It was long time from my last post that I didn't write - not my fault, but probably, I'm not so big client of Montenegro Post, and receive new issue just once per year - what to do, even that last shipment cost me not so small amount.

Let's start to see what we have in:

3-2010 - "Personalities", Danilo Kis (1935-1989):

Writer, born in Subotica (Serbia, Voivodina), some will include this issue to Judaica topic, because father of person was Jew (deported to Auschwitz), but this can be problematic, because mother of Danilo was Montenegrian. However - he was one of best in his profession and deserve to be on stamp. Issue have date of Feb 22, 2010, with face value of 0.50 e, not small amount to spend for one stamp.

4-2010 "Flora":

Issued on March 18, 2010 - set of four stamp, face value of 2.35 e, under name "Flora - Melliferous Plant" - probably Post of Montenegro think that they will made one "big deal" to issue set with high face value, in printing sheet of 5+gutter, FDC and CM - it will be too much for simple collectors to pay - even that

design is not bad, but hardly to say that it is attractive. For instance - gutter show us flower and seed of each plant - but it is in color that actually "hide" fine detaile of so beautiful plant and drawing. sadly - this design and color use are applied to all four stamp. Each stamp present plant as follow: 0.25 e (Slvia Officialis L.), 0.50 e (Satureja Subspicata Bartl.ex Vis), 0.60 e (Tilia Tomentosa Moench), and 1.00 e (Epilobium Angustifolium L.).

5-2010 "Europa", Children's Literature:

Issued on April 22, 2010. Set of 2 stamp, one mini sheet (2 stamp also), face value for full set and m/s is 3.00 e. Now because it is printed in sheet of 8 stamp with gutter on middle, collector will need to prepare nice amount of money to have one issue that don't deserve this money. Design is usually "face" of topic, and topic is children's book - according it - we have also children's drawing on stamp design. because my profession and because people that I know from Montenegro, I can say - that person who approved this design, probably receive one order to choice just this design - Montenegro have much-much better artist and better illustration to choice!

6-2010 :Religion", St. Vasilije of Ostrog:

Issued on May 12, 2010 - single stamp, face value 0.50 e. Important issue for history of one country. Celebrating 400 yr of birth Saint - not every country in this world have this occassion You will agree! Design is with some kind of hidden massage - where we have all space of FDC and CM printed in "blood red" and in right up corner - one "sun" on it is attached stamp of Saint - in the case that I will be observant - I will keep it in my room all the time! Stamp design alone is lets say "good".

7-2010 World Cup - South Africa:

Issued on Jun 11, 2010 - one single stamp, face value of 1.50 e, my comment - Funny issue design, simple - even very simple, I don't see reason why to made one and half euro face value - 0.25 e is more than deserve - but probably, because FIFA want more money, Montenegro Post didn't have other option to collect revenue and pay for usage of FIFA event logo.

8-2010 "Tourism":

It continue like every year, promotion of tourism in this small country, and like usually, we have set of 4 stamp, face value 2.35 e. Really one expensive set - not because 4 stamp only, but because it is printed in sheet of 5 with gutter in, and also in booklet format that is different from main sheet format - if You will like to have it in complete like will be mentioned in Michel catalog - You will need to have sheet of 5 set, and booklet pane and set alone included in collection - that will take You like 7 full set - if face value for set is 2.35 e x 7 = 16.45 e GREAT expense! Worth to have it? I think - hmmmmmmmmm - no!

9-2010 "Navigation - Ship":

Issued Jul 8, 2010. Thanks God, one nice issue that are made this year - probably will be winner for best stamp of the year in Montenegro. Also very affordable face value of 0.25 e - really nice from Montenegro Post! Issue are to celebrate "First Montenegrin long-cruise steamship under Montenegro flag". Ship named Jaroslav, arrived to Montenegro 1890 like an gift of the Russian Czar, but ship is built in America, delivered to Russia and from there to Montenegro - King/Prince of Montenegro used it like yacht. It was good time for rich - isn't?

10-2010 "Dynasty":

Don't ask me why they issued this stamp, probably to keep proud of nation on alert - but 650 year of one Dynasty is not something that can be put aside, many-many country on this planet don't have even 10% of this year in history - You will agree. Minimum face value of 0.25 e - that can be also included to Architecture topic because there is one castle, and also Archeology topic because on FDC is ruins of this castle. Issued on Jul 15, 2010 - single stamp in set.

11-2010 "Power Plant":

Issued on July 19, 2010 - to celebrate first power plant in Montenegro (from 1910), again - it is built (power plant) to serve Prince residence and street that surround this residence! I was thinking that it serve some hospital - but no - near same like today - isn't? Again minimal face value of 0.25 e - but designed like if someone want to hide it from person that will look at stamp - at first glance - You will not recognized about what is talking here! yellow, brown and black in use - on small paper will usually give You confused picture - long road to learn - sorry, not for my collection!

