Omnibus

QEII 100th anniversary (follow-up)

by Richard Zimmermann

Despite the fact that the mini-omnibus series related to the stamps issued by Ascension Island, Bahamas, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and Tristan da Cunha, also associated to the Isle of Man, was considered as a non-approved joint issue [N] and will not be described in details in the catalogue, it appeared important to complete the information provided in the previous blog page. Actually, the apparently se-tenant issue released by the Isle of Man, triggered attention and raised more questions. So, a more detailed presentaion and additional explanations were provided by Adam Paish (UK). Here is what he says:

Nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems! My correspondent at the Isle of Man Post Office and I had a lengthy chat yesterday [April24, 2026] concerning some of the information relating to this mini-omnibus series in order to avoid it ending up catalogued with inaccurate data.

The five overseas postal administrations (Ascension Island, Bahamas, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and Tristan da Cunha) issued four stamps each, and each individual stamp was issued separately in sheets of ten identical standard gummed stamps with traditional perforations. The widely circulated ‘mini-block’ illustrations were based solely on the press images originally provided by the printing company, Cartor Security Printers.

The Isle of Man issued a set of six stamps dedicated to the late Queen’s Fashion Legacy, the theme of a special anniversary exhibition which runs from April to October 2026 at the King’s Gallery in London’s Buckingham Palace. Again, these stamps were released separately in sheets of ten standard gummed stamps, and the design of the 93p denomination is based on a Marcus Adams photograph. 

Within the ‘limited release collectable’, the twelve-stamp multi-territorial Marcus Adams sheetlet is in reality the left-side panel of a double-sized and folded pane of 24 self-adhesive stamps with die-cut perforations. The right-side panel incorporates twelve self-adhesive Isle of Man stamps (with designs based on previously issued Queen Elizabeth II stamps) and digital non-postal reproductions of the six 2026 stamps superimposed with a facsimile First Day of Issue postmark.

In other words, Isle of Man has produced a booklet sold at £35 that contains, on top of the Fashion Legacy stamps from this postal administration, some stamps (not all) from the five other postal administrations issued on April 21, 2026 (without doubt with their authorization), but this item cannot be purchased from them. It is only available from the Isle of Man postal administration and was produced in limited number. This is another reason confirming that this item was produced purely for marketing purpose and remains far away from true joint issue. Each collector will have to decide if this item will have to be part of his collection. Thanks Adam for the update.

King Charles III coronation

by Richard Zimmermann

From Adam Paish, UK: The postal administrations of Ascension Island, the Bahamas, the British Antarctic Territory, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and Tristan Da Cunha released a mini-omnibus commemoration for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the form of a set of four stamps in sheet format and one souvenir sheet containing a single stamp from each territory. The official date of issue was August 21, 2023 (for the Falklands and British Antarctic Territory stamps) and September 7, 2023, for those of the other territories. Other postal administrations (such as Bermuda, Saint Helena and Gibraltar) have also released similarly styled Coronation commemorative sets and/or souvenir sheets, but these are not part of this coordinated issue.  This issue is reported in the catalogue as Parallel Omnibus series [OP] under the name [O20230907] and not detailed (as all omnibus series). 

The postal services of the Eastern Caribbean states (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent And the Grenadines) have also announced events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), the central bank for the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which included a stamp design competition, and the winning designs – three values in all – were publicised widely in the regional media back in February. At the time, it was stated that each postal administration would issue the stamps in the denominations most used in its respective territory, and that they would be available in September or October 2023. The ECCB marked 40 years of service to the governments and people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Community on October 1, 2023. However, there has been no recent news about the stamps: perhaps the project was quietly shelved ?

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton

by Richard Zimmermann

On January 5, 2022, the British Antarctic Territory, the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands have issued a series of stamps in honor of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton at the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death. Shackleton is well known for several Antarctica expeditions including an heroic behavior to save his team stuck in the ice. He died on January 5, 1922 at age 47 from a heart attack while starting a new Antarctic expedition and he is buried on the South Georgia Island. The twelve pictures used for these stamps are based on black and white or colorized photographs of Shackleton taken at different ages, with team, with ship or map, including also some pictures of his grave. This issue is considered as a territorial parallel issue [D/PD].

Adam Paish (UK) mentioned very recently that these three countries associated to Ascension, Bahamas and Tristan da Cunha will issue four stamps each and a souvenir sheet to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elisabeth II. Exact dates of issue are not known yet, but Bahamas seems to be the first and plans to issue stamps on March 17, 2022. This issue will be considered as an omnibus parallel issue [O/OP].

Blue Belt programme

by Richard Zimmermann

From Adam Paish (UK): The British government’s flagship ‘Blue Belt Programme’ has been supporting a number of UK Overseas Territories with the protection and sustainable management of their marine environments since 2016. The territories currently involved in the initiative are: 

  • Ascension Island
  • Saint Helena
  • Tristan da Cunha
  • British Antarctic Territory
  • British Indian Ocean Territory 
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands

On November 9, 2021, the postal administrations of Ascension Island and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands each released four stamps and a souvenir sheet (containing slightly different versions of the stamps) to publicise the programme. Stamps of similar designs will be released by Tristan da Cunha and the British Antarctic Territory as part of this issue, but no release date for these has yet been announced. The other territories are not expected to participate.