Royal Mail (UK) Pink Floyd Souvenir Sheet

ROYAL MAIL (UK) on 7 July 2016  released a series of First Day Cover stamps and souvenir sheet (shown here) honouring the band Pinl Floyd.  Renowned for their innovative album covers, many of which have become design classics, leading graphic designers and photographers established a body of work that is instantly recognisable and now iconic of their work. Most of the band’s album covers were devised by Hipgnosis, co-founded by Aubrey Powell and Storm Thorgerson in 1968. They were at the forefront of album cover design, using experimental techniques in photography and multiple exposures, and retouching to create the startling images.

Featured stamps in the Souvenir Sheet:

1st Class Stamp - UFO Club opened on 23 December 1966. Pink Floyd were booked for the opening along with Soft Machine.

1st Class Stamp - The Dark Side of the Moon Tour, 1973. This show included the special effect of a plane crashing into the stage at the end of the song, "On the Run".

£1.52 Stamp - The Wall Tour, 1981. Gerald Scarfe and Roger Waters designed a series of animations for the Wall Tour. These animations were projected onto a 40-foot high wall of cardboard bricks which was gradually built between the band and audience

£1.52 Stamp - The Division Bell Tour, 1994. Over 5.3 million tickets were sold for this tour and it grossed approximately 100 million US dollars.

La Poste France "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt

 

LA POSTE FRANCE issued on 2002 a commemorative First Day Cover stamps of "The Kiss", a painting Austrian symbolist painter, Gustav Klimt. The stamp designer was Sylvie Patte & Tanguy Besset who based the design on the Klimt work ar Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Vienna. As many as 5,425,000 copies of this polychrome stamp was printed using a rotogravure method.

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918). was the initiator of the founding of the Vienna “secession” group in 1897. For Klimt, painting aimed at finding its integration into an architectural environment and his compositions which harmoniously occupy the space show arabesques, volutes, decorative patterns, abstract mosaics and gold leaf contributing to great sumptuousness.

A detail from Klimt's most famous work, "The Kiss", was painted between 1907 and 1908. It belongs to a phase of creation called the golden phase when Klimt incorporated gold leaf in his paintings. The beauty of this painting is based as much on the precious (and equivocal) value given to it by the use of gold as on the representation of a loving couple, global, cosmic, both linked to nature and isolated. of the world. It has been suggested the couple was actually Klimt and his wife.

Albania Post Vangjush Mio "Nude Painting" and Gustav Klimt "The Dancer"

 

ALBANIA POST (Shqipera) on 22 December 2011 issued a First Day Cover stamp "Nude Painting" by Albanian Impressionist artist Vangjush Mio. It carried a face value of 10 Lek - (Albanian Lek). Offset lithography was used to print 400,000 copies.

The postcard shows "The Dancer" by  Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. This was made available during a Philatelic exhibition on Albania held on 2014.

Oesterreich Post "Judith I" by Gustav Klimt

ÖSTERREICH POST on 10 October 2003 issued a First Day Cover stamp of "Judith I" by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. The  designer/engraver of this photogravure and steel engraving stamp was Wolfgang Seidel. Österreichische Staatsdruckerei [Wenen, Oostenrijk] (Austrian State Printing House) printed 500.000 copies. Comb perforation was 13½ : 13¾. 

Gustav Klimt was born on 14 July 1862. He was one of the founding members of the Secession, was its first president (1897-1899) and is the main representative of Viennese Art Nouveau. His art determined Austrian painting at the turn of the century. Klimt died  in Vienna on 6 February 1918, having suffered a stroke and pneumonia brought about by the worldwide influenza epidemic of that year. He was buried in the Hietzinger Cemetery

 

Nederlandsch Indies 1/2 Cent Definitive & Javanese Woman Postcard

NEDERLANDSCH INDIES (Dutch East Indies, currently Republic of Indonesia) issued a series of definitive stamps with a Numeral of Value in an oval frame like the 1/2 cent stamp affixed to this postcard. This particular stamp was in circulation in this Dutch colony as early as  1902.

