PHLPost Birth Centenary of General Douglas MacArthur

PHLPost on 26 January 1980 issued a set First Day Cover stamps marking the the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of General Douglas MacArthur (U.S. Army Chief of Staff). The stamps depicted his birthplace in Little Rock, Arkansas and burial site in Norfolk, Virginia. Others showed his braided cap and corncob pipe and figure of him.

Douglas MacArthur was born on January 26, 1880, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the son of Arthur MacArthur, Jr., a US Army captain and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his Civil War service.  The family lived in a series of Army posts in the Old West, where MacArthur remembers he “learned to ride and shoot even before I could read or write – indeed, almost before I could walk and talk.”

When the US entered World War I, MacArthur organised the 42nd “Rainbow” Division made up of the National Guard.  MacArthur then served with distinction in France, where he was eventually promoted to brigadier general.  MacArthur participated in the Champagne-Marne Offensive, Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and was decorated with the Croix de Guerre, two Distinguished Silver Cross awards, and seven Silver Stars.

After the war, MacArthur was appointed Superintendent of the Military Academy and served again in the Philippines.  Over the next few years, he served as Chief of Staff of the US Army and created the Philippines Army.  Retiring from the US Army in 1937, MacArthur was appointed Field Marshall of the Philippine Army.

However, as the possibility of war with Japan arose in 1941, MacArthur was recalled to serve as commander of US Army Forces in the Far East.   Initial attempts there were unsuccessful, with MacArthur being forced to evacuate from the Philippines by March 1942.  He was later awarded a Medal of Honor.

MacArthur was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times, and received it for his service in the Philippines campaign. This made him along with his father Arthur MacArthur Jr. the first father and son to be awarded the medal. He was one of only five men to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the U.S. Army, and the only one conferred the rank of field marshal in the Philippine Army.

MacArthur then took command of the Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific and successfully defended New Guinea.  He led the invasion of Leyte and the eventual liberation of the Philippines.  In August 1945, he presided over the Japanese formal surrender ceremonies.  After the war, MacArthur was made supreme commander of occupied Japan, to help the nation rebuild itself.

When the Korean War broke out in 1950, MacArthur was placed in charge of the United Nations coalition defending South Korea from communist North Korea.  The successful invasion at Inchon sent the North Koreans in retreat, and it looked like the war would be over by the fall of 1950.

China sent a massive army that took MacArthur by surprise and pushed UN forces back across the 38th Parallel.  The general asked President Truman for permission to conduct bombing raids in China with the possibility of using an atom bomb.  Truman refused, fearing the actions would escalate into World War III.

MacArthur publicly criticised the president, who then removed the commander from his office on 11 April 1951.  Americans disagreed with Truman’s actions and welcomed MacArthur home as a hero.  Senate hearings concluded the president had acted correctly.

In his later years, MacArthur reconciled with President Eisenhower.  He also met with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and cautioned them against a military build-up in Vietnam.  He advised Kennedy to impose a blockade during the Soviet missle transfer to Cuba in 1961. He died on 5 April 1964.  During his lifetime, MacArthur had earned more than 100 military decorations from the US and other countries.  According to his wishes, he was buried in Norfolk, Virginia, where the MacArthur Memorial was established as a museum dedicated to his lifetime of military service.

 

Source: Mystic Stamps

USPS Cover of Mostly American Civil War Stamps

 

USPS cover of assorted stamps showing American Civil War -- mostly Confederate -- personalities (except Union General William Tecumseh Sherman), NASA space shuttle and banker/philanthropist/US Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon.

Poste Italiane 20th Anniversary of Italian Resistance

POSTE ITALIANE on 24 April 1965 issued a set of six First Day Cover stamps honouring the 20th anniversary of the Italian Resistance. Postmark cancellation originated from Bolzano, Italy.

