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.

Deutsche Bundespost Birth Centenary of Artist Otto Dix and Painting of Anita Berber

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST (German Federal Post Office) on 5 November 1991 issued two stamps commemorating the 100th birthday of German artist Otto Dix, including the "Portrait of the Dancer Anita Berber". The other stamp (not shown) was a self-portrait of Dix.

The painting, created in 1925, depicts the German dancer, actress, and writer Anita Berber, a well-known celebrity who lived during the Weimar Republic. Berber was known for her scandalous performances and lifestyle, and the painting is considered a symbol of the era's excess and artistic daring. 

Dix knew Anita Berber personally, having attended several of her live performances. Although Berber posed for this portrait in the nude, the artist decided to depict her wearing a long red dress, on a red background. The dress covers almost her entire body. She looks to her right, while striking a vamp-like pose, with her left hand in front and her right hand resting on her hip. Her hair is also red, and she wears very thick white makeup, which gives her face a mask-like appearance and heart-shaped lips -- much like cabaret performers of the era. Her depiction emphasises her open sexuality and her status as a sexual icon of the time.

In many ways Anita Berber epitomises the character Hermine in Hermann Hesse's novel "Steppenwolf". The novel also serves as a backdrop to the moral debauchery of the Weimar Republic.

Wilhelm Heinrich Otto Dix ( 1891 - 1969) was a German painter and printmaker, noted for his ruthless and harshly realistic depictions of German society during the Weimar Republic and the brutality of war. Along with George Grosz and Max Beckmann, he is widely considered one of the most important artists of the Neue Sachlichkeit.

The painter combined approaches from Dada, expressionism, and New Objectivity to create a satirical artistic style. Dix was an unconventional—but successful—portraitist. His works also explored both war and everyday life in mid-20th century Germany.

In 1933, the Nazi Party condemned Dix’s art as “degenerate” and destroyed many of his paintings.

He was forbidden from incorporating social and political critique into his work for the duration of the Nazi regime. Following World War II, Dix continued to paint until his death in 1969.

SAAR Commemorative Postcard & Stamp Peter Wust

SAAR COMMEMORATIVE POSTCARD for the Peter Wust Festakademie, which was held in Saarbrücken, Germany, on 3 April 1970. It featured a portrait of German philosopher Peter Wust. The event was a "Festakademie" (celebratory academy) held on the 30th anniversary of his death ("30. Todestag").

The postcard includes two cancellations, both from "SAARBRÜCKEN", dated 3 April 1970.

It also includes a stamp featuring a horse-drawn carriage, which was a "Droschkenkutscher" (cab driver) stamp issued by DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST BERLIN German Federal Post (West Germany).

SAAR (French Protectorate Post-WWII) issued in 1952 a commemorative stamp of Peter Wust (1884–1940),  a German Catholic existentialist philosopher. The value of the stamp was 15 French francs ("15F"). The text "H.-V. PARIS" refers to the engraver and printer of the stamp, Henri-Victor Paris.

USPS Roberto Clemente

USPS on 17 August 1984 issued a First Day Cover (FDC) commemorating the 50th birth anniversary of baseball legend Roberto Clemente. The 20-cent commemorative stamp was first issued from Carolina, Puerto Rico, Clemente's birthplace.  

The stamp was part of the American Sports Series and designed by Juan Lopez-Bonilla, showing Clemente in a Pittsburgh Pirates cap with the Puerto Rican flag in the background. 

Roberto Clemente was a right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 18 seasons, playing his entire major league career with the team from 1955 until his death in 1972. 

Clemente was the first player from the Caribbean and Latin America to win a World Series as a starting position player (1960), to receive an NL MVP Award (1966), and to receive a World Series MVP Award (1971). Additionally, he was a two-time World Series champion. 

During his career, he won 12 All-Star games, 11 Golden Glove awards, and was the National League's most valuable player in 1966. 

He was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first player from the Caribbean and second of Hispanic descent (after Lefty Gomez in 1972) to be honoured in the Hall of Fame. 

He was killed in a plane crash on New Year's Eve, 1972, while traveling to Nicaragua to deliver aid to earthquake victims. 

He is remembered for being both an outstanding athlete and humanitarian.

Royal Mail Centenary of Reverend Wilbert Awdry, Creator of Thomas the Tank Engine

ROYAL MAIL on 14 June  2011 issued a First Day Cover commemorating the centenary of Reverend Wilbert Awdry, the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine. The FDC featured a set of six stamps depicting Thomas and his friends.  It included stamps of Thomas, James, Daisy, Toby, and Gordon. Postmark commemorated the "Centenary of Rev. W. Awdry", showing an illustration of a bridge or archway, which is likely the Box Tunnel entrance. The text "BOX NR BATH, SOMER" indicated the location of the post office where the cancellation occurred, which is Box, near Bath, in Somerset, England.

