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UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION Berne, 25 August 2003 International Bureau Circular 294 Eritrea – Illegal postage stamp issues Dear Sir/Madam The postal administration of ERITREA asks me to inform you of the following: "The Eritrean postal administration has discovered that there are a considerable number of illegal postage stamps circulating on the philatelic market in the name of Eritrea. We are completely opposed to such an activity and find that this activity has ruined our reputation and good name, in particular given that some of the illegal stamps are quite obscene in nature. "We are aware, through the Panafrican Postal Union, of the actions already taken to combat these activities and we are fully supportive of all actions taken by the PAPU and by the Universal Postal Union to deal with this serious problem. We feel that still more needs to be done and we are calling upon the UPU to do still more to clean up this market. "We would therefore ask you to kindly inform all Union member countries and all our philatelic partners within the World Association for the Development of Philately that we strongly protest against the existence and continued proliferation of illegal postage stamps produced in the name of Eritrea. This is a phenomenon of which our postal administration has recently become a victim and which is of great concern to all Posts. We therefore wish to protest in the strongest terms against these illegal postage stamps. "It is of great concern that the fraudulent postage stamps, inscribed "ERITREA" on its own or accompanied by the Eritrean and Arabic versions, should appear on various websites and in philatelic promotional publications. We have recorded no fewer that 600 illegal stamps! "The deceitful advertising goes so far as to state that 'the origin of these stamps may be questionable and may be listed as illegals. We therefore suggest that you buy them only because you like them. We offer them because they are on the market.' As well as having face values in Nfa and a rather high selling price, some of these stamps are sold in perforated and imperforate formats. Worse still, the imperforate versions sell for double the price of perforate ones. "The negative publicity these illegal postage stamps generate for our country amounts to a serious attack on the moral, religious and economic integrity of Eritrea and its postal service. It is a serious and flagrant violation of article 6 of the Universal Postal Convention and the associated provisions of the Letter Post Regulations. It is, in particular, a violation of the national legislation of Eritrea, and in particular its law on the Post and its provisions on counterfeit postage stamps. Under the terms of this law, the Eritrean Postal Service alone is authorized to issue and disseminate postage stamps in the name of Eritrea. "This situation is further aggravated by the fact that the logos of various organizations are reproduced on most of the illegal postage stamps. "We call upon all parties to redouble their efforts to combat the scourge of illegal postage stamps and to exercise increased vigilance with regard to the production and distribution of such stamps in their respective countries. We are counting on the cooperation of all to help identify and track down the criminals responsible. "The Eritrean postal administration thanks the Universal Postal Union and all Posts and philatelic partners for their support and calls upon all parties to send it any questionable material that they may find." Yours faithfully, M S RAMAN Acting Director of Economic and Regulatory Affairs Annex Illegal postage stamp issues produced in the name of Eritrea. (For ease of reference these stamps are listed according to their theme.) *The name of the country Eritrea is also shown in the Arabic and Eritrean alphabets. **The name of the country is only shown as ERITREA. I. Animals *A sheetlet containing a strip of three stamps. Each sheetlet is inscribed at the top "PANDAS". Each stamp features a different image of a panda. The value shown on each stamp is 5 Nfa, and each stamp also contains the year 2002. The background of each strip reproduces other images of the panda. *A miniature sheet depicting a mother panda and her cub in the background and containing a stamp featuring another panda. The stamp has a value of 8 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The miniature sheet is inscribed "PANDAS" in the top right with the Scouts logo, which is also reproduced on the stamp. The miniature sheet is also available pre-cancelled. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of bear whose name appears vertically. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of bison or buffalo whose name appears vertically or horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Rotary logo. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of crocodile whose name appears horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of dinosaur. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. *Two sheetlets each containing a strip of three stamps. Each sheetlet is inscribed at the top "DINOSAURS". Each stamp features a different type of dinosaur. The value shown on each stamp is 5 Nfa, and each stamp also contains the year 2002 and contains the Rotary emblem. The background of each strip reproduces other images of dinosaurs. *A miniature sheet depicting a dinosaur and containing a stamp featuring a different type of dinosaur. The stamp has a value of 8 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The miniature sheet is inscribed "DINOSAURS" in the bottom left-hand corner and contains the Rotary emblem. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of dog. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The border contains other images of dogs in the background. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of elephant. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Rotary logo. *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of elephant. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. *A miniature sheet depicting an elephant family and containing a stamp featuring a herd of elephants. The stamp has a value of 8 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The miniature sheet is inscribed "ELEPHANTS" in the middle together with the Scouts logo, which is also reproduced on the stamp. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of frog the name of which is indicated vertically. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of horse. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of monkey the name of which is indicated vertically or horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of reptile (lizard) the name of which is indicated vertically or horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of snake, the name of which is indicated vertically or horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of turtle, the name of which is indicated horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Rotary logo. This sheetlet has also been identified as being available in a cancelled version. *A miniature sheet depicting a tiger and containing a stamp featuring another tiger. The stamp has a value of 8 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The miniature sheet is inscribed "TIGERS" in the top right-hand corner with the Scouts logo, which is also reproduced on the stamp. **A sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of wild jungle cat, the name of which is indicated horizontally or vertically. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. II. Birds *A miniature sheet depicting several birds of prey and containing a stamp featuring another bird of prey. The stamp has a value of 8 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The miniature sheet is inscribed "BIRDS OF PREY" in the bottom left-hand corner with the Scouts logo which is also reproduced on the stamp. The miniature sheet is also available pre-cancelled. **Three sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of bird (birds of prey, fowl and parrot), the name of each bird is indicated vertically. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp of the sheetlets depicting birds of prey and fowl also includes the Rotary logo. The stamps of the sheetlet with the parrots include the Scouts logo. *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of bird. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. **One sheetlet each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring penguins in different poses. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Rotary logo. *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of penguin. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. III. Cartoons *Two sheetlets containing nine stamps each, each sheetlet being inscribed at the top "The Beatles Yellow Submarine". One sheetlet is horizontal, the other is vertical. Each stamp features a different scene from the cartoon film of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine. The value shown on each stamp is 3 Nfa, and each stamp is inscribed with the year 2003. The border of each sheetlet reproduces parts of images of the cartoon. IV. Events *A sheetlet containing nine stamps inscribed at the top "Tribute to 11th Sept. Firefighters". Each stamp in the top and bottom rows features a different fire-fighter with a nude torso, whose name is inscribed vertically. Each stamp in the middle row features the front of a fire engine. The value shown on each stamp is 3 Nfa, and each stamp is inscribed with the year 2003. The border of the second half of the sheetlet features other images of fire-fighters. V. Fish species/Marine creatures **Two sheetlets containing four stamps each, each stamp featuring a different species of fish or marine creature, the name of which is indicated horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp of the fish sheetlet also includes the Rotary logo. Each stamp of the marine creatures sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. VI. Flora (flowers, mushrooms) *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of orchid. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. – Mushrooms **One sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of mushroom, the name of which is inscribed vertically or horizontally. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp of the sheetlet also includes the Rotary logo. VII. Insects – Butterflies **One sheetlet each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of butterfly, the name of which is indicated vertically. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of butterfly. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. – Bees **One sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of bee. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp of the sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. – Spiders **One sheetlet containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different species of spider, the name of which is inscribed vertically. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 2, 3 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp of the sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. VIII. Lighthouses **Two sheetlets (horizontal format) each containing six stamps, each stamp depicting a different lighthouse whose name is inscribed at the top of the stamp. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 1, 3, 3, 5 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the Rotary logo. Each sheetlet is inscribed at the top “Lighthouses". **Four miniature sheets, each of which reproduces the same lighthouse in the background and contains a stamp featuring a different lighthouse. The name of each lighthouse is inscribed horizontally at the top of each stamp. Each stamp has a value of 5 (without any currency identifier), and includes the year 2001. Each miniature sheet is inscribed "Lighthouses" in the middle. Both the miniature sheet and the stamp also contain the Rotary logo. IX. Paintings *Three sheetlets containing five stamps, each inscribed "The Impressionists" at the top. Each sheetlet features a different painter, whose name and dates are inscribed in the middle of each sheetlet, namely: Camille Corot – 1796–1875; Camille Pissarro – 1830–1903 and Pierre Auguste Renoir – 1841–1919. Each stamp depicts a different painting by the painter concerned, has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2001. The background of each sheetlet contains a mixture of parts of other paintings. *A sheetlet containing six stamps (in two separate horizontal strips of three se-tenant stamps). The middle of the sheetlet is inscribed "Vincent van Gogh", with a portrait of the painter against a background of another painting. Each stamp depicts a different painting by van Gogh, has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2003. *A sheetlet containing six stamps (in two vertical strips of three se-tenant stamps). Each stamp depicts a different painting of a nude, the name of which is identified vertically, has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2003. The background of the sheetlet depicts another nude painting. **Two sheetlets in a vertical format each containing six stamps, each stamp depicting a different painting by Edward Hopper. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 1, 3, 3, 5 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the name of the painting. Each sheetlet is inscribed at the top "Edward Hopper". **Two miniature sheets, each of which reproduces the same background (possibly a painting) and contains a stamp featuring a different painting. Each stamp includes the name of the painting at the top and has a value of 5 (without any currency identifier), and includes the year 2001. Each miniature sheet is inscribed at the top "Edward Hopper". **Two sheetlets each containing six stamps (one in a vertical format and one in a horizontal format), each stamp depicting a different painting by Jack Vettriano. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 1, 3, 3, 5 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also includes the name of the painting. Each sheetlet is inscribed at the top "Jack Vettriano". **Two miniature sheets, each of which reproduces the same background (possibly a painting) and contains a stamp featuring a different painting. Each stamp includes at the top the name of the painting and has a value of 5 (without any currency identifier), and includes the year 2001. Each miniature sheet is inscribed at the bottom "Jack Vettriano". X. People/Personalities (including actors, actresses, singers, etc.) *One sheetlet containing five stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actor/singer Elvis Presley. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2001 (or 2002). The sheetlet is inscribed "ELVIS" at the top and contains other portraits/poses in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Brigitte Bardot. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "BRIGITTE BARDOT" at the top. The entire border reproduces other portraits/poses of the actress. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Grace Kelly. Three are reproductions of the front pages of magazines. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "GRACE KELLY" at the top. The entire border reproduces other portraits/poses of the actress. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Sophia Loren. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "SOPHIA LOREN" at the top. The entire border reproduces other portraits/poses of the actress. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Marilyn Monroe; two poses are in the company of another person. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "40th Anniversary" at the top and "Marilyn Monroe" at the bottom. The entire border reproduces other portraits/poses of the actress. *One sheetlet containing five stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Marilyn Monroe,. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2001. The sheetlet is inscribed "MERILYN" at the top and "MONROE" at the bottom and contains other portraits/poses in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Marilyn Monroe; two poses are in the company of another person. Each such stamp is a reproduction of the front page of a different magazine. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2003. The sheetlet is inscribed "Marilyn Monroe" at the top. The entire border reproduces other portraits/poses of the actress. **Two sheetlets each containing six stamps, each stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Marilyn Monroe. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 1, 3, 3, 5 and 5 (without any currency identifier), and each includes the year 2001. Each sheetlet is inscribed "Marilyn Monroe" at the top. **A set of four miniature sheets, each of which has the same portrait/pose in the background and has as an inset a stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Marilyn Monroe. Each stamp has a value of 5 (without any currency identifier), and includes the year 2001. Each miniature sheet is inscribed "Marilyn Monroe" at the bottom. **A set of two miniature sheets, each of which has a different portrait/pose in the background and has as an inset a stamp featuring a different portrait/pose of the actress Marilyn Monroe. Each stamp has a value of 5 (without any currency identifier), and includes the year 2002. Each miniature sheet is inscribed "Marilyn Monroe", at the top for one and on the side vertically for the other. – Immoral and Provocative Scenes (sexually explicit in some cases) *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a different pose of two or more young women together on a golf course. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2003. The sheetlet is inscribed "Golf Etiquette" at the top. The second half of the border contains other poses in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative pose of a different actress. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa, reproduces the name of the actress vertically down the side and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "SEXY ACTRESSES" at the top. The border contains other poses in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative pose of a different female model. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa, reproduces the name of the model vertically on the side and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "SEXY MODELS" at the top. The border contains other poses in the background. **Two sheetlets each containing six stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative pose of a different young woman. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 1, 3, 3, 5 and 5 (without any currency identifier), reproduces the name of the woman depicted vertically down the side and includes the year 2001. Each sheetlet is inscribed "PIN UP" at the top and the "The Art of Elvgren" at the bottom. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative nude pose of a female model by herself or with a male companion. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "BORIS VALLEJO" at the top. The border contains other figures in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative nude pose of a female model by herself. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "DORIAN CLEAVENGER" at the top. The border contains other figures in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative nude pose of a female model by herself. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2003. The sheetlet is inscribed "Michael Möbius" at the top. The border contains other figures in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative nude pose of a female model by herself. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "OLIVIA" at the top. The border contains other figures in the background. *One sheetlet containing nine stamps, each stamp featuring a provocative nude pose of a female model by herself. Each stamp has a value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2003. The sheetlet is inscribed "Ricky Carralero" at the top. The border contains other figures in the background. XI. Teddy Bears **Two sheetlets in a horizontal format each containing six stamps; each stamp depicts a different scene with "Mole Island Bears" and includes the name of the bear scene. Each stamp has a single numerical value of (respectively from left to right): 1, 1, 3, 3, 5 and 5 (without any currency identifier) and each includes the year 2001. Each stamp also has the Rotary logo. Each sheetlet is inscribed at the top "Mole Island Bears". **Four miniature sheets, each of which reproduces the same background scene of "Mole Island Bears" and contains a stamp featuring a different bear scene. Each stamp features the name of the bear scene at the top and has a value of 5 (without any currency identifier), and includes the year 2001. Each miniature sheet is inscribed in the middle "Mole Island Bears". XII. Vehicles – Transportation (cars, Concorde, motorcycles/motor racing, trains) *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different model of car. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. *A sheetlet (horizontal) containing nine stamps each of which depicts a different view of the Concorde airliner. The value shown on each stamp is 3 Nfa, and each stamp is inscribed with the year 2002. The sheetlet is inscribed "Concorde" at the top. The border of the sheetlet reproduces part of the Concorde against the sky. The sheetlet has been produced in perforated and imperforate formats. *One sheetlet of four stamps, each stamp featuring a different scene of a motorcycle race. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp also includes the Scouts logo. *One sheetlet of four stamps, each stamp featuring a different model of motorcycle. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp also includes the Rotary logo. This sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. *A set of two sheetlets each containing four stamps, each stamp featuring a different type of train mostly travelling through wintry landscapes. Each stamp has the value of 3 Nfa and includes the year 2002. Each stamp of one sheetlet also includes the Scouts logo. Each stamp of the other sheetlet has the Rotary logo. The latter sheetlet has also been identified as being available in an imperforate version. *Four strips of a series of three stamps each. Each series is inscribed at the top "STEAM TRAINS". Each stamp depicts a different type of train or locomotive going through a different landscape. The value shown on each stamp is 5 Nfa, and each stamp is inscribed with the year 2002. The background of each strip reproduces other images of locomotive parts. *Two miniature sheets, each of which depicts in the background a different type of train or locomotive and contains a stamp featuring another type of train or locomotive. Each miniature sheet is inscribed "STEAM TRAINS" and has the Rotary logo next to it. Each stamp also reproduces the Rotary logo, has a value of 8 (without any currency identifier), and includes the year 2001. *A sheetlet containing nine stamps each of which depicts a different type of train or locomotive going through a different landscape. The value shown on each stamp is 5 Nfa, and each stamp is inscribed with the year 2003. The border of the second half of the sheetlet reproduces other images of trains.
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