New philatelic bureau card

A new philatelic bureau card, the third in a series, will be issued by the Maltapost philatelic bureau on Monday.

Like its two predecessors, this card will have identical digits in the date postmark - the date on Monday being "03.03.03".

The two previous issues, which are fast becoming collectors' items, had carried the dates "01.01.01" and "02.02.02".

This year's card, which will include a 7c stamp from the definitive (additional values) issue showing the virgin bush (sigret il-virgi) and stamped with this date, will be on sale at 25c from all Maltapost branches in Malta and Gozo and from the mobile unit until stocks last.

This card can be sent through the post without any additional postage, provided it is posted by not later than Saturday March 8, 2003. Cards similarly cancelled and posted after this date are to carry stamps affixed thereon to cover the required postage.

Cards in this series will continue to be issued in this format until the year 2012, when the 12th card, reading "12.12.12", will complete this series.

Philatelists and collectors belatedly intending to start a collection may enquire at the philatelic bureau (e-mail philately@maltapost.com, tel. 2123 9153, 25961453) regarding availability of previous issues.