Posten Norge 100 Anniversary of Roald Amundsen and South Pole Expedition

POSTEN NORGE on 15 April  2011 issued a set of two First Day Cover postage stamps  to commemorate the polar explorer Roald Amundsen and his expedition to the South Pole. 

The stamps were part of a series marking the centenary of Amundsen's achievement of being the first person to reach the South Pole on 14 December 1911. 

The stamp on the left features a portrait of Roald Amundsen, a key figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. 

The stamp on the right depicts a ship, likely the Fram, used in the expedition, and several dogs, which were crucial to the expedition's success. 

The stamps carried a face value indicated as "14,00" and "17,00" in Norwegian currency (Kroner). 

Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian sailor and polar explorer. In 1897/99, he participated in the BELGICA expedition , commanded by Adrien de Gerlache, which was the first expedition to overwinter in Antarctica.

He was the first to cross the Northwest Passage, aboard the GJOA , from 1903 to 1906. It should also be noted that he led the first expedition to reach the South Pole, between 1910 and 1912.

In 1926, Amundsen and his team flew over the North Pole in the airship NORGE , making him the first person to have reached both poles. He disappeared in June 1928 while participating in a search and rescue mission for Nobile and the crew of the airship Italia , which had crashed north of Spitsbergen on its return from the North Pole.

USPS Wilt Chamberlain

USPS issued on 5 December 2014, in Philadelphia, PA, two First Day Cover stamps commemorating basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain. 

The cachet on the card shows a montage of Wilt Chamberlain as a Laker, a Harlem Globetrotter, and the record-setting 100-point game, a feat accomplished on 2 March 1962. The nickname "The Big Dipper," which Chamberlain preferred, is prominently displayed at the top of the card. 

Known by friends and fans as the “Big Dipper,” “Goliath,” or “Wilt the Stilt,” Wilton Chamberlain (1936-1999) stood a towering 7'1" tall. With such height and an arm span of over seven feet, he was built for basketball.

Chamberlain set several records in his first few years with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Although a formidable scorer, it was his defense that eventually won him a championship. In 1967, he averaged career-low points per game but led the league in rebounds, taking the 76ers to a title win that year. Again focusing on defense in 1972, he led the Lakers to their first-ever NBA title.

With numerous records, four MVP titles and two NBA championships under his belt, Wilt retired in 1973. His 1978 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame forever memorialised Chamberlain.

The two Wilt Chamberlain stamps issued show him in his L.A. Lakers uniform and wearing his Philadelphia Warriors uniform. The extra tall stamps pay tribute to Chamberlain’s height – 7’ 1”.

The First Day of Issue ceremony took place during a Philadelphia 76ers game. Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products print d the stamps, using a Lithographed method.

USPS Ted Williams

USPS issued on 21 July  2012 a First Day Cover (FDC) stamp commemorating baseball legend Ted Williams. FDC postmark cancellation originated from in Boston, Massachusetts. It featured Ted Williams with a special pictorial postmark. 

The card cachet includes a black and white portrait photo of a young Ted Williams in a Boston Red Sox uniform.

Ted Williams (1918-2002) was born in San Diego, California. He began playing professionally in 1936 with the San Diego Padres, then a minor-league team, and broke into the major leagues as an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox in 1939. In 1941, he hit for a .406 average. After 75 years, no other major leaguer has ever hit .400 or more over the course of a season.

He  ranks among the all-time great hitters – 521 home runs, 2,654 hits, a .344 batting average, 2,021 walks, and 1,839 runs batted in. The legendary numbers were all the more remarkable for the five seasons lost to military service in World War II and the Korean War. Even his wartime duty was the stuff of legends – as a fighter pilot, he was wingman for future astronaut John Glenn.

His uniform number 9 was retired by the Red Sox in 1964, and he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. Ted Williams died 5 July 2002.

Grossdeutsches Reich 25th Anniversary of the German Airmail Service

GROSSDEUTSCHES REICH (GREATER GERMAN REICH) issued on 11th Feb 1944 a set of three stamps to commemorate the 25th anniversary (1919-1944) of the German Airmail Service (Deutscher Luftpostdienst). A photogravure printing method on coated paper was used at the State Printing Works in Vienna. These stamps were unwatermarked and appeared on sheets of 50 performated K 14. The 6 + 4Pf stamp was designed by Erich Meerwald and the remaining two stamps were designed by E.R. Vogenauer. The use of two different designers is quite obvious when looking at the difference between the lower value of the three stamps compared to the two higher values. The lower value is busier than the more simplistic designs of the other two stamps.

- 6+4Pf, black opal green, Focke Wulf Fw 200, Condor at Templehof Airport.

