India Post 200th Anniversary of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka

INDIA POST on 30 December 2023 issued a First Day Cover  commemorating the 200th anniversary of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka. The cover featured a stamp and postmark illustrating the theme of agriculture and tea estate workers, specifically depicting the history of labourers brought to work on Sri Lankan tea plantations. The stamp had a face value denomination of 500 paisa (or 5 rupees). 

INDIAN ORIGIN TAMILS (IOT) of Sri Lanka are Tamil people of Indian origin, also known as Malayaga Tamilar, who predominantly descended from workers sent from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in the 19th & 20th centuries to work in coffee, tea and rubber plantations. They were instrumental in the development of the plantation sector. These Tamil-speaking people mostly lived in the central highlands, also known as the Malayagam or Hill country.

The first group of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) arrived in Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, in 1823 as labourers to work in coffee and then tea, rubber, and cocoa plantations in the hilly regions of Sri Lanka. Later in the 1900s, substantial numbers of Tamils from India also came to settle in Ceylon as financial entrepreneurs and grocers. They were the trading community of IOT, which was not part of the plantation economy and who had come to Ceylon since then.

After the British takeover of the administration of Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) in the early 19th Century, they involved themselves in various activities, including economic enterprises such as plantation and agriculture.

The Indian Origin Tamils were put through immense hardship during the British rule in India and Sri Lanka. During the 1830s, Indian Origin Tamils working in coffee estates were not provided with wages. Instead, they were asked to trade coffee beans gathered by them for commodities from shops. Only after 100 years of immigration to Sri Lanka did the Indian Origin Tamils’ hardships become known to the international community.

Source: Philately Sri Lanka -- https://philately.lk/bulletin-200-years-of-indian-origin-tamils-in-sri-lanka/

Falkland Islands Dependencies Trans-Antarctic Expedition

FALKLAND ISLANDS DEPENDENCIES issued on 3 January 1958 a set of four of four stamps commemorating the Trans-Antarctic Expedition or TAE (1955–1958) in conjunction with the "International Geophysical Year Expedition".

The cover featured Falkland Islands Dependencies stamps overprinted for the expedition, depicting historic polar exploration ships:

1d: Trepassey (1945–47)

2½d: Penola (1934–37)

3d: Discovery II (1929–31)

6d: Discovery (1925–27)

The stamps were cancelled with two circular "International Geophysical Year Expedition" marks dated 3 JAN 1958. This is a significant date, as it was during the height of the expedition. It also marks the historic date New Zealand, led by (Sir) Edmund Hillary, reached the South Pole.

A large circular cachet at the bottom reads "Royal Society Base ★ Halley Bay ★", indicating the mail originated from the research station established for the International Geophysical Year.

 It was hand-addressed to the Royal Society at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London—the prestigious scientific institution that sponsored the Halley Bay base.

THE TRANS ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION (TAE) aimed to complete the first crossing of Antarctica and carry out science work. It was also known as the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. This expedition aimed to finish the first overland crossing of the Antarctic Continent. This crossing was a freezing 3,473 km journey from the Weddell Sea, via the South Pole, to McMurdo Sound. 

It was timed to take place at the same time as the International Geophysical Year (IGY), which was a science programme where scientists from many countries worked together on science projects between 1957 and 1958.

Edmund Hillary was asked to join this British expedition. Hillary’s job was to set up a series of food and fuel stashes from the Ross Sea to the South Pole, to help the expedition’s crossing from the other side.

The TAE was made up of two teams:

- The Crossing Party, led by British explorer, Dr Vivian Fuchs;

- The Ross Sea Party, led by New Zealand explorer, Edmund Hillary.

The Ross Sea Party was to support the Crossing Party’s expedition by: building a base on Ross Island; placing food and fuel along the route; and finding a vehicle route from the Polar Plateau through the western mountains and back to Ross Island.

Hillary was not supposed to travel as far as the South Pole, but when he had finished placing fuel and food he saw the chance to beat the British and he and four of his team carried on, reaching the Pole 16 days before the Crossing Party.

French Cover of stamps from 1980s

Stamps on French cover:

- 1989 design entitled "Soierie de Lyon" (Lyon Silk) highlights the historic silk industry of Lyon during the 18th century (XVIIIe SIÈCLE).

- 1990 French Red Cross postage stamp features "Faïences de Quimper" to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the traditional pottery from Quimper, France.

