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V.M.
posted: On September 15 Canada Post has issued a set containing 68 (!)
different stamps. These stamps can be bought as included in the so called
"Millennium Collection". I suppose that this way Canada has
surpassed the Gulf States and some banana republics in the number of
stamps contained in a set.
Please notice that "due to popular demand, all 68
stamps featured in The Millennium Collection will be made available for
sale in souvenir sheets of four different stamps beginning in January,
2000" . Don't rush, "a total of 17 souvenir sheets will be
produced in quantities of 1 million each..." (quoted from Canada's
Stamp Details, Vol. VIII No 4, 1999).
The number of 17 souvenir sheets, to be issued on the
same day, too, approaches the record set (pun not intended) by some Ajman
or Dubai. Today it looks like the Gulf States postal administrations were a kind of
forerunner, being 20-30 years in advance and setting trends for the
posterity.
I wonder how much time it will take till the 100 stamps
limit in a set will be outrun. Less than another Millennium, I suppose...
Note: One known problem with large sets with different
subjects is that, quite often, only a reduced number of stamps of a given
set are interesting for a collector. This way the collectors are either
"forced" to buy more than they need (a problem especially with
foreign stamps, that cannot be recycled on an envelope) or to renounce to
have them, what can be frustrating and consequently bad for our hobby.
Posted the 9/18/99 on
rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
Later note:
Fortunately the sheets are sold separately too, but the fact was not
mentioned from the beginning.
Dave Joll answered: Actually, it was outrun even before
the Gulf States got in on the act! Turkey issued a set of 134 stamps
featuring various towns in Turkey, during 1958 - 1960.
My answer to Dave:
A couple of weeks
ago we had a discussion about the difference between sets and series on
this newsgroup. I have proposed then the following two definitions:
- A set consists of stamps with a similar subject and design, which were
all issued the same day.
- Series are successions of sets, issued on different dates.
The reactions to these definitions were quite positive . Therefore, in my opinion:
1. The Turkish stamps that you have mentioned make up a series, not a set.
The longest of these Turkish sets (Scott 1378-1423) has 46 stamps.
2. A 100 stamps set hasn't been issued yet (fortunately).
Note: Two days later I have completed one definition,
because the unique country condition has been proved to be not
self-evident, as I have thought initially.
- A set consists of stamps with a
similar subject and design, which were all issued the same day by a given
country.
- Series are successions of sets, issued on different dates.
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Hello Ralph,
As I have written earlier, I proposed in my systematization four "integration"
levels:
1. The same theme, different designs. Stamps issued in national currencies and valid only
in issuing countries. Example: 200th anniversary of Hiroshige, stamps issued in the same
graphic arrangement by 17 countries, see my page dedicated to Hiroshige.
2. The same theme, the same design. Stamps issued in national currencies and valid only in
issuing countries. Examples: Swiss-China or
Denmark-Russia issues or some common European issues (Europe stamps)
3. The same theme, the same design, stamps issued in two or more national currencies and
valid in two or more countries. Example: the Miniature Sheet of Romania (and Yugoslavia,
Michel Block 10), year 1965, Iron Gate hydroelectric plant and dam, Scott 1747, Michel
Block 60. The MS contains two Romanian and two Yugoslavian stamps. The whole MS was valid
for postage in both countries, having a value of Lei 4 in Romania and of Dinar 500 in
Yugoslavia. The best example is the the perfect joint issue of Switzerland with Liechtenstein (added later).
4. Future prevision (?). The stamps of the European Union, with the same or with different
designs, in the same currency (Euro) and valid in all EU countries.
I prefer to consider as full (100%) joint issues the stamps satisfying the criteria
mentioned under the point 3. (Posted 1/18/99)
The Postal
Service of Liechtenstein has announced that all Liechtenstein stamps issues before 1/1/1996 (with 4 exceptions) will loose their validity for the
postage the 12/31/1999. The reason given by the Postal Service of Liechtenstein is the
creation of the Liechtenstein Post LTD.
The Liechtenstein government wrote that it knows that this announcement
provoked a big interest in stamps circles (!) and that the deadline raised some questions.
Therefore it started discussions with the involved circles to evaluate the situation.
There are good chances, says the government, that the deadline will be prolonged.
Source: Briefmarken aus dem Fürstentum Liechtenstein, issued in Jan. 1999. Up to
each of us to interpret these statements :-) (posted 1/22/99)
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