The postcard itself shown here depicts a young Javanese woman in traditional batik attire. It was originally printed circa 1910. Prints of this card is usually found in black-n-white; the colourised version is rare.

Cover Stamps from Hungary

 

Czechoslovakia "Guenica" & Birth Centenary of Pablo Picasso

CZECHOSLOVAKIA in 7 February 1981 issued a First Day Cover stamp of "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso to mark the centenary of Picasso's birth. The designer of this multicolour stamp was Josef Hercik. A Recess printing methods was used. The postmark cancellation originated from Prague. Shown here are two different cachets on this First Day Cover.

Vietnam "Hue Old Capital - World Heritage"

VIETNAM POST issued on 1 April 2004 a set of First Day Cover stamps featuring "Hue Old Capital - World Heritage".

French Polynesia 170th birth Anniversary of Tiurai

FRENCH POLYNESIA (POLYNESIE FRANCAISE) on 18 June 2012 issued a First Day Cover stamp to mark the 170th birth anniversary of Tiurai, also known by his full name as Tiurai or Tahiarua Onohi Mihinoa A Tati (1842-1918).

Born in Papara, Tiurai was a well-respected and sought-after Tahitian healer in his lifetime. Totally disinterested worldly gain, he received no money from the sick who flocked to him daily. He treated them with herbs, very simple medications, psychological treatments and advice. Tiurai was credited with the most extraordinary healings. He died from the Spanish flu on 5 December 1918 and was buried in the Catholic cemetery of Punaauia.

As for the maxim card, it is a reproduction of the Krusenstern Islands (today Tikehau) in Polynesia when the Russian crew of the Rurik discover the islands. Louis Choris is credited with drawing this illustration in early 1816.

French Polynesia Heiva Festival 2010

FRENCH POLYNESIA (POLYNESIE FRANCAISE) in 2010 issued a First Day Cover stamp to mark Heiva i Tahiti. 

The festival of Heiva i Tahiti  has existed since 1881, making it one of the oldest events in the world. Heiva is the most popular and important happening in the cultural calendar of The Islands of Tahiti. It's a colourful celebration of traditional chants, music and dancing, in a competition which brings together dance troupes from every corner of French Polynesia.

Thailand Post THAIPEX 2005

THAILAND POST on 8 March 2005 issued a set of four First Day Cover stamps related to Traditional Thai Drama. These were released in conjunction with THAIPEX 2005. The designer for these 30 baht stamps was Veena Chantanatat (Thailand Post), whereas the Thai British Security Printing, Bangkok, printed the stamps.

Picture descriptions included:
- Princess Sida and Pra Rama
- Totsakan
- Hanuman
- Battle between Totsakan and Pra Rama

Cover Stamps from Denmark

This cover of stamps was gifted by a philatist in Denmark,

Vietnam Cong Hoa Day of National Grief and Reconciliation - 1964

VIETNAM CONG HOA on 1964 issued  a set of First Day Cover stamps, valued at 30c, 50c and 1.50Pi, that represented a Day of National Grief and Reconciliation.

Thailand Post "Sites of Regions in Thailand"

THAILAND POST on 3 March 2003 issued a set of four First Day Cover stamps called "Sites of Regions in Thailand". 12,000 pieces were printed by Thai British Security Printing, Bangkok.

Regions featured included:

- Northern Region: Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai

- Central Region: Bridge over the Kwai, Kanchanaburi
- Northeast region: Phu Kradung, Loei
- South region: Maya Bay, Krabi

Thailand Post "Indian Elephant (Elephas Maximus)"

THAILAND POST on 5 November 1991 issued a set of four First Day Cover stamps called "Indian Elephant (Elephas Maximus)". The designer was Mr. Sawas Poonsawat (C.A.T.). As many as 22,000 pieces were printed by The Government Printing Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Japan

Featured image included:
- Elephant with two young offspring
- Working elephants
- Resting elephant
- Elephant bathing

Thailand Post Thai Artist Hem Vejakorn's Paintings

THAILAND POST on 17 January 2004 issued four First Day Cover stamps featuring the artwork of Thai artist Hem Vejakorn's Painting Postage Stamps. Each stamp had a face value of 3.00 Baht (4 Designs). Designer was Hem Vejakorn. The stamps were printed using a Lithography Multi-Colour process. The Thai British Security Printing Public Company Limited, Thailand, printed the stamps, which measured 30 x 51 mm.

