mission and China Nations Space Administration (CNSA). There are two stamps and a souvenir sheet for each of the U.N. post offices in the New York City, Switzerland and Austria, with postal rates in respective U.S. and Swiss funds and euros. The stamps from New York feature the Proctor Crater of Mars and the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover; the Mars 2020 Ingenuity Helicopter (US$1.30) appears on the souvenir sheet. The Geneva office stamps depict Planet Mars taken by UAE Hope Probe and the Emirates Mars Mission “Ready to Launch”; and the UAE Hope Probe is shown on the souvenir sheet. The Vienna office stamps show the pre-selected landing area for Tianwen-1 mission and the Zhurong Rover operating on Mars; the Zhurong Rover Landing Platform appears on the souvenir sheet. The singles are also available in mini-sheets of 10 from here.