- 1987 French "Liberty" design stamp set alongside a vignette for the Philexfrance '89 world philatelic exhibition.It was designed and engraved by Pierre Gandon and features a logo for the Paris exhibition held in July 1989.

- 1987 French postage stamp showing the town hall and Saint-Sauveur Abbey in Redon, Ille-et-Vilaine.

- 1983 French postage stamp commemorates the writer Marie-Henri Beyle, known as Stendhal(1783-1842).

- 1982 "Marionnettes" (Puppets)  depicts various types of puppets, including string, rod, and sheath puppets, representing Charleville-Mézières as a puppet arts hub.

- 1983  commemorative issue honouring Pierre Mendès France (1907-1982), a prominent 20th-century French politician who served as President of the Council of Ministers.  It was designed and engraved by Marie Noëlle Goffin.

Republic of Indonesia R.A. Kartini 100th Birth Anniversary

This is a 1979 postage stamp from the Republic of Indonesia, featuring a portrait of R.A. Kartini. The stamp commemorates the 100th anniversary of her birth (1879-1979).

Raden Adjeng Kartini was a prominent Indonesian advocate for women's rights and education in the early 20th century.

She was declared a National Hero of Indonesia in 1964, and her birthday is celebrated as Kartini Day.

Belgi Post Cover

Stamps from BELGI POST:

- 1971 stamp celebrating the automation of the telephone network.

-  1990 stamp of a soldier from the Royal Guard of Gerpinnes created by artists Désiré Roegiest, Roger Wittewrongel, and Paul Huybrechts.

- Belgian 100 Franc banknote from the 1978–1996 series.

- 1992 stamp featuring a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is titled "Hirondelle de cheminée" in French and "Boerenzwaluw" in Dutch.

- 1990 stamp features the Iris florentina to commemorate the Ghent Flower Festival.

- 1967 Nature Conservation series, feature  the "Hautes Fagnes" (High Fens) and Westhoek Nature Reserves.The stamps depicted woodland scenes and native flora, specifically referencing Lysimachia europaea (Wood Loosestrife) and the downy birch (Betula pubescens).

- Portrait of Belgian King Baudouin

Republica Di San Marino Poste 700th Birth Anniversary of Dante Alighieri

REPUBLICA DI SAN MARINO POSTE (Republic of San Marino) issued on 20 November 1965 a set of four stamps celebrating the 700th anniversary of the birth of Dante Alighieri (1265–1965). 

The illustrations on the stamps are adapted from the famous woodcuts and engravings by French artist Gustave Doré, who famously illustrated Dante's epic poem, The Divine Comedy.

The stamps:

- 30 Lira (Brown) - An eagle soaring above rocky landscape was inspired by purgatorial allegories.

- 40 Lira (Green-Grey) - Profile portrait of a laureate Dante Alighieri portrays the classical Italian poet iconography.

- 90 Lira (Red-Orange) - Dante being guided along a stormy boat passage represents a scene from the Inferno.

- 140 Lira (Blue) - A group of souls or figures draped in white gowns depicts a scene from the Paradiso.

Vatican Post Safeguarding of the Monuments of Nubia

LVATICAN POST issued on 10 March 1964 a First Day Cover commemorating the international effort to save the monuments of Nubia (Ancient Egypt) from the rising waters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, hence the theme  "Incepta Nubiae Monumentis Tutandis" (The Safeguarding of the Monuments of Nubia.

 Four denominations were issued (L. 10, L. 20, L. 70, and L. 200) depicting Nubian temples and religious art. 

The cachet on the left side shows a Christian painting of St. Peter from the Temple of Wadi es-Sebua, alongside Egyptian hieroglyphics and figures, representing the blending of cultures. The bottom center features a map of the Nile river, highlighting the Aswan Dam, Shellal, and Abu Simbel.

Johore Sultan Ibrahim and Sultana 1935

JOHORE (Malaya/Straits Settlements) in 1935 issued two stamps:  a single stamp, featuring the profiles of Sultan Sir Ibrahim of Johore and Lady Helen Ibrahim Sultana, commemorated their 5th anniversary of marriage; the second stamp, blue in colour, depicted Sultan Ibrahim of Johore. Both 8-cent postage and revenue stamps  were produced by Waterlow and Sons using a recess printing method. And both stamps are written Jawi (Arabic/Malay script) and Romanised script in English.

