French Establishments in India Apsara

FRENCH ESTABLISHMENTS IN INDIA (Établissements Français dans l'Inde) issued between 1948 and 1952 three stamps based on Apsara.

The Apsara are known for their exceptional beauty, grace, and skill in dance, music, and the arts. Originating as water and cloud spirits during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), they reside in Indra's heaven as dancers for the gods and consorts to the Gandharvas. They are sometimes sent to seduce sages or mortals performing intense penance that threatens the gods' power.

The name translates to "one who moves in water" (ap = water, sara = motion). They appeared during the churning of the ocean.

 This was part of a "Hinduist Sculptures" series featuring deities and architectural motifs from the region.

This particular stamp had a face value of 1 cache. The set was designed by Rolland  and printed/engraved by H. V. PARIS

Postes République Françs De L'océanie Spear Fishing

POSTES RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE ETS FRANÇS DE L'OCÉANIE (French Oceania, now part of French Polynesia) issued on 19 March 19 1934 this stamp and similar design of different colours and denominations.

The central image depicted a fisherman standing in a boat or canoe, poised to strike with a spear. The stamp was framed by palm trees and traditional ornamental patterns.

Herviault was the designer and A. Mignon was the engraver.

U.S. Postal Company Centenary of Fort Bliss - 1948

U.S. POSTAL COMPANY on 5 November 1948 issued a 3 cent centennial commemorative postage stamp of Fort Bliss. First Day of issue originated from El Paso, Texas. Charles R. Chickering designed the stamp.

The design was unique for featuring both historical and then-modern elements: the original Fort Bliss buildings and a rocket  (specifically a V-2 rocket) in flight, reflecting the post-WWII use of Fort Bliss for rocket testing. 

It is famously known amongst collectors as a stamp featuring a camel, which can be seen in the small vignette below the "3¢" on the left side.

U.S. Postage Stamp Centenary of the First Adhesive Stamps in the US - 1947

U.S. POSTAGE STAMP Centenarycommemorative issue, released on 17 May 1947. It was issued to mark the 100th anniversary of the first adhesive postage stamps in the United States. 

It  featured portraits of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, who were pictured on the original 1847 stamps. It also highlighted the evolution of mail transportation over a century, showing a Pony Express rider, a steam locomotive, a diesel locomotive, a modern ocean liner, and a four-engine transport plane.

It was first released in New York City on the opening day of the Centenary International Philatelic Exhibition (CIPEX).

Approximately 127,000,000 of these stamps were printed in a dark blue color using the recess printing method.

Spanish Protectorate Of Morocco Cabo Juby

SPANISH PROTECTORATE OF MOROCCO issued in 1942 the Cabo Juby airmail postage stamp. The stamps featured an airplane flying over a minaret in Cabo Juby. Face value was 10 centimos. The stamp was printed by Rieusset, S.A. in Tangier. 

Cape Juby is a cape on the coast of Southern Morocco. 

Stamps were issued from 1919 to 1948. All issues exist as overprints, first on stamps of Spain from 1919 to 1929 and then on stamps of Spanish Morocco until 1948.

Correos Del Ecuador

CORREOS DEL ECUADOR issued in the late 1930s to 1940s stamps depicting Mount Chimborazo (Chimborazo-Andes Ecuatorianos), an inactive stratovolcano in the Andes. These stamps were released in different colours and either a face value of 30 Centavos (Treinta Centavos). American Bank Note printed the stamps.

Mount Chimborazo  is a major national landmark; although not the highest peak by elevation above sea level, its position on the equatorial bulge makes its summit the point on Earth closest to the sun.

Maygar Posta Traditional Attire

MAYGAR POSTA in 1963 issued a series of nine stamps based on traditional attire of Hungary. Shown here are two of those stamps: the Kapuvar and Madarsko costumes.

Poczta Polska Stanisław Moniuszko Operas

POCZTA POLSKA in 1972 issued a series of eight stamps honouring composer Stanisław Moniuszko and his famous operas. Shown here are  scenes from four operas, such as "Halka" and "Straszny dwór" (The Haunted Manor).

Império Colonial Português (Cape Verde and Mozambique) - 1938

IMPÉRIO COLONIAL PORTUGUÊS (Cape Verde) in 1938  issued a postal stamp featuring the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. It was part of a series commemorating the Portuguese Colonial Empire. Face value of the stamp was 5 Centavos.

IMPÉRIO COLONIAL PORTUGUÊS (Mozambique) in 1938  issued a airmail postal stamp. Face value of the stamp was 5O Centavos.

Cochin Anchal Maharaja Ravi Varma - 1946

COCHIN ANCHAL [Indian Princely State of Cochin (now part of Kerala)] was issued in 1946-1947. This 9 Pies postage stamp shows a portrait of  Maharaja Ravi Varma.  It has a distinct black overprint, such as 'ON' or 'ON CGS', meaning (On Cochin Government Service), which was used for official government correspondence. "Anchal" refers to the local postal service that operated in the states of Travancore and Cochin.

Manchukuo airmail stamp - 1936

MANCHUKUO airmail stamp issued in 1936, with a denomination of 39 Fen, showing an aircraft flying over a railroad bridge.

Manchukuo was a puppet state established in Manchuria (northeastern China) by the Empire of Japan, which existed from 1932 to 1945.

Poczta Polska Polish Calvary

POCZTA POLSKA in 1972-1973 issued a Polish Cavalry series, including a 10th-century Piast knight on horseback, a 13th-century knight, and a 17th-century Polish Winged Hussar, all designed by I. Maciąg.

Österreich Post Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

 

ÖSTERREICH POST issued on 30 July 2004 a special First Day Cover stamp of then Governor of California, actor, body builder, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The date  coincided with his 57th birthday.

The stamp design featured a portrait of Schwarzenegger with the word "Governor" and his name. The background included a likeness of the American flag. The postmark cancellation depicted an imprint of the state of California, the California symbol of a Bear and the Austrian and US flags, signifying Schwarzenegger's Austrian origin. The stamp had a face value of 100 Euro Cent (1 Euro). Approximately 600,000 of these stamps were produced. The image displayed here shows a postmark from Graz, Austria, dated 30 July  2004.