Malta 2015 "Reprint of some definitive stamps from 2009"


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Issue Date 21.04.2015
ID Michel: Scott: Stanley Gibbons: Yvert et Tellier: Category: pR
Design Edward Pirotta and Paul Psaila
Stamps in set 3
Value 1c - Skeleton of Prehistoric animal (Pleistocene Epoch)
2c - Ruins of stone temple (Early Temple Period)
5c - Carved stone pattern (Late Temple Period)
Emission/Type definitive
Issue place
Size (width x height) 44 mm x 31 mm
Layout Mini-Sheets of 10 stamps
Products None
Paper Maltese Cross watermarked
Perforation 14 x 14
Print Technique offset
Printed by Printex Ltd
Quantity 1c - 1.200.000 stamps
Issuing Authority Malta Post p.l.c.
fossil of Elephas falconeri - dwarf elephant on stamp of Malta 2015

On April 21st, 2015, Malta Post announced another reprint of some stamps from the definitive set from 2009. This reprint consisted of 500.000 of each stamp, in Mini-sheets of 10 stamps bearing sheet numbers as follows:
  • Euro cent 1, depicting fossilized skeleton of a dwarf elephant. The Mini-Sheet numbers: 160001-210000.
  • Euro cent 2, depicting ruins of stone temple. The Mini-Sheet numbers: 040001–090000.
  • Euro cent 5, depicting carved stone pattern. The Mini-Sheet numbers: 020001–070000.

Fossil of Elephas falconeri - dwarf elephant on stamp of Malta 2015 There is only one stamp in the Mini-Sheet with a visible difference compared to the stamp from 2011:
The logo of Malta Post is located above the stamp in the top-left corner of the Mini-sheet on the selvage. The logo on the 2015 Mini-sheet is smaller and the word “post” is written in a more orange color. Other differences can be observed from comparing these two stamps:
  • Stamps from 2015 are blacker in color than the stamps from 2011.
  • The text “Pleistocene Period” in the upper left corner of the stamp is closer to the margin in the 2015 stamp. (see image on the right side).
  • The white margins around the stamp design are different in thickness between the issues. The 2011 version has a thicker white margin at the bottom of the stamp, while the 2015 stamp has a thicker margin at the top of the stamp. (see image below).
fossil of Elephas falconeri - dwarf elephant on stamp of Malta 2011 and 2015

Stamp with selvage from the upper left of the Mini-Sheet from 2011 is on the left. The 2015 reprint is on the right. Examples of both stamps were scanned at the same time on the same scanner in order to make comparisons of these stamps easier.

Skeleton of dwarf elephant Elephas falconeri on definitive stamp of Malta 2009, 2011, 2015
The original stamp (on left) and reprinted stamps from 2011 (middle) and 2015 (on right).





References

PaleoPhilatelie.eu on Facebook - Welcome to join !
Technical details and official press release: Malta Post

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice, PhD Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, USA, for reviewing of a draft of this article.


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