Namibia Frog shape miniature sheet

A nice looking frog shaped sheet with 4 stamps featuring 4 different types of frog from Namibia.

Circle Shape Austria stamp – Europa 2011: Forests

The United Nations has declared this year to be the International Year of the Forest. On this occasion, Austria Post, in cooperation with the Austrian Mint, is issuing an attractive commemorative block whose round motif shows typical representatives of the flora and fauna of the Austrian forests.

Roughly 47% of the Austrian territory is forest.

The forest, an important habitat for many Austrian animal species, can without doubt be regarded as a “true performance wonder”. It fulfils a large number of irreplaceable functions for us humans and our environment – thus for instance it supplies the renewable, environment friendly and natural raw material wood, for which at present there is hardly any intelligent alternative.

The unique ecosystem of the forest is home to a natural treasure that must be preserved at all costs. The new commemorative block is a small contribution to encouraging the corresponding awareness.

Dragonfly Shape Miniature Sheet

Dragonfly Miniature Sheet


This dragonfly is the world’s most widely distributed dragonfly being found in the tropics as well as in temperate zones. It breeds on every continent except Europe and Antarctica and is found all around the world. This species flies almost constantly and drifts with the wind as it feeds. It flies thousands of miles over oceans and because of its characteristic gliding flight, its common name is the Globe Skimmer or Wandering Glider. It can be seen flying almost anywhere in open country, sometimes in great numbers. They rarely perch but at sea they have been known to land on ships far away from land. They usually inhabit the thickly vegetated areas of stream bank areas and lower wetland areas near the ocean. Breeding occurs in standing or slow moving water, so rice paddies in the tropics are particularly suitable habitats. Forests and even rain puddles are also known breeding locations.

Dragonfly date stampThe colour of the thorax and tapered abdomen of both sexes is orangish to light brown with long, broad and clear wings. The small dark area on the tip of the hind-wing is distinctive. The Wandering Glider feeds mainly on insects and small crustaceans. Of distinct advantage to humans is that both the larvae and the adult are great hunters and often eat a lot of insect pests, including mosquitoes. Their main predators are fish.

Diamond Shape Stamp - Lunar NewYear Rat - Macau

In the past, Macau Post has issued two series of stamps with the theme of Chinese Zodiac. This third series is presented with the concept of "Five Elements", "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth".
This year the rat's nature from the "Five Elements" is "Earth Rat", so it becomes the main character of the five stamps. The stamp in Miniature shape is of odd shape - diamond.

Hexagon shaped stamps of Macua - I Ching, Pa Kua VI

In the past few years, the Macau Post issued series of odd shape stamps (Hexagon Shape Stamp in miniature sheet) titled "I Ching, Pa Kua". As to symbolize the special characteristics of "Pa Kua", the shape of these stamps is designed in the format of hexagon.

The symbols of Kua in this series of eight hexagon stamps are; "Song, kun, Wei Ji, Jie, Huan, Kan, Meng and Shi".

8 Hexagon shaped stamps of Macua - I Ching, Pa Kua V

In the past few years, the Macau Post issued series of odd shape stamps (Hexagon Shape Stamp in miniature sheet) titled "I Ching, Pa Kua". As to symbolize the special characteristics of "Pa Kua", the shape of these stamps is designed in the format of hexagon.

The symbols of Kua i nthe current series of eight stamps are; "Gou, Da Guo, Ding, Heng, Xun, Jing, Gu and Sheng".

Taiwan Circle Shape Stamps - Finding Nemo

One more beautiful miniature sheet from Taiwan on Finding Nemo, but this one contains 5 circle shape stamps in it.