- 12+8Pf, dark lilac red, Dornier Do-26 Flying Boat.

- 42+108Pf, black lilac blue, Junkers Ju 90B.

These stamps were affixed to a cover and bear a special postmark cancellation from Echternach (Luxembourg), dated 4th April 1944. 

During the concluding months of World War II in Europe, on 16 December 1944, Echternach served as the southernmost point on the battlefront for the attempt of the German Wehrmacht forces attacking the Allies to retake Antwerp, during the Battle of the Bulge. The town was badly damaged in World War II but was thoroughly restored.

USPS Cover

USPS cover postage stamps featured on this envelope include:

- US military figures such as Omar N. Bradley, Alvin C. York, Audie L. Murphy, and John L. Hines.

- Construction (Tinker) Toys from the "Celebrate the Century" 1910s series

- "Conestoga Wagon 1800s".

Deutsche Post "Nationaler Befreiungskampf"

DEUTSCHE POST (Deutsche Demokratik Republik) on 10 October 1963 issued five stamps commemorating the 150th anniversary of the German War of Liberation (1813) or  "Nationaler Befreiungskampf". This series honoured the German military leaders who, in 1813, fought alongside their European allies against Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig, ushering in a new era. This cover is postmarked 7 January 1964, 

• The set included stamps with denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25, and 40 pfennig. 

Featured in the stamps:

- Anton Count Neidhart von Gneisenau, Prussian military commander

- Gebhard Leberecht Prince Blücher von Wahlstatt, Prussian Field Marshal

- Baron Prince Adolf von Lützow, leader of a volunteer corps

- Gerhard von Scharnhorst, Prussian general, 

- Prince Michael Kutosov, Field Marshal, representing the Russian allies

- Political pioneers, Ernst Moritz Arnst, poet and writer, and Baron vom und zum Stein, Prussian statesman

- Cossacks and Landwehr (militia)

Sulamith Wülfing Postcards

POSTCARDS of artwork by Sulamith Wülfing, which I wish were rendered into postage stamps. Alas, to my knowledge, no country, not even Cinderella issues, has/have ever printed.

THE CRYSTAL by German  artist Sulamith Wülfing was the inspiration for Phil Travers,  the artist who designed/painted six album covers for The Moody Blues. This particular graphic was depicted in their album "Every Good  Boy Deserves Favour".

ORNAMENT is another of the many illustrations created by Sulamith Wülfing. 

Sulamith Wülfing (1901-1989) was a German painter and illustrator. Born in Elberfeld, Rhine Province to Theosophist parents Karl and Hedwig Wülfing, Sulamith as a  child first had visions of angels, fairies, gnomes, and nature spirits. She first began drawing these creatures at the age of four. The visions continued throughout her life, and directly inspired her paintings. Sulamith Wülfing graduated from the Art College in Wuppertal in 1921, and in 1932 married Otto Schulze, a professor at the Art College. Together, they created the Sulamith Wülfing Verlag (publishing house).

During World War II, the industrial area around Wuppertal became a bombing target, and Wülfing's house was destroyed, along with many of her paintings.

Her family became separated during the war, when she received a false report of her husband's death on the Russian front and fled to France with her only child; they were later reunited on Christmas 1945. 

Under the Nazi regime her books were often burned and she was told repeatedly to paint by the rules at the time, which were large heroic scenes with the leader of States.

USPS John Steinbeck

USPS on 27 February 1979 issued a First Day Cover (FDC) featuring a stamp of American novelist John Steinbeck. It was released on whatwould have been Steinbeck's 77th birthday. It was part of the USPS Literary Arts Series. 

The stamp's image was based on a photograph of Steinbeck taken in the 1940s by Philippe Halsman. Shown here is block set of Steinbeck stamps.

The First Day of Issue ceremony was held at the John Steinbeck Public Library in Salinas, California where he was born. 

Austria "Heimkehrer Notopfer"

AUSTRIA postcard with "Heimkehrer Notopfer" ("Returnee Emergency Sacrifice") stamps design.ated in the Tirol region. The stamps and the circular postmark in the centre were associated with the "Landesleitung der Heimkehrer-Hilfs- u. Betreuungs-stellen in Tirol" (State leadership of the returnee aid and support centers in Tyrol). 

They were surtax stamps used to raise funds for the aid of returning soldiers and prisoners of war after WWII. The stamps had a face value of 1 shilling and 5 shilling. There was also a 10 shilling stamp which is not affixed to this postcard.

