Republica Di San Marino Poste 700th Birth Anniversary of Dante Alighieri

REPUBLICA DI SAN MARINO POSTE (Republic of San Marino) issued on 20 November 1965 a set of four stamps celebrating the 700th anniversary of the birth of Dante Alighieri (1265–1965). 

The illustrations on the stamps are adapted from the famous woodcuts and engravings by French artist Gustave Doré, who famously illustrated Dante's epic poem, The Divine Comedy.

The stamps:

- 30 Lira (Brown) - An eagle soaring above rocky landscape was inspired by purgatorial allegories.

- 40 Lira (Green-Grey) - Profile portrait of a laureate Dante Alighieri portrays the classical Italian poet iconography.

- 90 Lira (Red-Orange) - Dante being guided along a stormy boat passage represents a scene from the Inferno.

- 140 Lira (Blue) - A group of souls or figures draped in white gowns depicts a scene from the Paradiso.

Vatican Post Safeguarding of the Monuments of Nubia

LVATICAN POST issued on 10 March 1964 a First Day Cover commemorating the international effort to save the monuments of Nubia (Ancient Egypt) from the rising waters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, hence the theme  "Incepta Nubiae Monumentis Tutandis" (The Safeguarding of the Monuments of Nubia.

 Four denominations were issued (L. 10, L. 20, L. 70, and L. 200) depicting Nubian temples and religious art. 

The cachet on the left side shows a Christian painting of St. Peter from the Temple of Wadi es-Sebua, alongside Egyptian hieroglyphics and figures, representing the blending of cultures. The bottom center features a map of the Nile river, highlighting the Aswan Dam, Shellal, and Abu Simbel.

Johore Sultan Ibrahim and Sultana 1935

JOHORE (Malaya/Straits Settlements) in 1935 issued two stamps:  a single stamp, featuring the profiles of Sultan Sir Ibrahim of Johore and Lady Helen Ibrahim Sultana, commemorated their 5th anniversary of marriage; the second stamp, blue in colour, depicted Sultan Ibrahim of Johore. Both 8-cent postage and revenue stamps  were produced by Waterlow and Sons using a recess printing method. And both stamps are written Jawi (Arabic/Malay script) and Romanised script in English.

Interestingly, the stamp of the Sultan and Sultana is very similar to some British colonial stamps that featured King George VI and Queen Mary in the 1930s. It is also, to my knowledge, the only Malaya/Straits Settlements stamps to show both Sultan and Sultana.

Greece "Gods of the Winds" - 1943

GREECE on 15 September 1943 (during Nazi Germany occupation) issued a set of six  "Gods of the Winds" (Winds Set II) airmail postage stamps depicting the Anemoi (ancient Greek wind gods), based on the reliefs from the famous Tower of the Winds in Athens.

The individual stamps:

-10 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 10) Red Apeliotes (ΑΦΗΛΙΩΤΗΣ) East Wind

- 25 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 25) Green Zephyrus (ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ) West Wind

- 50 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 50) Purple Kaikias (ΚΑΙΚΙΑΣ) Northeast Wind

- 100 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 100) Grey/Green Boreas (ΒΟΡΕΑΣ) North Wind

- 200 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 200) Brown/Red Eurus (ΕΥΡΟΣ) Southeast Wind

- 400 Drachmai (ΔΡΧ. 400) Blue/Grey - Skiron (ΣΚΙΡΩΝ) Northwest Wind

Afrique Équatoriale Française "France Libre" - 1941

AFRIQUE ÉQUATORIALE FRANÇAISE (French Equatorial Africa) issued a set of stamps  in 1941 under the banner of "France Libre" or Free France. Designed during World War II these  stamps were more than mere postal tools they served as a proud declaration of loyalty to General Charles de Gaulle and the Free French movement. 

After the fall of France in 1940 some overseas colonies including those in Central Africa rejected the Vichy regime and aligned themselves with Free France. 

Each  stamp in the set featured a phoenix rising from flames a mythological bird symbolising rebirth and immortality. This powerful imagery reflected Free France resolve to rise again after the Nazi occupation. Flanking the phoenix were two key symbols of the resistance the Cross of Lorraine used by Free French forces and the RF (République Française) affirming allegiance to the true French Republic. 