The Italian Resistance arose after 9/8/1944 following the disbandment of the army, creating the National Liberation Committee (CLN) chaired by the former Prime Minister Ivanoe Bonomi. Thus were born the formations of partisan bands that expanded from Boves throughout the territory subjected to enemy occupation, with the precise aim of creating obstacles for the enemy and favouring the Allied advance to liberate the country.

These partisan groups with their spirit of sacrifice and self-sacrifice managed to eradicate, together with the regular liberation forces, the overwhelming superiority of the enemy. 

Connected with the allied advance the Resistance took control of the situation everywhere and on 4/25/1945 the CLNAI declared to assume all civil and military powers and the partisan forces broke out in a single insurrectionary movement, liberating Milan and Genoa on the same day and followed in other cities.

The set included:

- 10 lire: concentration camp

- 15 lire: liberation army

- 30 lire: persecuted

- 70 lire: resistance in the mountains

- 115 lire: resistance in the cities

- 130 lire: city of martyrs

Thai Post Bangkok 2003 World Philatelic Exhibition

THAI POST on 3 March 2003 issued a First Day Cover stamp set in conjunction with the Bangkok 2003 World Philatelic Exhibition (2nd series), which was held during 4 till13 October 2003 at the IMPACT Convention Center, MUANG THONG. It was also coordinated to celebrate the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Thai postal service and postage stamps. Four stamps depicted a region of Thailand. The stamps carried a face value of  3.00 Baht, 3.00 Baht, 3.00 Baht 15.00 Baht. Thai British Security Printing Public Company Limited, Thailand printed the series.

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

Ryukyu "Izaino" Ritual Practiced on Kudara Island

RYUKYU (Okinawa) on 3 October 1969 issued a First Day Cover dedicated to the primitive religion practiced on Kudara Island. "Izaino" or prayer for virgin novices was one of the stamps featured in their Traditional Folk Festivities, Series 3. The postmark cancellation affixed to this stamp originated from Naha Higashi, Ryukyu.

Kudara, a small island with a population of more than 500, lies 5.3 km off the southern coast of Okinawa. On this island a primitive religion, headed by two "Noro" or hereditary priestesses, is still practiced. Women between the ages of 30 to 70 serve them in one of four capacities according to age. "Izaino" is one of these rituals. It is a four day ceremony, held every 12 years, to initiate  30 to 41 year old women as novices or "Nanchu".

UAR (Egypt) 8th Anniversary of Egyptian Revolution and Summer Olympics - 1960

UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC (EGYPT) in 1960 issued a First Day Cover of seven stamps and one stamp sheetlet to commemorate the 8th Anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution (1952-1960) in conjunction with the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics. The stamps featured the events of basketball, equistrian (not shown), fencing, football, rowing, swimming (not shown) and weight lifting. The postmark cancellation, which featured an oval track, originated from Cairo, Egypt.

Hong Kong Post Tribute to Bruce Lee

HONG POST on 27 November 2020 paid tribute to the legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee, issuing a set of six First Day Cover stamps and two stamp sheetlets, referenced  Lee's four sensational movies: The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon and Game of Death, as well as his philosophy and signature Jeet Kune Do. The stamps were designed by Gideon LAI Wai-kwan. Printer was Southern Colour Print, New Zealand. Printing Process: Stamp Sheet, $10 Stamp Sheetles & Mini-pane-Lithography 520 Stump Sheetlet-Lithography plus hot foil stamping with embossing. Cancellation postmark originated from Hong Kong.

BRUCE LEE: The Bruce Lee Flying Man and the Bruce Lee signature are registered or pending trademarks of Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC in multiple countries. The Bruce Lee name, image, likeness and all related indicis are intellectual property of Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Bruce Lee Name, Likeness, and Assets licensed by Bruce Lee, LLC. Film titles and Film images © 2010 Fortune Star Media Limited.

Source: Hong Kong Post

La Poste France Renoir's Portrait of Margot

LA POSTE FRANCE on 9 November 1968 issued a commemorative First Day Cover stamp of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Portrait of Margot or "Tête de femme de profil" (Head of a Woman in Profile) which he painted in 1878.

