Mountain

Train, medals and cows

by Richard Zimmermann

Belarus and Russia finally released the stamps celebrating the “Memory train cultural and educational project”. This issue that was announced several times with date of issue that changed from May 6 to April 17, 2025. Finally stamps became available on April 18, 2025. The identical stamps represent the train and are produced in miniature sheets of 12 [3×4] for Russia and miniature sheets of 6 [2×3] for Belarus.

‘The Memory Train is a Russian-Belarusian cultural and educational project aimed at uniting young people from different countries, forming a respectful attitude and understanding of the significance of the heroic feats of previous generations, and introducing them to the culture and traditions of neighboring countries. Participants of the Memory Train set off on a journey along a route that includes visits to hero cities, memorial complexes, museums, places of military glory and other memorable places. The Memory Train helps to preserve the connection between generations, passing the baton of memory from veterans to young people who will become the guardians of this history in the future’.

The second Belarus-Russia joint issue of April 25, 2025 is dedicated to the ‘80th Anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War’. Both souvenir sheets have a completely different design. Russia has also released the souvenir sheet in a numbered embossed version (Jaap Sarelse, the Netherlands).

On May 7, 2025, Liechtenstein and Switzerland issued a series of new crypto stamps as a joint issue (information provided by Jaap Sarelse, the Netherlands). The stamps of both countries are different but form a continuous image when placed next to each other. They represent landscapes of both countries with half a cow head each. The cow is available in 6 colors, green issued at 7,500 samples in each country among which 2,500 were used in combined mixed FDCs, blue at 3,250 samples (with 1,250 for FDCs), yellow 1,250 (250 FDCs), orange 300 (100 FDCs), pink 150 (30 in FDCs) and rainbow issued at 50 samples in each country among which 10 were taken to create mixed FDCs. Digitally, from the QR code, both stamps can later be combined into a whole that results in a moving cow on the screen. Sales prices are also proportional to the scarcity: while the official denomination is CHF 8.50 for all items, miniature sheets with green cows are sold at CHF 9.90 (about 10.60 €), blue at € 29, yellow at € 99, orange at € 199, pink at € 299 and rainbow at € 499. Mixed FDCs with the same color cows are sold between €29 for the green pair and €1,999 for the rainbow pair. A full series of mint stamps would amount to about € 2,000, and the full series of mixed FDCs would reach about € 4,200, but this is already impossible to complete as only green, blue and yellow stamps remain available for purchase, consequence of the very low printing runs.

These stamps will be reported in the catalogue for the completeness of information, but the high prices and the low levels of production exclude them from being considered as ‘normal’ items for collection, like for all previous crypto stamps issued so far. We do not recommend to buy them as they have been produced mainly for speculation purpose. They are more to be considered for coin/currency collectors than for stamp collectors, also as they will never be found on a mail that will have really circulated (for which they are normally intended). The fact that at the time of writing, all 7,500 samples of the green cow stamps have not been sold, demonstrates clearly the absence of interest of philatelists for these products which eventually should not be labelled as ‘stamps’.

Just as a reminder: one can find on the net a mixed cover with Panama (April 3, 2024) and Vatican (May 21, 2024) stamps that is presented as a mixed joint issue. While being a nice joint cover, the stamps on this item have not been accepted as joint issue and are filed under ‘non-accepted issue’ [N20240403] in the catalogue.

Enzo Cafaro (Italy) could confirm that the Argentina – Qatar issue is joint on the basis of an identical stamps., Argentina had issued its stamp on January 31, 2025 and Qatar released a souvenir sheet with one stamp on May 7, 2025. The issue is to be considered as Concerted and described in the catalogue under [C20250131].

If you are looking for updated information from India, our friend Rakhel Dash holds a blog “Indian Philately Watch – April 2025 Highlights – The Philatelist” that provides information about the latest issues from this country.

Eventually, the Philippines conterpart of the Moroccan joint issue fron April 10, 2025, was also discovered. The quality of this first image is not as good as expected, but at least it confirms that the issue can be considered as twin (or concerted, as the date of issue of the Philippines stamps needs to be confirmed). The Philippines stamps were issued as se-tenant pairs available in a miniature sheet containing two pairs. Any additional information about this pair of Philippines stamps is welcome.

A China PR – Indonesia 75th anniversary of relationship commemorative joint issue whad been announced to be issued during April 2025. The Indonesia souvenir sheet was released, but, by beginning of May 2025, China had not announced anything in relation with Indonesia. Taking in account the shape and type of the Indonesian product, there are great chances that this will not translate in a real joint issue on the Chinese side. In the meantime, here is already the picture of the Indonesian souvenir sheet that was recently released.

All the above information has been integrated in the updated version Vol XVI V6.03 of the catalogue.