     

Stamps featured included his famous oil paintings based on Thai literature.

Design 1: A scene in Thai history
Design 2: Maha Bharatayudh
Design 3: Khun Chang-Khun Phaen
Design 4: Phra Lor

To honour and publicise the contribution of Khru Hem Vejakorn, whose ingenuity was in Thai-styled oil painting, Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej graciously entrusted him to render oil paintings as presents to his royal visitors.

Thailand Post 140th Postal Anniversary

THAI POSTAL SERVICES 140th Postal Anniversary and Thailand 2023 World Stamp Championship Exhibition Commemorative Stamps (2nd Series) was issued on 27 November 2023. This booklet contained four minisheets and four postcatrds, along with each artist's explanation on their design.  Each stamp had a face value of 35 Baht (4 Designs) Four artists were recruited to design the stamps.

Design 1:“Typography of ‘140’ in Thai Number ” designed by O Terawat - An intricate door of General Post Office building with ‘140’ in Thai number.

Design 2: “Aruna” designed by Yoon Phannapast - Aruna holding a letter on a horse symbolises the glorious development of the Thai postal services and the role of receiving and delivering information to people.

Design 3: “The Memories of Joyful Moment” designed by Pomme Chan - A letter and the marbles of memory symbolise writing a letter to send good feeling to each other.

Design 4: “Happiness of Waiting for a Postman” designed by Jackkrit - A postman in the past time delivered letters to people.

Quantity : 50,000 pieces per design

Sheet Composition : 1 stamp

Printing Process and Colour : Lithography Multi - colour

Vietnam Cong Hoa "Military Forces Day" 1971

VIETNAM CONG HOA on 19 June 1971 issued a First Day Cover stamp set to mark  "Military Forces Day". Various cachets with two stamps were printed. This particular cachet depicts the coast of Vietnam with ships, aircraft, tanks and soldiers, along with the national emblem of the Republic of Vietnam. The cancellation postmark originated from Saigon.

On 19 June 1971, the centre of Saigon became a colourful island when marching and motorised elements of both the Republic of Vietnam and Allied Forces took part in Armed Forces Day 19 June. Barbed wire barricades sealed off the centre of Saigon for nine hours while thousands of troops from Vietnam, the US, South Korea, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand marched along streets decorated with flags and banners to the Presidential Palace. Before the march past, President Thieu reviewed the Vietnamese Guard of Honour, and troops of all nations by car. The review followed a fly past of more than 100 Vietnamese helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Thieu also gave a speech expressing his "Four Nos Policy": no negotiations with the communists; no communist political activities south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ); no coalition government; and no surrender of territory to the North Vietnamese or Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG).

Prior to "Military Forces Day" , in February 1971,  South Vietnamese troops continued operations against the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Vietcong (VC) base areas in eastern Cambodia. The ill-conceived and poorly executed Operation Lam Son 719 against PAVN supply lines in eastern Laos showed the weaknesses within the South Vietnamese military command and the limited ability of South Vietnam's armed forces to conduct large-scale combined arms operations. The U.S. continued its unilateral withdrawal from South Vietnam despite the lack of any progress in the Paris Peace Talks and by November U.S. forces had ceased offensive operations. 

Source: Wikipedia

Vietnam Cong Hoa Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue

VIETNAM CONG HOA on 15 May 1955 issued a First Day Cover stamp of Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue on the occasion of Buddha's birth (Buddhist calendar 2,503, Year of the of the Pig). Thomas de la Rue Londres Printing printed the stamp, using one-colour steel engraving. Cancellation originated from Saigon with special Buddha image, and special envelope.