Margot (Marguerite Legrand), one of Renoir's favourite models, whose features appear in many of the painter's paintings from the 1870s posed for this picture. Margot was a charming young girl from Montmartre who "had skin that reflected the light" (Renoir's own words) and who died of typhoid fever in February 1879. Her death, of course, was a cause of great sadness for the painter. 

The work, which passed to the doctor Paul Gachet (a passionate collector of Impressionist paintings), entered the Louvre in 1951, before finding its definitive home in Orsay in 1986. 

La Poste France Claude Monet's "Women in the Garden"

LA POSTE FRANCE issued on 17 June 1972 a First Day Cover commemorative stamp of Claude Monet's "Women in the Garden" (French: Femmes au jardin), which was an oil painting begun in 1866 when he was 26 years old. The setting is the garden of a property where he was renting. His companion and future wife Camille Doncieux posed for the figures. Monet finished the work indoors, and used magazine illustrations to render fashionable clothing.

Monet at this time was early in his career, experimenting with method and subject matter. His earlier paintings were successful at Paris Salons, but Women in the Garden was rejected in 1867 on the grounds of subject and narrative weakness. This piece is simply a work that was meant to fit within his theme: the interplay of light and atmosphere. His paintings established him as a leader in the emerging impressionist movement.

La Poste France August Renoir's "Gabrielle a la Rose"

LA POSTE FRANCE on 5 November 2009 issued a First Day Cover stamp of August Renoir's painting entitled "Gabrielle with a Rose" (Gabrielle a la Rose). In fact, La Poste France in the past printed many stamps using  Renoir's artwork.

Renoir painted Gabrielle Renard (1879–1959) more than two hundred times. In several of the portraits, she wears an informal, square-necked gown. By 1908, she had been employed in Renoir’s household for fourteen years, as a nanny, housekeeper, model, and companion to the aging artist.

Gabrielle Renard developed a strong bond with the infant, Jean Renoir, that would last throughout their lives. She introduced him to the Guignol puppet shows that were held in the Montmartre. Gabrielle was fascinated by the newly invented motion picture, and when Jean Renoir was only a few years old, she took him to see his first film. He became a renowned film maker.

During the final years of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's life he suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis, but continued to paint with her help. When the family moved to a farm at Cagnes-sur-Mer near the Mediterranean coast, seeking a better climate for Renoir's arthritis, Gabrielle moved with them. While he worked in the studio at "Les Collettes", Gabrielle would place the paint brush between his crippled fingers.

Devoted to her cousin's family, Gabrielle Renard did not marry until 1921, when the Renoir children were grown. Her husband, Conrad Hensler Slade (1871–1955), was an aspiring painter from a wealthy American family. 

Source: Wikipedia 

Deutsche Post Werner The Battle of Frankenhausen by Werner Tuebke

DEUTSCHE POST of Demokratisch Republik (DDR) on on 16 October 1987 issued five First Day Cover stamps commemorating The Battle of Frankenhausen in 1525 (The Peasants' War) and Thomas Müntzer. To mark the occasion, the DDR commissioned artist Werner Tuebke to create a monumental painting entitled "Early Bourgeois Revolution in Germany". This epic work is presently on display inside the Panorama Museum Bad Frankenhausen, Germany. It is from this artwork that specific images were rendered into stamps.

Tuebke produced this painting between 1976 and 1987, which when completed measured 14 by 123 metres. Since its inception 2.5 million people have visited the panorama until now.

Thomas Müntzer (c. 1489 – 1525) was a German preacher and theologian of the early Reformation whose opposition to both Martin Luther and the Catholic Church led to his open defiance of late-feudal authority in central Germany. Müntzer was foremost amongst those reformers who took issue with Luther's compromises with feudal authority. He was a leader of the German peasant and plebeian uprising of 1525 commonly known as the German Peasants' War.