News November 2024

by Richard Zimmermann

We missed to report the China (PR) – France joint issue released on October 18, 2024 at the occasion of the 60th anniversary of their relationship . Stamps are identical and represent the Mont Saint-Michel (Saint Michael’s Mount) in France and the Mount Tai (Taishan) in China. The Chinese stamps were released in miniature sheets of 12 stamps 2x[3×4], while the French stamps became available in miniature sheets of 15 stamps 2x[3×5]. A mixed ‘pochette’ with all four stamps became available from the French postal administration, and as usual with China, mixed FDCs will probably be easy to find.

On November 14, 2024, Italy and the Vatican State celebrated the 25th anniversary of Venice Foundation for the Search for Peace through a twin issue. The identical stamps are reproducing the logo of the Foundation highlighted on an ancient map called “Perspective map of the city of Venice and the lagoons“, published by Benedetto Bordone in 1534. A large figure “25” and a dove, logo of the Foundation, complete the illustration. Italian stamps were printed in panes of 50, while Vatican stamps became available as miniature sheets of 10.

On November 29, 2024, a series of Arab states will issue a common stamp in solidarity with Gaza. So far, countries that have committed to participate include Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine and Qatar. This list is not complete. On October 7, 2024, Syria had already issued a stamp and a souvenir sheet with the common design. Stamps in panes of 50 units [5×10] were printed at 5,000 samples and souvenir sheets at 1,500 samples, among which 500 units of each were already used to prepare FDCs. The information was provided by Med Achour Ali Ahmed (Algeria).

Eventually, since beginning of the year, we still have to report missing counterparts of the following stamps that were initially announced as joint:

  • Israel, missing India: Purim Festival – This stamp was originally scheduled to be released on February 13, 2024, but India was not ready to participate. The new date of May 7, 2024 was set, date at which the Israel stamp was unilaterally put on sale, but the Indian stamp was not released and information is still missing since. There are great chances that this issue will remain unilateral.
  • Russia, released on August 24, 2024, missing China (PR): Russian stamp release moved to August 24 from originally August 4, 2024, but Chinese stamp were not issued yet. There are also great chances that this issue will remain unilateral.
  • Uruguay, released on September 10, 2024, a stamp related to the 60th anniversary of relationship with Korea (South). Uruguay made two se-tenant stamps available , printed in miniature sheets of ten pairs [2px5] (printed 2,500 pairs). No information from South Korea is available at this stage and this issue may remain unilateral as well.
  • On September 30, 2024, Kazakhstan and Morocco were supposed to release jointly a stamp at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of their relationship, illustrated with the topic Gastronomy. The Kazakh stamp became available on that date, but despite the fact that the it bears the words “Joint issue Kazakhstan – Morocco”, no information is available so far from the Moroccan side. We still have open that it could become a concerted issue.
  • Bosnia Herzegovina (Bosnia) and Indonesia were supposed to release stamps on October 4, 2024, at the occasion of the 25 years of the Istiklal Mosque in Sarajevo. The issue disappeared from the Bosnia Herzegovina philatelic program for 2024, while no information is available from Indonesia. This issue could be postponed to 2025.
  • On November 4, 2024, Serbia issued a stamp at the occasion of the 70th anniversary of relationship with Indonesia. We are missing any information from Indonesia on that topic. Actually we are missing a lot of information about the real program of Indonesia, and we have no idea which country will be really involved in a joint issue with this country.
  • The Belarus – Russia joint issue initially scheduled for November 15, 2024 is now postponed to December 6, 2024.

Any additional information is welcome. In absence of information regarding the issues already reported as potential unilateral series, these entries will be removed from the catalogue by end of the year. The catalogue pages have been updated with all these information.

Liechtenstein – Mexico (additional)

by Richard Zimmermann

Following the publication from the previous blog page about the July 3, 2024 announced as unexpected Liechtenstein-Mexico joint issue, some doubts raised about the real status of this issue. Both countries issued a pair of identical se-tenant stamps showing mountains from both countries : Alpspitz (Liechtenstein, 1943m) and Mineral del Chico, Hidalgo (Mexico, 3200m). 

Comments came from Luis Malanco (Mexico), Lars Kersten, Jaap Sarelse (The Netherlands), Enzo Cafaro (Italy), and Philatelie Liechtenstein. Thanks to all of them.

While Mexican Post provided all details about the Mexican stamps (sheets of 25 pairs, printing 50,000 pairs, FDC available), the Liechtenstein stamps were never disclosed on the Philatelie Liechtenstein web site. These stamps are not listed in the official Liechtenstein philatelic programme, are not for sale through the web page and are not described in the June or September Liechtenstein official brochures. Official events in Liechtenstein and Mexico took place to celebrate the anniversary of this diplomatic relationship, in the presence of representatives of both postal entities (see below some illustrations of web media pages provided by Luis). All stamps were disclosed during these events.

