2012 - Nothing better in Montenegro

Why I made headline on this way?

Because service in Montenegro Post are constantly bad, and not at the time. I have big trouble to obtain new issue at the day of issue, because this "old" manner and "style" that are in power.

From other collectors, even inside Montenegro, I hear some complain: long time for delivery, payment in advance, no CC accepted, damaged stamp, printing sheet delivered without border tabs, folded stamp, and it go further like wrongly delivered stamp, not full order etc.

What I hear between line is, that gov't made it intentionally, degrade quality of company, made it unprofitable, go near bankrupt, and sell it to private investor for low value, without any obligation to workers, and all will be according EU rules and law.

As is - is. It take me half year to complete 2012 year issues and here it is:

1-2012 "Art in Montenegro":

Issued at Jan 27, 2012, set of 4 value, total face value 2.45 euro, that will cost You on market near 5.00 euro, because no one have it seriously to supply. This 4 stamp come with salute to: Montenegro military Music, Nikola Vujosevich, Ilija Sobajic, Risto Stijovic. Overall - not bad design, but not something that will lead You to really "Art" topic.

2-2012 "Manuscript":

Issue come like single value stamp, on Feb 22, 2012 with 0.30 euro face value celebrating 750 years of "Ilovica Manuscript", one of oldest manuscript in Slavic language, something that is really important for whole region around this territory, not just for Montenegro alone.

Design is really nice, but too small that You can not see even single Slavic letter there - You must take lense and see still nothing! But they improve it on FDC cover, where You have this text in really big format!

3-2012 "Dynasty":

Printed on Feb 27, 2012, to celebrate 650 year of Second Montenegro Dynasty. For country, where mentality and "proud" is still today "brothers" - it is nothing strange to see this issue, because it remind other "who is who" in small country of Montenegro. But one good thing come with this issue, and it is that we can learn, that "at the beginning" it was NOT Montenegro! I see there, that first come name like ZETA, DUKLJA. And if we want to be fair - and behave  according today's rule of democracy, Montenegro must have back own territory that (at the time of 1300+ year) reach as far as Albania, to Croatia.

Face value of 0.30 euro, acceptable for single stamp, that can be included in "Map on Stamp" topic and "Coat of Arms".

4-2012 "Flora":

Issued on March 16, 2012, with two stamp in set, with grape and nettle on it. Stamp are just fine for topic, but someone can think that they celebrate wine, not flora (FDC are in this design).

0.30 and 0.90 euros per set, little bit expensive for local population.

5-2012 "Navy-Ship-Admiral":

May 10, 2012 come with issue celebrating "Recognition to the Zmajevic's" (May 10, 1737), where is written: "...Secret Council of Perast municipality paid tribute to Matija Zmajevic, the celebrated admiral of the Russian fleet...".

One nice issue, with even better design of FDC. 0.30 euro per single stamp, take it to the "Navy" topic - it fit well.

6-2012 "Tourism":

What to say? existed better way to promote tourism in Montenegro! May 14, 2012 - high value issue (2.35 euro per set of 4), with "drawing" that no one will notice.

7-2012 "Nature Protection":

If You want to kill taste of Philately and collecting, made lot of this design, and no one will buy it! What an naive design to say, that we need to protect frogs and ducks?!

May 21, 2012, two stamp in set, 1.25 euro face value - finally, not worth!

8-2012 "Olympic London":

June 8, 2012, set of two stamp, that come with logo and nice design, but 1.85 euro face value will make problem for ordinary collectors. FDC is nice made.

9-2012 "Battle":

I will rename it to tombstone - design have nothing to say to collectors that are not familiar with history of Montenegro, simple tombstone will say what to me? If I don't read text on back side of FDC - I will never know about what is talking!

Single stamp, worth 0.30 euro, come to market on June 25, 2012.

10-2012 "EU negotiation":

June 29, 2012, that mark opening of EU accession negotiation of Montenegro. Probably we will see some more stamp, in this topic to come, because this negotiation can go for long time to the future!

Design is more or less fine, but single stamp with 0.95 euro value?

11-2012 "Lighthouses":

July 6, 2012 with two stamp in set, affordable face value of 0.60 euro per set, and can say - worst image of lighthouses that I saw in my life! Are they just paying royalties to some pupils or they take design in very naive way?

12-2012 "Woman Handball":

July 27, 2012 one stamp, face value 0.30 euro, sheet of 8+1 tab, "standard" design - but nice.

13-2012 "Demarcation/Delimitation":

Oct 8, 2012, single stamp talking about agreement between Austria and Montenegro from 1837.

It is interesting, that after 175 years, separation - Montenegro are now beg to be included in same empire (just under another name)!!! One stamp, 0.30 euro that can be included to the topic "Map on stamp".

14-2012 "EUROPE":

Very strange issue - Oct 17, 2012!

Why strange? because on this two stamp, we have one tourist destination - Tara river, that is really one of latest place where nature is intact, but second stamp with "Sveti Stefan" to be on this stamp, and named like tourist destination is something very "not in place"!

Probably not everyone know, but entry to this place are very limited to tourist, and it is not under Montenegro ownership. This place are sold to Saudis, under renovation for long period, and now opened just to very-very rich people. How You promote to visit this place, and You know that I will be banned to visit it? probably I will pay to watch it from distance - isn't?

Two stamp in set, 1.75 euro face value.

15-2012 "Joy of Europe":

Oct 22, 2012, single stamp with face value of 0.90 euro. According design and actual situation in Europe, this is really one precise message! What we see on stamp, can be taken like "wizards stick" - isn't? It say lot!!!!

16-2012 "Historical Heritage":

Nov 12, 2012, four stamp in set, that represent some very interesting fact and place in Montenegro.

Monastery Piva, Pava and Ahmet, Battlefield and Printer Makarije.

Here I must to talk about "Pava and Ahmet", because this story was something that kept Yugoslavia intact for long period, and in the end, "super power" decided to torn it apart.

here come story of Pava, Christian lady and Ahmed Muslim man, that lived together and have very nice life. When she (Pava) die, she have tomb with cross and when Ahmet die, he insist that be buried near Pava tomb with crescent and star carved on tomb. By way - she never convert to Muslim religion, and still they lived together in peace!

Face value of this set of 4 go for 1.95 euro.

17-2012 "Olympic Medalist":

Dec 28, 2012, set of two, minimal value of 0.60 euro per set, celebrating woman handball, that win gold medal in European Championship and also medal in London Olympic.

One really great achievement by this team!

18-2012 "Stamp Day":

dec 14, 2012, "Stamp on Stamp" topic, single issue of 0.30 face value - nothing special - simple as can be.

"Red Cross" issue:

I don't have any information about this stamp, because Post of Montenegro is not responsible to issue, print and deliver this stamp, it is under, for me still unknown agency. What I can say, that one issue are for "Red Cross Week" - valid from May 8 to 15, second is for "Fight TBC" valid from Sept 14 to 21 and third come for "Red Cross Day" Nov 29 to dec 6.

I see two type of format, probably one on FC paper with slightly different design - but what is purpose of it - I really don't know. Face value unknow, but on market it go for 1.00 euro per single stamp.

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just to mention, that we are in fourth months in 2013 year, and I still can not find reliable supplier for new issue of Montenegro. I don't have patience anymore for officials in Central Post, and in contact with other collectors from inside Montenegro, situation are very dare.