I love that time of the year, when the postal administrations publish their stamp plans for the next/new year. One month ago I wrote that for 2021 nine countries already announced 15 issues about Childhood Heroes on Stamps. Now we are at 22 issues from 14 countries. I am sure many more will follow, but for the moment these are the news for January:
- The first new information still regards 2020. Like it was common in recent years Armenia issued many new stamps in the last days of the year. Among them issued on 24th December was one about the cartoon "In blue sea, in white foam...". Personally I am not interested, but for everyone who is it become available on WOPA early this year for €0.30.
- On 5th January Royal Mail published its stamp plan for 2021. While I was not really interested in the stamps of 2020, this year includes some interesting issues. For a collection of chilhood hero stamps the most interesting issues should be King Arthur in March and Dennis and Gnasher in July, but personally I am most looking forward to Classic Science Fiction in April. I wonder which stories they will choose.
- Bulgaria will join France and Hungary with a stamp about Jean de la Fontaine for his 400th birth anniversary. A souvenir sheet is planned for July.
- The programme of New Zealand Post just became available on Friday, but it includes a very interesting issue. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first Lord of the Rings movie, which will be honoured with an issue in June. After four sets about the original movies, three about the Hobbit and one souvenir sheet showing the Ring, this will be New Zealand's ninth philatelic trip to Middle Earth (if I did not overlook an issue).
- The German stamp themes for 2021 were published in December 2019 (yes, 2019), the plan with issue dates and face values is available since December and early this year the images for the January to March issues became available. These include Mother Hulda and Die Sendung mit der Maus. I really like both issues, although the Maus will get a "Matrixcode". I will write more about that on either with the News of February or March.
- The stamp programme of Guernsey Post on their website still has an TBC issue for Alderney in June. The printed version however reveals that this issue with commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Lorax. Sounds interesting, but I am still not sure about the connection between Dr Seuss and Guernsey.
- The biggest announcement of the month comes from the USA. Surprisingly they will issue a set of ten stamps about Star Wars Droids in spring to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm and their commitment to STEM learning. Well, I love that issue! Currently this might actually be my favourite issue to look forward to this year. I think the selection the wonderful and it is great to see newer characters like Solo's L3-37, Rebels' Chopper and Mandalorian's IG-11 beside obvious choices like R2-D2, C-3PO and BB-8. The only thing that might have been even better in my opinion, would have benn to have either R2-D2 or C-3PO in Clone Wars style.
- Italy plans for this year a stamp about "Mafalda". I really hope that they mean the comic, although I first did not saw a connection between Quino and Italy. Although a bit of research revealed that there is one. During the time of the military dictatorship in Argentina, Quino left his homeland and lived in exile in Milan. This exile began 45 years ago in 1976 and as Quino died last year, I think there are enough reasons for a Mafalda stamp.
Many news this month, but not many new issues. January 2021 only saw the issuance of the Strong Women in Comics from Belgium and the Moomins from Japan.
Two of the twenty Moomin stamps I have already added to my collection with special postmarks on matching stamps. Also this month I got the last two US Harry Potter stamps on a cover and the Portuguese Justice League stamps in mint condition.
