PostNord Centenary Birth Anniversary of Ingmar Bergman

POSTNORD on 3 May 2018 released two  First Day Cover stamps to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Ingmar Bergman - the legendary film director and screenwriter. The stamps were designed by the graphic artist Eva Wilsson whose designs depicted a small part of Bergman's prolific output in film  and theatre. The stamps shown to represent his theatrical work included actress Pernilla August with Ingmar Bergman during the rehearsals of "Maria Stuart" and his film  "Persona" with actresses Living Ullmann and Bibi Andersson. The postmark cancellation for this FDC originated from Stockholm. 

Ernst Ingmar Bergman  (1918 – 2007) was a Swedish film and theatre director and screenwriter. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential film directors of the 20th century, his films have been described as "profoundly personal meditations into the myriad struggles facing the psyche and the soul". Some of his most acclaimed works include "The Seventh Seal" (1957), "Wild Strawberries" (1957), "Persona" (1966) and "Fanny and Alexander" (1982).

PostNord 50th Anniversary of ABBA Winning Eurovision

POSTNORD on 6 April 2024 released three First Day Cover stamps to mark 50 years since the pop music group ABBA won Eurovision in Brighton (UK) with their song entitled “Waterloo”. 

That was on 6 April 1974 when Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad -- ABBA, for short -- entered the already colourful stage at The Dome in Brighton dressed in shiny glam-rock costumes typical of the era.

After winning Eurovision,  ABBA went on to have a huge impact both in Sweden and the global music scene over the next 50 years. Their melodies, choruses and unique style made them one of the most successful pop groups of all time. 

To celebrate half a century of iconic pop music loved by listeners the world over, NordPost released an exclusive series of three stamps, sheetlets and maxi card, all postmarked from Stockholm, Sweden.

 

Source: PostNord

Oesterreich Post 150th Birth Anniversary of Alfons Mucha and "The Zodiac Signs"

OESTERREICH POST  on 23 July 2010  issued a First Day Cover stamp of Alfons Mucha's (1860-1939) masterpiece "The Zodiac Signs" to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.

"Signs of the Zodiac" (1896) was originally designed as a calendar for the Champenois lithograph workshop. It was purchased by Leon Duchamp of Plume Art Publishers, and sold as a calendar for "La Plume" magazine, which became very popular. The profile of a beautiful woman, her long hair was highlighted by line drawings, the zodiac constellations placed in a circular frame surrounding, and a pattern of laurel leaves and ivy wrapped around the outside of the frame like a picture frame. The circular decoration, which resembles a woman's halo, is depicted in a harmonious composition that is known as the Mucha style, and is said to be one of the most complete of his many works.

La Poste France 1oth Anniversary of the Liberation of Deportation Camps

LA POSTE FRANCE on 25 April 1955 issued a First Day Cover stamp marking the 10th Anniversary of the Liberation of Deportation Camps in France. The designer/engraver was Albert Decaris. A total of 2,500,000 stamps were printed. An Intaglio printing method was used.

In 1940, when the Vichy government was installed, these camps were used to intern Jews, Gypsies, and various political prisoners (anti-fascists from all countries).

Dag Hammarskjold First Day Cover Issues from Various Countries

FIRST DAY COVERS of Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjol, secretary-general of the United Nations from 1953 until his death in 1961,  was commemorated on a 4¢ United States stamp issued the following year, as well as stamps from Afghanistan, Burundi, Congo, Egypt, Haiti,  Jordan, Liberia, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Sweden, Tunisia, Venezuela and Zambia.

Dag Hammarskjold's his father, Hjalmar Hammarskjold, was prime minister of Sweden from 1914 to 1917. Dag Hammarskjold attended Uppsala University where he obtained degrees in economics and law, and began working for Sweden in governmental positions related to finance and foreign affairs.

He joined the Swedish delegation to the United Nations in 1949 and was named acting chairman of the delegation in 1952. Following the 1953 resignation of UN Secretary-General Trygve Lie, Hammarskjold was elected to fill the position, and was elected for a second term in 1957.

The United Nations biography of Hammarskjold states that "During his terms as Secretary-General, Mr. Hammarsjkold carried out many responsibilities for the United Nations in the course of its efforts to prevent war and serve the other aims of the Charter." These include diplomatic activity in the Middle East, and negotiations with China for the release of detained American military pilots.

Hammarskjold was on a diplomatic mission to the Congo when the plane carrying him and 15 other passengers crashed in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). All on board died; one American passenger survived for five days after the crash. A UN panel began reviewing details of the mysterious crash earlier this year.

Hammarskjold was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after being nominated before his death.

