13-2016 and up....

13-2016 "Byzantine Congress":

What to say, just "wow", and great!

This come to the market well on Aug. 22, 2016, to promote "23rd International Congress of Byzantine Study", which was held in Belgrade, Serbia this (2016) year.

Set of eight stamps, with very affordable face value, and with really great design by two artist (MA Marina Kalezich, MA Nadezhda Skochajich), this made it great!

We have (image on stamps) shown:

Grachanica Monastery, The Sarcophagus of  St. Stephan Dechansky, 

The Initial "V" (from manuscript of Isaak Sirin), Mother of God (from the Annunciation, 

Emperor Urosh and King Vukashin, Kalenich Monastery,

Archibishop Sava, Mother of God of Sokolica.

Why I say "great" for this issue?

Because in very "short" way, it is explained early period of Serbian history, with significance for education of future generation and whole world population, about Serbia and Serbian people.

Clearly, here we don't see any "modern" political intention, and it is "pure" scientific "show" of fact and proof that Serbian people have one history in written document, dated back to 1200+ year!

I'm just happy to see that Serbia and Serbian Post made this issue, because not every country in our small planet, still care about own peoples history. And not many made it by postage stamps as mean to show it! It is forever, it is written and it is effort worth to celebrate!

Glad to see, that responsible people in Serbian Post, also care about relatively low face value of this set, as face value come close to  3.40 US$, which will be affordable by any level collector that collect topical as: Religion, Churches, Archaeology, Manuscripts, Sculpture.... and some more.

How much will dealer ask? I think, that dealer will not go bellow 6.00 to 8.00 US$ per booklet, for near period. Probability that price will go down depend on availability of same issue, but, if Serbian Post decide to supply it in big quantities, that hope for "better" price exist.

I think (and I will repost this article also on my another blog page: http://stampmusthave.blogspot.com), that this issue is very, very worth to have in any collection.

14-2016 "50th year of BITEF - Theater Festival":

Sept. 1, 2016, set of two stamps, low face value, showing us initiator of this happening, portrait of each on separate stamps.

What I don't like on this issue? 

You know, I don't like when someone use "others" country symbols (as here, logo "50" are in very american style, what was need for it - just organizers and responsible people know.

15-2016 "Battle of Kaymakchalan":

Single stamp issue, dated Sept. 12, 2016, very low face value, if someone collect WWI, than it will have one nice stamp in collection!

design? Better not to comment, for reason to keep respect to the WWI veterans and fallen people.

16-2016 "Uzhichka Republika":

Again single stamp go, on Sept. 23, 2016, this time remembering WWII, so...

Will say, that FDC design are much-much better made than stamp alone.

2016 continuing 6-2016 and up:

6-2016 "Science":

This issue come to market on April 13, 2016, with two stamps in set.

There is one value with "50 years Mathematical Grammar School - Belgrade" and second with "225 years of Gymnasium Sremski Karlovci"!

One very good design and high importance topic, as education is still priority in national pride!

Cancel is really clever, with OWL in middle as symbol for wisdom - so, for topical collectors it will be item of "must to have".

7-2016 "Fauna":

Issued on April 27, 2016, set of 4 values, and in usual format of 5 sets, with gutter on middle that form one complete picture. I personally don't like this format, as it made just "problems" for collectors (additional album page, hinges, space in album, money spend) but, it is nice looking - isn't?

As is, is! Here we have shown European Beaver (Castor fiber L, 1758), Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809), The Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus, Hablizl, 1783), and The European Otter (Lutra lutra, L, 1758). 

8-2016 "EUROPA":

Issued on may 9, 2016, set of two value. 

To be fair, I really don't like this year design in all of this EUROPA issues, but on this Serbian one, Post of Serbia made one nice "funny" detail on overall picture, so it can have one "satisfactory" level.

9-2016 "Nature Protection":

Issued on May 26, 2016. Set of two value - as usually, showing us Nature around Serbia.

This time it is Nature Reserve in Pester, and Kucaj-Beljanica mountain. 

Nice made, even that printing quality or design still missed color variety, and as this is panoramic view, we will hardly notice there (on stamp) shown sheep and one flower (which I admire well) - Snowdrop !

10-2016 "Stamp Day":

Out on market on Jun 7, 2016. As usually, "Stamps on Stamps" topic!

Nice design showing us first issues of Serbia!

Sheet composition little bit strange and unusual as it is of 16 stamps, but as it is low face value, than it is also affordable!

11-2016 "Olympic Rio":

Issued same day as previous issue, Jun 7, 2016, and mu opinion is DISASTER!

I have one principle, and it is: "If You don't know how to made it - better not made it at all"!

This kind of "modern art" design I really don't like, but other people - other taste! So, set of two values and next one m/s will take from Your pocket some 5-6 US$, and if You specialize in Olympic issues, than You will need it!