(VIPs mentionned in these blogs: Luis Seger is Executive Director of Liechtensteinische Post; Pietro Piffaretti is the Ambassador of Switzerland in Mexico; Rocio Barcenas is a Director of Correos de Mexico; Cecilia Jaber is the Ambassador of Switzerland and Liechtenstein in Mexico; Dominique Hasler is the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport with the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein). Here are also two links with events organized in Liechtenstein (Link 2). All these events took place on July 2, 2024.

Lars pointed to the fact that the Liechtenstein stamps bear the name “Liechtenstein” instead of “Fürstentum Liechtenstein”. The country name alone applies apparently to personalized stamp, which are not available through the official channels. The day following the issue, the stamp was considered by Liechtenstein Post as sold out. Answers from Philatelie Liechtenstein (via Jaap): “The stamps of 30 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico & Liechtenstein have been issued as a small edition in digital printing and are unfortunately already sold out.” Later additional information came from the same source under the form: “1. The Mexico-Liechtenstein joint issue was a personal stamp under the authority of Liechtenstein Post. 2. The issue number was very low, and we are unable to provide any further information on that question. 3. There is no FDC as FDCs are only produced for official issues.“. We still are waiting for information about who gave the order for printing and who acquired all the stocks.

In conclusion, these Liechtenstein stamps must be considered as a private issue. These stamps will be described in the catalogue, but under the entry code [N20240704], ‘N’ standing for ‘Non-approved’, based on the criteria defining a true joint issue in Catalogue Vol 1. However, these Liechtenstein stamps do exist (even if in a very limited edition), can officially be used for postage and therefore have to be considered as true stamps. It is up to each collector to decide if he wants to integrate ‘N’ stamps in his own collection. We have not seen these stamps so far and do not know from where to buy them. Additional information remains welcome.

Unexpected Liechtenstein – Mexico 2024

by Richard Zimmermann

Luis Malanco (Mexico) provided images of an unexpected Liechtenstein – Mexico joint issue at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of their relationship. The stamps were released on July 3, 2024. Both countries issued a pair of identical se-tenant stamps showing mountains from both countries : Alpspitz (Liechtenstein, 1943m) and Mineral del Chico, Hidalgo (Mexico, 3200m). Unfortunately, beside the pictures, very limited information is available so far.

PAPU 2023

by Richard Zimmermann

Our friend Med Achour Ali Ahmed (Algeria) was the first to report about this unexpected joint issue: The 41st ordinary session of the Board of Directors of the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), a specialized agency of the African Union responsible for the coordination and development of postal services in Africa, took place between August 24 and 30, 2023 in Arusha, the Tanzanian city. This meeting was followed by the festivities linked to the inauguration by President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the new PAPU headquarters called “PAPU Tower” on September 2, 2023.
To mark the commissioning of this emblematic 17-story building, PAPU proposed the issue on this date of a common commemorative stamp “presenting the image of the PAPU tower, juxtaposed with an emblematic place, an artifact national or natural at the choice of each participating Member State”.
The Tanzanian Post was the first showing the design of its stamps and souvenir sheets that were issued on September 2, 2023. At the same time we learned about the first stamps issued by other countries including so far Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe. As the PAPU involves 45 countries, there are high expectations that other African countries will join over the following weeks. So, at this stage, we just confirm that this issue has to be considered as a Twin issue under the entry code T20230902. Additional countries will be reported later in the catalogue and for the time being we are just providing illustrations from the first identified products.

South Korea – Switzerland joint issue

by Richard Zimmermann

Urs Fischer-Han (Switzerland) provided the information that Swiss Post is already communicating about the future Joint Issue Stamps with Korea Post. Both countries will issue identical stamps commemorating two special anniversaries in 2023: 60 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Switzerland and 70 years of peacekeeping operations of the Swiss Army in the aftermath of the Korean Armistice, signed on July 27, 1953. The offical issuing date will be September 7, 2023.

Small traditional villages have been chosen in both countries as motives. The historic village of Oeam in mid-western South Korea is situated in the foothills of Seolhwasan mountain, not far from the city of Asan and about 95 kilometres from Seoul. The Swiss counterpart shows the village of Trub in Upper Emmental in the Canton of Bern.

In order to introduce the Korean motive, Oeam, Korea Post has produced a video clip which is available on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh9dsZL9iAc. Stamps are already available from Swiss Post web site www.postshop.ch/jointissue23. Mixed folders and first day covers are also available.

Switzerland – Thailand 2021

by Richard Zimmermann

The Switzerland – Thailand joint issue was released as planned on November 11, 2011. This series is celebrating the 90 years of relationship between both countries. Topics are different (trains and mountains) but related to both countries. Thailand stamps are printed as se-tenant pairs issued in miniature sheets of 5 pairs. Mixed FDCs are also available.