Gibraltar 2016 "UNESCO Gorham's Cave Complex"

<prev

back to index

next>

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 20^th, 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
Example of circulated covers
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.

<prev

back to index

next>