TNAG-0718-FCO40-916-Policy-on-issuing-postage-stamps-1978 — Page 84

of the actual occasion so as to allow ample time for forward

Some planning, design work, preliminary advertising etc. events to be commemorated will be of an international nature, such as the invention of radio, aeroplanes, and so on, and for countries in an association of states, such as the British Commonwealth, the FC, Comecon, Caricom, LAFTA, etc, there may be regional events as well as national ones to celebrate with a stamp issue.

Themes

It is essential to arouse interest in collectors in choosing themes for issues. Natural history in the form of indigenous flowers, trees, animals, birds, fish etc, are usually safe choices, particularly where the country has some unique species in which there is widespread interest. Use of a picture of a royal personage by a country in the British Commonwealth is subject to approval by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Cele- bration of important events or their anniversaries, including silver, gold, and diamond jubilees and centenaries, are regular fare, and such events include Independence, the setting up of a "Farliament" or similar institution, formation of an association

of states.

It is important not to choose a theme which may give offence to other countries, especially countries with which there is a good deal of postal traflic, or whose collectors shew an interest in acquiring the issuing country's stamps.

Omnibus Issues

An omnibus issue is one with a common theme in which several countries join, each dealing with a particular facet of the theme. There are some advantages for small countries. A single organ- isation is usually in charge of co-ordination, (in the case of Commonwealth countries the Crown Agents have taken the initiative in several such issues) and will make forward plans a long way ahead, perhaps going as far to suggest one or more sets of designs which a participating country may adopt, and arranging for the design and printing work to be undertaken "globally". Even if a particular country is unduly sluggish in responding it will usually find itself being swept along with the general momentum

so that it will in due course receive its due share of the joint profit.

The advantages of an omnibus issue is that there are sub- stantial advertising and management economies. If international interest in the issue is roused, many collectors will wish to buy the whole of the issue, even though some of the stamps are issued

Th on behalf of countries they may never have heard of before. addition each country will have its own faithful folhowers who may also take up stamps not only from their "own" specialised country, but from some of the others in the issue. Global advertising is also likely to "put on the map" some of the minor participating countries to a degree which would have been possible if they had had to bear separate advertising expenses for their own separate issue. Recent examples of omnibus issues have been the British Jubilee and Coronation Issues, of 1977 and 1978, other occasions which might have lent themselves to "omnibus treatment" were the American Bicentennial (in which a number of foreign states were peripherally involved at the time of the original events terminating in the 1776 Declaration of Independence), and World Wildlife Year to which many countries had contributions to make. Period of Sale: Periodicity of Issues

If the optimum number of issues (4) per year is achieved, this allows 3 months' selling period for each commemorative issue provided each issue is in fact ready for sale on precisely the cate planned (see"5 Year Programme" below). It is usual to have new commemorative issues on ordinary sale over post office count- ers to the general public for a short period from the date of issue this enables the general public to make purchases on their own behalf, and on behalf of friends overseas who have privately