A blend of nature, art and numismatics, the book is a visual and knowledgeable journey into the lives of parrots at risk, says ABHI SINGHAL
The Endangered Parrots of the World on Stamps, Coins and Banknotes, by Sushilkumar Agrawal, published by Mintage World is an eye-catching coffee table book that brings together to you the world of stamps, coins and currency notes with the important subject of parrot conservation. The coffee table book has been published by Mintage World, the world’s first online museum for vintage and modern coins, stamps and notes. The book is both a collector’s treasure and an informative guide for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts.
The colourful book offers a journey through the lives of some of the world’s most at-risk parrot species. Based on the latest data from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 2024), it shares useful information about the challenges these birds face around the world. Through its pages, readers can learn about the wide variety of parrot species and why it is so important to protect their natural homes.
The find special in this book for the reader’s is its rare collection of over 459 stamps, 37 coins and 12 banknotes released by different countries like India, Ajman, Cuba, Dominica, Mauritius and so many more. Each item features a parrot species that is either threatened or endangered.
From the colourful Imperial Amazon in Dominica and the clever African Grey Parrot, to the Cockatoo from the Philippines and Brazil’s Lear’s Macaw, every entry includes background on where the bird is from and why it is at risk. These items are not just shown as collectibles, but as a way to help raise awareness about protecting birds and nature.
Visually, the book is full of bright images and attractive designs. The stamps, filled with detail and colour, show the beauty of each bird. The coins, made from metals like silver, gold, copper and bronze, display detailed artwork of parrots in their natural surroundings. The banknotes offer another level of interest, showing how countries use these birds to highlight nature and conservation on their currency.
The book also sorts the parrots into five main groups for their readersbased on their risk of extinction — Extinct (EX), Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU) and Nearly Threatened (NT).
This gives readers a clearer picture of the danger each bird is in and the issues they face, such as the illegal pet trade, cutting down of forests, loss of habitat and climate change.
Talking about the part of India which lies at Page 66 of the book, emphasises on the stamps of Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) issued in 2016, endangered Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis) issued in 2016 and many more. A buy to fact is that the book also has many interesting facts which will make a good read.
The Parrots on Coins part of the book is equally amazing and visually appealing. This section showcases the parrots on coins issued by different countries like Australia (10 Dollar with Palm Cockatoo — Page 144), Bahamas, Cameroon, Cayman Islands-Cuba, Indonesia, Jamaica (the 10 Jamaican Dollars with Black-billed Parrot- Page 157), Liberia and more.
Whether you’re a bird lover, a coin or stamp collector, a conservation supporter or simply someone who enjoys informative books, Endangered Parrots of the World on Stamps, Coins and Banknotes is a wonderful addition to your library. It is not just a book - it is a tribute to these amazing birds and a call to action to help protect them for future generations.
Global Catalogue
Parrots have accompanied humans since ancient times.
They are found on every continent except Antarctica. Some parrot species have ceptional intelligence and mimicking ability, making them great human companions and pets. This book is meant to bring together and catalogue legal stamps, coins, and banknotes issued on parrots. The information is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as of July 2024.