Issued from territories such as Gabon Chad Middle Congo and Oubangui Chari (now Central African Republic) these stamps symbolised the loyalty of French Equatorial Africa to Free France. They hold historical value not only for their aesthetics but also for their place in the global story of World War II. 

Though each stamp shares a common design a phoenix surrounded by flames flanked by the Cross of Lorraine and the RF they are printed in six different color palettes and denominations. This is more than a design choice it reflected the layered role each stamp played. Each stamp although part of a unified series stood with its own distinct tone and postal purpose, mirroring the multifaceted efforts of Free France military diplomatic and moral.

USPS Cover

In 1974, USPS issued a 10-cent postage stamp depicting "The Lovely Reader" painting by Jean-Étienne Liotard. It was part of a "Famous Works of Art" series released by the USPS. The stamp was issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union. The painting originally dates from 1746.

US Postal Service stamps from the 1995 Great Lakes Lighthouses series.The strip features five different lighthouses, each with a denomination of 32 cents.Identified lighthouses in the pane include Split Rock (Lake Superior), St. Joseph (Lake Michigan), Spectacle Reef (Lake Huron), Marblehead (Lake Erie), and Thirty Mile Point (Lake Ontario). The stamps were painted by artist Howard Koslow.

French Equatorial Africa Airmail 1947-1953

FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA (Afrique Équatoriale Française or AEF), a federation of French colonial territories in Central Africa, issued these airmail stamps  between 1947 and 1953 and belong to a series featuring landscape and wildlife themes, often including an DC-3 to denote their "Poste Aérienne" (Air Mail) status.

The set included the following denominations and designs:

- 50F - Red/Brown - Airplane over palm trees and a village

- 100F - Greenish/Grey - Airplane over a baobab tree and coastal huts

- 200F - Blue - Airplane over a dense tropical forest with local figures

- 500F - Dark Green - Anhingas (water birds) near a riverbank

 Many stamps in this era, including the 50F and 100F versions for other French colonies like Guadeloupe, were designed and engraved by the renowned French artist Albert Decaris.

Republique Tunisienne Postes Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca

REPUBLIQUE TUNISIENNE POSTES issued on 14 November 1995 a 180 LSd  (Tunisian milim) stamp commemorating Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca. It was engraved/designed by Czeslaw Slania (E) | Hatem El Mekki. The printer was Joh. Enschedé, using a recess printing method on phosphorescent paper. Total print run was 510,000. 

Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa Defense of Con Co Island

VIỆT NAM DÂN CHỦ CỘNG HÒA (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) in 1965 issued a stamp commemorating the Defense of Con Co Island during the Vietnam War. It depicted Vietnamese soldiers defending the island against American naval and air forces. The artwork was  credited to Khanh Lac. The stamp had a face value of 12 xu.

Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa Rice Harvest 1966

VIỆT NAM DÂN CHỦ CỘNG HÒA (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) issued a stamp to mark tye successful 1966 rice harvest in North Vietnam. The stamp featured farmers harvesting rice, highlighting the agricultural achievements of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This stamp was part of a series focusing on "Bumper Crops" and rural development during that period. Denomination was 12 xu.

Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa 20th anniversary of the August Revolution

VIỆT NAM DÂN CHỦ CỘNG HÒA (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) issued  on 19 August 1965 a two-stamp set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the August Revolution   (1945–1965).

They featured identical artwork by designers Công Độ and Trần Lương, depicting a group of people and soldiers in a revolutionary scene.

The stamps:

6 xu (blue/grey design).

12 xu (red/brown design).

Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa "Victories in Dry Season Campaign" 1965-1966

VIỆT NAM DÂN CHỦ CỘNG HÒA (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) issued in 1966 a series of four stamps (partial set shown here) to commemorate  the "Victories in Dry Season Campaign". The caption reads "Chiến thắng mùa khô của quân và dân miền Nam 1965-1966;" it translates to "Victory in the dry season of the army and people in the South 1965-1966".

These stamps were designed by the artist Nguyễn Hiệp and used as propaganda to boost morale and highlight successes during the Vietnam War. 

 Red stamp - 18 xu denomination - depicts a woman guerrilla fighter with a rifle, set against a background of ongoing battle or military preparation.

Purple/Pink stamp - 12 xu denomination - is from the same series.

Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa First Five-Year Plan (1961–1965)

VIỆT NAM DÂN CHỦ CỘNG HÒA (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) issued in 1965 a set of stamps to commemorate the Completion of the First Five-Year Plan (1961–1965).