Nippon Post "Commemoration of the Enforcement of the Constitution of Japan"

NIPPON POST stamp commemorates the promulgation of the Constitution from the Showa era, immediately after the end of the war the post-WWII. The stamp in Japanese translates to "Commemoration of the Enforcement of the Constitution of Japan". It was issued on 3 May 1947, which is the date the constitution came into effect

The stamp featured a bouquet of flowers and the Imperial Seal of Japan, a stylised chrysanthemum and carried a face value of 1 yen. 

The postcard depicts a woodblock print of Mount Fuji, a historic and culturally significant mountain in Japan. The art style is similar to ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese art that flourished during the Edo and Meiji periods. The text on the bottom right attributes the artwork to Ryūko Kawabata (川端龍子筆), a Japanese artist.

San Marino Mountains and Sports

SAN MARINO issued on 14 June  1962 a series of First Day Cover stamps featuring mountains and mountain sports, which included rock climbing, skiing and skating. 

The cachet on the bottom left shows the Three Towers of San Marino at Monte Titano. 

The stamps were designed by the firm Fratelli Pellas in Genoa.

San Marino 200th Death Anniversary of Giambattista Tiepolo

SAN MARINO on 10 September 1970 issued a First Day Cover (FDC) featuring the works of the Italian painter Giambattista Tiepolo. It corresponded with the 200th death anniversary of the artist. Three stamps with different denominations (L.50, L.180 and L.220) depicted  his paintings of the "The Lute Player," "Rinaldo and Armida in the Garden," and "Virtue and Nobility". 

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696 – 1770), also known as Giambattista (or Gianbattista) Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school. He was prolific, and worked not only in Italy, but also in Germany and Spain.

UAR (Egypt) "The Pyramids And Nile At Moonlight" and 13th Century Vase

EGYPT postcard depicts traditional feluccas on the Nile River, with the Great Pyramids of Giza in the background. This artwork was entitled "The Pyramids And Nile At Moonlight" and painted.by the artist D. Vassiliou.

On the reverse side of the postcard is a cancelled postage stamp from the United Arab Republic (UAR), which was a short-lived political union between Egypt and Syria. The stamp features a vase from the 13th century. 

Face value was 30 milliemes (30m) and was part of a definitive series. 

The cancellation mark indicates it was processed in El Luq, Egypt, 8 November 1965.

An additional stamp on the post atf was removed, which is not unusual for many old postcards.

USPS Jimmy Carter

USPS commemorative First Day Cover celebrating the life of Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President,  was issued on 1 October 2025, in Atlanta, GA, as part of the Southeastern Stamp Expo. The stamp was based on an oil-on-linen painting by artist Herbert E. Abrams. The painting was created in 1982 as a life study for Carter's official White House portrait. 

The cachet on this envelope featured a portrait of a young Jimmy Carter in his U.S. Navy uniform, along with a more recent photo of him. It included a 4¢ U.S. postage stamp and a special postmark indicating the "First Day of Issue". The text included a personal letter, signed "Jimmy," to his wife, Rosalynn, along with other small images of the couple.

HERE'S a link on the stamp where President Carter's grandson talks about he should be remembered.

Imperial Japan Enthronement of Emperor Yoshihito and Meiji Art Postcard

IMPERIAL JAPAN postage stamp, issued in 1916, featured a Mandarin duck and chrysanthemum design. This commemorative stamp celebrated the Enthronement of Emperor Yoshihito, posthumously honoured as Emperor Taishō. It had a face value of 1½ sen (1.5 sen); the text on the stamp, "厘五錢壹", translates to "One sen, five rin," which is equivalent to 1.5 sen. The special cancellation stamp indicates "S" and "N", meaning was used. 

This rare and early Meiji art postcard combines a graceful bijin (beautiful woman) in a kimono, painted by Ryuuho Shimazaki, titled “Moon (Part II)”.

This design is part of Bunten art history and was exhibited at the Ministry of Education Art Exhibition (Bunten) in Tokyo.

Switzerland (Helvetia) Hermann Hesse

SWITZERLAND (HELVETIA) in 1979  issued a set of first day cover stamps honouring Paul Klee, Rainer Maria  Rilke, Hermann  Hesse and Thomas Mann. This block set is based on a portrait of Herman Hesse on his later years, whereas the postmark cancellation originated from Berne.

The postcard is a silhouette of Hermann Hesse sitting at his desk writing. The painting is actually a watercolour by him. And the mountains in the Swiss town of Collina d'Oro where he lived frames the picture.

Hermann Karl Hesse (1877 –  1962) was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include "Demian", "Steppenwolf", "Siddhartha", and "The Glass Bead Game", each of which explores an individual's search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

La Poste France Cover

LA POSTE FRANCE stamp cover from a philatelist in France. Note, he placed postage stamps on both sides of the envelope. 

