Gibraltar 2016
"UNESCO Gorham's Cave Complex"
| Issue Date | 20.09.2016 |
| ID | Michel: 1746-1750; Scott: Stanley Gibbons: 1701-1705; Yvert et Tellier: 1746-1750; Category: pF |
| Design | Designer: Stephen Perera, Photography: Stewart Finlayson |
| Stamps in set | 5 |
| Value | 22p - Sunset in front of the cave 64p - Research group in the cave 70p - Rock of Gibraltar with cave entrance 80p - Neanderthal family £2 - Rock carvings on the cave wall |
| Size (width x height) | 31.1mm x 31.1mm |
| Layout | |
| Products | FDC x1, PP x1 |
| Paper | |
| Perforation | 14 x 14 |
| Print Technique | Offset Lithography, 4 colors |
| Printed by | BDT Security Printers |
| Quantity | |
| Issuing Authority |
On September 20th, 2016, the Postal Authority of Gibraltar, issued the set of five stamps "UNESCO Gorham's Cave Complex".
Gibraltar’s Gorham’s Cave has been granted World Heritage status. To mark this achievement, the Post of Gibraltar issued a set of 5 commemorative stamps which were developed in very close cooperation with the Gibraltar Museum..
Gorham's Cave is a natural sea cave in Gibraltar, considered to be one of the last known habitations of the Neanderthals in Europe. Gorham's Cave gives its name to the Gorham's Cave complex, which is a combination of four distinct caves of such importance that they are combined into a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The three other caves are Vanguard Cave, Hyaena Cave, and Bennett's Cave.
It is located on the south-eastern face of the Rock of Gibraltar. When first inhabited some 55 thousand years ago, it would have been approximately 5 kilometres from the shore, but, due to changes in sea level, it is now only a few metres from the Mediterranean Sea.
Related stamps: There are many other stamps depicting the cave and Neanderthals issued by Gibraltar. Click here to see more.
Products and associated philatelic items
| FDC | Presentation Pack | |
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| Example of circulated covers | ||
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| Big cover sent from Gibraltar to Germany in 2019 with all Neanderthal stamps isued by Gibraltar’s post to date. | ||
References
- Technical details and official press release:
Colnect, Gibraltar post.
Acknowledgements
- many thanks to Peter Brandhuber for his help and sharing scans of some unique philatelic material from his personal collection.
- many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for reviewing the draft page and his valuable comments.