The stamps were designed by artists Lê Toàn and Kim Điệp. Each stamp has a face value of 12 xu and features social realist imagery typical of propaganda art from that era.

- Red stamp (left) depicts a female industrial worker, specifically a weaver at a textile mill, representing industrial progress.

- Blue stamp (right) showcases a group of people, including a young man and woman, in front of a modern building and agricultural scene, highlighting social and cultural development.

Seminole Indians 1935 an Benjamin Franklin Stamp 1922

SEMINOLE INDIANS in Florida, a community known as the "Unconquered People" for their fierce resistance to U.S. relocation efforts in the 19th century, are depicted in this early 20th century postcard.

This postcard is dated 1935. The picture, however, was likely taken in the 1910s or 1920s.This specific postcard was part of a series often published by companies like Curt Teich.

These images were popular souvenirs from Florida tourist attractions like Musa Isle or Ross Allen’s in Silver Springs, where the tribe found new sources of income as their traditional hunting grounds in the Everglades were drained.

As shown here, the clothing featured horizontal stripes, a hallmark of Seminole style that emerged more fully by 1920.

 Women typically wore floor-length ruffled skirts and long-sleeved blouses with short capes that covered the shoulders.

 Men wore "long shirts" or tunics, which were standard attire. Some include "built-in" belts that would later evolve into the iconic "Seminole jacket".

The green UNITED STATES 1-cent postage stamp of Benjamin Franklin on this postcard was issued from 1922 till 1929.

Shanghai Surcharged Airmail - 1948

 

SHANGHAI SURCHARGED AIRMAIL stamps, issued by the Republic of China from 1946 till 1948, were implemented due to severe national currency fluctuations at the time. These issues overprinted existing air mail stamps in red or black to meet soaring postal rates, often creating high-value stamps. 

These stamps were primarily printed by the Dah Yeh Printing Press in Shanghai. During the transition period in 1949, "Air Mail" was overprinted on revenue stamps, and non-denominated green plane stamps.These featured either horizontal overprints (Peiping/Hong Kong prints) or vertical overprints (Shanghai prints).

Shown here:

- Green and blue stamps feature a Junker F-13 aircraft flying over the Great Wall of China. They were surcharged with $50,000 over original value.

 - Blue stamp depicting an airplane flying over the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing. It was overprinted with a value of $10,000.

KUT King George VI 1938

KENYA, UGANDA, AND TANGANYIKA  issued in 1938 this 20 cent stamp depicting a portrait of King George VI surrounded by two crowned cranes.

Siam First Airmail - 1925

SIAM AIR MAIL  (Thailand formerly known as Siam) issued between January and April 1925 the Garuda series. The stamps were Thailand's first airmail stamps and featured the mythological bird-like creature that is the national emblem of Thailand.

Each stamp has a different colour and denomination (face value in Satang):

- 2 Satang - Orange-brown

- 3 Satang - Red-brown or purple

- 5 Satang - Green

- 15 Satang - Rose-carmine or dark red

- 25 Satang - Dark blue

- 50 Satang - Orange and black

The series was released during the reign of King Rama VI. Some stamps from this era may feature overprints for special occasions, such as the "Siam Kingdom Exhibition" (Siam Rath Museum) in 1926.

Thailand 400th anniversary of the birth of King Naresuan the Great - 1955

THAILAND issued around 1955 a series of stamps to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the birth of King Naresuan the Great.

The stamps depicted King Naresuan riding a war elephant, celebrating his historical role in Thai history.

Denominations shown here: 

- 25 satang

- 2 baht

- 3 baht

Kelantan (Malaysia) First State stamps - 1911

KELANTAN, one of the unfederated Malay states, issued a set of Postage & Revenue stamps in 1911. These stamps featured the Kelantan Coat of Arms, which included in it's design two spears and two daggers (kris), topped by a crescent and star. The text "Kelantan Postage & Revenue" and the denominations were printed in English, with Jawi script at the top.

Denominations Shown:

1c: Black/Grey-olive

3c: Red

4c: Black and red

5c: Green and red on yellow paper

10c: Black and mauve

Before 1909, Kelantan was under Siamese (Thai) suzerainty and used Thai stamps. After the Anglo-Siamese Treaty, it became a British protectorate. Until these dedicated stamps were printed in 1911, stamps from the Federated Malay States were used in the territory.

