ARMENIA - Prehistoric Animals
Armenia issued a pair of stamps on May 6, 2021, featuring prehistoric animals in their natural habitat. The 230 value shows the long extinct Titanoboa which thrived in what is now La Guajira in northeastern Colombia. The fact that the snake could weigh over 1,135 kg (2,500 lb) and grow up to 12.8 m (42 ft) provides clues to the warmth of the area, which averages about 32°C (90°F). The Velociraptor, depicted on the 280 value, is well known from its depiction in the Jurassic Park films. The actual raptor was considerably smaller than the beast in the film, more the size of a turkey at 2 m (6.5 ft) tall and 80 kg (180 lb). The stamps are available online here.
AUSTRALIA - Tokyo Olympics
Known as a “Single Ticket to Tokyo,” this $1.10 gummed stamp was designed by Joanna Cullen and issued on July 6, 2021. The colorful design features four athletes in overlapping colors with the word Tokyo bleeding off the right edge and the Australian Olympic crest to the left. At the time of issue there was still controversy about holding the games during a pandemic and it had just been announced that spectators would not be permitted. Issued in sheetlets of 10, the stamp is available here.
CANADA - Bluenose Centenary
Based on a painting by William E. deGarthe, a se-tenant booklet of 10, a souvenir sheet of two and a souvenir sheet of two with a Capex ’22 overprint were issued on June 29, 2021, to commemorate the launching of Bluenose, Canada’s most famous sailing vessel. The vessel has been featured almost exclusively on the Canadian dime since 1937 and these domestic rate permanent stamps are the fourth time that the schooner has appeared on a stamp. Bluenose was specifically built to challenge American schooners for the International Fisherman’s Trophy, which she won four times over 17 years. The stamps are available from Canada Post.
CROATIA – Europa – Endangered Species
Croatia joined with other Europa members to foster recognition of endangered species of wildlife with a set of two stamps designed by Nataša Odak and featuring the Black Grouse (Tetrao urogallus) and the Lynx (Lynx lynx) in a winter habitat. The population of Black Grouse in Croatia is declining, and it is considered endangered with only 100 singing males, though in other parts of the world they flourish. The Lynx population is only about 40 to 60 felines, having been reduced due to poaching, destruction of habitats and closely related mating. The stamps, issued on July 5, 2021, are available online from here.
FRANCE – The Little Prince
The 75th anniversary of the publication of Le Petit Prince in France is commemorated by a single 1,08 € stamp available in a sheetlet of 15. First available in the United States in 1943, it was banned by Vichy France and not published until after the liberation. The novella was written by writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and is the story of a young prince who visits various planets and learns about “loneliness, friendship, love, and loss.” The book was Saint-Exupéry’s most successful work and has been adapted for live stage, audio recording, ballet, opera, and television. Issued on April 12, 2021, the stamp and a booklet of 12 different permanent self adhesive stamps are available from here.
IRELAND – Pride Movement
The Irish and global Pride movement were commemorated with three self adhesive stamps on June 10, 2021. The booklet of five contains four N (national) stamps, two inscribed PRIDE and two BRÓD, and one W (international) stamp with the word PRIDE. The latter was issued to recognize the distinct Irish Pride movement as part of the international group. The strong colors of the pride movement are in the background to celebrate diversity. 2.5% of the price of each booklet sold will be donated to BeLonG To and LGBT Ireland. The stamps are available from here.
LATVIA – World Hockey Championships
The 2021 IIHF World Championships were held in Riga, Latvia, from May 21 to June 6. Canada won its 27th gold medal, defeating Finland in overtime. The silver medal therefore went to Finland, and the United States defeated Germany for the bronze. Shown on the single stamp issued to commemorate the series is the logo of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the tournament mascot, a hedgehog named Spiky, representing “the fighting spirit and determination of the Latvian national hockey teams.” The stamp was issued on July 21, 2021, and is available online from here.
RUSSIA – Parade Cars
Created specifically for show, the Parade Cars on the four 24p stamps were issued on a sheetlet of eight, each stamp printed twice. According to the Russia Post website, the ZIS-110B (top left) was built with a phaeton body and “participated in military parades, worked as taxis, and cameramen used them for filming.” On the top right is a ceremonial convertible, ZIL-41041 AMG “used in parades from 2010 to 2018”. The ZIL-117VE (bottom left) was “mainly intended to participate in military parades and to serve party and state leaders.” The car depicted bottom right is an Aurus Senat Cabriolet, “created on the basis of the Senate executive sedan specially for the Victory Parades.” The stamps are available from here.
UNITED KINGDOM – Dennis and Gnasher
The comic strip “Dennis and Gnasher” debuted in 1951 in Beano magazine and Royal Mail has issued a set of six stamps in commemoration. The set consisted of scenes from the strip with three First Class and three £1.70 stamps in two se-tenant strips. As described by Royal Mail the 1st class stamps feature “Dennis’ first Beano appearance in 1951,” “Gnasher is adopted by Dennis, 1968” and “Dennis and Gnasher’s front-cover debut, 1974.” On the £1.70 is depicted “Rasher the Pig joins Dennis and Gnasher, 1979,” “Dennis meets Bea, 1998” and “Dennis’ father is revealed, 2015.” Different stamps are also available in miniature sheet form with two First Class and two £1.70 stamps depicting Dennis and Gnasher on the 1st class and Minnie the Minx and a Family Portrait on the £1.70 from here.
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New worldwide stamps images are presented for information and are not necessarily shown at the correct scale. The quality of images available at the time of release varies widely and we resize to achieve the best possible reproduction.