12-2010 "Kingdom revival":

If You don't know history and today situation in Montenegro, You will think that after 100 yr - there King come back! No - it is just revival of kingdom, that was long time ago in Montenegro - I will say - probably issue of stamp for this occasion is correct - just to show that Balkan have also King/s and Princes - nice - isn't? They even give it importance by face value, it is not minimum, but double - 0.50 e for single stamp - that i recommend to include in collection, because it is nice topic and keep history alive! Issued on August 28, 2010, stamp and FDC in option.

1-EMS label:

I must show it for reason that Montenegro Post start to use this service - and because it drive me crazy, but also give me satisfaction.

satisfaction is because it go relatively fast, and straight to Your door - not waiting for public company service to made job. But it also have it prices of too much for too little! My shipment arrived to me in the morning - it have an 0.459 kg weight, and cost me postage of 27.15 euros!!!! Now You know, why any dealer that pay for shipment, will not sell You new issue less than double of face value? I take my lens to see what is written on "EE" label - and discovered that postage pay is zero!!!!!!! God, I pay more than 27.00 e and You stick one label without face value like proof that I actually pay for it?! I again took "EMS Label" and read:

date received to post: 28 Sept. 2010

date delivered to me: 22 Oct. 2010

Total charges: 0.00

God! Something is wrong here! EMS is introduced instead of "EXPRESS" service worldwide - isn't? Someone discovered that this way, ordinary citizen will pay more for service that almost existed, but - because revenue need to be rise - we say to citizen - no EXPRESS any more - You want it to be delivered as soon as possible - pay it double prices and deliver by EMS. What I received? One months delivery time for 27.00 euros! Who is here of to explain me - why it is so great charge, why one months delivery time and why no proof that I pay for it (thanks God, I keep my Invoice).

Till next - just hope to better future. And by way - no news from Serbian Post about new issue and new issue delivery - they are still in blackout regarding "Jugomarka" distributor, they still don't have any new contractor to print and distribute new issue stamp, they still don't know who is responsible for this to blame - ANARCHY (but in Serbia is Democracy in power).

Sometime Democracy/Capitalism mean also CHAOS and ANARCHY!

50 years First Issue of EUROPA issue:

General warning about this issue to all collectors.

This issue come out to the public on 3. Jan. 2006, Scott catalog I don't have, but Michel have it with number 108-111 I (for set) and Block 2A, B, and Block 3 (that are different by design, from main set). Michel price it at 11.00 euro for simple set, and 12.00 euro for strip set, strip+tab will have price of 15.0 euro. Block go for 2A perforated 20.00 euro, without perforation -,-.

Here come problem!

First, every perforated block (of 4 stamp, face valued 5.50 euro) - have an number on salvage, right side on middle, without perforation are without this serial number. According Michel, block are printed in 505 000 quantity (I have one sample with 504 544 number), but block without perforation don't have any information about quantity printed.

Recently, I participated in one public auction, where I saw that one of this block are offered for sale but with great name - shifted perforation - God, I jumped to obtain it and pay almost 30.00 euro to win it! Yes - I have it in my possession in the end, but what surprise! When I examined it, and not examination like professional certification, but simple exam, it come one bad feeling - it is absolutely fake perforation!

I don't need to be expert about Montenegro issue, and today we have just great accessories on PC and web, that we even don't need to ask expert about opinion, I simply see that it is manipulation, fake for naive intention. This block is not worth so much at all, it is just 20.00 euro catalog, on market You will find it even on exchange basis - what was need to made this effort and to made "shifted perforation" case on it? Money? Noooooo!

How I can say that it is fake/manipulated perforation? See, I use simple Picasa (from Google) system on my PC - zoomed this block, and what I see? I see, horizontal, middle perforation are "deformed", almost like egg by profile, because I'm (by way) printing plant technician, I know, that perforation, if used once, can not have this "profile" - it must be round, and not ellipse, that mean - someone didn't have proper perf machine in use, that say - it is done or in private workshop, or in "hurry" inside printing plant. Second come to my attention, that on around hole are visible color traces, something like oil spill or oil traces, but when I used Picasa zoom I see that it is actually color marking for reason to know where exactly to apply perf machine! God - this guy who made it - he was even amateur in this job!

In the end I contacted person in Post of Montenegro, who is responsible for contact with collectors, and asked him about his opinion, what I received like answer, just give "stamp of approval" for my theory that it is fake! Here is (in free translation) what I hear:

This issue are problematic from beginning of life. First and main mistake was made in choosing printing plant and contractor for this job to print stamp, distribute and sell it. We give contract to local printing plant in Sarajevo, that didn't keep with timing, didn't keep contract condition, and most problematic, didn't have any security inside printing plant! That resulted in great missuses of finished product, of printing vasts, of quantity. People from there simply walk out with whole printing sheet in hand!

