Twelve colourful postage stamps showcasing the Islands’ birds will be the Cayman Islands Postal Service newest release.
Cayman Islands Birds – Definitive Series, to be issued on Monday, will also commemorate World Postal Day, said a CIPS release.
This series depicts some of the birds described in Birds of the Cayman Islands by Patricia E. Bradley and Yves-Jacques Rey-Millet. The issue shows 11 endemic and one indigenous species. Two of the land birds illustrated in this series are listed internationally as threatened – the Cayman Parrot and the Vitelline Warbler.
Another aspect that makes this issue special and has philatelists chattering is that this is a definitive issue, which means that the previous definitive series, Transportation to the Millennium (29 September 2001), will soon be retired from circulation.
Definitive stamps are considered by the philatelic world as the workhorses of stamps because they are sold for five years. Commemorative and other special stamps are offered for a limited period of time and are frequently replaced by a new issue.
There will be three First Day Covers with four stamps each. The birds chosen for the FDC are: Yucatan Vireo, Cayman Brac Parrot and Barn Owl. The stamp denominations are: Bananaquit .25, Vitelline Warbler .50, Grand Cayman Parrot .75, Caribbean Dove .80, Caribbean Elaenia $1, West Indian Woodpecker $1.50, Thick-billed Vireo $1.60, Northern Flicker $2, Cuban Bullfinch $4, Western Spindalis $5, Loggerhead Kingbird $10 and Red-legged Thrush $20. Self-adhesive stamps will be available in three denominations .25, .75 and .80.
Patricia Bradley said she was pleased about the issue. ‘This is a celebration of Cayman’s land birds. It will focus attention on the most visible of the nation’s fauna.’
The Cayman Islands Christmas 2006 series will be released two weeks later. There are four stamps that focus on the Virtues – Faith, Hope, Joy and Love. CIPS has also adapted this series for Christmas cards, which will be on sale to the public.
Related Videos
