Jan. 5, 2023 Red Fox On January 5, 2023, in Fox, AR, the United States Postal Service® will issue the 40-cent Red Fox denominated stamp in one design, in a self-adhesive sheet of 20, coil of 3,000, and coil of 10,000. The handsome face of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) graces this new 40-cent stamp. … Continue reading Stamps of 2023: United States (January 2023)
Month: December 2022
Stamps of 2023: Åland (January 2023)
Åland is one of my favorite entities to collect stamps from and I have done so avidly since the 1980s. I appreciate the fact that the annual philatelic output is relatively small while the subject matter and designs are always interesting. Åland Post is one of the few postal administrations that will announce the details … Continue reading Stamps of 2023: Åland (January 2023)
Stamps of 2023: Belgium (January 2023)
On January 23, 2023, the Belgian Post Group -- commonly known as bpost -- will issue 12 new stamp designs, of which eleven were publicized in late December 2022. The twelfth, commemorating the 50th birth anniversary of HM Queen Mathilde, was unveiled on her actual birthday -- January 20. Ten of the stamps are in … Continue reading Stamps of 2023: Belgium (January 2023)
Stamps of 2023: France (January 2023)
La Poste has announced its first several issues for 2023, four in January and three so far in February. The four issues scheduled for January include a total of twenty-two stamps as detailed below. Jan. 6, 2023 Between Heaven and Earth France's first issue of 2023 is a set of 12 stamps titled "Between Heaven … Continue reading Stamps of 2023: France (January 2023)
Happy New Year 2023: Belarus
As in Moldova and Russia, Christmas in Belarus often takes second place to New Year’s Eve celebrations, a holdover from Soviet times when ideology demanded the abandonment of “Western” and religious holidays. However, Belarus does have a historical connection with Christmas, and the observance has become increasingly popular. Even if New Year’s is the bigger … Continue reading Happy New Year 2023: Belarus
Happy New Year 2023: Moldova
Much like Russia, the ex-Soviet republic of Moldova celebrates New Year on December 31/January 1 on a large scale with a much more muted Christmas on January 7. However, in recent years, more people in Moldova -- especially the young -- have started to celebrate Christmas on December 25 like most Christians around the world. … Continue reading Happy New Year 2023: Moldova
Happy New Year 2023: Russia
№ 2022-121/5 -- November 7, 2022 № 2022-122/5 -- November 7, 2022 № 2022-123/5 -- November 7, 2022 In Russia, New Year is a a much bigger holiday than Christmas. Since Christmas in Russia falls on January 7, most people work until December 30 without any particular interruptions, except for New Year corporate parties – … Continue reading Happy New Year 2023: Russia
Sunday Summary #19
Welcome to Sunday Summary, the meme in which I attempt to summarize the week that came before. Merry Christmas! Today is Christmas Day and I am spending a very welcome lazy day at home. Well, not so lazy as it seems like I have a million things to do and no real desire to do … Continue reading Sunday Summary #19
Christmas Stamps 2022: Best of the Rest
Over the past several months, I have posted about the 2022 Christmas stamps issued by 15 different postal entities. This article contains images of those that I liked the designs for but never had the time to dedicate a full blog about. If you have favorites that were not included in this year's series, please … Continue reading Christmas Stamps 2022: Best of the Rest
Christmas Stamps 2022: Ukraine – “Carol of the Bells”
In late 2013, I heard a version of "Carol of the Bells" performed by the British rock band Marillion. I immediately fell in love with every aspect of the song and it soon surpassed "Silent Night" as my favorite Christmas song. Last night, I was both surprised and delighted when I returned home from work … Continue reading Christmas Stamps 2022: Ukraine – “Carol of the Bells”
Mark Joseph Jochim 