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Friday 21 May 2021

1852) "Endangered National Wildlife", Malta: EUROPA - 2021: Malta Post has issued two Postage Stamps featuring Critically Endangered National Wildlife - The Mediterranean Chameleon and The Painted Frog: Date of Stamp set issue: 12.05.2021:

1852) "Endangered National Wildlife", Malta: EUROPA - 2021: Malta Post  has issued two Postage Stamps featuring Critically Endangered National Wildlife - The Mediterranean Chameleon and The Painted Frog: Date of Stamp set issue: 12.05.2021:

About Europa 2021 - Stamps:

EUROPA Stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations. 

They bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme. 

EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world and have been issued for over 60 years.

Every year a new theme is assigned by PostEurop and all participating countries issue stamps with their own interpretation of the theme. The theme for 2021 is "Endangered National Wildlife"

More about EUROPA Postage Stamps:

EUROPA Postage stamps (also known as Europa - CEPT - European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations - until 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal Administrations/Enterprises and bears the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.

EUROPA stamps underline cooperation in the posts domain, aimed at promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.

As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.

Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and co-operation.

In 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps.

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning towards the right hand side.

Each year, PostEurop's "Stamps & Philately Group" selects the EUROPA stamp theme:

1993 - Contemporary Art

1994 - Great Discoveries

1995 - Peace and Freedom

1996 - Famous women

1997 - Tales and legends

1998 - Festivals and National Celebrations

1999 - Nature Reserves and Parks

2000 - Common Design. Tower of 6 stars

2001 - Water - Treasure of Nature

2002 - The Circus

2003 - Poster Art

2004 - Holidays

2005 - Gastronomy

2006 - Integration through the eyes of Young People

2007 - Scout Centenary

2008 - Writing Letters

2009 - Astronomy

2010 - Children Books

2011 - Forests - International Year of Forests

2012 - Visit …. (for instance "Visit Finland" etc.)

2013 - Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles 

2014 - Musical instruments - National musical instruments

2015 - Old Toys

2016 - Ecology in Europe - "Think Green". Common Design

2017 - Castles

2018 - Bridges

2019 - National Birds

2020 - Ancient Postal Routes

2021 - Endangered National Wildlife

2022 - the theme will be "Stories & Myths". 

About Europa 2021 - "Endangered National Wildlife Stamps issued by Malta Post :

 PostEurop stamp theme is ‘Endangered National Wildlife’, and Malta Post has depicted  species which are identified under this category.

These beautiful stamps feature species that are locally registered from "Critically Endangered" through to "Near Threatened".

The EUROPA Stamps issued by Malta Post  features the Mediterranean Chameleon and the Painted Frog:

The choice of motifs on this year’s theme is “Endangered National Wildlife”.  The Malta Post issue consists of two stamps featuring the Mediterranean Chameleon and the Painted Frog.

The two Stamps of 0.59  Euro (Mediterranean Chameleon) and 2.00 Euro (Painted Frog).

The Mediterranean Chameleon:

Chameleons are known for their ability to change their skin colour and shooting their tongue to capture insects. 

There are around 85 species of chameleons around the world. Most of these species may be found in Africa and Madagascar. 

In Malta, there is one species, known as the Mediterranean Chameleon with a skin colour varying between yellow and brown through green to a dark brown. Chameleons maintain their territory on trees and live a solitary lifestyle.

Chameleons are not endemic to Malta, and they are thought to have been brought from North Africa by Jesuit priests in the 19th century and released in St Ignatius College in St. Julian's. 

The Mediterranean Chameleon has managed to gain a foothold and survive here and nowadays may be found all over the Maltese Islands.

The Painted Frog:

The species found in Malta is known as the Painted Frog, a dark olive-green coloured species with a whitish belly. 

Frogs are typically sighted in open spaces such as Buskett woodland (Wied il-Luq), Chadwick Lakes (Wied il-Qlejgha) and at times also in open fields. Frogs are amphibians since they start their lives in water and eventually may also live on land. They mainly feed on worms and insects.

The Painted Frog is endemic to Malta and can survive the harshest summers and droughts by hiding and hibernating in shady and more humid places usually buried deep into soil, cracks and rubble

A decline in its population has been observed throughout the years due to the limited countryside in Malta. This species of frog is strictly protected by national legislation.

 Blocks (sets of four stamps) of each of the two variants

 First Day Cover (FDC) showing paw prints at left The FDC is titled - "EUROPA - 2021, ENDANGERED NATIONAL WILDLIFE OF INDIA" and shows an image of the Mediterranean Chameleon, at left.

At top right are affixed the EUROPA Postage Stamps showing the Mediterranean Chameleon and the Painted Frog, cancelled with a special Handstamp/Postmark of MaltaPost Philatelic Bureau, Malta, with a Mediteranean Chameleon inscribed in the centre. The cancellation is dated - "12.05.2021".


A Presentation Pack (PP).

Two Full Sheets (FS) of 11 Stamps and a coupon/label each of the two Variants.

A First Day Cover (FDC) Cancelled to Order (CTO).


A Presentation Pack CTO (Cancelled To Order).



A "EUROPA 2021" Stamp Booklet titled - "Endangered National Wildlife of Malta".

Technical details:

Issue Date: 12.05.2021

Designer & Photography: Sean Dingli

Process: Offset

Size: 118mm x 185mm

Stamp Values: €0.59, €2.00











Links:

Links to posts on "Endangered National Wildlife" on this Blog, the theme of PostEUROP "EUROPA -2021 theme:
























Links to posts on "Ancient Postal Routes" on this Blog, the theme of PostEurop "EUROPA-2020":











16) "Ancient Postal Routes - Within and Outside Europe", Iceland: Two Postage Stamps issued by "Islandpostur" (Iceland Post) in the denominations of ISK 3150: Date of Stamps issue: 07.05.2020

17) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Old Road Majstorska Cesta", Croatia: A Se-tenant of two Stamps of the values of 8.60 HRK issued by Croatian Post: Date of stamp issue: 08.05.2020

















For posts on Central Bank of Malta and Maltapost issues, please visit the following links:








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