PostNords "The Service of Humanity"

POSTNORDS (Sweden) on 10 August 1987 issued three First Day Cover stamps honouring Swedish diplomats in "The Service of Humanity", chiefly Raul Wallenberg, Dag Hammarskjold and Folke Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg.Each of these men died while either securing the release of political prisoners or mediating conflicts. The Designer/Engraver was Gunnar Brusewitz and Majvor Franzén. The printer was PostNords frimärkstryckeri.

Raoul Gustaf Wallenberg (1912 – disappeared in 1945)  saved thousands of Jews in German-occupied Hungary during the Holocaust from German Nazis and Hungarian fascists during the later stages of World War II. While serving as Sweden's special envoy in Budapest between July and December 1944, Wallenberg issued protective passports and sheltered Jews in buildings which he declared as Swedish territory.

 

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (1905 – 1961)  carried out many responsibilities for the United Nations in the course of its efforts to prevent war and serve the other aims of the Charter. These included diplomatic activity in the Middle East, and negotiations with China for the release of detained American military pilots. In September 1961, Hammarskjold was on a diplomatic mission to the Congo when the plane carrying him and 15 other passengers crashed in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). Hammarskjold was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after being nominated before his death.

 

Folke Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg ( 1895 – 1948) was a Swedish nobleman and diplomat. In World War II he negotiated the release of about 450 Danish Jews and 30,550 non-Jewish prisoners from many nations from the Nazi German Theresienstadt concentration camp. After the war, Bernadotte was unanimously chosen to be the United Nations Security Council mediator in the Arab–Israeli conflict of 1947–1948. He was assassinated in Jerusalem in 1948 by the paramilitary Zionist group Lehi while pursuing his official duties. Upon his death, Ralph Bunche took up his work at the UN, successfully mediating the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and Egypt.

 

Source: Wikipedia

Nepal Post Nepalese Influential Personalities - 1969

NEPAL POST on 13 April 1969 issued three First Day Cover stamps called the  "National Dignitaries Series". The designer  was Amar Chitrakar. The printer was India Security Press, Nasi, using a Photogravure method.

10 Paisa - Amshuverma or Amshu Verma  was a king of Nepal from around 605–621 CE. Initially a feudal lord, he rose to the position of Mahasamanta (equivalent to prime minister) in about 598 CE when Shivadeva I of the Licchavi dynasty was the ruling monarch and by 604, Shivadeva was reduced to a mere figurehead.

 

25 Paisa -  King of Gorkha, Ram Shah (1550-1636 CE) was known as the "great conqueror" and "conscientious". He brought many changes to the Kingdom of Gorkha, including fixed and uniform weights and measurements, criminal codes, created a fixed rate of interest and built the Newar architecture palace Gorkha Palace.

50 Paisa - Bhimsen Thapa  (1775 –1839 CE) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the Mukhtiyar (equivalent to prime minister) from 1806 to 1837 CE. He is widely known as the longest-serving prime minister of Nepal. Born into an ordinary military family in the Gorkha Kingdom, Bhimsen first came close to the Crown Prince Rana Bahadur Shah at an early age in 1785 CE. In 1798, he was recruited as a bodyguard for the King by his father. Thereafter, he rose to influence after helping the exiled ex-King Rana Bahadur Shah engineer his return to power in 1804 CE. In gratitude, Rana Bahadur made Bhimsen a Kaji (equivalent to a minister) of the newly formed government. Widely considered one of the 19th century's most significant figures in Nepalese history, Bhimsen is seen as a patriotic, clever, and diplomatic statesman who played an important role in defending his country against then-widespread British colonial imperialism in South Asia. 

Source: Wikipedia

Nippon Post Wedding of Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko - 1959

NIPPON POST on 10 April 1959 issued four First Day Cover stamps marking the Wedding of Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko. The print process involved a lithography method. Perforation measured 13x13½.

Cover Stamps from Romania

 

ROMANIA POST cover stamps of Christopher Columbus  and castles in Romania, all issued in 2006.

Austria Post Battle of Kokoda

AUSTRALIA POST First Day Cover stamps of the Battle of Kokoda.

India Post 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence & The Four Great Martyrs of Solapur

INDIA POST on 2 October 2021, in conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav), issued a special commemorative stamp honouring 'The Four Great Martyrs of Solapur': Maalappa Dhanshetti, Shri. Kisan Sarda, Shri. Jagannath Shinde and Shri. Kurban Hussain

They are recognised as the martyrs of Sholapur in the Freedom Movement of India. The importance of Solapur is unique in the history of India in the sense that this district enjoyed freedom even before independence. The citizens of Solapur enjoyed Independence for three days from 9th to 11th May 1930.

In 1930 Gandhi was arrested which stirred public resentment throughout the country. Many citizens lost their lives in the Police firings. Due to this, the irate mob attacked the Police Stations. Out of fear the Police and other officers left Solapur for a period of three days from 9th to 11th May 1930, leaving the responsibility of law, order, and security of citizens on the shoulders of Congress Party leaders.