Amidst the peasant uprisings in 1525, Müntzer organised an armed militia in Mühlhausen. He was captured after the Battle of Frankenhausen, tortured and finally executed. Few other figures of the German Reformation raised as much controversy as Müntzer. A complex and unusual character, he is now regarded as a significant personality in the early years of the German Reformation and the history of European revolutionaries.

Almost all modern studies stress the necessity of understanding his revolutionary actions as a consequence of his theology: Müntzer believed that the end of the world was imminent and that it was the task of the true believers to aid God in ushering in a new era of history. Since around 1918, the number of fictional works on Müntzer have grown significantly; this encompasses over 200 novels, poems, plays and films, almost all in German. A film of his life was produced in East Germany in 1956, directed by Martin Heilberg and starring Wolfgang Stumpf. In 1989, shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Peasants' War Panorama at Bad Frankenhausen was opened, containing the largest oil painting in the world, with Müntzer in central position.

IMAGES DEPICTED
The Battle of Frankenhausen in 1525
Thomas Müntzer is readying the peasants to the decisive battle against the princes where the peasants suffer defeat. Müntzer was taken prisoner and executed three months later.

The Fountain of Creativity
From left to right: Hans Hut; Melchior Rinck; Hans Sachs; Peter Vischer; Tilman Riemenschneider; Joerg Ratgeb; Albrecht Duerer; Martin Luther; Lucas Cranach; Sebastian Brant; Philipp Melanchthon; Erasmus of Rotterdam; Ulrich von Hutten; Nicolas Copernicus; Paracelsus; Columbus; Johannes Gutenberg; Welser and Fugger.

Annunciation at Frankenhausen
Thomas Müntzer depicted as an angel, announcing a new age to a perplexed peasant, with Müntzer saying:"Do not be afraid, you are fighting the fight of the Lord. Don’t let the blood dry on your swords."

Source: Wikipedia

Philippines 3rd Anniversary of the Liberation of Manila by General Douglas MacArthur - 1948

PHILIPPINES on 3 February 1948 issued a First Day Cover marking the 3rd anniversary of the Liberation of Manila, by General Douglas MacArthur. The stamps depicting MacArthur were engraved by American Bank Note Company (ABNC). FDC postmark originated from Manila.

The Battle of Manila, 3 February to March 1945, was a major battle of the Philippine Campaign in 1944–45, during the Second World War. It was fought by forces from both the United States and the Philippines against Japanese troops in Manila.  

The month-long battle, which resulted in the death of over 100,000 civilians and the complete devastation of the city, was the scene of the worst urban fighting in the Pacific theater.   Along with massive loss of life, the battle also destroyed architectural and cultural heritage dating back to the city's founding, and Manila became one of the most devastated capital cities during WW II, alongside Berlin and Warsaw.

The battle ended the almost three years of Japanese military occupation in the Philippines (1942–1945). The city's capture was marked as General Douglas MacArthur's key to victory in the campaign to liberate the Philippines.

Serbian Post 150th Birth Anniverary of Nikola Tesla - 2006

SERBIAN POST on 26 May 2006 Issued at least three versions of First Day Covet stamps depicting Nikola Tesla and his inventions, which include alternating current motors and transformers, and the famous Wardenclyffe tower. These postage stamps were released to mark his the 150th birth anniversary of Nikolai Tesla. The stamps were rendered using offset lithography.

A Serbian, born in 1856 in the tiny town of Smiljan of the then Austrian Empire (now part of Croatia), Tesla moved around Europe before coming to New York in 1884 and becoming an American citizen. All of these places claim Tesla as a “favorite son” and over the years have honoured him with postage stamps.

Nikola Tesla is one of the most prolific and important inventors in American history, though that fact is largely overlooked in the history books. We all know about Edison, but many don’t know that Tesla beat out Edison in the “war of the currents.” We all know about Marconi, but many don’t know that Tesla actually invented radio first.