West Germany Cover

This WEST GERMANY postage stamp cover  features a portrait of Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff (1699-1753), a prominent German architect and painter known for his work in the Frederician Rococo style. Knobelsdorff's notable works included the Berlin State Opera House, Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, and extensions to Charlottenburg Palace.  He is particularly recognised for his collaboration with Frederick the Great, advising him on art and architecture and designing significant structures like the Amalthea garden. This Deutsche Bundespost Berlin stamp was issued in 1974 and has a denomination of 20 pfenning.

The other stamp depicts Gustav Heinemann, the third President of West Germany. Gustav Heinemann served as President from 1969 to 1974. This stamp was issued in 1973 and has a denomination of 110 pfenning. A series of definitive stamps of Heinemann in various colours and denominations were released by Deutsche Bundespost at the same  time.

Royal Mail Monty Python Flying Circus

ROYAL MAIL on 14 August 2025 paid tribute to one of Britain's most influential comedy troupes – Monty Python. The main First Day Cover collection of six stamps celebrated the BBC TV series that ran from 1969 to 1974. The showcase highlighted the Spanish Inquisition, the Ministry Of Silly Walks, the Lumberjack Song, the Dead Parrot Sketch, Nudge Nudge, and Spam.

Monty Python Flying Circus team was made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam.

Belgie Post General George S. Patton Jr. awarding Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe

BELGIE POST on 28 October 1957 issued a set of four postage stamps commemorating the Battle of the Bulge or the Battle of the Ardennes, among these being a First Day Cover of General George S. Patton Jr. awarding Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe the Distinguished Service Cross on 30 Decembe 1944, for his leadership and heroic defense of the town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. The ceremony took place at the 101st Airborne Division's headquarters in a chateau in Bastogne, Belgium, recognising McAuliffe's command of the surrounded American troops.  This rare maximum card with affixed stamp has a special postmark cancellation that originated from Brussels.

The  Battle of the Bulge  was a  pivotal battle fought in the winter of 1944-1945. It was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II, primarily in the Ardennes region of Belgium.

General Patton's Third Army played a crucial role in relieving the besieged American forces in Bastogne, Belgium, where McAuliffe famously issued his "Nuts!" reply to a German surrender demand.

Saar "Wiederaufbau von Denkmälern im Saarland"

SAAR (West Germany) on 23 October 1966 issued a set of three First Day Card (FDC) stamps  commemorating the "Wiederaufbau von Denkmälern im Saarland" (Reconstruction of Monuments in Saarland). The three stamps depicted the Winterbergdenkmal (Winterberg Monument) in different colours and denominations. Cancellation postmark originated from Saarbrücken, West Germany.

The Winterberg Monument, located in Saarbrücken, Germany, is a war memorial commemorating Prussia's victory at the Battle of Spichern in 1870.

Before WWII it was blown up by the German Wehrmacht - for security reasons. They did not want it to be used as a navigation point for the French. 

 Although only the reconstructed plinth with a staircase remains today, it still stands as a listed building. The surrounding forest offers a pleasant walk and provides stunning views of Saabrucken.

Deutsche Bundespost 250th Anniversary of the Arrival of Salzburg Emigrants in Prussia Berlin

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST BERLIN issued on 6 May 1982 a First Day Cover celebrating the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Salzburg Emigrants in Prussia 1732 (1732 Ankunft der Salzburger Emigranten in Preussen). The image on the stamp and maximum card depicted grateful Protestants, who were expelled from their Catholic city of Salzburg in Austria, arriving at the border of Prussia.

In 1731, the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Leopold Anton von Firmian, issued an Edict of Expulsion against the Protestant population, demanding they recant their faith or leave. 

The expulsion was a significant event in the continuation of confessional c byonflicts after the Peace of Westphalia, demonstrating ongoing tensions between Catholic and Protestant states within the Holy Roman Empire. 

The emigrants were given sanctuary by Prussia’s Protestant King Frederick William I of Prussia. Most of the 20,000 expelled Protestants moved to East Prussia, a sparsely populated region in Prussia's territory, while others sought refuge in the British colonies of Georgia.

Deutsche Bundespost "100 Jahre Berliner Philharmonisches Orchestera"

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST BERLIN on 15 April 1982 issued a First Day Cover to commemorate "100 Jahre Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester 1882-1982" (100 Years Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra 1882-1982). 

The main image on the maximum card (postcard) depicted an early photograph of the orchestra. The stamp with "Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester 1882-1982" which carried a value of  60 Pfenning.

Deutsche Bundespost Berlin 750-year Celebration of Spandau

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST BERLIN on 18 February 1982 issued a First Day Cover stamp to commemorate the 750-year celebration of Spandau's existence as a city ("750-Jahr-Feier der Stadt Spandau"). It carried a nominal value of 60 Pfennig, along with a "1000" marking which might refer to a specific edition or series.

The stamp illustrated a historical scene of Spandau, featuring a river with boats, buildings along the banks, and people engaged in various activities, including fishing and loading barrels onto a boat. It clearly identified with "Berlin 12" and the emblem of Spandau, including a stylised castle or fortress, highlighting its connection to the city's history and its fortress ("Festung der Stadt Spandau").