Iraq League of Nations Mandate Issue - 1923

IRAQ in 1923 issued a set of definitive postage stamps referred to as the "Pictorial" or the League of Nations mandate issue. It was the first definitive series released for Iraq, after the Ottoman Empire ceased. 

The set was designed by Florence Edith Cheesman and printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co.

The collection included several distinct designs and denominations:

- 1/2 Anna (Olive Green) Kadhimiya Mosque

- 1 Anna (Brown) Guffas (traditional braided round boats) on the Tigris River

-  1 ½ Annas (Red) Assyrian winged figure, often described as a winged cherub holding a situla

- 2 Annas (Orange) "Winged Bull" from a Babylonian wall sculpture (a Lamassu)

- 3 Annas (Blue) Arch of Ctesiphon (Taq-i Kisra), a famous ancient ruin in Iraq

- 4 Annas (Grey) A member of the Dulaim Camel Corps carrying a tribal standard

- 6 Annas (Green/Blue) Kadhimain Mosque (the Golden Shia Mosque) in Baghdad.

Indo-Chine "Cambodian Girl" and "Annamite Girl" - 1907

INDO-CHINE (Republique Francaise) issued between 1907 and 1923 a series of definitive stamps depicting Indo-Chinese women. This 18-stamp set was classic in design, and somewhat defined Indo-China.

Among the set were the "Cambodian Girl" and "Annamite Girl" design, created by designer Jules-Jacques Puyplat and engraved by G. Johannet (whose name does not appear on the stamps). The set was based on real photos. It was issued in various denominations and colours. And, in later issues, the font and denominations are spelt out.

Many of these designs were used for decades and frequently received overprints or surcharges to accommodate changing postal rates or use in various French Colonial post offices in China, such as Hoi-Hao, Canton, and Mongtzeu.

"Annamite Girl" shown here:

- 1c (Greenish-Black/Olive)

- 2c (Brown/Buff)

- 4c (Blue), a common value from the 1907 series.

- 5c (Green), another standard value from the initial 1907 release.

- 10c (Red/Rose)

- 15c (Violet): Often found with later surcharges for different postal rates.

- 20c (Purple/Lavender)

"The Cambodian Woman" shown here:

- 1c (Greenish-Black/Olive)

- 2c (Brown/Buff)

- 4c (Blue)

- 5c (Green), 

- 10c 

- 20c (Purple/Lavender)

- 50c (Red/Rose)

Indo-Chine Native Women - 1907

INDO-CHINE (Republique Francaise) issued in 1907 an attractive and artistic set of five stamps depicting native women from the colonies of France in South East Asia.

- The 75 French centime stamp depicted a woman from Cambodia in a modeling pose facing back on the background of a dense forest of the country.

- The 1 Franc stamp showed an Annamite woman along with a child. In the background, a coconut tree and traditional house can be seen.

- The 2 Franc stamp consisted of a Hmong woman standing in a banana plantation. 

- The 5 Franc stamp represented a housewife from Laos draped in traditional costume.

- The highest denominated stamp of 10 Franc (not shown here) depicted a woman from Tonkin in northern Vietnam, collecting coconuts.

The set was created by designer Jules-Jacques Puyplat and engraved by G. Johannet (whose name does not appear on the stamps). 

The 75c. stamp, showing a Khmer Woman, was based on this photo.

Republica De Cuba Ninth Annual Tuberculosis - 1951

REPUBLICA DE CUBA issued on 1 December  1951 a series of "postage tax stamps" to mark the Ninth Annual Tuberculosis. These stamps (also known as "obligatory tax" or "postal tax" stamps), were required on mail during the Christmas season to raise funds for the National Tuberculosis Council (Consejo Nacional de Tuberculosis). The money supported children's hospitals and TB control programmes. The stamps state "Mantengamos al Niño Libre de Tuberculosis" (Let's keep the children free from tuberculosis).

Cabo Verde Portuguese Nautical Chart - 1952

CABO VERDE (Cape Verde) issued in 1952 a series of stamps honouring Portuguese sailors and maritime history. This particular stamp, shown here, featured a reproduction of a fragment from an anonymous Portuguese nautical chart dated around 1471. This type of map, known as a portolan chart, was used for navigation during the Age of Discovery and is characterised by its distinct rhumb lines radiating from a central compass rose. it was printed by Litografia Nacional - Porto (National Lithography - Porto).