 

The envelope is printed with several small interlocking swastikas. In Buddhism, the swastika symbol is known as “manji” and signifies the Buddha's footsteps. It can often be found imprinted on the chest, feet, or palms of Buddha images. In the Buddhist tradition, the swastika symbol is usually in gold, yellow, or red in color in the left facing form.

US Post Office Department 4¢ Project Mercury Commemorative with Designated Apollo 1 Astronauts

U.S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT on 20 February 1962 issued a 4¢ Project Mercury commemorative stamp (shown on this First Day Cover) showing three of the  NASA astronauts for the Mercury and Gemini projects and later planned Apollo mission. The three astronauts -- Command Pilot Gus Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee -- were killed in a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station Launch Complex 34 on 27 January 1967, hence the picture of them on this First Day Cover cachet.

Apollo 1, initially designated AS-204, was planned to be the first crewed mission of the Apollo programme, the American undertaking to land the first man on the Moon. It was designated to launch on 21 February 1967, as the first low Earth orbital test of the Apollo command and service module. The mission never flew following their deaths and the destroyed command module (CM). The name Apollo 1, chosen by the crew, was made official by NASA in their honour after the fire.

Had Gus Grissom survived, NASA had intended for him to be possibly the first man to step onto the surface of the moon, not Neil Armstrong. Deke Slayton wrote that he had hoped for one of the original Mercury astronauts to go to the Moon, noting: "It wasn't just a cut-and-dried decision as to who should make the first steps on the Moon. If I had to select on that basis, my first choice would have been Gus, which both Chris Kraft and Bob Gilruth seconded." Ultimately, Alan Shepard, one of the original seven NASA astronauts, would receive the honour of commanding the Apollo 14 lunar landing.

Source: Wikipedia

Vietnam Cong Hoa "Victims of the Mau Than Tet Incident"

VIETNAM CONG HOA on 31 January 1970 issued a set of First Day Cover stamps called "Victims of the Mau Than Tet Incident" was issued.

The Việt Cộng and North Vietnamese Army staged a large-scale attack during the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year (Tết) in 1968, breaking a holiday truce and surprising the South Vietnamese Army. The Tết Offensive was widely considered a military failure that resulted in great losses for the Việt Cộng who had expected the people of the South to rise up and join the fight with them. It was, however, a public relations victory for the Communists as the American public, under the impression victory was close at hand, became disillusioned, leading to the start of U.S. troop withdrawal.

There were a series of stamps in 1970 about reconstruction after the Tết Offensive. One series was for the reconstruction of residences damaged in the Offensive and retaliation. The stamps, shown here, honoured the victims of the Tết Offensive.

Another was specifically for the reconstruction of Huế, the former imperial city, which was held under siege for a month by the North during the Offensive and suffered damage to its historic buildings as the U.S. forces fought to recapture it. The Battle for Huế was one of the longest in the Second Vietnam War.

Korea Post Modern Korean Art, Series 5

KOREA POST on 9 April 1989 issued four First Day Cover stamps in their 5 series of Modern Korean Art. Each had a face value of 80 Won. The designer was Chun, Hee-han and printed by Korea Security Printing and Minting Corporation. Lithography + Intaglio and Photogravure printing methods were used. Three million stamps each were printed.

Artwork featured in this series:

- Village Scene by Oh Ji-ho
- White Ox by Lee Joong
- Sub-Street Stall by Park Lae-hyun
- Little Girl by Lee Bong-Sang

Also featured, on the reverse side of this FDC, is the Korean nationalist An Chunggŭn (1879–1910). He is remembered for  his 1909  assassination of Itō Hirobumi, a high-ranking Japanese official responsible for the expansion of his country’s power into the Korean peninsula. An examination of An’s life and why he killed Itō reveals much about why some Koreans chose to violently resist Japan’s growing empire.