Cat

November: discoveries and complements

by Richard Zimmermann

Madagascar finally joined the countries celebrating the 150th anniversary of the UPU from October 9, 2024 [T20241009] with the same common stamp. This country issued its stamp on December 30, 2024 (actually printed by the Tunisian Post Printing Office, on November 4, 2024) and produced stamps in panes of 20 [4×5] and a souvenir sheet containing a block of 4 stamps [2×2] (Source: Benjamin Busch)

The stamps from Iran so far reported in the catalogue in this same UPU anniversary series are described as customized personalized stamps, not officially recognized and hence, not part of the series. On July 7, 2025, Iran issued an official stamp that was only reported recently. Iran integrates officially this UPU series listed under [T20241009]. The new (horizontal shape) stamp is shown below next to the first customized (vertical shape) stamps.

On September 5, 2022, several countries dedicated at least one stamp to the International Forum on Tiger Population Preservation in Vladivostok, Russia. This Issue reported under [P20220905] involved all countries that are the tiger’s habitat, including Cambodia (September 22) – India (September 1) – Korea (North) – Laos (September 1) – Malaysia – Myanmar – Russia – Vietnam. Among them, Myanmar issued three stamps in panes. This country re-issued recently (2025, exact date unknown) these stamps in a leaflet/souvenir sheet as a triplet of se-tenant stamps. Illustrations of the original stamps and the new reprint are provided below (Source: David Caleb, Enzo Cafaro).

Libya is a new country to be added to the Post day issue “Towards more innovative postal services” from August 3, 2025, which included already Algeria – Egypt – Iraq – Oman – Tunisia (August 4) and the United Arab Emirates (Kenneth Sequeira, Dubai).

An older series of stamps dedicated to the Covid pandemy was discovered recently (Costas Mengoulis). These stamps produced by Stamperija on behalf of Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger and Sao Tome and Principe have not been reported so far, and their exact date of issue remains unknown. Each country proposes a pane with 16 different stamps, identical from one country to another. Knowing the source and the reason of this issue (mainly to fool collectors), we do not recommend to buy and to include them in your collection. However they need to be reported in the catalogue, but without details, with the same purchase recommendations. In absence of details, these stamps have been added to the description of [B20200427].

The catalogue pages have been updated accordingly. Thanks to all the contributors mentionned between brackets in the text.

October 2025 News

by Richard Zimmermann

First of all, we have to thank Kenneth Sequeira, Dubai, who discovered a China PR-Indonesia joint issue from August 30, 2025, that we completely missed. This twin issue celebrates the 75th anniversary of relationship between both countries and is illustrated with landscapes of lakes and pagodas: the West Lake with Jingzi Tempel in Hangzhou, China PR and Lake Bratan with the Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, Hindu tempel in Bali, Indonesia.

The Bosnia Herzegovina (Bosnia) – Indonesia joint issue was finally relased on October 3, 2025. This issue was originally scheduled to be released on October 4, 2024, but was finally postponed by more than one year. The stamps issued in miniature sheets of two se-tenant stamps represent the Istiklal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the Istiklal Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The Indonesian souvenir sheet is available perforated and imperforate. The word “Istiklal” in Arabic stands for ‘Independence’. The Jakarta Mosque was opened in 1978. The Sarajevo Mosque was a gift from the Indonesian people and Government of Indonesia for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a token of solidarity and friendship between the two nations. This Mosque was opened in 2001 (Information provided by Kenneth Sequeira, Dubai)

On October 7, 2025, France and Japan celebrated the Week of Letter Writing with a twin issue depicting gardens. On one side the French Vaux-le-Vicomte castle and gardens were represented, on the other one, the Gingaku-ji tempel or Silver Pavilion near Kyoto, Japan, was shown. France issued the stamps in two miniature sheets of 10, while Japan produced a single miniature sheet with 5 se-tenant pairs. Mixed official first day documents and a mixed folder with all four stamps, mint, became also available (This information was first provided by Dominique Josse, France).

Mongolia and India celebrated on October 14, 2025, the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship with identical souvenir sheets containing two stamps showing the Mongolian Biyelgee dance and the Ramlila theatrical performance (India). The margins show both national flags, the anniversary logo, national animals (horse and elephant), folk arts, Mongolian ger (yurt) and the blue sky (information provided by Kenneth Sequeira, Dubai, and Robert Schrijvers, Mongolia).

China (PR) and Monaco are celebrating the 30 years of diplomatic relations (1995-2025) on October 15, 2025, with two stamps showing identical flowers, i.e., Canterbury bells, Campanula medium and an orchid, Cymbidium.

The Cat stamps related to the Laos – Russia joint issue from October 15, 2025, were presented in the previous page. Kenneth Sequeira was able to provide the illustration from Laos which is producing both perforated and imperforate stamps and souvenir sheets. The stamps show the Marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) and the East Siberian lynx (Lynx lynx wrangeli). Russian stamps are self-adhesive, sold in miniature sheets of 4 pairs, chessboard ordered. Laos stamps are available as perforated or imperforate souvenir sheets containing the pair of stamps.

The Gibraltar – Liechtenstein issue announced for December 2025 will in fact be released on November 10, 2025. It design is already available on the Liechtenstein postal administration web site (information provided by Kenneth Sequeira). Surprisingly this issue will be available in form of two souvenir sheets containing each a stamp from each country (different stamp designs), which defines this issue as Se-tenant joint issue [S2]. Stamps show falcons and are dedicated to the migration of these birds. Stamps are also available in sheetlets, and mixed FDCs are available.

Catalogues Vol 1 and Vol 16 have been updated with all this information covering the months of September and October 2025.