Romania 2020 issue:

Pheasants of Romania:

Here we go with recent issue from Romania. 

Date of issue: May 22, 2020

Set of four values.

Why I think, that this issue can fit to the title of "Stamp Must Have"?

There are nothing special in topic, birds, pheasants.

Even market value for this set is relatively low.

Set of 4, can be obtained for 7-8.00 US$, little bit more if You buy from internet seller, as eBay or other platform. But, hardly someone will sell it under 7.00 US$ per set, even if You find direct seller.

My attention come to design, made really great way, I can say, unique way to show us beauty of this protected bird! On FDC You can see that well! 

O.K. - we have a lot of pheasant issues made by many countries around, isn't? Yeah, but not in this way and this quality of print!

It is just perfect, it is not Photoshop, it is not photo, and it is not some kind of artist expression.

This is just perfectly made by artist, who invest lot of work and love in this design!

So, why to have it, under "must" have?

Because it is in low quantity printed, just around 52000 stamps printed, and in sheet of 5 stamps + label, it is just near 16000 pcs made. 

Than, if You have ability to buy also FDC, that will be great, because just 225 FDC was made.

Here You can see beauty of FDC:

See this Golden Pheasant on the left side of cover. Something beautiful! 

I remember, as young boy, going with hunters to the field, hunting for this birds. So, when they shot any, I was saddened well.

After that, I just enjoy this birds, alive in nature, they have nice "call" in the evening!

Here is this set of four:

Lady Amherst’s Pheasant – Chrysolophus amherstiae

Reeves’s Pheasant – Syrmaticus reeversii 

Green Pheasant, or Japanese Pheasant – Phasianus versicolor Vieillot

Golden Pheasant, or “Chinese Pheasant" – Chrysolophus pictus

Here You can see it in sheet of 5 and label:

Now, what is a chance to have it in really postal used condition?

Chance is minimal, and probably, if You have it in used condition, that will be CTO only.

Imagine, that someone will send mail, with this stamps on it!

So, go after this issue, it is worth to invest now some 70.00-80.00 US$ per all option, keep it for generation to come, they will have nice issue in collection that is worth money invested!

Slovakia 2015 "Mucha" Art issue:

Must to admit, that this issue will be under "hard to ignore" status!

Something that "run" over mind for any serious collection, as it is great made, again and again "Mucha" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphonse_Mucha), art are shown on postage stamp!

Here it is shown on FDC (engraved by: Frantisek Horniak), and showing us single stamp, which was Mucha work from painting that are placed on entrance door of restaurant in the Lux Hotel Thermia palace in Pies'tan city.

On FDC You can not see detail of stamp alone, as You will need to have it on front of Your eye, but on this sheet of 4, it is well visible:

...such great elements involved in painting, element as young woman, fruit, composition of color, all this will bring us one perfect picture to see and remember! What better way as to have it in album?

There is another one option, made by Posta Slovenska (Slovakian Post), which made it without perforation, and two line over value (as to prevent postage use of it):

...what give us the "feeling" of value, are actually, technique in producing this stamp. Engraved way of it, make us "feel" color and composition, it come deep to person eye and stay in memory for long time to come!

What to say about value of same?

As it is just new issue, recently released from post, it will be easy available in short time to the future and You can obtain it with simple walk to the post office, but as quantity are not so great, stamp alone are printed in 80 000 quantity, which will give us 20 000 sheets of 4 stamp. As we know that lot of people collect topic as "Art", also there is lot of people that specialized just in "Mucha" work on postage stamps, so 20 000 of small sheets are well under need for all!

Than it come this imperforated option, which are printed even in less quantity, so try to find it on free market.

Probability that it will be available, in short term, for face value are slim, but little bit over it, in next half year, it will be available. Even on "exchange" base, You will be able to have it in next half year, but after that You will need some extra money!