To stimulate interest in philately among youths, this Post has elected “Finding Nemo”, an animated movie much loved by the young, as the subject of two souvenir sheets. Each souvenir sheet will include five NT$5.00-denominated stamps. The designs follow: Disney’s “Finding Nemo” is an animated movie shown in about 120 countries around the world and won an Oscar for best animated feature. The film is about a single clownfish father and his son Nemo. One day, Nemo is captured and then put into a fish tank. To find his beloved son, the anxious father embarks on a difficult and dangerous journey. On his way, he confronts all kinds of crises, but he is eventually reunited with his son thanks to the help of enthusiastic ocean friends. An illustration of the world under the sea serves as the background for one of the souvenir sheets, and a photo of an underwater landscape serves as the background for the other. The stamps feature Nemo (a clownfish and star of the film), Tad (a long-nosed butterflyfish), Sheldon (a little seahorse), Squirt (a little green sea turtle), Peach (a starfish), Bubbles (a yellow tang), a school of sea turtles, Dory (a blue tang), and Pearl (a flapjack octopus). These small squares of stamps spread joy and happiness with the colorful undersea world they capture. The set is well worth collecting and treasuring.

Taiwan Circle Shape Stamps - Blue Finding Nemo

A beautiful miniature sheet in my collection. This contains circle shape stamps (ofcourse odd shape stamp) with the cartoon character "Nemo" in it.

To stimulate interest in philately among youths, this Post has elected “Finding Nemo”, an animated movie much loved by the young, as the subject of two souvenir sheets. Each souvenir sheet will include five NT$5.00-denominated stamps. The designs follow: Disney’s “Finding Nemo” is an animated movie shown in about 120 countries around the world and won an Oscar for best animated feature. The film is about a single clownfish father and his son Nemo. One day, Nemo is captured and then put into a fish tank. To find his beloved son, the anxious father embarks on a difficult and dangerous journey. On his way, he confronts all kinds of crises, but he is eventually reunited with his son thanks to the help of enthusiastic ocean friends. An illustration of the world under the sea serves as the background for one of the souvenir sheets, and a photo of an underwater landscape serves as the background for the other. The stamps feature Nemo (a clownfish and star of the film), Tad (a long-nosed butterflyfish), Sheldon (a little seahorse), Squirt (a little green sea turtle), Peach (a starfish), Bubbles (a yellow tang), a school of sea turtles, Dory (a blue tang), and Pearl (a flapjack octopus). These small squares of stamps spread joy and happiness with the colorful undersea world they capture. The set is well worth collecting and treasuring.

First day of issue: 2008-04-03
Paper used: Phosphorescent stamp paper
Printer: Carton Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Stamp size: 34 × 26, 26 × 34 (mm)
Color: Colorful Process:
Deep etch offset Perforation: 13½ × 13, 13 × 13½

Butterfly Shape - Pitcairn Islands - Salt and Pepper moth

This cute odd shape miniature sheet is from Pitcairn Islands on fauna or insect or butterfly theme.

The Salt and Pepper moth Utetheisa pulchelloides, is also known as the Heliotrope Moth. It is found on Henderson Island and grows to have a wingspan of approximately 30mm and a body length of 20mm. The moth looks quite white when it is flying, but at rest, the interesting pattern of red / orange and black spots on the white fore wings can be seen. Each hind wing is white with two black spots and an irregular black margin.

The moth is active during the daytime hence the bright colours, which are unusual for a moth. It uses the colours to attract others instead of the usual pheromones emitted at night. It feeds on various plants found throughout the Pacific eg. Octopus Bush Argusia argentea, Salvation Jane / Paterson’s Curse Echium lantagineum, Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens and Forget-me-Not Myosotis arvensis.
It is believed that they do not cause damage to crops. The eggs are pale green and laid in a row on a leaf tip. The insect pupates in a loose cocoon spun in the leaf litter on the ground below the food plant. The caterpillars have sparse grey hairs and are black with orange spots and broken cream lines along the body.
Moths Designer - Sue Wickison BA (Hons), SBA
Following a degree in scientific illustration, Sue spent nine years as a Botanical Illustrator with the renown Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. A prestigious Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship took her to the Solomon Islands to collect orchids where a new species she found, Coelogyne susanae, was named after her.

