New Issue: Experience Nature - Saba Butterflies (Netherlands)

Some of you might remember my review of the Saba birds issue in January.

The Netherlands are creating four issues this year to celebrate Saba wildlife. The first one was the birds set, and this one focuses on butterflies. Later in the year there will be Saba wildlife stamps about underwater life and flowers.

I was a big fan of the birds stamps and as I collect butterfly stamps you would think I would like these too. And I do. But there is something a bit different about these and they're not just another set of nice stamps with pictures of butterflies. The WOPA website tells us more about the butterflies on the stamps: "All butterflies are portrayed in their natural environment, each on their own stamp. The following 10 butterflies are featured: Dorantes Longtail, Mangrove Buckeye, orange passionflower butterfly, Caribbean Duskywing, Ruddy Daggerwing, Cassius Blue, zebra butterfly, Tropical White, Orcus Checkered‑Skipper and Red Rim." Many of these are very rare butterflies only found in that part of the world. The website also says that "all butterfly photographs are incorporated into a graphic layer with circular forms that also appear on the sheet border. In some places, the images extend onto adjacent stamps and onto the sheet border. In several locations, the designer added graphic elements derived from symbols used on old topographic maps. These symbols indicate features such as landscape formations, contour lines, vegetation, soil structures and waterways. The design is also characterised by an additional transparent layer featuring monochrome images (both white and coloured) of characteristic flora and fauna from this region. The following plants and animals are depicted in this way: lantana (top left), Monkey Leaf (top right and centre of the sheet), zebra butterfly (centre right) and the caterpillar of the zebra butterfly (bottom left)." Design Quality - These stamps have been so well designed. The pictures of the butterflies are so beautiful and lifelike. The backgrounds show the butterflies in their natural habitat with native plants and the whole sheet feels alive. The best thing is, like the birds issue earlier this year, that each stamp is different but the whole sheet fits together really well, like a jigsaw puzzle.

Also, like the birds issue, the sheet gives you information about the butterflies and helps to show why Saba is such a unique place for nature. I'm not such a pug fan of "NEDERLAND" is large letters which i think is a bit distracting, but apart from that the design really is brilliant. 9/10

Theme and Subject Choice - This is part two of a set about exploring Saba nature. Butterflies are obviously a great idea! These are very rare butterflies and most people won't know about them. The stamps help show just how unique and special Saba is as a place for nature and wildlife. 9/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - Butterflies are a big part of what makes Saba special and it makes sense to include them in a series about Saba nature. They're very relevant to the island. 8/10

Innovation and Creativity - These stamps are very creative and modern. It could have been easy just to use some photographs of butterflies but the designers decided to mix the colours, shapes, butterflies and backgrounds in a really clever way. A lot of thought has gone into creating these and there is so much in these stamps, but they don't look cluttered because of the clever way the sheet has been designed so information is in the white margins. 8/10

Collectability - Stamps showing butterflies are very popular, and there are many of them around. What makes these different? Well, these are particularly good ones. There also aren’t many stamps about Saba and some of these butterflies may not have been on stamps before, which might make them stand out. 7/10

Personal appeal - I absolutely love these stamps and, so far, I am loving the Saba Experience Nature series! 10/10

Overall score - 51/60