Single stamp are 1.20 euro, and it is offered on web for around 2.00 US$ + postage, which will actually be some double face value, but I don't see it offered in sheet of 4 option and no perforation option are also out of offering.

So, You will need to contact Your personal supplier, if he/she can supply it but cost will go up, probably somewhere between 14.00 to 16.00 US$ per sample. 

I will suggest to all, to find it now, so avoid paying much more in future, because this "ART" will be in demand!

Slovakia - Korea Joint Issue 2013

Here we come with one fresh new issue, that come in this (2013) year. Even that I don't like to favorize something new, that I prefer to "wait-and-see" period, to made it sure that item/s have reason to be included in "must have" status, this issue "blink" in my brain!

And it is not first time in last few years, it happen also with P.R. of China "Musician" (Beethoven) issue, and now with joint issue with Slovakia and Korea.

Let's start about technical details:

Date of issue May 31, 2013. Two stamps in set, face value of set is 2.00 euro. In Korea set, face value is 540.00 won (0.37 euro). Difference in face value between two countries are great, from 2.00 euro to 0.37 euro, that will not reflect real value or standard, it is question of standard inside each country and not topic of this post. What I wish to say, is that this issue have one really great intention, to show us this beautiful native tradition in dancing, music, colors, ornament of native costume, and diplomatic relationship and connection between two countries.

I must say, that this issue made it all of this task well done!

Here we have shown this two stamp, one that show us "Pansori" genres of music (drummer and singer), on Korean tradition, and "Lucnica" Slovakia dancing troupe (ensemble).

Stamp design of native costume, native dancing, and colors that "blind Your heart". Designer made it really with whole heart and mind! 

Even printing process (recess printing from flat plates combined with offset) are much better than for "ordinary" stamp issue (where is mostly used offset process), which give us more "precise" detail and view of fine line of each color.

What will be next reason to have it in collection? To mention just 150 000 sets printed in sheet of three sets, which will give us 25 000 this sheets out on market - when we know that this issue can be included in few topical collections like: flag on stamp, costume, joint issue, dancing and in the end also art, You really believe that it will be (quantity) really available for everyone who will wish it in personal collection?

As today, almost 5 months after date of issue in Slovakia, I don't see even one sheet of 6 sets on sale by eBay, and on Delcampe! 

This fact give You good reason to find it around, it is probably still available on Slovak Post direct purchase, but if You don't have "nerve" for official way, You can find it (probability are low) from some dealers, but be prepared to pay more than 20.00 US$ for Slovakian sheet of three sets, yes - plus postage, shipping and handling, payment fee... mean, starting market value for this new issue will go over 30.00 US$. Let's see if future will verify this!

Czechoslovakia Michel # 1805 kleinbogen

Searching around my stock for something nice, and thinking that Durer was great!

Here I come across issue from Czechoslovakia (dead country collectors can be interested), year of issue 6 July, 1968. 42 years ago, and so beautiful production, so quality of printing, engraved, color composition hardly that You can imagine it!

This issue is named after 37th Congress FIP, issued in block of four with gutter between two horizontally stamp. On gutter printed World Stamp Exhibition - that was held in Prague (today Czech republic capital city), topic is like You see, Art, Painting, Bible, and some more if You want. In Czech catalog (Specializovana Prirucka, edition from 1988) this issue is named also like auto portrait of Durer. What this Czech catalog have when talking about prices? Not something big, just 60 point - if it is not clear for collectors, it is quality point measurement accepted by Commission in any International held exhibition. Now, when I see on Michel (2007 edition) catalog, there is very nice prices for sheet of 4, 30.00 euro in mint condition, that will fit nice in any collection. But - probably, to find it in perfect condition will be little bit hard task, because period (42 year old item), glue that are cube shaped and very "soft", humidity will attack it "on spot" - because that, handle it very carefully when in Your hand!