Sue has designed over 50 natural history stamp issues for nine Pacific countries, including New Zealand and she now lives in New Zealand as a freelance artist.Her last issue for the Pitcairn Islands was Butterflies. Sue recently held a series of successful solo exhibitions in the UK, including Savill Gardens where her work was recognised by Royal patronage.

Technical Details
Designer: Sue Wickison, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand
Process: Offset Litho
Stamp Size: 33.00mm x 33.00mm,
Format: 2 square stamps plus one die cut miniature sheet with same 2 stamps.
Mini Sheet Size: 135mm x 65mm horizontal
Perforation Gauge: 14.5.x 14.5
Sheet Configuration: 50 stamps per sheet, 2 x panes of 25
Denominations: Stamps $2.00 and $4.00.
Paper: 104gm Tullis Russell Non phosphor stamp paper
Period of Sale: 22 August 2007 for a period of 2 years.

New Caledonia Circle Shaped stamps

Yet another beautiful Circle shaped stamps sheetlet.

Friends of the cat show cat, your agendas! The 3rd cat show in New Caledonia will be held on July 25 at the Maison des Artisans. Cats of various breeds will be presented, and even non-cat breeds or pedigree can not be judged. Almost two thousand people usually flock to admire cats carefully-groomed for the occasion - and to discover some unsuspected races. A judge certified shall rank according to criteria specific to each race. This exhibition is organized for three years by the Cat Club of New Caledonia (affiliated to the Federation Feline French) which includes about thirty members. A circle of enthusiasts who share an enormous love for the feline, animal enigmatic and endearing. The cat began to be domesticated, there are 9 000 years in the Middle East. Idolatry in ancient Egypt, he was persecuted as a henchman of Satan in the Europe of the Middle Ages. He then returned to the esteem of people with particular address in the hunt for rodents, both in homes and on board ships. The interest generated by the different races have varied over time depending on modes . Today, the number of breeds and varieties of color is increasing. we can get a house cat at the shelter APS-NC, or, for purists, buy a Persian cat, the king of cats, from a farmer instead.

Design : C. Broutin Broutin
Printed by: ITVF
Printing: Gravure
Size: 180mm x 140mm
Block of 6 stamps sheetlet
Circulation: 100 000 sheets
Postage: 1st level weight Preferential - Zone 2

Aldabra Gaint Tortoise - Hexagon Shaped Stamps

2 cute Hexagon shaped stamps from India Post on Aldabra Gaint Tortoise.

This is the story of a tortoise named Adwaitya. We all know about the legendary tortoise of folk tales who defeated the hare and won the race. Well, Adwaitya was also a winner. Before he died in the year 2006 in Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata, he was perhaps the longest living animal in the world having lived for more than 250 years. People lovingly called him Adwaitya meaning the matchless or the unique (Hindi: Adviteeya i.e. unique or no second) as he was a living example of nature's mysteries. He is supposed to have been born in 1750; however, some say it was 1705. He feed on wheat bran, grams soaked in water, small pieces of carrots, sweet potatoes, beans, leafy vegetables, diced banana and rice mixed with powder gram.

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) is a native of Aldabra atoll, part of the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean. The Aldabra atoll has been protected from human influence since late 19th Century and is home to a large number of giant tortoises. The size of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise can be up to 4 Ft. in length and the weight can be about 550 lbs. They are normally dark gray to black in color, have small pointed head covered with scales, a long neck, a highly domed carapace and thick bony scales on forelegs. Adwaitya became ill several months before his death after a crack developed around a wound on his chest, and ultimately succumbed on 22nd March, 2006. Department of Posts is proud to issue a set of two commemorative postage stamps on the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. The specially designed stamps are unique in the sense that they are hexagonal i.e. they have six sides.