Interestingly, the stamp of the Sultan and Sultana is very similar to some British colonial stamps that featured King George VI and Queen Mary in the 1930s. It is also, to my knowledge, the only Malaya/Straits Settlements stamps to show both Sultan and Sultana.

Greece "Gods of the Winds" - 1943

GREECE on 15 September 1943 (during Nazi Germany occupation) issued a set of six  "Gods of the Winds" (Winds Set II) airmail postage stamps depicting the Anemoi (ancient Greek wind gods), based on the reliefs from the famous Tower of the Winds in Athens.

The individual stamps:

-10 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 10) Red Apeliotes (ΑΦΗΛΙΩΤΗΣ) East Wind

- 25 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 25) Green Zephyrus (ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ) West Wind

- 50 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 50) Purple Kaikias (ΚΑΙΚΙΑΣ) Northeast Wind

- 100 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 100) Grey/Green Boreas (ΒΟΡΕΑΣ) North Wind

- 200 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 200) Brown/Red Eurus (ΕΥΡΟΣ) Southeast Wind

- 400 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 400) Blue/Grey - Skiron (ΣΚΙΡΩΝ) Northwest Wind

Afrique Équatoriale Française "France Libre" - 1941

AFRIQUE ÉQUATORIALE FRANÇAISE (French Equatorial Africa) issued a set of stamps  in 1941 under the banner of "France Libre" or Free France. Designed during World War II these  stamps were more than mere postal tools they served as a proud declaration of loyalty to General Charles de Gaulle and the Free French movement. 

After the fall of France in 1940 some overseas colonies including those in Central Africa rejected the Vichy regime and aligned themselves with Free France. 

Each  stamp in the set featured a phoenix rising from flames a mythological bird symbolising rebirth and immortality. This powerful imagery reflected Free France resolve to rise again after the Nazi occupation. Flanking the phoenix were two key symbols of the resistance the Cross of Lorraine used by Free French forces and the RF (République Française) affirming allegiance to the true French Republic. 

Issued from territories such as Gabon Chad Middle Congo and Oubangui Chari (now Central African Republic) these stamps symbolised the loyalty of French Equatorial Africa to Free France. They hold historical value not only for their aesthetics but also for their place in the global story of World War II. 

Though each stamp shares a common design a phoenix surrounded by flames flanked by the Cross of Lorraine and the RF they are printed in six different color palettes and denominations. This is more than a design choice it reflected the layered role each stamp played. Each stamp although part of a unified series stood with its own distinct tone and postal purpose, mirroring the multifaceted efforts of Free France military diplomatic and moral.

USPS Cover

In 1974, USPS issued a 10-cent postage stamp depicting "The Lovely Reader" painting by Jean-Étienne Liotard. It was part of a "Famous Works of Art" series released by the USPS. The stamp was issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union. The painting originally dates from 1746.

US Postal Service stamps from the 1995 Great Lakes Lighthouses series.The strip features five different lighthouses, each with a denomination of 32 cents.Identified lighthouses in the pane include Split Rock (Lake Superior), St. Joseph (Lake Michigan), Spectacle Reef (Lake Huron), Marblehead (Lake Erie), and Thirty Mile Point (Lake Ontario). The stamps were painted by artist Howard Koslow.

French Equatorial Africa Airmail 1947-1953

FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA (Afrique Équatoriale Française or AEF), a federation of French colonial territories in Central Africa, issued these airmail stamps  between 1947 and 1953 and belong to a series featuring landscape and wildlife themes, often including an DC-3 to denote their "Poste Aérienne" (Air Mail) status.

The set included the following denominations and designs:

- 50F - Red/Brown - Airplane over palm trees and a village

- 100F - Greenish/Grey - Airplane over a baobab tree and coastal huts

- 200F - Blue - Airplane over a dense tropical forest with local figures

- 500F - Dark Green - Anhingas (water birds) near a riverbank

 Many stamps in this era, including the 50F and 100F versions for other French colonies like Guadeloupe, were designed and engraved by the renowned French artist Albert Decaris.

Republique Tunisienne Postes Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca

REPUBLIQUE TUNISIENNE POSTES issued on 14 November 1995 a 180 LSd  (Tunisian milim) stamp commemorating Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca. It was engraved/designed by Czeslaw Slania (E) | Hatem El Mekki. The printer was Joh. Enschedé, using a recess printing method on phosphorescent paper. Total print run was 510,000.