Description

Shetland £4 perforate miniature sheet, issued in 2023, celebrating the archipelago’s famous Up Helly Aa festival.

Originating in the 1880s, Up Helly Aa is a community event, normally held each January, which brings together marches, visitations, and a torch-lit procession – as depicted in this issue – that climaxes in the burning of a Galley, built by local volunteers.

U/M / Unmounted Mint / MNH / Mint Never Hinged.

About Shetland

As well as his Welsh Cinderella issues for Anglesey and Llanddwyn, Martin Husband of Anglesey Stamps also produces occasional issues for various Scottish islands.

Martin's first Shetland issue appeared in 2018, with one or two further issues produced most years since. Each issue typically includes a single stamp alongside a miniature sheet of similar design, usually produced in both perforate and imperforate versions.

The stamps perform no local postal function of any kind given that Shetland is well served by Royal Mail, but they are well produced and attractively showcase the islands.