Folk costume

Horses, map and traditions

by Richard Zimmermann

On December 5, 2025, Uruguay and Romania issued joint stamps at the occasion of the 90th anniversary of their diplomatic relations establishment. The commonly accepted topic was horse breeding illustrated by two stamps showing the Romanian Lipizzan horse and the South American Criollo horse. The Uruguayan stamps have not been seen so far, but their issue confirmed by an announcement describing a se-tenant pair of stamps printed at 2,500 samples in miniature sheets of 4 pairs (so, only 625 miniature sheets available). At the other end, Romania is still complicated in terms of proposing different sub-types and their limited number of prints. In this country the following items are available: the two stamps, issued in panes of 32, within which the next to last row is printed upside down to allow creating tête-bêche samples (printed 2×5,472 stamps, i.e., 2×171 sheets only – a part was taken to create first day covers), 2 miniature sheets with 3 stamps and one label at the top right position (122×91 mm – printed 2×1,550 miniature sheets), one illustrated souvenir sheet with a pair of non se-tenant stamps (120×164 mm – printed 3,150) and another illustrated souvenir sheet with the non-se-tenant stamps, same size, but imperforate and numbered, available only in a folder produced at 277 (!) samples.

The 40th anniversary of the relationship between Oman and Russia was finally released on December 10, 2025 (after 5 successive announcements of changes of issue dates). The issue initially intended to celebrate the Omani explorer Ahmed bin Majid and the Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin, led finally to a common stamp showing an old map, taken from the manuscript Kharīdat al-ʻAjāʼib wa Farīdat al-Gharāʼib, or ‘The Pearl of Wonders and the Uniqueness of Things Strange’ (written 1419), by Oman scientist Umar ibn Muẓaffar al-Wardī (died 1447). In both countries, the stamps have been released as miniature sheets [3×3], containing 9 stamps for Oman, but with central label for Russia, so, only 8 stamps in the Russian miniature sheet. Oman released another souvenir sheet, showing the two explorers, with a perforation centered over the portrait of the Omani traveler. This item shows a design which could have been used by Russia, simply by shifting the perforations, but this was not translated in a Russian product. The choice of the map as common design, may also explain the delays, probably upon reluctancy of the Russian post to use the Omani proposal (which is not a standard Russian stamp printing form).

On December 11, 2025, Indonesia and Serbia surprisingly issued stamps to celebrate relationship illustrated with typical local houses and a couple dressed in local costume. For both countries, the stamps are issued se-tenant, in miniature sheets of 4 pairs.

The first images of the December 19, 2025, Laos Thailand joint issue have been made available, but details for Laos are still missing. The Thailand stamps were issued in miniature sheets of 5 se-tenant pairs, chessboard ordered.

We are still missing information from Vietnam about the joint issue with Cyprus issued on December 1, 2025. So far we had only access to the FDC cover from Cyprus.

Most of this information was provided by Kenneth Sequeira (Dubai) and Enzo Cafaro (Italy). Thanks to both of them.

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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.

April 2025 update

by Richard Zimmermann

On April 7, 2025, Portugal and India issued, as planned, a souvenir sheet each, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of their diplomatic relationship. The two common stamps feature the traditional costume from Viana do Castelo, Portugal, and the Kalbelia dance costumes, India (information first provided by Kenneth Sequeira, Singapore and Souvik Ghatak, India).

On April 10, 2025, Morocco issued a pair of stamps representing airports (Mectan – Cebu and Menara – Marrakech) and celebrating 50 years of relationship with the Philippines. So far, information from the Philippines is not available, although the stamps of this country have been announced, and taking in account the structure of the Moroccan issue, it could become a twin or concerted issue.

Med Achour Ali Ahmed (Algeria) provided complementary information about the Arab League 80th Anniversary stamps. The Egyptian issue is not a stamp in pane, but a souvenir sheet, size 120×85 mm, issued on March 22, 2025, at 7,000 samples only among which 700 were used to prepare first day covers. The denomination is 20 Egyptian Pounds. In the meantime, no information about an additional country participating to this issue became available.

Tolga Caglayankaya (The Netherlands) provided information about a new 150th UPU Anniversary country srtamp (T20241009). South Sudan issued two stamps and one souvenir sheet containing these two stamps, displaying the basic design. Apparently only 500 samples of the souvenir sheet were printed. The exact date of issue seems to be March 27, 2025.

Jaap Sarelse (The Netherlands) reported also about a stamp issued by Nigeria on October 10, 2024 but bearing the design of the October 9, 2022, World Post day issue. This stamp has of course been added to the T20221009 series.

India Romania 2024

by Richard Zimmermann

On September 17, 2024, India and Romania came together to produce a twin issue at the occasion of the 75th anniversary of their relationship. The stamps are illustrated with traditional costumes from both countries. India shows the ‘Lehanga choli’ (female) and ‘Dhoti kurta’ (male) costumes, while Romanian issue represents popular costumes from the Bihor County. Information about Indian stamps remains limited so far. We just know that the stamps were issued in panes and as a miniature sheet with both se-tenant stamps. Regarding Romania, stamps were issued in two panes of 32 stamps (2x[8×4]), in two miniature sheets of 5 stamps with a label, the label representing the other stamp without denomination, and a souvenir sheet with both stamps. As usually with Romania, the number of issued stamps remains limited: only 775 pairs of miniature sheets (2×3,875 stamps) and 4,550 souvenir sheets were printed. The number of stamps issued in panes is also limited to 2×8,064 (meaning that only 252 pairs of panes were printed), from which 406 pairs were taken to create as many official FDCs.

This information was collected and provided almost at the same time by Madhukar Jhingan (www.stampsofindia.com), Kenneth Sequeira (Singapore), Souvik Ghatak (India) and Don Birschel (USA). Thanks to all of them.