Most problematic are, that whole quantity are sold to one person (I didn't have info to whom), and now, no one know nothing sure about this set.

Because I come from Yugoslavia, and know mentality of this peoples living there, hardly that it come like result of uneducated people, but mostly (I think), it is because of some kind of dispute between printing plant and Post of Montenegro. Probably Post didn't pay for work done, and printing plant decided to sell all quantity to someone who have money for it, in this case - no security can stop worker to take some "sample" home, like payment, souvenir or just to make little money.

I wish to collectors be informed about this "rarity" - because topic are attractive to collectors of EUROPA issue, and because it is one nice issue, but no one need to care and spend extra money for variety or rarity that actually don't have any legality or extra value!

2010 start with some nice and expensive items - hope that it will be just from beginning of year - but if it will continue like this - prepare budget!

1-2010 "Art":

I don't know how to describe it - but, they say - it is art! With one stamp I agree - frescoes, it is "old" art - and collected by many collectors around world, but second stamp with one "sci-fi" painting - it is disputable, I personally like it anyway! Issued on Jan 28, 2010 - two stamp in set, face value GREAT - 1.00 euro, They rise postage fares? Not? O.K. - let's say that FDC deserve respect, and will be quickly sold out - but second issue "sci-fi" will be available for long time to come!

2-2010 "Vancouver Winter Olympic":

Here I can say that design saved whole issue! Why? - because Olympic logo are so ugly, that someone must think very well how to design stamp, to improve overall picture - and artist really made it!!!!!! Issued on Feb 12, 2010 - two stamp face value - oj-vaj-voj - 2.50 euro! Try to buy it from retailer dealer for face value, I want to see if someone will made it! Prepare minimum 30-40% up-to-face value, and when You will ask prices for sheet of 8+1 tab - take breath, for sure it will cost You around 30.00 euro minimum, if You will be lucky to find who will sell it to You.

End of 2009 - here it come after 3 months of prepaid order - with 18 page of paperwork form attached to parcel delivered to me! It is great-great wasting of paper, work hour - probably it happen because they still don't have modernized system? And, I'm not sure that it is all for 2009 year, because I still don't know if some postal tax or additional issue existed, but which are not in central post administration (like Red Cross issue). From "Programme" I see that in 2009 - was planned also issue for "European champ in Chess" - but I don't see it on official web, or delivered to me.

Let's start with description:

10-2009 "Nature Protection":

Issued on June 10, 2009 - like every year - commemorating Black Lake and Plavsko Lake - which are really treasure for Montenegro tourism. Two stamp, affordable face value of 0.75 euro, but again - printed in sheetlet of 8 stamp and one gutter/tab on middle, which will greatly rise expenses if You want to include it in Your collection.

11-2009 "Navigation":

come to us on July 10, 2009, with one single stamp value of 0.60 euro - to be fair - is not cheap for one stamp. Occasion is Vicko Bujovic (21/I/1660-9/V/1709) - a captain from city Perast. Not just he was owner of several ship, and traded around Adriatic sea - till to Venice, but he also have role like "sea policeman" and also - participated in defending Turkish Empire! stamp alone will not made some impression on collectors - but because it have also ship on it - that will give push to trade. Sheet of 8+1 is again used - and sheetlet have an much better impression.

12-2009 "Stamp Day":

No - I really don't like it! Some abstract design, not attractive at all - but it is not our power to decide about design. Issued on Oct 2, 2009 - one stamp, face value 0.25 euro, cheap? I don't think so for this stamp design.

13-2009 "Joy of Europe":

Usually one issue per year, with children drawings - nothing new, two face value total 0.90 euro per this set - if someone have collection of "Children Drawings" - it can be purchased - probably also for "Music" topic - and it is all for this issue, issued Nov 20, 2009.

14-2009 "Valtazar Bogisic":

Jurist and professor, in field of "Slavic Law History" - have great role in law studies. This is for occasion of 175 yr of his birth. Standard one stamp, single valued at face value of 0.50 euro, that probably math this topic. Issued on Dec 7, 2009. What made me worry is - printing sheet of 20! Why?

15-2009 "700 year of document":

Issued on Dec 20, 2009 - and to celebrate 700 yr of oldest preserved document in Montenegro - I think that Post of Montenegro need to give more "proud" to this stamp, and not just to print it in offset process - this design and topic, need to be printed in gravure - in simple black/white color - it will give it "charm" and "soul" - now it is just simple "invisible text" stamp. Face value is simple and minimum - just 0.25 euro - but printing sheet is 20 stamp - don't forget!