Stamp Travels

 

1902-1914: Railway Parcel Stamp (Design Francois Poortman)

I  may have taken the Sunday Stamps theme 'issued in the 1900s' too literately I discover but enjoyed delving back to the first decade of the 20th Century. So, all aboard the steam train we are travelling in the parcels van on Belgium's extensive rail network. Almost seems a shame to use this lovely stamp on a parcel

as it will get a sturdy postmark.Thwack. I enjoy the romance of all those different place names. The square oblong postmarks are the railway service cancels, the post office used round cancels.

Underneath this cancel is a winged rail wheel which would become a familiar motif on Belgium parcel stamps.  I will continue my journey through the Belle  Époque and visit

1907: Industrial Exposition

Spain. These stamps were issued at the 1907 Industrial Exposition for purchase by collectors but not issued by the Spanish postal service and not valid for postage. A memento of a visit. They show King Alfonso and Queen Victoria Eugenia (granddaughter of GB's Queen Victoria).

1906: 40 Years Rule of Prince and King (Design I Pompilian)

More royalty as  Prince Carol I meets Osman Pasha at the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78) also called in this context the Romanian War of Independence.  Carol was Marshal of the Russian troops and commander of the Romanian forces.

1908: King Carol I (Design I Pompilian Engraver G Popescu)

Here his beard has grown lush. Ruled as prince from 1866-1881 and king from 1881-1914.

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is - Issued in the 1900s - travel back to See It On A Postcard

Geology

 

1998: Norwegian Minerals (Design - K Gjelseth)

Here is Silver and if one could travel then a visit to the Kongsberg Silver Mine Museum in Norway involves a trip underground on the mine train. On the right are the unusual crystals of Cobaltite. The name is derived from the German Kobold which is a leprechaun or goblin. The story is that the metal was haunted by a kobold due to its failure to properly smelt like other metals

1993: Landscapes (Design - Heinz Schillinger)

 

The High Rhon Mountains  which were formed by ancient volcanic activity

1973: Heimaey Eruption (Design B Forchhammer; Engraver Cz Slania)

and here is a more modern eruption. This stamp was issued in aid of the disaster stricken island of Heimaey which is off the coast of Iceland. When a molten fissure opened up a mile from the town the population were evacuated by the fishing fleet.  The newly formed Eldfell volcano erupted for 6 months and to slow the lava flow and save the harbour they pumped sea water and sprayed the leading edges of the lava flow. They were successful and within a year most, but not all, residents had returned. Today's population is 4,500.

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is - Geology - more at See It On A Postcard

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Sweet

 

1970: The Cuban Sugar Harvest Target

 'Over 10 Million tons' of sugar heading for export and perhaps used in the making of

2007: Chocolate (Design Jesper Arfors)

chocolate and with a cherry on top, what a delight.  Chocolate dipped strawberries (I prefer ice cream with my strawberries). The cacao bean makes an appearance and a chocolate drink, perfect for winter.

And lastly something to pop in ones bag - chocolate coil. It looks a bit like our Rolo which has a runny caramel middle - mmm - or perhaps it is something completely different. I love trying other countries confectionery.

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is - Food - enjoy at See It On A Postcard

Inventions

 

1998: Millennium 1: 1900-1938 (Design - O Frankzen; Engraver - Martin Morck)

How would we cope without these inventions and who knew, not me, that these were thanks to Sweden. The zip, ball bearing, vacuum cleaner and refrigerator.

1946: Explorers and Inventors

The man behind the world's first commercially successful steamboat, Robert Fulton (1765-1815). It steamed along the Hudson River - the 'North River Steamboat'.  He also invented the first submarine 'Nautilus' but the stamp designer has gone with a more scenic view of a modern (at the time of the stamp) steam liner.

2015: Inventive Britain

As someone who has poor night vision here is something I like, cats eyes. Invented by Percy Shaw who when driving on a dark and winding road saw the eyes of a cat reflecting his headlights. In 1934 he patented his idea and created a company to manufacture them, the rest, as they say, is history.

The 2015 'Inventive Britain' set also featured carbon fibre and the development by William 'Bill' Watt (1912-1985).  I think the stamp set is quite inventive too. 

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is - Inventions and Discoveries - at See It On A Postcard

Summertime

 

2000: Stone and Soil

Its Summertime

2007: By the Seaside

relax and take it easy on the shore

2000: Mind and Matter

or on the water.

2009: Summer Nature (Design - Johan Persson)

Luxuriate in the warmth of summer.

Take a dip to cool off. 

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is -Summer - See It On A Postcard

Manx Cats

 

2017: Manx Cats (Design - Lesley Anne Ivory)

There are many stories of why the Manx cat has no tail. My favourite is that they were cut off when Noah closed the door of the Ark. They also have a double layer of fur, all the better for stroking. The artist, Lesley Anne Ivory, says the stamp commission allowed her "to bring together some of my favourite things, cats, flora, fauna and the designing and making of patchwork quilts". Left - Manx Tabby with Mugwort on a Mugwort quilt; Right - Ginger and Black and White Manx cats on Fushia Quilt

Left - Manx cat and kittens with Ragwort and Daisy quilt; Right - Manx cat with Harebells on Rabbit and Harebell quilt.

1991:Definitive (Celestino Piatti)

 

If I was a cat I think I would like a long tail to curl and swish like this one.

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is - Cats - See It On A Postcard

 

 

Monochrome

2000: Millennium Projects - Sight and Sound

For this week's monochrome theme I look at my home nation and start with a couple of Millennium stamps. This one is for the Year of the Artist which ran from June 2000 to May 2001 and had the slogan '1000 artists in a 1000 places'  This was the final set of the 12 millennium stamp issues

2000: Millennium Projects 5th Series - Art and Craft

A photographic collage of the People of Salford which celebrated the opening of the Lowry Arts Centre in 2000 on what was Salford Docks. It displays the paintings and is named after LS Lowry who is best known for his portrayal of the industrial north and his 'matchstick people'. The collage is a play on that. There is usually a dog somewhere in these paintings, I always look out it.

2002:World Cup (Design - Howard Brown)

In 2002 we were looking forward to the Football World Cup in Korea and Japan and a 1st class stamp and miniature sheet were issued. The team play in white and our second strip is red, hence the queens head colour. We won the world cup in red many decades ago so it is considered a lucky colour, however that may be a case of hope over experience. The Lion and the Saint George Shield on a white background was

2001: Country Definitive - England

a reworking of the country definitive, of which the new England design had been issued in 2001. It was not the obvious choice for the World Cup

 which would have been the three lions on the shirts. It is usually a fruitless quest to find any of the country definitives at post offices and the person behind the counter is often bemused by the request so one  has to go through the rigmarole of explaining what they are, key point being they are not self-adhesive. Occasionally if lucky the right post office might be found, one to be cherished, they will know their stamps.  I don't know if the situation is the same in the other nations of the UK..

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is - Monochrome - See It On A Postcard