Nippon Post Steam Locomotives

NIPPON POST on 25 February 1975 issued two First Day Cover stamps dedicated to steam locomotives: S.L. Class C58 and S.L. Class D58, each with a 20 yen face value. A photogravure printing was used. A total of 25,000,000 copies were printed.

Sarawak King George VI Definitives - 1950

 

SARAWAK in 1950 issued a series of  King George VI definitive stamps featuring the scenery and culture of Sarawak with a cypher of King George VI.

Vietnam Cong Hoa "Relief for Refugees Fleeing Communists"

 

VIETNAM CONG HOA on 20 July 1966 issued a set of First Day Cover stamps dedicated to "Relief for Refugees Fleeing Communists", in particular the communities in Tân Nam, Quảng Bình District, Ha Giang. The stamps carried a face value of 3 Dong and 7 Dong. Postmark cancellation originated from Saigon.

Correos Espana Quincentenary of Christopher Columbus' 1492 Arrival in America

CORREOS ESPANA on 1992 celebrated the Quincentenary of Christopher Columbus' 1492 arrival in America. Columbia, Spain, Portugal, Italy and U.S. issued a joint set of six First Day Cover souvenir sheets, which were based on the first U.S. stamps in commemorative format, engraved a century ago. The same designs and colours of the original 1893 stamps were maintained. The only design change was the date in the upper right corner of each stamp, which was altered from "1892" to "1992." The sheets consisted of stamps from the original series next to background images based on old engravings and illustrations. Venue for release of this set of souvenir sheets was World Columbian Stamp Expo '92, a large stamp exhibition in Chicago, venue of the 1893 extravaganza. The original Columbian Exposition series consisted of 16 stamps.

Viet-Nam Bu'u Chinh "War Invalids Relief Fund" - 1952

VIET-NAM BƯU CHÍNH (French Colonial Vietnam Post) on 21 December 1952 issued a First Day Cover surcharge stamp to support the "War Invalids Relief Fund" on the occasion of National War Invalids' Day. The stamp depicted the national flag of the Republic Vietnam (later South Vietnam) and three swords symbolising the strength of  the three branches of the military: Navy, Land and Air Forces. This dark brown stamp was designed and printed by Thomas de la Rue London. They printed a total of 500,000 stamps.

The cover envelope/cachet featured two wounded soldiers who fought or were imprisioned by the Imperial Japanese army during WWII. The postmark originated either from Hà-Noi and Hài-Phòng or Saigon, Both the postage stamp and cover were written in Vietnamese and French stating: 'Secours aux Blessés' / Ngay dau tien phat hanh / tem 'Giup thuong binh'” (Desrousseaux). A surcharge of $5 was requested per official envelope and the proceeds went for the benefit of the “Military Wounded Relief Organization".

Correos Espana 250th Anniversary of Francisco de Goya and His "Riddle of Fear"

CORREOS ESPANA on 31 May 1996 issued a series of First Day Cover stamps to  commemorate the 250th anniversary of Spanish artist Francisco de Goya's birth. One of those stamps featured his painting of "Riddle of Fear". Postmark cancellation originated from Madrid.

Francisco Goya's work can often be interpreted as social commentary, highlighting the ills of contemporary Spanish society. However, his work also contains a surreal, fantastical streak that is tinged by darkness. "Riddle of Fear" (Disparate de Miedo in Spanish) is a good example. This enigmatic print is one of the most famous of Goya’s Los Disparates series. "Riddle of Fear" has been interpreted as a tall, stooped figured, draped in a black cloak. At its feet, soldiers cower or flee in terror. The figure in black almost certainly represents fear, but, beyond that, it is unclear how the viewer should understand fear. Goya’s piece might be intended as a comment on the overwhelming nature of the emotion, which topples all in its path. One could also read it as a pessimistic view of the world in which the power of fear towers over the courage of brave men. The Prado Museum describes the print as “a disturbing image in which the natural order of things has been undermined. Thus, rather than displaying discipline and valor, these soldiers lie on top of each other on the ground, terrified by a puppet-like figure that is not what it appears to be.”

