The second 2006-2012 Sportens issue had a start-stop release with some early prints appearing as envelope decorations before the designs and colours were finalised for the stamp sheet release. The first evidence of a new set came in February 2011 with a single new stamp (apparently showing cross-dressing bowling players) on a commemorative cover. More early versions, with noticeable variants followed in August of that year and also in June 2012, as envelope decorations for other mailings. The first batch of sheets covering the champions of Laernu sports from 2006 to 2010 with the final designs became available in August 2012, with three more stamp sheets following soon after for 2011 and 2012. A Guide to the Laernu Sportens was available to collectors, and featured the stories behind the sportsmen featured on the 2006-2012 stamps.

There were again eight sports represented, but even more basic stamps, because both Archery (or Twangthunken in Laernu) and Golf (Hitfaroutdunk) had the original stamps withdrawn following some controversy. And the Cricket (Batsenbowlen) issue had two stamps on its sheet and a third Helfen Safeten stamp. The 2011 and 2012 issues were accompanied by an additional stamp celebrating the achievements of Waggley Bigguns in the Pedallopuffen events. Waggley is the only person to have appeared on two Laernu stamps.

Yet again the stamp sheets had one variant stamp, but there were many variations found, either on covers, as a bonus for collectors or in the Little Bag of Sticky Bits mixtures. In addition to the design and print variations there were colour variants, test issues overprinted TESTEN NOTTEN RELEASEN, a minisheet of Bigguns variants, and tete-beche pairings, as well as the early prints. These latter stamps are identifiable by subtle and not so subtle colour shade variation, and in one case the sportmen`s image was much smaller. Those with sharper philatelist`s eyes may notice some stamps are larger or smaller than others. A quick measurement of the actual stamp image will however show that this is consistently 25 x 19 mm. A close examination will reveal that it is the margins that vary in size and it is the artisan perforation of these stamps that results in the size differences

What to look for in this issue?

• The sheet variants
• The print variants
• The Waggley Bigguns minisheet stamps
• Tete-beche pairs
• Colour variations
• The early prints
• Overprints and missing overprints
• A Far Fetched Philately label based on the Sporten design
• Anything else!