I refer to recent contributions in these columns by Vincent Grech, entitled Caravaggio 400 Stamp Issue and by David Brinkworth, entitled Joint Stamp Issues. Maltapost would like to thank both correspondents for their valid contributions and for their interest in stamp issues, and takes this opportunity to inform readers that Maltapost is always looking out for opportunities to organise joint stamp issues with other countries.
By way of information, our first joint issue goes back to the year 2004, when Malta joined the European Union. On this occasion Maltapost had submitted the idea of a collective issue to the postal administrations of the nine other new member countries. During a meeting held in Malta, a design by local artist Jean Pierre Mizzi had been chosen. The participating countries were Cyprus, Slovenia, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Malta. The stamp issue entitled United Europe was issued simultaneously in the new EU member countries on May 1, 2004.
The second joint issue was with Danish Post in March of 2005, and related to Hans Christian Andersen, who had visited Malta in 1841. In this instance the stamps had been designed by Danish artists Mette & Eric Mourier.
With regards to the Caravaggio anniversary, Maltapost can assure Mr Grech that the Philatelic Bureau did its utmost to have Caravaggio 400 as a joint issue with foreign postal administrations. Regrettably, no positive reply was forthcoming.
Meanwhile, other joint issues are in the pipeline.
On October 1, 2007 Maltapost will take part in the Small European Postal Administration Conference (Sepac) joint issue with another 10 European Postal Administrations. Sepac has 12 administrations as members. The Sepac joint issue is planned to be a bi-annual one, starting from this year. The participating administrations for this year are Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Aland, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Greenland, Iceland and Malta.
This year's Christmas stamps will also be part of a joint issue. This is being organised with the Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico del Vaticano (Vatican Philatelic Office). The stamps of both administrations will depict a beautiful Christmas painting by Maltese artist Giuseppe Cali'. This is another important step forward for Maltese philately and should encourage more philatelists to start collecting Maltese stamps.
On January 1, 2008 Maltapost will also have another joint issue, this time with Cyprus to commemorate the introduction of the Euro in both countries. This set will include a philatelic and numismatic cover, this being a special envelope containing both stamps and coins.
Readers seeking additional information or desiring to forward suggestions can contact our Philatelic Manager George Galea on philately@maltapost.com or call on 2596 1740. They can also visit www.maltapost.com or write to the Philately Department, 305, Triq Hal Qormi, Marsa, MTP 1001.