FRONT SIDE OF ENVELOPE:

- EUROPA series: Featuring a castle and fountain, with a value of 1,40 Francs.

- "Rattachement de Valenciennes et Maubeuge" series (1678-1978): Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the cities' attachment to France, with a value of 1,20 Francs.

- "Basse-Normandie" series: Depicting a Viking longship, with a value of 1,70 Francs.

- Marianne series: Featuring the profile of Marianne,  national symbol of France, with values of 1,30 and 1,60 Francs.

REVERSE SIDE OF  ENVELOPE:

- "Lorraine" stamps,  featuring a stylised red and yellow design and  valued at 2.30 francs each.

- "La Lutherie" stamps depict stringed instruments like a violin and a guitar, and are valued at 1.00 franc each.

- "Télécom 79" stamps, with values of 1.10 francs and a design related to telecommunications.

- "République Française" stamps show a colourful, abstract design and are valued at 2.00 francs.

Other stamps include architectural designs, portraits, and other themes, such as a 3.00-franc stamp featuring the Panthéon in Paris.

La Poste France Cover

LA POSTE FRANCE Cover of stamps from a stamp seller in France:

• - The stamps with the "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" inscription and the image of Marianne are a common theme on French stamps, representing the national motto and the personification of the French Republic. 
• - The stamps with the "@" symbol and the text "Meilleurs Vœux" ("Best Wishes") are likely from a special issue related to the internet or digital communication. 
• - The stamps with the heart shape and the text "Cacharel" are part of a Valentine's Day or love-themed series, in collaboration with the fashion brand Cacharel. 
• - The large panoramic stamp depicts two hands reaching out to each other across a landscape.

La Poste "Les Postiers Autour du Monde"

This is a philatelic souvenir from LA POSTE in France which was issued on 29 September 1993, from Cherbourg, France.

 It commemorated "Les Postiers Autour du Monde" (The Postmen Around the World), which likely was a sailing event related to the Whitbread Round the World Race to Southampton, UK.

The souvenir postcard was created by the French stamp printing office in Périgueux and was offered to post office branch managers.

La Poste France 200th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the French Republic

A commemorative philatelic document from France, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the proclamation of the French Republic in 1792. 

The document features a special stamp and a cancellation mark dated 26 September 1992, from Paris. 

The design includes two allegorical figures, likely representing Liberty and the Republic, holding a torch and a wreath. 

The triangular emblem with "1792" and the text "L'An premier de la République" (The first year of the Republic) refers to the establishment of the First French Republic. 

The stamp itself shows a profile of Marianne, a national symbol of France.

La Poste France 800th death anniversary of Richard I

LA POSTE FRANCE on 1999 issued a First Day Cover stamp commemorating the 800th death anniversary of  Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart,  King of England who reigned from 1189 to 1199. Affixed to this card in are French postage stamps showing an image of Richard. The stamp was part of the "Famous people" series from France. It carried a face value of 3.00 French francs. 

The FDC circular postmark included the dates 1197-1199, which corresponds to the end of Richard I's reign. The postmark also contained the name "CHALVS," which refers to Châlus, the location where Richard I was fatally wounded. 

Richard I was born in 1157 and died in 1199, as indicated on the card. He was also the Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, and Gascony, among other titles. 

He earned the nickname "Lionheart" (Cœur de Lion in French) due to his reputation as a great military leader and warrior. 

Richard I spent only about six months of his ten-year reign in England, as he was primarily focused on military campaigns, particularly the Third Crusade. 

La Poste France Cover

 

LA POSTE FRANCE cover  postage from a stamp collector in France.

- The first stamp on the left, valued at 0.80 francs, depicts an allegorical figure of the Republic, which is part of the "Ceres series" of French stamps.

- The two middle stamps, valued at 1.75 and 1.31 francs respectively, are from the "Affranchissements Postes" series.

- The stamp on the far right is a commemorative stamp for Saint-Barthélemy, a French overseas collectivity. It depicts a detail from the "Retable de Saint-Barthélemy" (St. Bartholomew Altarpiece).

La Poste France 800th Death Anniversary of Aliénor d'Aquitaine

LA POSTE FRANCE on 28 February 2004 issued  a First Day Cover stamp marking the 800th death anniversary of Aliénor d'Aquitaine, also known as Eleanor of Aquitaine. The engraver was Martin Mörck and printed by ITVF, France. It carried a face value of 0.50€. The  historical source for the illustration is likely from a stained glass window or manuscript illumination.

