Polynésie Française Centenary of the Universal Postal Union

POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE (FRENCH POLYNESIA) on 9 October 1974  issued a "Premier Jour" (First Day) stamp celebrating the centenary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), an international organisation established in 1874 to coordinate postal policies among member nations and manage the worldwide postal system. Presumably Louis Genty designed the stamp showing a Polynesian woman with floral garlands. It was printed by Philaposte. The postmark cancellation location was Papeete, Tahiti, the capital of French Polynesia. 

The cachet depicted a stylised globe with figures representing communication or postal services, symbolising the global reach of the UPU. 

Polynésie Française "Femmes en Polynésie"

POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE (FRENCH POLYNESIA) on 8 March 2003 issued a "Premier Jour" (First Day) stamp entitled "Femmes en Polynésie" (Women in Polynesia) which showed two Polynesian women. A special postmark cancellation was affixed to the stamp and maximum card (postcard) and originated from Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

Polynésie Française Tahitiennes sur la Plage

POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE (FRENCH POLYNESIA) on 12 December 1984 issued a set of for First Day Cover stamps showing the day-to-day life in Polynesia, including the artwork entitled "Tahitiennes sur la Plage" (Tahitian Women on the Beach) by Pierre Heyman. The postmark cancellation on the maximum card and stamps originated from Papeete, Tahiti. 

Établissements Français de l'Océanie Cover - 1948

ÉTABLISSEMENTS FRANÇAIS DE L'OCÉANIE (French Settlements in Oceania) or French Polynesia cover features three stamps valued at 4F, 15F and 20F (Francs). These definitive stamps issued initially in 1948 depict a Polynesian woman (4F) and two island women in a relaxed setting (15F and 20F), reflecting the local culture of French Polynesia, then known as Établissements Français de l'Océanie. The "Polynesian woman" and "two island women" was rendered by Jacques Boullaire who was well known for his Tahitian artwork, whereas Jules Piel engraved these stamps. Charles Mazelin was the artist/engraver for the "Polynesian woman".

The cachet on this cover commemorates the premiere liaison Air France (first Air France connection) between Tahiti and Paris, specifically referencing the flight to Papeete, Tahiti. 

It is addressed to "AIR FRANCE, 12 Bd Norodom, Saigon," indicating the routing or a stopover in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).

A circular postmark clearly shows "Papeete" and the date "28 - 3 (March) 1950," confirming the historical context of the inaugural airmail service.

A Poste France Cover

 

LA POSTE FRANCE cover stamps:

- Painting of "The Virgin of the Grapes" was created around 1640 by the French Baroque artist Pierre Mignard. The stamp depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, who is reaching for a bunch of grapes. The grapes in the painting symbolise the Eucharist and the blood of Christ, foreshadowing his sacrifice. The original painting is housed in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.

- "La Semeuse" (The Sower) stamp is a symbolic representation of Marianne, the national personification of the French Republic. The image shows a barefoot woman, Marianne, wearing a Phrygian cap and sowing seeds with a determined gait, while the sun rises and the wind blows, symbolising the spread of Republican ideals and liberty. The design was created by French numismatist Oscar Roty in 1897 for use on silver coins of the French Third Republic and later appeared on stamps in 1903. 

- Marianne stamp designed by David Kawena and Olivier Ciappa. It was engraved by Elsa Catelin. It was printed by Philaposte (Phil@poste), using a recess method and paper with two phosphor stripes (left and right).

Germany Cover

DEUTSCHLAND (Germany) cover features two stamps:

-  Two young greylag geese ("Tierkinder Graugans") which has a value of 70 cents. 

-  Trabant P50 automobile from 1961 which was part of a series for "Wohlfahrtspflege" (welfare). The Trabant P50 was a small, front-wheel-drive car produced in East Germany, notable for its duroplast body panels and two-stroke engine.

Thailand Post Cover

Cover with a collection of Thai postage stamps, primarily featuring:

Phimai Historical Park Stamps: Several stamps depict the ancient Khmer temple complex of Phimai Historical Park in Thailand, known for its intricate architecture and historical significance. 

