Xylography

1974: Polish Woodcuts in the 16th Century

I flipped open a dictionary for help when discovering this week's letter was X and found the word xylography, wood carving.  In the 1970s Poland issued a series depicting Polish woodcuts taken from a book published in 1575 by Bartosz Paprocki which contained about 100 illustrations. The artist and stamp designer Tadeusz Michaluk chose four of the numerous illustrations made by an unknown artist.  The stamp shows an archer hunting a bear.

1977: Polish Woodcuts (Design - Tadeusz Michaluk; Engraver - M. Kopecki

This one shows bird snaring. The other two stamps can be seen here.  From the linked article I would guess each of the stamp illustrations has a moral, for the full title of the book is "Knights' gathering in which various creatures hold conversations providing an example for men on how to live, what to learn and what to avoid".  Snappy title.  By weird coincidence the eclectic Europeana blog on Thursday was about text announcements in early printed books so it was recent enough for me to retain the fun fact that it was between the 15th and 16th century that title pages of books began to appear.

1963: Centenary of the National Museum of Iceland

The other place to marvel at wood carvings are of course churches and this is a detail from the church door at Valþjófsstaður from approximately the year 1200, the only medieval Icelandic door in existence. The stamp shows part of the story of the Knight and the Lion 

1972: Environmental Conservation (Engraver - Czeslaw Slania)

Swedish Post issued stamps for the June 1972 UN Human Environment Conference in Stockholm and the stamp shows a wooden relief - The Spring - by the artist Bror Hjorth

The other two stamps of the set show the emblem and motto of the conference - Only One Earth - in six languages.  It was interesting to read a paragraph of the FDC insert from a distance of the decades that have passed since  "... one of the aims which the Conference was summoned has already been achieved - to arouse the interest of government and public opinion in the importance of environmental problems and in the degree of their urgency, so that greater attention will be devoted to the subject when policies and programmes are formed for economic and social development in all countries. The Conference may be regarded as the first stage on that long journey towards a better human environment which we must all undertake in a spirit of international solidarity".  How are we doing?

Sunday Stamps II prompt this week is the Letter X - for xylography - exit to  See It On A Postcard
 
    

On the Move

1997: Water Sports and Activities

I am away for a few weeks and who knows I might be diving off a boat like this, well probably not, my water based skills are negligible.

but riding a bicycle that is a different matter and this looks the perfect place to take a break, what a beautiful summer potager.  This is an Inge Löök postcard, her elves and old ladies are off making mischief elsewhere so we have an oasis of calm.  Although can one always trust a cat?

Tents

1959: Living in Tunisia (Design- Yahia Turki)

Time to pitch ones tent and in the Tunisian stamp the tent is on the outskirts of the city of Kairouoan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The painter is Yahia Turki (1903-1969)  a modernist artist who has been called the 'father of Tunisian painting' and whose artistic life Tunisia celebrated in 2003 issuing a stamp for his birth date.  Apart from the camel the site seems deserted

2007: Europa - 100th Anniversary of Scouting (Design - Matjaž Učakar)

but there is a full camp here with this happy group enjoying life together around a scout camp fire.

1983: 75th Anniversary of the Scout Movement

Tents and fire also make an appearance on this Spanish stamp. I rather like the Scout flag and scarf forming a 75.

And this looks the perfect spot to set up camp.

1978: 50th Anniversary of Girl Guides (Design - TF Johannesen)

Or here under a full moon.

not to forget the numerous guiding songs to be sung around a fire and that does look like a very fancy fire indeed in the photo.  No way are you going to be able to swing a billy can over that

2007: Europa - 100th Anniversary of Scouting

although one may be able to lash something together. I notice from the postmark the stamp above has travelled from Haute-Savoir region of France, another great place for outdoor adventure.

1974: Rural America (Design - John Falter)

But for a large gathering of people you need a really big tent. The stamp celebrates the centenary of Chautauqua, a movement that brought together entertainment and education for the people, a section of which travelled around the country. The artist, John Falter, remembered as a boy going to the Chautauqua with his mother when it came to his home town of Falls City, Nebraska. He incorporated part of his Falls City home and the nearby water tower in the background of the stamp.

Sunday Stamps II prompt this week of the Letter T - for Tents and Tunisia - pitch up at See It On A Postcard