Originally published at https://artisthesolution.blogspot.com on 13 February 2020.

Nippon Post The Kintaikyo Bridge at Iwakuni - 1953

NIPPON POST 3 May 1953 issued a First Day Cover stamp of The Kintaikyo Bridge at Iwakuni  Yamaguchi Prefecture by Utagawa Hiroshige. It was one of two stamps printed in 1953 using the Photogravure method. It had a face value of 10 ¥ - Japanese yen. A total of 4,500,000 stamps were printed.

When Iwakuni was first established, it was here on both sides of the Nishiki River. After Iwakuni Castle was built in 1608, the Kikkawa family, who ruled over the castle town, decided to establish a bridge to cross the river moat. And the third feudal lord, Hiroyoshi Kikkawa, chose the curved design.

According to the Official Tourism Website for Iwakuni, Hiroyoshi got the idea from a Chinese monk named Dokuryo. The monk had a journal about sightseeing around the West Lake of China in which his hometown of Hangzhou was also depicted. Hiroyoshi saw a picture in the journal of several stone bridges, which inspired the look of Kintaikyo.

    

Kintaikyo stretches for 193.3 m (634 ft) long and 5 m (16.4 ft) wide across the Nishiki River and consists of five wooden arches supported by three stone piers. The arches are made from Japanese cypress, zelkova, pine, white cedar, chestnut, and oak. The foundation consists of reinforced concrete while the outer is finished with granite.  It’s a continuous structure, and was originally built without a single nail. The design is certainly unique and it was a pretty fun experience walking up and down each arch, following the curves.

The bridge withstood the elements for 276 years until 1950, when heavy floods caused by Typhoon Kezia washed it away. It took a few years, but in 1953 the bridge was rebuilt once more. In 2005, another typhoon struck, causing extensive damage.

Kintaikyo is considered to be one of the most famous arched bridges in the world. In Japan, it’s also designated a National Treasure and is a popular spot for hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, in the spring.

Nippon Post Ancient Japanese Ships: Goshuin and Tenchimaru - 1975

NIPPON POST on 2 September 1975 issued a series of stamps dedicated to ancient Japanese ships. Two of the ships in this series included the Goshuin and Tenchimaru, which are shown here on the maxi cards and stamps.

Goshuin was a large ocean-going ship that was active in trade with Southeast Asia from the Momoyama period to the early Edo period. Wealthy merchants from Kyoto, Sakai, and Nagasaki embarked on overseas trade with red seal letters in hand. Early ships were around 30 meters long and adopted Chinese styles, but later became larger and adopted European ship styles.

Tenchimaru was a shogun's royal ship built by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu. It was built to the specifications of a military ship, measuring 44 meters in length, just over 16 meters wide, and just under 4 meters deep, and was painted vermilion and had 76 oars. It was in use from 1620 until the end of the Edo period.

Cover Stamps from Spain

 

Cover Stamps from Canada

 

Cover Stamps from Italy

 

Correos Espana Salvador Dali

CORREOS ESPANA on 22 April 1994 honoured Spanish artist Salvador Dalí by issuing eight First Day Cover stamps of his artwork. Pedro Sánchez adapted these works for the stamps. The series was printed using a gravure method. Postmark originated from Barcelona. 

The artwork featured in this series,

(First FDC):

- The endless enigma

- The Great Masturbater

- Poetry of America or Cosmic Athletes

- Soft self-portrait with fried bacon

 

(Second FDC):

- Portrait of Gala with two racks of lamb balanced on her shoulder

- Galatea of the spheres

- The bread basket

- Port Alghero

Nippon Post Japanese Folk Tale Series - "The Crane's Return"

NIPPON POST on 20 February 1974 issued  a series of stamps dedicated to "Tsuru Nyobo" or Japanese folk tales. One of those stamps was entitled "The Crane's Return".