National Day Stamps: Stamps celebrating Thailand's National Day, featuring an elephant, a significant symbol in Thai culture. 

Other Thai Stamps: The image also includes stamps with other designs, such as those depicting historical or cultural scenes and possibly commemorating specific events or anniversaries related to Thai postal services.

Deutsche Demokratische Republik Rundfunk 1961

 

DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK on 25 October 1961 issued Rundfunk  "Tag der Briefmarke" (Stamp Day) that featured a microphone and radio waves, symbolising broadcasting ("Rundfunk") from the German Democratic Republic.

In September 1961, following the construction of the Berlin Wall, the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) launched an anti-Western broadcast campaign called "Blitz auf Natosender" (Strike against NATO Broadcasters), which aimed to prevent its citizens from receiving Western radio and television signals. The DDR's official youth organisation, the FDJ (Freie Deutsche Jungend), encouraged people to remove or damage antennas pointing towards the West, where "mental border-crossers" were living. People who did not voluntarily give up Western television and radio were to have their antennas sawn off or turned by force "towards socialism and peace".

USPS Artic Animals and Lincoln Cover

USPS cover of postage stamps, primarily featuring the 12 March 1999 Arctic Animals series first released in Barrow, Alaska. This set of stamps, valued at 33 cents each, depicts Gray Wolf, Arctic Hare, Arctic Fox, and Snowy Owl.

The other stamps include older U.S. postage: one featuring a Native American figure and marked "USA 13c," and another with Abraham Lincoln, marked "USA 2c" and "AIR MAIL". The Air Mail stamp I recall using whenever I posted letters to radio stations in Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. This would've been in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

San Marino Allegoria Della Primavera

SAN MARINO issued on 23 September 1972 a set of three First Day Cover stamps showing Sandro Botticelli's famous painting, Allegoria Della Primavera (meaning "Allegory of Spring"). Primavera was a large panel painting created in the late circa 1482, depicting a group of figures from classical mythology in a garden. 

Venus, goddess of love and beauty, is one of the central figures in the painting's complex allegorical narrative. 

Flora is depicted wearing a dress covered in flowers, symbolising the abundance and beauty of springtime. The painting is an allegory of spring, filled with mythological characters and symbolic meanings, celebrating love, peace, and prosperity. At least 138 species of different plants have been identified within the painting, showcasing Botticelli's meticulous attention to detail. 

The Three Graces, mythological goddesses representing virtues like chastity, beauty, and love, are often shown dancing in a circle.

The painting originally adorned the summerhouse of the Medici family and is now housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. 

Liechtenstein Post Great Achievements of Human Genius

LIECHTENSTEIN POST on 3 July 1983 issued two First Day Cover stamps in marking the Europa (C.E.P.T.) Great Achievements of Human Genius series. The stamps highlighted two  Benedictine personalities from the European Middle Ages: Notker Balbulus of St. Gall (40 Ct. - Swiss centime) and Hildegard of Bingen (80 Ct. - Swiss centime). Gerhard Gloser designed the postage stamps. Courvoisier (Helio Courvoisier) S. A. printed the stamps using a photogravure method. Postmark cancellation originated from Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

Notker the Stammerer/Notker of Saint Gall (c840-912) was a German Benedictine monk, priest, poet, musician, teacher, writer,  historian and hagiographer. He wrote about martyrology, a collection of legends and a metrical biography of Saint Gall.

Hildegard of Bingen (c1098 -1179) was a prominent German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, mystic, and visionary of the Middle Ages. She is one of the best-known composers of sacred monophony, as well as the most recorded in modern history. She has been considered by a number of scholars to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.

 

Saarland artwork "Volkshilfe" - 1956

POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH ADMINISTRATION Of SAARLAND issued on 10 December 1956 a First Day Cover (FDC) featuring Three artworks by master artists for the "Volkshilfe" (People's Aid) series. Postmark cancellation originated from Saarbrücken. 

