1360. 🇬🇲 2018 Comes To An End.

  🇬🇲 2018 ends with news of philatelic items inscribed 'The Gambia' released by IGPC with a stated date of issue of 31 December 2018. The issue is made up of 2 sheetlets, one containing 4 different stamps and the other 6 different stamps, on the subject of Eagles of Africa. According to Wikipedia all the species featured on the stamps are found in The Gambia. Rated:- ***.

  🇸🇬 In addition to the basic stamps on the subject of Nursery rhymes which were mentioned in Blog 1315 Singapore Post also released on 17 October 2018 a pack containing a sheetlet of all 8 stamps and sold for $21.80c. The pack was designed by Andy Koh and lithographed by Southern Colour Print and perforated 13.5. Rating:- **. The sheet was depicted in Blog 1315 but this Blog gives more details about the item.

  🇯🇪 In Blog 1354 I illustrated the set of 6 stamps and single stamp miniature sheet due to be released by Jersey Post on 18 January 2018 on the subject of the 1970s. There will also be an accompanying miniature sheet which contains all 6 stamps released alongside the rest of the stuff. Rating:- 0.

  🇮🇳 The India Post new issue programme is going out with its usual end of year of bang as it struggles to release all the stamps it could have issued in the 360 other days of the year.

  28 December 2018 - Commemoration of Kakaji and Pappaji - 1 stamp. The issue commemorates the Birth centenaries of Kakaji Maharaj (2018) and HWL Poonja who was known as Pappaji (2019) who were figures who were Hindu religious figures. Rating:- ***.

  29 December 2018 - Commemoration of Maharaja Suhaldev who was a semi-legendary Indian king of the 11th century who has been heavily politicised by some Indian governments, notably the present one, as a Hindu ruler who defeated a Muslim invader. A colourful stamp. Rating:- **.

  29 December 2018 - Forts of India - 6 stamps and 1 miniature sheet containing all 6 stamps. This is an interesting set. Rating:- ****.

  30 December 2018 - 75th anniversary of the first unfurling of the flag of the India National Army, which supported the Japanese against the British during the Second World War and was led by Chandra Bose, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at Port Blair - 1 miniature sheet containing 3 different stamps. Rating:- **. Illustration awaited.

  Bose fled to the Japanese puppet state of Manchuria rather than stand by his own forces when their defeat by the British was imminent and planned to support The Soviet Union but was killed in an aircraft crash in Taiwan. His Indian nationalism was marred by his collaboration with Fascism. The issue coincided with a visit of the Hindu nationalist Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, to the islands and the issue is in line, like the Maharajah Suhaldev issue, with the heavy politicisation of Indian stamps in support of Hindu nationalism since Modi came to power.

  30 December 2018 - Indian fashion through the ages - 4 stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- *****. Illustration awaited.

  31 December 2018 - Indian handicrafts - 5 stamps and 1 miniature sheet. Rating:- *****. Illustration awaited.