Souvenir sheets of Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
A souvenir sheet (or sometimes called miniature sheet) is a small group of postage stamps still attached to the sheet on which they were printed. A souvenir sheet is designed so that it contains stamps issued with a beautiful background related to the theme of the stamps. Both the stamps and the entire sheet are valid for mailing, although they are kept in mint collection by collectors. Sri Lanka
has been issuing souvenir sheets since 1966. Many of the earliest souvenir sheets issued by Sri Lanka are valuable. Sri Lanka issues souvenir sheets each year on many different themes.
A practice of issuing souvenir sheets containing the Wesak stamps started from year 1981.
On 21 October 1981 a souvenir sheet was issued to mark the Sri Lankan visit of Queen Elizabeth
. This was the first souvenir sheet issued to mark the visit of a distinguished foreign head of state
.
On 2 December 1982 a souvenir sheet was issued to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the 1st postage Stamp of Sri Lanka. 2 stamps of denominations 50 cents
and 2.50 rupees were in the sheet. The sheet value was Rs.
5. This was the 1st souvenir sheet of Sri Lanka that had a sheet value more than the value of the stamps in it.
On 1 April 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1st postage stamp of Sri Lanka a souvenir sheet was issued. It was issued in both perforate and imperforate types.
All the souvenir sheets issued so far were rectangular in shape. The first irregular shape souvenir sheet was issued on 22 May 2001 on 'Seashells of Sri Lanka' for the World Biodiversity Day. The sheet was in the shape of a seashell.
stamps. Sometimes, choosing one stamp from a set of stamps, a small miniature sheet, containing that single stamp is issued. As these are very attractive, it has become favourites among collectors.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
has been issuing souvenir sheets since 1966. Many of the earliest souvenir sheets issued by Sri Lanka are valuable. Sri Lanka issues souvenir sheets each year on many different themes.
First souvenir sheet
The first souvenir sheet of Sri Lanka was issued on 5 February 1966 on the topic 'Typical Birds of Ceylon' (Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon from 1815 to 1972). The special feature was that the stamp sheet was imperforate. This souvenir sheet was reissued on 15 September 1967 to commemorate the 1st National Stamp Exhibition of Sri Lanka. It was overprinted 'FIRST NATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION 1967', thus issuing the first overprint souvenir sheet of Sri Lanka. Afterward many souvenir sheets were issued, on many themes. The souvenir sheets issued afterward were perforate.Other important souvenir sheets
On 10 February 1981, a souvenir sheet on 'Quadrupeds of Sri Lanka' was issued. The 4 stamps in the sheet were surcharged at the issue. Thus this sheet was a surcharged souvenir sheet at the 1st issue.A practice of issuing souvenir sheets containing the Wesak stamps started from year 1981.
On 21 October 1981 a souvenir sheet was issued to mark the Sri Lankan visit of Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth
-Queens regnant:* Elizabeth I of England , last Tudor monarch over England, reigned 1558–1603* Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, reigned since 1952-Queens consort, dowager and mother:...
. This was the first souvenir sheet issued to mark the visit of a distinguished foreign head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
.
On 2 December 1982 a souvenir sheet was issued to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the 1st postage Stamp of Sri Lanka. 2 stamps of denominations 50 cents
Sri Lankan rupee
The rupee is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is generally written Rs. The rupee (Sinhala: රුපියල , Tamil: ரூபாய்) (sign: ₨; code: LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri...
and 2.50 rupees were in the sheet. The sheet value was Rs.
Sri Lankan rupee
The rupee is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is generally written Rs. The rupee (Sinhala: රුපියල , Tamil: ரூபாய்) (sign: ₨; code: LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri...
5. This was the 1st souvenir sheet of Sri Lanka that had a sheet value more than the value of the stamps in it.
On 1 April 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1st postage stamp of Sri Lanka a souvenir sheet was issued. It was issued in both perforate and imperforate types.
All the souvenir sheets issued so far were rectangular in shape. The first irregular shape souvenir sheet was issued on 22 May 2001 on 'Seashells of Sri Lanka' for the World Biodiversity Day. The sheet was in the shape of a seashell.
Present-day souvenir sheets
Now, Sri Lanka issues several souvenir sheets every year. A souvenir sheet is almost always issued with Wesak and ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
stamps. Sometimes, choosing one stamp from a set of stamps, a small miniature sheet, containing that single stamp is issued. As these are very attractive, it has become favourites among collectors.