The cachet carried the inscription "Wer Barmherzigkeit übt, tue es mit frohem Sinn" (He who practices mercy, let him do it with a cheerful mind). 

The stamps included:

5 F+3F (Blue) - LEONARDO DA VINCI (1452-1519) "La Belle Ferronnière" is a portrait of an unknown woman, possibly Lucrezia Crivelli, a mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. 

10 F+5F (Red) - REMBRANDT (1606-1669) "Saskia van Kyle burgh", Rembrandt's wife

15 F + 7F (Green) - FRANS VAN FLORIS (1517-1570) "Family van Berchem" (Woman Playing Spinet)

Belgie Post 25th Anniversary of the Monument in Breendonk

BELGIE POST on 7 April 1979 issued a set of stamps commemorating the 25th anniversary of the monument in Breendonk (Belgium) This black/orange postage stamp carried a face value of 6 Belgian franc. The designers were Charles Leclercqz (Engraver) | Idel Ianchelevici (Designer). A photogravure and recess printing method was used to produce 4,000,000 stamps.

This maximum card, with said affixed stamp, shows the National Memorial statue at Fort Breendonk.

The inauguration of this bronze statue, entitled "The Resistance" by sculptor and draftsman Idel Ianchelevici, took place on 25 April 1954. The work was installed in front of the National Memorial at Fort Breendonk, a former "Auffanglager" located in Willebroek, Belgium. The statue sits on a high natural stone pedestal, weighs five tons and is more than four meters high. This monument does not include the names of imprisoned war victims. 

The translated caption on the card states:

NATIONAL MONUMENT TO THE POLITICAL PRISONER

1914-18 -- 1940-45

"No more camps, no more horrors, no more war, never!"

Iraq Cradle of Civilization

IRAQ on 11 September 2006 issued a set of First Day Cover (FDC) stamps highlighting the rich ancient history of Iraq, often referred to as Mesopotamia, the "Cradle of Civilization". Postmark cancellation originated from Baghdad.

Ancient Mesopotamian artifacts and figures pictured in the stamps:

- Left stamp (200 Fils) depicted a Lamassu, a protective deity from ancient Assyrian mythology, often depicted with a human head, the body of a lion or bull, and bird's wings.

- Middle stamp (150 Fils) showed a Bull's Head Lyre, a prominent example of Sumerian art and music from the Royal Tombs of Ur.

- Right stamp (1000 Fils) featured the Bronze head of an Akkadian king of Nineveh Sumerian civilization.

San Marino Centenario del Francobollo U.S.A. - 1947

SAN MARINO on 24 December 1947 issued a First Day Cover series entitled "Centenario del Francobollo U.S.A." stamps. This FDC was postmarked Città di San Marino (City of San Marino). The stamps were designed by R. Franzoni (Des) and printed by Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, Officina Carte Valori-Rome, using a Recess print method.

The stamps carried various denominations (e.g., 2 Lire, 3 Lire, 6 Lire, 35 Lire, 50 Lire, 100 Lire) and showcased portraits of prominent American patriots, including Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, who were featured on early U.S. stamps. American and San Marino flags, as well as iconic images of each country (e.g. statue of Liberty and three castle landmarks in this mountainous country) were represented in select stamps.

Belgie Post General George S. Patton Jr. awarding Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe - 1957

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 December 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, recognizing McAuliffe's command of the surrounded American troops.  

This rare maximum card with affixed stamp has a special postmark cancellation that originated from Brussels. Engraver/Designer was Jean Malvaux (E) | Jean van Noten. Photogravure method was used to print 230,430 stamps. It had a face value of 3+1 fr - (Belgian franc).

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.

Polska Cover

 

POLSKA (Polish) postage stamp cover:

- The stamp to the left represents Spiżarnia Caritas" (Caritas Pantry). It is depicted in a heart shape formed by various food items, symbolizing the Caritas organisation's efforts to provide food assistance.

- The centre left stamp features a portrait of Wisława Szymborska (1923-2012), a renowned Polish poet and Nobel Prize laureate in literature.