Eleanor of Aquitaine (c. 1122–1204) was a powerful and wealthy medieval figure who was queen consort of both France and England. She was Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, and she was known for her active role in government and her influence on courtly culture. She was also a patron of the arts, particularly with the troubadours.

Eleanor of Aquitaine had 8 children with her second husband, Henry II of England: William, Henry the Young King, Richard I, Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joan, and John. She also had two daughters, Marie and Alix, with her first husband, Louis VII of France. Many of her children played significant roles in the politics of medieval Europe, with three of her sons becoming kings.

China Post "Xilinguole Grassland"

CHINA POST cover stamps of "Xilinguole Grasslands"  initially were issued on 24 July 1998. This region is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. The stamps carried a face value of 800 fen (8 yuan).

Polynesie Française "Peintres en Polynésie"

FRENCH POLYNESIA (POLYNESIE FRANCAISE) issued on 12 December 1984 a series First Day Cover stamps called "Peintres en Polynésie" (Painters in Polynesia), including this one entitled "Tahitiennes sur la plage" (Tahitian women on the beach) by artist P. Heyman. It carried a face value of 85 French Pacific Francs (85F).

La POSTE France Cover Stamps

LA POSTE FRANCE cover with four postage stamps was received from a French stamp dealer.

- The first stamp, with a value of 0.50€, depicts a beach scene with people on vacation ("vacances" in French).

- The second stamp, also valued at 0.50€, features a robin on a snow-covered branch with holly. 

- The third stamp shows the Galileo satellite programme and is valued at 0.55€.

- The fourth stamp, valued at 1€, features the Euro currency symbol and a map of the European Union.

Guernsey Post Moulin Huet

GUERNSEY POST on 15 November 1980 issued a First Day  stamp and postcard set from the Bailiwick of Guernsey. It had a face value of 10 pence. 

The stamp featured a painting of Moulin Huet from circa 1850, a bay on the island of Guernsey. The painting is part of the "Le Lievre Paintings" series. 

Moulin Huet bay was the inspiration for Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who painted 15 views of the area during a visit in 1883.

La Poste France "Héros d'aventures" - Cyrano

LA POSTE, the French postal service, issued in 1997 a series of stamps entitled "Héros d'aventures" (Adventure Heroes). The stamps depicted characters from classic French literature and folklore, including Cyrano, Le Capitaine Fracasse, Pardaillan, D'Artagnan, Le Bossu, and Lancelot. 

This First Day Cover featured Cyrano de Bergerac, a fictional character from the play of the same name by Edmond Rostand.

The illustration shows a portrait of Cyrano de Bergerac with a large nose, a sword, and a crescent moon in the background.

Italian Postal Cover

ITALIAN postage stamps received from a fellow stamp collector.

The stamp on the far left depicts the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The second stamp from the left features "Monreale - Il Pantocrator," which refers to the Christ Pantocrator mosaic in the Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily.

The third stamp shows a stylized female head, which is a common depiction of Italia Turrita, the national personification of Italy. 

The fourth stamp also features a female portrait, possibly another depiction of Italia Turrita or a historical figure.

The stamps have various values, including €0.41, 800 lire, 500 lire, 3000 lire, and 650 lire. The use of both euros and lire indicates they were issued before and after Italy's transition to the euro in 2002.

Republique Francaise "XX Anniv. de la Liberation Deportation Resistance"

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE issued on 21 March 1964 a First Day Cover stamp commemorating the "XX Anniv. de la Liberation Deportation Resistance" (20th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps) at the end of World War II.

The postage stamp and maximum card (postcard) depicted a watchtower ("mirador") and barbed-wire fence at a concentration camp. The bottom left of the image showed prisoners' hands clutching a barbed-wire fence.

It had a face value of 0.20 francs, with an additional 0.05 francs surcharge for a social or charitable cause.

Jacques Combet was the stamp engraver, whereas Jean Bernard Aldebert was the artist. 

Jean Bernard Aldebert  was a professional poster artist and cartoonist. His work as a committed cartoonist would cost him his freedom, with his arrest on 15 November 1943 in Balmont (Haute-Savoie) by the Gestapo. Repatriated to France on 22 August 1945, he produced 50 drawings about his experience in the concentration camps.

United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women

UNITED NATIONS POSTAL ADMINISTRATION issued on 5 September 1995 a set of six First Day Cover stamps dedicated to the Fourth World Conference on Women, which was held in Beijing, China. The UN issued a set of six stamps on September 5, 1995, designed by Ding Shaoguang.

The conference produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a key global policy document on gender equality and women's empowerment. 

The Platform for Action identified 12 critical areas of concern, including women and poverty, education, health, violence against women, and women in power and decision-making. 

The conference was a significant event in the history of the global women's rights movement.