The story goes like this. Once upon a time, there lived an old couple. One snowy winter day, the husband went to town to sell firewood and on his way back, he found a crane caught in a trap. Feeling sorry for the crane, he set the crane free from the trap.

That night, as the snow was falling heavily, a beautiful young woman came to the couple's house. She was lost and asked to stay the night, and the couple gladly let her in. The snow continued to fall the next day and the day after that, so the young woman stayed at the old couple's house.

During that time, the young woman looked after the couple diligently, making them very happy. One day, the young woman asked the old man to buy some thread because she wanted to weave cloth, so he bought some thread for her. When she started working, the young woman told the old couple, "Please don't look into my room under any circumstances."

When she finished weaving a bolt of cloth, the young woman entrusted the couple with the request to sell it and buy more thread. The cloth the young woman wove was so beautiful that it quickly became famous in the town, and the old couple became rich.

At first, the old couple patiently kept their promise, but finally their curiosity got the better of them and they took a peek. There they expected to see the young girl, but instead they saw a crane. The crane had been weaving its own feathers into the cloth, which the old couple sold to them.

After the young girl finished weaving, she confessed that she was the crane the old man had saved, spread her arms wide, transformed into a crane, and returned to the sky as the old couple sadly saw her off.

It is said that this is also the model for the Evening Crane.

Nippon Post Centenary of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

NIPPON POST on 17 June 1974 issued a First Day Cover stamp commemorating the centenary of the  Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, now familiarly called  "Omawari-san". On the occasion of this commemorative postage stamp a portion of "Mitate-yakufuku-shusse-kurabe", genre picture by Kunimasa Baido (1848-1920), was depicted.

Yusei Jigyocho Naval Commemoration Day of the Russo-Japanese War

YUSEI JIGYOCHO (Japan Postal Agency) issued on 27 May 1906  stamps and special postmark cancellations for Naval Commemoration Day of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) on a postcard showing samurai. It was issued by the Department of Communications as a souvenir of the Army Review held in Tokio after the War.

The blue 1½ Japanese sen  stamp with canon and Japanese flag was initially released on 29 April 1906. It had a print run of 2,910,000 copies. A red 3 sen stamp was printed as well. The grey  ½ sen chrysanthemum stamp was first  released in 1901.

Nippon Post Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition - 1957

NIPPON POST on 30 January 1957 issued a First Day Cover stamp commemorating The Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (Nankyoku chiiki kansoku-tai, JARE). The stamp featured the Japanese ship Soya Maru, a penguin and a globe to symbolise the International Geophysical Year.

The first JARE expedition and scientific research commenced in 1957 to coordinate with the International Geophysical Year. During this expedition the JARE team left behind 15 dogs, including Taro and Jiro, after an emergency evacuation in February 1958. This explains the cachet with sledge dogs and JARE personnel.

Taro (1955–1970) and Jiro  (1955–1960) were two Sakhalin Huskies which survived for eleven months in Antarctica after being left behind by the JARE. Due to poor weather conditions, the expedition was unable to airlift out 15 dogs, which were left chained and with only a few days' worth of food. Of these 15, seven of the dogs died on the chain, six of them disappeared, and two, Taro and Jiro, successfully overwintered and were discovered by the next research group the following spring. The dogs became a media sensation after their discovery, and became Japanese symbols of perseverance and fortitude. Jiro remained in Antarctica and died there as a working dog in 1960; Taro was brought to Japan, where he died in 1970. Both of their bodies were taxidermied and placed on display, and several monuments to the dogs have been erected in Japan.

Source: Wikipedia

Nippon Post Modern Art Collection - "Maiko" by Kuroda Seiki - 1980

NIPPON POST  on 12 May 1980 issued a First Day Cover stamp called Modern Art Collection, which depicted a Maiko by Kuroda Seiki. It had a 50 yen face value.