- The centre right stamp commemorates Poles who rescued Jews during the Holocaust, specifically highlighting the Baraniki family.

- The right stamp is a commemorative issue for the All-Poland Philatelic Exhibition held in Ruda Śląska in 2023.

Republique Française La Poste Santons de Provence

REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE LA POSTE in 1995 issued a series of postage stamps entitled "Santons de Provence". These are traditional Provençal clay figurines, meaning "little saints," that depict various characters from 19th-century Provençal life and trades, often used in Nativity scenes. The stamps show different 'Santon' figures, including "la poissonnière" (the fishmonger) and "le remouleur" (the knife grinder or sharpener). 

In France, Provençal Christmas traditions represent the community coming to the manger with offerings for the baby Jesus.

Liechtenstein Post The Four Cardinal Virtues

LIECHTENSTEIN POST on 10 June 1985 issued a set of four First Day Cover stamps dedicated to "The Four Cardinal Virtues". The designer was Gerhard Gloser. Rotogravure printing was realised by Hélio Courvoisier SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds. Postmark cancellation originated from Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. 

The stamps affixed to maximum cards (postcards):

JUSTICE

Colours: ochre, orange, black, red. Value: 35 Rappen.

TEMPERANCE 

Colours: ochre, red, green, blue, grey, brown. Value: 50 Rappen.

PRUDENCE

Colours: ochre, red, green, violet, blue. Value: 70 Rappen.

FORTITUDE

Colours: ochre, red, brown, black, grey, violet. Value: Fr. 1.

JUSTICE is fairness and righteousness in how we treat others, ensuring fair and reasonable treatment in social interactions and upholding what is owed to others. In practice it involves advocating for fairness, acting with integrity in society, and giving to others what is due. 

TEMPERANCE involves self-control, moderation, and discipline in managing desires and emotions, redirecting them toward good purposes rather than just pleasure.

PRUDENCE is the ability to make wise, sound, and practical decisions by recognising good and evil and choosing the right course of action. In practice it involves thinking before acting, seeking wise counsel, and discerning what truly helps or hinders a good outcome. 

FORTITUDE refers to courage and inner strength to face challenges, endure difficulties, and act on one's convictions, even when it's hard or risky. In practice this means being able to face fear for the sake of doing what is right, balancing a willingness to act with self-control, rather than being cowardly or rash. 

Muslim scholars call these four cardinal virtues ummahāt al-faḍā’il. Justice is ʿadl; temperance is ʿiffah; prudence is ḥikmah; and fortitude is shajāʿah. When the rational soul is balanced, the result is prudence or wisdom. Whoever is given wisdom has been given much good (QUR’AN , 2:269). 

Israel Post Ancient Roman Arenas

ISRAEL POST on 19 December  2017 issued a First Day Cover set of three stamps entitled "Ancient Roman Arenas". The stamps depicted various Roman entertainment venues in ancient Israel/Palestine: 

- Hippodrome in Caesarea featured a chariot race in a hippodrome.

- Theatre in Beit She'an showed a theatrical performance on stage.

- Amphitheater in Beit Guvrin Illustrateed gladiatorial combat in an amphitheater.

The text to the bottom left, from Genesis Rabbah 9:9, reads: "We must be grateful to the nations of the world who bring in performers to their theatres and circuses and play in them". 

Postmark  represented a actor, gladiator and chariot. The cancellation originated from She'an.

Deutsche Reichspost Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt and Winterhilfswerk 1936

DEUTSCHE REICHSPOST postcard depicted a "Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt" (Berlin Christmas Market) with prominent Nazi swastika banners, indicating the political climate of the time, specifically in 1936.

It demonstrates how the regime integrated its ideology and symbols into public life and traditional events like Christmas markets. 

The two Deutsche Reichspost stamps affixed to the postcard were part of the "Winterhilfswerk" series of modern buildings and construction during the early 1930s in Germany.

Shown here:

- Ministry of Aviation in Berlin, 4 plus 3 Pfennig

- Reichsautobahn -- "München-Reichsgrenze" autobahn route between Munich and the German border, 3 plus 2 Pfennig 

Cancellation postmark originated from Berlin and highlighted  the Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt (Berlin Christmas Market) on 13 December 1936.

