I was finding pets a bit thin on the ground for this week's Sunday Stamps theme and then a envelope plopped through my letterbox with three lovely stamps, one of which was this, issued for the Europa theme of Children's Books in 2010. It shows the wired haired fox terrier Dášeňka from Karel Čapek's story of the adventures of a puppy as it grows called, well yes, "The Life of a Puppy". That made me think of other children's stories and it brought to my mind last year's Alderney issue commemorating the Life of Beatrix Potter,
and sure enough two of the six stamp set show Beatrix sitting by a Lakeland river thinking of stories to tell while her dog retrieves sticks. It looks like a spaniel so it will no doubt be bounding into the water at some stage. As the sun sets she settles down to draw her story characters while the cat snoozes in the basket. I suspect her day was busier than portrayed because at this time she was running a working farm in the Lake District. A neighboring Channel Island featured dogs on stamps last year but in this case it was a whole set
commemorating the Kennel Club of Jersey dogs. This one portrayed has the usual type of extravagant name of show dogs, 'Jsy CH Tiroen Taylormade'. As can be seen this particular stamp was the entry to the SEPAC (Small European Postal Administration Cooperation) 2013 theme of fauna which produced diverse interpretations from tigers to seagulls.
Lastly one of my favourite dogs, a Labrador Retriever. For the Lunar New Year of the Dog in 2006 New Zealand post issued six dog breeds. The Labrador was portrayed as a Guide Dog and this stamp value was also in Braille. There are two versions, a gummed one and the one shown here which originated from a self adhesive stamp booklet (the booklet issue has no top white edge).
12 comments:
The Irish Setter and the Lab are magnificent stamps
Hi Joy! Nice finds, your Beatrix Potter stamps remind me that I might have Beatrix Pottter's too... I should find them to share in the future. :)
Oh, I really love the design of the first stamp. How original and modern!
A wonderful selection, I especially like the Beatrix Potter stamps.
beatrix potter stamps are simply wonderful...first time i see them, thank you for sharing
That first stamp is delightful! Labs are such good dogs, for guides and for children.
Thank you for participating.
The Czech stamp made me laugh! What a simple, yet easily identifiable illustration. The Beatrix Potter ones are charming. But I really like that irish Setter
Love the Pooch in the first Beatrix Potter stamp.
never heard about Beatrix Potter before, but those stamps are just soooo lovely!! and look at those Irish Setter's eyes! Heart-melting!!
I do love the "Life of a Puppy" stamp. A life story in just a few strokes of a pen.
Is there a connection between Alderney and Beatrix Potter, I wonder?
Nice stamps, all of them.
Especially the Czech one, amazing that just a few lines and dots make such a variety in characters!
I like the guide dog, too. They do so good work! How nice that Braille was added to the stamp.
Concerning the theme 'pets' and guide dogs, I once had a discussion with someone and we didn't find the answer, as dogs are dogs on one hand, but on the other hand we associated 'pets' with leisure: would you consider a guide dog as a pet, or as dog-at-work?
Sheila - It is a bit random Alderney and Beatrix Potter isn't it. I don't know of a direct connection.
Heleen - An interesting question. I suppose you could call them companions as their owners not only rely on them but form a bond so they are a bit of both.
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