12-2016 "Tesla Patent - Transformer":

On market Jun 26, 2016, with little bit "strange" choice of portrait of Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), just on label/gutter we see this great scientist recognizable portrait!

His proto-type are shown, so with his portrait we have one nice issue!

Postage Due 2-2016:

Two stamps, as usually in very low value, of 10 dinar, but IF You will find any dealer that have it in stock - You will be lucky one!

All of catalog will value it low as 0.25 $, but when searching to buy it, You will have difficulty! There is almost no one that have it in stock, and who have it, will ask for minimum of 1$ per sample!

One stamps is for St. Sava Church in Belgrade and second is for Olympic in Rio.

This Olympic come under motto "The medal is won by heart",  probably allusion to doping scandals we have in sport.

2016 start with:

Here we go, 2016 and five (5) issues come to market.

Summarizing face values together, first impression is not so good, as face values go up, so money to spend will be need, more than previous year. But what make good, is that design little bit improve, so Your collection can be better.

Let's start to show:

1-2016 "Monastery":

Date of issue is Jan. 28, 2016. Set of four (4) stamps, showing us UNESCO cultural heritage, with nice "modern" drawing of each Monastery. Even that I don't like, when we show Monastery in modern "way", as I more prefer it with "clear" picture, artist made it with drawing, not photo, so lot of detail of same Monastery is missing in it, but overall, it is just fine.

Face value are little bit high, as it is near 2.00 US$ per set of four stamps (take in mind that income in Serbia are not so high), which will result in less high value stamps from set in used condition, and that will cause problems in completing this set in used condition.

Than, come this design of FDC - which are also made little bit in "fog", 

using "heavy" color in design, didn't improve overall picture.

Improvement are visible in CM of this issue, where "filtered" photo are used:

Monastery shown are from:

Mother of God Ljeviska, Prizren (1306 year),

Gracanica Monastery, Gracanica (1321 year),

Visoki Decani Monastery, Pec (1327),

Patriarchate of Pec, Pec (1320).

All come from Serbian Autonomy of Kosovo, under UNESCO protection, and to all sadness, many time vandalized in history.

2-2016 "Lunar Horoscope - Calendars, Year of the Monkey":

Feb. 8, 2016 date of issue, with common design as previous years, this time Monkey is in question!

Set of two (2) values, with face value of acceptable under 1.00 $, so, affordable price for collection!

design of stamp alone are fine, but FDC come again under "heavy" use of basic color, so it is little bit "hard" for eye to swallow.

3-2016 "geological Society of Serbia":

Feb. 23, 2016 - yes, improvement in design (compared with previous two of this year), as we have "clear" picture and element shown on stamp! Here we have building, one of founders, medal, stone... shortly, all elements that represent this topic. I must to inform that this Society have 125 year of existence, which will just give real picture of Serbia and Serbian advanced status at the time.

Single issue, with low face value (under 0.50 $), so keep it in hand. yes, for sheet of 8 with gutter in middle, You will need to pay more, but not so high as other can be.

4-2016 "Easter":

Feb. 25, 2016 - Easter time in Serbian Orthodox Church, and people celebrate it!

If we take in mind that postage stamps have limited space to show us some picture, and Frescoes are very complex one, we can not complaint about design. 

This two shown are in National Museum, Belgrade, and named "Resurrection of Christ, 18th century, Boka Kotorska and "Resurrection of Christ", 19th century, Voivodina. Motif on FDC come from "Descent into Hell" 14th century. So one very old proof of Serbian culture back to centuries!

Face value of set of two (2), near 2.00 $, not so "low" as people can think!

5-2016 "WWF - B-Fly":

This is really GREAT! Great in all aspect, as design give us impression that Butterfly are almost in front of our eye!

I like it!

March 16, 2016 - set of four (4) values, very high face value that can reach 1.80 US$, but market will react for sure, and be prepared to pay near 5.00 $ for strip of 4 stamp with gutter in middle!

Again format are little bit "problematic" for collectors, as it is printed in sheet of five (5) sets, with gutter in middle which is complete picture just in composition of all five sets, gutter will show us complete picture!

I like it as gutter is picture of B-Fly life from beginning to mature insect, and colors are very clever used, so impression are great! I think that 5.00 $ on market will be no problem for serious collector.

FDC are little bit less attractive:

because "heavy" use of color, and background of B-Fly are "foggy", but B-Fly are shown well in front of our eye!

Postage due #1 (2016) "The Roof":

As usually, collecting additional income to support home for people, I don't think that this money will help people around, but, let it be!

very low face value of few cents (0.09 US$), and very "simple" design, will never reach significant catalog value, but will make very big trouble to collectors who specialize in completing one country collection! What to do? Take it now, as to avoid pay more in future. I have very bad experience with postage dues stamp for Macedonia, as catalog value it very low, but complete collection of postage due stamp on market are much-much bigger, and sellers ask lot of money for it. So if You have Your "personal" dealer/supplier, include this stamp in standing order, that will save You money in the future!