VVN Bavaria Revenue Stamps

VVN (Vereinigung der Verfolgten des Naziregimes), which translates to the Association of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime, was founded in 1947 and aimed to represent the interests of all resistance fighters, all victims of Nazi terror, and all those harmed by the Nazi regime to continue fighting courageously for a democratic and peaceful Germany.

The image on the card depicted a family, likely representing the victims and survivors, standing in front of graves marked with crosses, symbolising the losses and sacrifices made during the Nazi era.

A set of five "Gebührenmarken" (revenue stamps) issued by the "Staatskommissariat für rassisch, religiös und politisch Verfolgte" (State Commissariat for Racially, Religiously, and Politically Persecuted Individuals) in Bavaria, Germany. 

These stamps were likely used to raise funds or as a form of administrative fee related to the support or recognition of those persecuted during the Nazi regime. This was indicated by the text "Wir vergessen euch nicht" (We do not forget you), highlighting a message of remembrance or solidarity.

Each stamp featured a central design of a hand reaching through a barred window, symbolising imprisonment or persecution, and captioned with the text "Verfolgte in Bayern" (Persecuted in Bavaria).

The stamps shown carried various denominations: 50 Pfennig, 1 Mark, 1 Mark 50 Pfennig, 2 Mark, and 2 Mark 50 Pfennig.

These stamps offer a glimpse into the administrative and social efforts in Bavaria concerning victims of racial, religious, and political persecution, after World War II.

R.O.C. (Taiwan) Cachet and Cover Circa Early 1970s

REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) cachet and four cover stamps issued in the 1970s. Interestingly this cover is a bit of an oddity; most, but certainly not all,  cachets are related to the stamps affixed to an envelope. This one falls in that mishmash category.

The  cachet commemorated the Republic of China winning of twin championships in the 9 September 1975 Little League World Series. There was a stamp issued, but it was not included on this cover. The cachet was printed by the Directorate General of Posts, Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China.

The stamps:

- The photograph of Chiang Kai-shek and his mother, Wang Caiyu,  was one of three different postage stamps  issued to commemorate the 90th birthday of President Chiang Kai-shek. The value of the stamp was likely 2.00 ROC dollars. It was first issued on 31 October 1976.

 - To celebrate the 120th Birthday of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the portraits of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the "Founding Father" of the Republic of China, and Chiang Kai-shek was featured in a single stamp. It commemorated the Eleventh National Congress of the Kuomintang of China. It was a face value of 10.00 ROC dollars. It was issued on 12 November 1976. Yan Qishi  illustrated it, whereas the printer was China Color Printing Company.

- The stamp positioned vertically represented Taichung, which was the second-largest port in Taiwan, located in Wuqi District, Taichung. It carried a face value of 3.00 ROC dollars. This stamp was issued circa 1974.

- A postage stamp of the Northern Railway Line from Hualien to Ilan, was part of the "Nine Major Construction Projects" series in R.O.C. (Taiwan). The denomination was presumably 1.00 ROC dollars. It was issued on 31 October 1974.

Postes Republique Française "Pour nos victimes de la guerre"

POSTES REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (Postes, Télégraphes et Téléphones) on 21 May 1945  issued a First Day Cover stamp dedicated to "Pour nos victimes de la guerre" (For our war victims) and "Aux P.T.T. Victimes de la Guerre" (To P.T.T. War Victims), indicating a focus on support for those affected by World War II.  This French stamp and  maxi postcard or cover from 1945, commemorated the "Semaine Nationale des P.T.T." (National Week of the P.T.T.) which took place from May 21-27, 1945. 

The central illustration depicted a family, likely displaced or returning, with belongings in a wheelbarrow, symbolising the struggles faced during and after the war.

This charity surcharge stamp carried a value of 4F+6F (Francs) and featured a special postmark cancellation from Paris, dated 21 May 1945, marking the start of the national week.