Author: thedigitalphilatelist

A small pinkish red waxbill with a distinct rosy red bill. It feeds mainly on the ground in pairs or family parties. It is a tame and confiding little bird much at home around human habitations and in gardens and is well known as the “animated plum” , not an…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Definitive Stamps – 4d Red-Billed Firefinch

A common and characteristic bird of wide range. A fine songster and remarkable mimic with a wide range of notes. Normally they are shy and skulking but exceedingly pugnacious attacking any other species of bird on their own territory. Details Designer: Victor Whiteley Printer: Harrison & Sons Ltd, London Process: Photogravure Paper:  Watermark:…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Definitive Stamps – 3d White-Browed Robin

These are gregarious and beautiful birds which breed in the Southern part of Malawi in September and December, and migrate northwards in the non-breeding season. They build their nests in a hole or in a tree at any height from the ground and then and then line it with either…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Definitive Stamps – 2d Violet-Backed Starling

Most sunbirds are about 6 inches long. The bright lines of colouring are limited to the males, the females usually appearing as dull grey, brown or olive green. One of the outstanding characteristics attributed to the sunbird is the hanging purse-like nests they build of plant fibres woven and matted…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Definitive Stamps – 1d Scarlet-Chested Sunbird

General colouring black with hind neck golden and belly white. It is widely distributed and not uncommon in small flocks, feeding on the ground. In the breeding season the male makes a display flight from one high tree top to another in which the tail is expanded vertically but carried…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Definitive Stamps – 2s Paradise Whydah

  The pink nether-side and carmine back of this bird is unmistakable. They migrate to the tropics for the winter and feed on insects. These graceful birds are related to the Kingfisher and are normally found about 13 inches long. They are known for their yeomen service during locust plagues…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Definitive Stamps – 1s Carmine Bee-Eater

Details Date of Issue: 6 November 1968 Date Withdrawn: Date Invalidated: Designer: Harrison & Sons Ltd London Printer: Harrison & Sons Ltd, London Process: Photogravure Paper:  Watermark: Cockerels Perf: Imperf with stamps 14 x 13.5 (comb) Cylinders: N/A Sheet: N/A Quantity:

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Christmas – Miniature Sheet

The Nativity with God the Father and the Holy Ghost is painting by Giambattista Pittoni (1687-1767) held at The National Gallery of London. Pittoni was a leading Venetian painter of the early 18th century. Once his style had evolved it changed little, and his paintings, which are distinguished by their…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Christmas – 3s Nativity, with God the Father and Holy Ghost

Adoration of the Shepherds is a c.1642 oil on canvas painting by Guido Reni, commissioned by Giovan Battista Pisante, prior of the Certosa di San Martino in Naples, and still hanging on the main wall of the choir of that institution’s church. Details Designer: Harrison & Sons Ltd London Printer: Harrison &…

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Christmas – 1/6d Adoration of the Shepherds

Adoration of the Shepherds is a c. 1668 oil on canvas painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, his second surviving work on that subject after a c.1650 version. It is held at the Wallace Collection, in London.   Details Designer: Harrison & Sons Ltd London Printer: Harrison & Sons Ltd, London Process: Photogravure Paper: …

View More Malawi Philately: 1968 Christmas – 9d Adoration of the Shepherds