All the eights...

The eighth card in a series being issued by Maltapost on a date when the day, month and year coincide - 08.08.08 - will be issued by Maltapost's Philatelic Bureau on Friday.

The card will be available from all branch post offices in Malta and Gozo and from the Maltapost mobile unit.

The first card in this series had been issued on January 1, 2001, with a date stamp carrying the same figures, 01.01.01. The last card in this very collectable series is expected to be issued on December 12 of the year 2012, and stamped 12.12.12.

This year's card, which retails at €1, will carry a €0.12 stamp from the Beijing 2008 Olympics stamp issue, stamped with the August 8, 2008 date, and will be on sale until stocks last.

The card can be sent through the post to any destination without additional postage, provided it is posted by not later than August 29.

Cards similarly cancelled and posted after this date are to carry stamps to cover the required postage. Further details regarding this philatelic card can be obtained from the Philatelic Bureau at 305, Triq Ħal Qormi, Marsa, telephone 2596 1740, via e-mail at philately@maltapost.com or from the Maltapost website www.maltapost.com.