World of Stamps
Myriad philatelic content from around the world, such as first day covers, block stamp sets, maxicards, may be found at this website.
Sunday, October 13, 2024
USPS Cover Stamps
USPS Cover Stamps
USPS Cover Stamps
USPS Cover Stamps
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Jordan Tax and Definitive Stamps - 1940s
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Thai Post 50th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 50th Anniversary of Accession to the Throne
Ceremonial set included:
- The Royal Ablutions Ceremony
- The Pouring of the Libation
- The Grand Audience
- The Royal Progress by Land
- The Audience from the Balcony
Monday, October 7, 2024
Thai Post 150th Birth Anniversary of H.R.H. Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Poste Monaco Birth of Princess Caroline
Ross Dependency New Zealand Antarctic Expedition - 1957
The stamps were for use by members of the expedition but also helped support New Zealand's claim to sovereignty over the Dependency.
The two higher value stamps in the set were included for use by the British members of the party in sending letters back to the United Kingdom. It had been an Antarctic expedition custom that Post Offices be opened as soon as a base site on the ice was chosen, but finding a location for the site of Scott Base proved difficult.
Once a decision had been made to locate the base at Pram Point on Ross Island, no time was lost in opening a tent post office. Sir Edmund Hillary had been appointed postmaster on 23 November 1956, he in turn had appointed A S Helm as assistant postmaster to attend to all postal matters during the first summer Scott Base was open.
Four stamps, in the denominations 3d, 4d, 8d, and 1s 6d, were first issued. When New Zealand adopted a decimal currency in 1967, the stamps were reissued in denominations of 2c, 3c, 7c, and 15c.
The 3d value depicted the ship Erebus with a background design depicting Mt Erebus on Ross Island, and pack ice. The vessel of 370 tons, was built during the Napoleonic Wars and had been specially strengthened for work in the ice. It was the flagship of Sir James Clark Ross, who, in 1841, discovered the volcanic mountain and named it after the vessel. The Dependency takes its name from this well-known explorer.
The 4d value featured portraits of Robert Falcon Scott, leader of the ill-fated 1910-12 British Antarctic Expedition and Ernest Henry Shackleton, leader of the 1914-16 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, with a map of the Ross Dependency as background. Every possible photograph of the two leaders was scrutinised before the final selection was made.
The 8d Included a map of the Antarctic region, with the Ross Dependency shown prominently in relation to New Zealand. The stamp proved difficult to produce as in order to bring both New Zealand and the Dependency within the scope of one stamp, the former had to be foreshortened. The stamp included the boundaries of the Ross Dependency, 160'E and 150'W longitude and 60'S latitude. Shown on the map are the Ross Dependency, New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Campbell Island, Ross Sea, Cape Adare, McMurdo Sound and the Antarctic Circle.
The 6d Showed a portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. James Berry's drawing was similar to what he prepared for the New Zealand 'Official' series, but with the Queen facing left instead of right.
Technical details about the stamps.
- Stamps designed by:
3d: E M Taylor; 4d: L C Mitchell; 8d: M R Smith; 1s6d: J Berry
- Printer and process: Thomas De La Rue, England; Recess printed - Intaglio
- Stamp size: 3d and 4d: 40mm x 25mm; 8d: 25mm x 40mm; 1s 6d: 25mm x 28mm
Sheet size: 120 stamps per sheet
- Perforation gauge: 3d, 4d and 8d: 14; 1s 6d: 13
- Paper type: Wiggins Teape 'Royal Cypher', multiple NZ and star watermark.
The Massey Ferguson tractors (shown in the cachet) were used by Hillary at the Pole by the US for some years. The TAE sno-cats were left at Scott Base and used there afterwards.
Source: New Zealand Post
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Denmark assorted cover stamps
Monday, September 30, 2024
USPS Great Film Directors - John Ford
In his 50-year career, John Ford (1894-1973) directed over 130 films between 1917 and 1970 (although most of his silent films are now lost), and received six Academy Awards including a record four wins for Best Director for The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Quiet Man (1952). Ford’s first major success, The Iron Horse (1924), was one of the top-grossing films of the decade.
Ford is renowned for his Westerns, such as Stagecoach (1939), My Darling Clementine (1946), Fort Apache (1948), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962); though he worked in many other genres, including comedies, period dramas, and documentaries. He made frequent use of location shooting and wide shots, in which his characters were framed against a vast, harsh, and rugged natural terrain. He is credited with launching the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars during the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, including John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara and James Stewart.
During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy producing documentaries, and was injured at the Battle of Midway. Ford won a record four Academy Awards, received the American Film Institute’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Source: Mystic Stamps and Wikipedia
Poste Monaco 100th Anniversary of the Opera Carmen
Carmen appears in the square in front of the tobacco factory smoking a cigarette. The men in the square surround Carmen and try to woo her, but she refuses. When the men try to rape her, Jose, a soldier who happens to be there, helps her, but Carmen leaves, not happy about Jose's affections. At that moment, Jose is captivated by Carmen's beauty. Later, Carmen gets into a fight and is thrown into a cell in the tobacco factory, but Jose lets her escape and chooses to take the punishment himself.
ACT 2 (0.60 stamp)The tavern "Lillas Pastia" is packed with customers. The bullfighter Escamillo makes advances to Carmen, but she doesn't pay him any attention. Next, Jose appears at the tavern to see her. Carmen is delighted and welcomes him with songs and dances, but then the army's trumpet sounds to signal the end of the war. As Jose prepares to leave, she becomes angry and sad. Jose is unable to give up his honor as a soldier, but he cannot bring himself to part with Carmen, and he eventually confesses his love. He decides to quit being a soldier and join Carmen's group.
However, it is discovered that Carmen is a member of a smuggling ring. Jose regrets joining the group, and Carmen, who wants free love, proposes breaking up with him, but Jose refuses. Carmen's friends start reading cards. Carmen is shocked and unable to hide her shock when her death is predicted. The bullfighter Escamillo visits Carmen in her hideout. Jose learns that Escamillo is in love with Carmen and challenges him to a duel, but his friends intervene.
ACT 4 (1.40F stamp)As the bullfighters gather in the crowded square, the spectators welcome them with loud cheers. Escamillo approaches Carmen and tells her he loves her. Carmen accepts his love and remains alone in the square. At that moment, Jose appears. Jose tries to win back Carmen's love, but she coldly pushes him away. Jose blocks Carmen as she heads to the bullring. Carmen throws the ring Jose gave her at him and prepares to leave. In the end, Jose kills Carmen.
Friday, September 27, 2024
La Poste France Birth Centenary of Sarah Bernhardt
The stamp bears Mazelin's name as the engraver's signature, but in fact it was never engraved by him. Why? After WWII a purge of Vichey government collaborators was in full swing. Gandon had been deprived of orders from the postal administration for three months having engraved the triptych of the Tricolor Legion in 1942 (poste-1942-45). The punch was finished engraving on 14 November 1944. Given this state of affairs and the contempt towards Gandon, it was difficult to issue the stamp with Gandon's signature. Mazelin agreed to put his signature in place of Gandon's.
She was also linked with the success of artist Alphonse Mucha, whose work she helped to publicise. Mucha became one of the more sought-after artists of this period for his Art Nouveau style.
Source: Wikipedia