Malawi Philately: 1968 Definitive Stamps

For so small a country, Malawi has a remarkable range of birdlife, over 600 species having been recorded locally to date. This richness of avifauna is due to the country’s wide variety of habitat: wooded areas that include heavy montane forest, sparse brachystegia woodland, thick mopani bush and open acacia country; altitudes ranging from as low as 200 feet above sea level to as high as nearly 10,000 feet; areas of water that include seasonal streams, larger rivers, extensive shallow lakes and the huge, deep Lake Malawi itself; grasslands that range from areas of tall, rank grass
interspersed with bushes and small trees to areas of the short grass found on higher plateaux.

Best areas for bird-watching include the Lake-shore, particularly the Fort Johnston, Cape Maclear and Salima areas, and the main highlands (Mlanje, Zomba, Vipya and Nyika).

Breeding periods, which are related to the seasonal rainfall, occur throughout the year, certain species breeding during one season while others breed at other times of the year. For instance, many insectivorous birds breed during the hot, dry months immediately preceding the rainy season (November to April in the south, starting and finishing rather later further north); others, which breed in tall grass, have to wait until the rains have promoted sufficient growth; others, still, breed during the cold season (June and July).

Details

Date of Issue: 13 November 1968
Reprints:
- 27 May 1971 – 2nd Printing (3d)
Date Withdrawn:
- 1 September 1970 (1s, 2s)
- 14 February 1971 (all others)
Date Invalidated:
Designer: Victor Whiteley
Printer: Harrison & Sons Ltd, London
Process: Photogravure
Paper:
Watermark: Cockerels (sideways on 1d to 4d, and 3s to £1)
Perf: 14.5 (comb)
Cylinders:
- 1A 1A 1A 1A (3s, 10s, £2)
- 1A 1A 1A 1A 1A (1d, 3d, 1s, 2s, 5s, £1)
- 1A 1A 1A 1A 1A 1A (1/6d)
- 1B 1B 1B 1B (2d, 4d, 9d )
- 1B 1B 1B 1B 1B (3d, 6d)
Sheet:
- R10 x 6 (1d to 4d)
- R6 x 10 (6d, 9d)
- R12 x 5 (1s to 2s, £2)
- R5 x 12 (3s to £1)
Quantity: