China Ocean Shipping set of stamps

China Post Group together with China Ocean Shipping Group is issuing a special set of stamps entitled "China Ocean Shipping".

The stamps depict container ship and cargo ship.

Container ships carry their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport. A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usually specially designed for the task, often being equipped with cranes and other mechanisms to load and unload, and come in all sizes.

Zimpost to introduce special heroes postage stamps

On 8 August, 2011 Zimpost issued four commemorative stamps in honour of the lives of four national heroes - comrades George Silundika, Julia Zvobgo, Ariston Maguranyanga Chambati and Joseph Luke Culvrewell.

In a statement, Zimpost public relations manager Ms Marian Banda said: "The stamps are a good way of recording the nationhood of a people."

The stamps would be valid for a period of four years from the date of issue.

2011 SEPAC postage stamps by Iceland Post

The theme of the joint issue of small nations in Europe (SEPAC) is landscape. The motif of the Icelandic stamps in this third and last issue is Snaefellsjokull (Snaefell Glacier) National Park.

Former motifs for the Icelandic SEPAC stamps were Jokulsargljufur and Skaftafell.

SEPAC stands for Small European Postal Administration Cooperation. This cooperation is primarily concerned with issuing postage stamps but also includes sales and marketing.

Snaefellsjokull National Park was founded by a legislation on nature conservation in June 2001 and is the fourth national park in Iceland. The area is characterized by its extremely diverse geology. Formerly it was the site of hectic activity with up to 60 fishing boats and 300-400 seamen during the fishing season. Among the books that have carried the name of Snaefellsjokull around the world is the novel by French author Jules Verne "Journey to the Centre of the World".

Centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition Stamp

This is the first in a four-year program of stamps celebrating the centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). The series will be made up of five stamps issued each year until 2014 using the overall themes of departure and journey, arrival and exploration, science and triumphant return.

The initial five stamp strip shows the key moments in the departure of the AAE from Hobart and the journey to the Antarctic.

The background landscape image used across the five stamps was taken by expeditioner Leslie Blake and is held in the Home & Away Collection in the SLNSW.

Hong Kong to issue stamp for 170th anniv. of postal service

Hongkong Post Wednesday announced that a stamp sheetlet marking the 170th anniversary of the Hong Kong postal service will be released for sale together with associated philatelic products on Aug 25.

The left-hand side of the "170th Anniversary of Hong Kong Postal Service" stamp sheetlet shows contrasting views of the General Post Office built in 1911 and the present one that became operational in 1976, and shows the Victorian pillar street posting box (cast between 1837 and 1901) juxtaposed with its modern-day version to denote the passage of time.

The globe and hummingbird logo on the right-hand side symbolize Hongkong Post's traditional strength derived from a wide variety of products and a comprehensive delivery network, while the postmarks used in 1841 and 2011 subtly underscore the 170th anniversary of the postal service.