Kuwait Post 1st Anniversary of the Iraqi Invasion

KUWAIT POST on 2 August 1991 issued four First Day Cover stamps to mark the 1st anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The set was designed by Jafar Islah.

Stamps issued:
- 50 Fils - Human Terrorism
- 100 Fils - Invasion of Kuwait
- 150 Fils - Environmental Terrorism
- 250 Fils - Desert Storm  imperforated  minisheet

The Persian Gulf War occurred after Iraq invaded Kuwait on 2 August 1990. The war was fought between Iraq and a coalition of 39 countries, organised mainly by the United States and the United Nations. The war took place in Iraq and the tiny, oil-rich nation of Kuwait.

Western governments believed Iraq was prepared to invade Saudi Arabia next, and that the world’s supply of petroleum was in jeopardy. The coalition placed embargoes on Iraq, but its military forces refused to retreat. On 17 January 1991, the bombing of Iraqi military and industrial targets began. A massive ground attack was launched in February, and the Iraqis were quickly defeated and driven out of Kuwait.

Immense human suffering in the Middle East occurred as a result of the war. Environmental damage occurred when the Iraqis set hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells on fire and dumped huge amounts of oil into the Persian Gulf.

La Poste France Discovery of HIV

LA POSTE FRANCE on 30 April 1994 issued a First Day Cover  stamp in recognition of the discovery of HIV by researchers (including Nobel Prize recipient Luc Montagnier and Francoise Barre-Sinoussi) at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, in 1983. The stamp carried a face value of 2.80-franc. Cancellation postmark originated from  Paris and Strasbourg (shown here on this maxim card). Jacques Jubert designed and engraved this multicolour stamp using an Intaglio printing method. The illustration accurately depicts the AIDS virus. A special cancellation shows an outline of the virus.

La Poste France Albert Camus

LA POSTE FRANCE on 24 June 1967 issued a First Day Cover stamp honouring Albert Camus (1913-1960) who died in a car accident in Villeblevin (Yonne), France.

It was designed a surcharge stamp for the benefit of the French Red Cross. Claude Durrens designed and engraved the stamp. Colours used were bistre-brown and lilac, using an Intaglio printing method. A total of 4,160,000 copies were printed.

Albert Camus  was a French (pied noir) philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works included The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall, and The Rebel.

The postmark cancellation originated from Lourmarin. It's most famous resident was Albert Camus, the Nobel prize-winning author whose "L'Etranger" (The Stranger) is one of the great texts of the 20th century. It opens memorably: "Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I'm not sure." ("Aujourd'hui, maman est morte. Ou peut-être hier, je ne sais pas.")

Camus hated driving and said he couldn't imagine a death more meaningless than dying in a car crash. For a writer so preoccupied with the meaninglessness of existence, it was tragically fitting that he died in a car accident, on the way from Lourmarin to Paris, in 1960. He was 46.

Albert Camus is buried in Lourmarin cemetery and has a street in Lourmarin named after him.

Korea Post Hanbok Fashion

KOREA POST on 9 September 2019 issued a set of four First Day Cover stamps on traditional Korean clothing or Hanbok fashion from 1500s till 1900s. Shin Jaeyong designed the stamps, whereas Southern Colour Print for POSA printed 672,000 stamps, using an Offset 4 Colour printing method. Each stamp carried a face value of 380 Korean Won.

Stamps designed included:

380 Korean Won - The 1500s Hanbok

380 Korean Won - The 1600s - 1700s Hanbok
380 Korean Won - The 1800s Hanbok
380 Korean Won - The 1900s Hanbok

The Style of Hanbok

Korea Post  created this set of commemorative stamps to highlight the transformations in hanbok fashion between the 16th to 20th centuries.

Initially the hanbok style signified the wearer's social status in the 16th century. It was designed to impress, boasting both a great length and width, regardless of the wearer's physique. After the Japanese invaded Korea, the 17th century saw distinctively practical changes to the design of the hanbok. The Jeogori was narrowed and shortened so that it hovered above the waist of the Chima, which made it possible to produce more clothes with a lesser amount of material. In the later period of Joseon in the 19th century, through the reign of Yeongjo and Jeongjo, the design of the hanbok became more diversified while the basic structure consisted of a close-fitting Jeogori and a wide bottom with the shape of a bell. A Jang-ot, an outerwear worn by upper class women, acquired another use as the women began to wear it as a veil to cover their faces. On the other hand, in the 20th century, the types of Jeogori were simplified, and the length of Jeogori in the history of the hanbok. In fact, it was shortened to such an extent that there appeared an article in the Jeguk Sinmun that said "(women's) Jeogori should be lengthened so as not to reveal any flesh."

 

While the hanbok fashion has gone through a number of changes in keeping with the times, it is one of the only traditional attire in the world that has retained its fundamental structure.

