15 May 2014

BotswanaPost launched the 10th definitive stamp issue that celebrate the beauty and variety of birdlife, featuring 14 stamps depicting birds of Botswana from a variety of habitat in an event held at Poso House.

Launching the stamps, the director of Birdlife Botswana, Dr Kabelo Senyatso said stamps had always been referred as paper ambassadors of a country because they reach out to every corner of the world carrying images and information about a country’s people, its culture, flora and fauna.

Dr Senyatso noted that over 100 of the country’s birds have appeared on BotswanaPost stamps. He said apart from being a delight to stamp collectors worldwide, the stamps serve as an educational aid to those keen on learning more about the people, culture and natural resources of a particular country.

He said birds were major indicators of the state of the environment because they were sensitive to change and give early warning signs of future environmental crises. He said the objective was to encourage sustainability and to save species.

Ms Sheila Case, former stamp advisory committee member, said people should appreciate philately and the stamp. Ms Case said they should invigorate Botswana philately so that it makes its mark in the competitive environment of the international philatelic market, which is estimated to be valued US$10 billion (about P86.5 billion) annually.

This year’s issue painted by Gwithie Kirby and Jenny Regan offered a collection of birds from a wide variety of habitats among others the Blue Waxbill (Rabiibii), Paradise Flycatcher (Kapadintsi), Kori Bustard (Kgori) which has recently been declared as a national symbol among others.

The definitive stamps are issued once every five years, accompanied by a first day cover illustrating a theme of international interest. Certain special events may be recognised by a commemorative hand stamp at the discretion of the stamp advisory committee.

The concept, design and printing of the stamps are always of high a standard and reflect a balance of interests, with a preference for themes and events that bear relevance to Botswana’s historic development and its economic and social activities. Ends