Released June 6, 2012 this attractive four stamp set features native Taiwan owls. The stamps are intaglio printed in sheets of 20, in two colors on phosphorescent paper. Also available are first day covers and maxim cards.
Owls of Taiwan 2012
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus): A medium sized owl with characteristic tufted ears. Found in open spaces such as grasslands, meadows and marshes on all continents except Antarctica and Austrlia where it feeds primarily on small rodents. Other common names include Catfaced Owl, Evening Owl, Meadow Owl and Flat-faced Owl.
Mountain Scops Owl(Otus spilocephalus): A small owl with a yellowish brown face, prominent ear-tufts, and prominent milk white circles on its neck. Widespread throughout Asia it prefers forested habitats. Also sometimes called the Spotted Scops Owl.
Brown Wood Owl(Strix leptogrammica): A medium-large owl with brown plumage and a white neckband. Found in south Asia, ranging from India and Sri Lanka in the east to Indonesia and south China in the west. It lives at the edge of woodlands or in the glades of mixed forests where it feeds on small mammals, birds and reptiles.
Brown Hawk Owl(Ninox scutulata): A small-medium owl that appears hawk-like due to its long tail and lack of ear tufts or facial disk. It has a round head and lacks both ear-tufts and prominent facial disc. Found in south Asia, ranging from India and Sri Lanka in the east to Indonesia and south China in the west. Its population in Taiwan includes both migratory and non-migratory groups. It lives primarily in low- and mid-elevation mountainous regions. Also known as the Oriental Hawk Owl.
Introduction to Stamp Identification
Minor variations in collectible stamps can mean the difference between a common item and a great rarity. This introduction to the art and science of stamp identification provides an invaluable overview to the field covering such topics as finding your stamp in a catalogue, design variations, watermarks, printing methods and papers.
Working Horses of France
Horses have been a part of the French landscape since prehistoric times when wild horses were depicted on the famous cave paintings at Niaux. La Poste, the French Postal Authority, issued a set of 12 stamps featuring the regional working horses of France in a collectible booklet on April 5, 2013. The attractive stamps are sure to be sought after by horse enthusiasts and topical collectors alike.
Leipzig Fair Philately
For the better part of 1,000 years, merchants have gathered at the Leipzig Trade Fair to sell their wares. In modern times the Leipzig Fair (Leipziger Messe in German) has produced a wealth of philatelic collectibles including stamps, covers, collector cards, and cancels.
Royal Mail Stamps Celebrate Works of Charles Dickens
Celebrating the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, on June 19, 2012 the British Royal Mail issued ten stamps along with other philatelic items featuring some of his best known characters.
The Inverted Jenny - The World's Most Famous Stamp
There is no more iconic emblem of the stamp collecting hobby than the Inverted Jenny. The 1918 United States bi-color error features a blue Curtiss Jenny airplane, upside down in a red frame. The dramatic nature of the error and its storied history has left the Inverted Jenny as the world's most recognizable stamp.
Japanese Stamps Feature Peter Rabbit and Other Beatrix Potter Characters
On March 31, 2011 Japan Post issued two sheets of stamps to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Japanese-language publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The twenty stamps making up the series depict some of Beatrix Potter's most memorable and beloved scenes and characters.
French Art Stamp Features American Painter Edward Hopper
Famous Edward Hopper painting Morning Sun is part of La Poste's long running Musee Imaginaire art stamp series.
United States Dogs at Work Issue Features Service Animals
The United States Postal Service honored the faithful dogs that work with and for their human friends with a set of four 65-cent stamps featuring a seeing-eye guide dog, a therapy dog, a tracking dog, and a search and rescue dog.