Scott catalog (#1555) have prices just for single stamp, and mentioning that existed sheets of 2x2 with label, without stating prices, single stamp have it 3.75 $ against 5.00 euro in Michel, I think that this stamp deserve more than 3.75 $, near full prices of Michel, but it is upon collectors to decide.

I will see just according quantity printed, single stamp are printed 632 400 pcs, and sheet of 4 in just 27 431! Quantity is reasonable for this kind of issue, because many people will search for it if want to complete any serious collection of Art!

Now, we all know, that catalog prices are just "orientation" for market, and Michel catalog have it almost for any country reduced - and for Czechoslovakia, probably You will find it for minimum/maximum 50% catalog value - mean - very affordable for "People Who Know what Philately Is"!

Czechoslovakia Michel Block 38 - Tiziano

For long period I didn't have time to "search" my stock with material that are available for sale, and today, simply, working around stamp, I "catch" this item at first sight! I don't know why, but it come like "star" - gravure, color, and composition of author, this beautiful block can tell us lot!

Michel block 38, Scott 2197, 

issued on 1978, Sept.12, originally, it is block 37, but additional imprit is made on the side of sheet for entrance ticket PRAGA Philatelic Exhibition - this inscription is main difference between two block, and yes - difference in prices also!

What "catch" my eye is main picture of Tiziano, and choice of author, to made two stamp out from this picture, where we have violinist (Apolon escorter), and King Midas. Music and death, King and escorter to death, King's thinking about punishment, beautiful lady taking skin of Apolon, with another devil bringing water to the scene - You can actually, sit against this issue (better against original picture, but...) and practicing Your feeling in art! Color in use, this finest expression of artist, it must be fascinating in original! I think, that this issue MUST be in every serious collection.

Prices have it different from Scott and Michel - they usually have it because market covering each territory of catalogue. Michel in Europe have an value of 40.00 euro for this block, that are much more higher that first block 37 (have it at 15.00 euro), and Scott in USA valued it at

just 25.00 $ - difference are great, but when I checked my evidence how much was sold from initial stock of 50 pcs before one year - I see that is left just 11 pcs - main market in Europe valued it well - in USA I sold just two copy - not enought for serious market - probably most collector need just basic issue and not this one imprinted.

I lok at quantity printed, and Michel tell us that it is 233700 copy imprinted, 371100 without inscription - not big quantity today, but probably, when it was Czechoslovakia it was enought for collectors around globe.

I wish to everyone serious collectors think about this issue - it is fascinating!

Czech republic: Asian Art - 2009 year

I must say - better, SHOUT!!! Great-great-great!!!! Thanks to Czech Postal Authority to give us (collectors) this quality, this "clever" and human product, that fill collection perfectly with ART!!!!

I have this issue in my hand, recently receive it directly from Post of Czech, You can feel this gravure by Your finger, Your eye have an easy surf on every part of stamp, colors, design and dimension - all fit perfectly! I can just pray, that this country continue with it.

Here we have 2 stamp in set, one is 18 CKr face value (less than 1.00$US face), with Chinese culture drawing. Pictured is Lu Tung Pin, one from Eight Immortals. and second is 24 CKr face value (little over 1.10 US$), with Indonesia (Bali) culture. On this second value, we have pictured scene from Hindu epic Ramayana, king Rama and his wife Sita. Again one complex and hard to produce drawing - but result are LUXURY!

On the left side of FDC we have also gravure of Horse (China) and Sita (Indonesia/India), cover alone (FDC) are from high quality paper. This item will have value in the future, and it is continuing from previous ART issue, that come each year - hope it will continue.

For market prices, at present You can easy to obtain it from Post of Czech, but take in account, that You will need to send payment in advance, plus shipping and handling cost, that will rise face value nearly double-tripple if You will order just set - because that, I think that on free market You will need to prepare little bit more that face value, but over year or two, You will have nice item in collection, that are worth minimum 60% catalog value which will be actually 20-30% of that You invested.