Republik Indonesia "Padi dan Kapas" - 1951

REPUBLIK INDONESIA, issued in 1951, as part of the Rice and Cotton ("Padi dan Kapas") series, stamps which highlighted the main export products of Indonesia at the time.

India "Woman Spinning" (Charkha)

INDIA issued on 26 January 1955 a stamp entitled "Woman Spinning" (Charkha) which was part of a Second Definitive Series   postage stamp from India. 

It was designed to promote India's Five Year Plan (1955–1960). The series focused on India's achievements in science, technology, agriculture, and socio-economic development following independence.

The woman using a charkha (spinning wheel) was a powerful nationalist symbol of self-reliance and the Khadi movement championed by Mahatma Gandh.

India Archaeological Monuments & Temples - 1949

INDIA issued on 15 August 1949 a stamp showing the Lingaraj Temple (referred to on the stamp as Bhuvanesvara) located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It was part of the Archaeological Monument series released after independence from Britain. This blue-coloured stamp carried a face value of 4 Annas (denoted as "4 As" on the left and "४ आना" in Hindi on the right).

Another stamp in the series was the Trimurti sculpture located in the Elephanta Caves. Trimurti (the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). This yellow-green or green-coloured stamp had a face value of 9 Pies (abbreviated as "9 Ps").

Another definitive in this series was the Bodhisattva statue, specifically identified in some philatelic contexts as being from the Lucknow Museum. This stamp Greenish-blue or teal-coloured stamp had a value of 1 Anna (indicated by "1 A" and the corresponding Hindi numeral).

India's rich historical and architectural heritage.continued with a stamp featuring the deity Nataraja (the dancing form of Lord Shiva). The red-coloured stamp had a face value of 2 Annas (written as "2 AS" and "2 आना").

Also, in this series was the Konark War Horse, a 13th-century stone sculpture from the southern side of the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha. The sculpture depicted a powerful war horse trampling a warrior, representing strength and discipline. This specific horse design was adopted as the state emblem of Odisha in 1964. It carried a denomination of 6 pies (indicated by "6PS" and "६ पा").

ÉIRE (Ireland) An Claidheamh Soluis and Cross of Cong

ÉIRE (Ireland) definitive postage stamp from the Sword of Light series was originally issued in May 1923. The central image featured An Claidheamh Soluis (The Sword of Light) held by a hand, surrounded by intricate Celtic knotwork.

Face value was 5 pence (indicated by the "5" and "cúig pingine". This specific version was printed in violet or purple ink.

ÉIRE (Ireland) depicted the Cross of Cong. This stamp was part of the "Symbols" definitive series issued between 1922 and 1934.

The central motif was the Cross of Cong, an ornate 12th-century processional cross.  The corners of the design were decorated with four shamrocks.

Celtic Knotwork on the cross itself and the horizontal bar containing the word "Eire" were filled with intricate  Celtic knot and braid patterns.

It had a value of 3p (three pence), indicated by the numeral "3" and the Irish text "Trí Pingine" at the bottom.

Éire (Ireland) Commodore John Barry

ÉIRE (Ireland) issued on 11 September 1956 a postage stamp honouring Commodore John Barry (1745–1803), an Irish-born naval officer widely considered as the "Father of the American Navy".

The stamp depicted a statue of Barry in his naval uniform, standing with a sword and anchor. This specific issue was one of two stamps released that year to commemorate his life.

Who was John Barry? Born in County Wexford, Ireland, Barry immigrated to Philadelphia and served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War.  He was the first captain to command a commissioned American warship and the first to capture a British vessel on the high seas.

 In 1797, President George Washington issued him Commission Number 1, making him the first commissioned officer of the newly formed United States Navy at the rank of commodore.

Statues honouring him stand in Wexford, Ireland, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and Franklin Square in Washington, D.C..

ÉIRE (Ireland) Definitives - 1922

ÉIRE (Ireland) first issued in December 1922 and continued into 1923 this standard definitive design for several decades. It featured a map of the island of Ireland, which at the time of design did not include a border for Northern Ireland. This James Ingram design was the first Irish stamp printed,  following the overprinting of British stamps. It included zoomorphic ornamentation, shamrocks, and an arch over the map. "1 pingin and 2 pingin" (1 and 2 penny) is written in Gaelic script at the bottom.