Source: Korea Post

Concorde SST Jetliner Air France Postcard and Royal Mail Stamp

RARE Postcard of Air France Concorde in flight.

Royal Mail January 2007 issued a set of ten stamps celebrating 20th-century British design classics, among these being the Anglo-French Concorde super sonic airliner.

Korea Post Modern Korean Artists - 2018

KOREA POST on 25 July 2018 issued two stamps showing Korean personalities known for their specialty, in this case two modern Korean painters. They were Park Su-geun (1914-1965) and Chang Ucchin (1917-1990). Korea Post released these stamps in a commemorative stamp sheet of 16 (4×4) stamps of 330 won each, printed by Royal Joh. Enschede for POSA.

Korea Post Cover Letter with Random Stamps

KOREA POST (South Korea) cover letter stamps showing: artist Park Su-geun (2018), Battle of Cheongsanri (2020).

Nippon Post Kenrokuen Four Seasons in Ishikawa Prefecture

NIPPON POST on 1999 issued a First Day Cover stamp sheetlet, each 80 yen,  showing the Kenrokuen Four Seasons in Ishikawa Prefecture. The fountain at Kenrokuen Garden, highlighted in the cachet, was constructed over 100 years ago. Designer was Kawamura Kaku (Oil Painter). Post offices in Hokuriku used a Photogravure printing method in 5 colours. First Day of issue originated from Kanazawa Central Post Office.

Designs:   
- Kaisekitou Pagoda in Spring    
- Fountain in Summer    
- Kinjou-reitaku spring in Autumn    
- Kotoji stone lantern and yukitsuri in Winter

Nippon Post Kunisada Utagawa's Painting Called "Koshaku Musume"

NIPPON POST on 15 November 1991 issued a First Day Cover stamp that featured a Kunisada Utagawa artwork entitled "A  Impudent Girl (Koshaku musume)" shown reading a letter, from the series Contest of Present-day Beauties (Tôsei bijin awase). It was released in conjunction with the World Philatelic Exhibition held in 1991. Pictured here is that stamp affixed to a maxim card.

Correos Espana Francisco de Goya La Maja Desnudes - 1930

CORREOS ESPANA in 1930 issued three First Day Cover stamps of La Maja Desnuda (The Naked Maja) by Francisco de Goya which he painted in 1800. They were part of a set marking the anniversary of the death of this Spanish artist, and are considered the world's first postage stamp with nudes. The three highest denominations – dark purple (1 peseta), gray-green (4 pesetas) and red-brown (10 pesetas), engraved by José Luis López Sánchez-Toda, represented one of the most famous and controversial of the artist's paintings. The size of the stamps were  47 × 34 mm, the paper was without watermarks, and they had line perforation 12½. The impression techniques used were litography  and chalcography.

At the time of the painting, Goya was called before the Inquisition to explain his portrait of La Maja Desnudes. They wanted to know why and for whom he had painted the 'obscene' picture. The consequence was that he wasn't allowed to paint for the court anymore. Although Goya retained his title and his income, he had to purchase a country villa and move there, and his work from hereon was done for himself and a select audience of friends. The villa became known as los Quinta del Sordo, the House of the Deaf Man, and it is conceivable the stress of situation in Madrid seriously affected his health. 

First Day Covers with Goya's La Maja Desnudes stamps are rare; moreover the maxim card like the one shown here is scarce. I have seen cachets with Goya's La Maja Desnudes, but usually with other stamps from Spain.

 

The cancellation postmark on the maxim card originated from Seville on 15 June 1930 during the Spanish American Exhibition (Exposición iberoamericana). Interestingly, the maxim card itself was printed in Weimar Germany; although it should be noted similar postcards were printed in Spain. 

The Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 was a world's fair held in Saville, Spain, from 9 May 1929 until 21 June 1930. Countries in attendance of the exposition included: Portugal, the United States, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile, the Republic of Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. It was organized to foster relations between Spanish speaking countries and Spain.

Some of Goya's  paintings and etchings were presented at the Exhibition in a special pavilion labelled "La Quinta de Goya" (the country-house of Goya). Two sets of stamps were used to cover the high costs of the Exhibition, and these were privately produced. The promoters presented a certain quantity to the Spanish Postal Authorities, who placed them on sale and allowed them to be used for three days (4 different cancels were used, between 15-17 June 1930), retaining the money obtained from the sale.  Between 1932 and 1969, using the original printing plates, the company Waterloo & Sons in London printed new issues, so that they cannot be distinguished from the original ones.

Deutsche Post Junkyard Cats by James Rizzi - 2008

DEUTSCHE POST in 2008 issued a postage stamp showing 'junkyard cats' behind a fence. It was painted by artist James Rizzi. The caption reads "Alles gute!" (All the best!).