Pos Indonesia "Aji Tatin"

POS INDONESIA on 2 February 2002 issued a First Day Cover of an Indonesia folktale entitled "Aji Tatin". Postmark cancellation originated from Jakarta.

The fifth series of "Cerita Rakyat" in 2002 which is shown is just one of the many stories and legends circulating in various regions in Indonesia. The folklore featured this time is Kembaro Island from South Sumatra, the story of Nyi Roro Kidul from the Special Region of Yogyakarta , the story of Aji Tatin from East Kalimantan , and the origins of Lake Tondano from North Sulawesi.

Aji Tatin, East Kalimantan

Tanah Pasir, East Kalimantan was once a sultanate ruled by Sultan Aji Muhammad. He had a daughter named Aji Tatin who was married to a Kutai nobleman. 

Aji Tatin was then trusted by his father to gain power in the beautiful and fertile bay area. For the survival of his government, he collected tribute from the people in the form of lumber. One day, when Aji Tatin's trusted people were collecting tribute which was loaded into the boat, suddenly a powerful typhoon came which caused powerful waves.

The crew tried to control the ship, but instead of moving closer to shore, the boat capsised and hit a coral island. The boat, which was laden with planks, finally sank along with its entire crew. 

The coral island that caused the disaster is now called Tukung Island. The event of the overturning of the boat loaded with planks later became the name of the bay area which is now known as the city of Balikpapan.

 

Pos Malaysia "Pulau Kembaro"

POS INDONESIA on 2 February 2002 issued a First Day Cover of an Indonesia folktale entitled "Pulau Kembaro". Postmark cancellation originated from Jakarta.

The fifth series of "Cerita Rakyat" in 2002 which is shown is just one of the many stories and legends circulating in various regions in Indonesia. The folklore featured this time is Kembaro Island from South Sumatra, the story of Nyi Roro Kidul from the Special Region of Yogyakarta , the story of Aji Tatin from East Kalimantan , and the origins of Lake Tondano from North Sulawesi.

Kembaro Island, South Sumatra

The original intention of Than Bun An, the son of a nobleman from China, in coming to Palembang was to trade. Understandably, since ancient times the city had developed as a trading centre which was well known abroad. But fate decided otherwise when he saw a beautiful girl named Fatimah. 

She was the daughter of a Palembang nobleman, and he fell in love with her.  Fatimah's heart was attracted to this young man from a different nation, and her family also approved of their relationship. 

Their love story continued when they married, but their wedding was without the presence of Than Bun An's parents who were far away in another country. 

As a sign of blessing, her parents sent a jar full of gold and jewels which was presented to Fatimah's family. When the ship loaded with urns arrived at the Musi river, Than Bun An and Fatimah immediately met it. 

The ship contained so many jars that Than Bun An wondered how his parents could give him that much gold. How shocked and embarrassed he was when he opened the lid of the jar and discovered the contents were only preserved vegetables. He then smashed the jars until the contents spilled out, then he jumped into the river. 

Fatimah tried to approach her husband to prevent this action, but it was too late because her foot hit the urn which was still intact. The jar broke and it turned out to be full of gold. 

She ignored the gold, and instead jumped into the river to save her husband. However, both of them drowned, unable to save themselves. Meanwhile the ship suddenly swerved and  sank. After the ship sank, land appeared at that place which became known as Kembaro Island. 

The people of Palembang now call it Kemarau Island, which is located in the middle of the Musi river.

Pos Indonesia "Ny Roro Kidul"

POS INDONESIA on 2 February 2002 issued a First Day Cover of an Indonesia folktale entitled "Ny Roro Kidul". Postmark cancellation originated from Jakarta.

The fifth series of "Cerita Rakyat" in 2002 which is shown is just one of the many stories and legends circulating in various regions in Indonesia. The folklore featured this time is Kembaro Island from South Sumatra, the story of Nyi Roro Kidul from the Special Region of Yogyakarta , the story of Aji Tatin from East Kalimantan , and the origins of Lake Tondano from North Sulawesi.

Nyi Roro Kidul, Special Region of Yogyakarta

Dewi Kadita, daughter of King Pajajaran, Prabu Munding Wangi, was as beautiful in appearance as she was in temperament. So she was nicknamed Dewi Srengenge, which means beautiful sun. 

Despite this, Munding Wangi always moped because he wasn't a crown prince. Munding Wangi eventually married Dewi Mutiara, who then gave birth to a baby boy. The presence of the boy made the King feel happy because he now had an heir to the royal throne. 

But the King's happiness did not last long, because Dewi Mutiara had a bad temper. He had ambitions to control the kingdom, even openly asking the King to expel Kadita from the palace, which made the King angry because of this. 

The King's anger did not last long, because Dewi Mutiara was good at melting the King's heart. But in Dewi Mutiara's heart a burning grudge was embedded. A deceptive plan was prepared to harm and expel Princess Kadita from the palace. 

With the help of a sorcerer, Dewi Mutiara succeeded in using witchcraft, so that Kadita became an ugly princess full of scabies. Raja Munding Wangi was very sad to see his daughter's suffering, but could not do anything and was forced to follow the Patih's advice to throw Kadita away so that she would not become a disgrace. 

Kadita left the palace alone, until she finally arrived at a South Sea beach. She then seemed to hear a magical whisper asking her to throw herself into the sea. When she touched the water, her body recovered, and her face radiated the beauty of the sun again. 

She then was transformed into a spirit and became the ruler of the southern seas and was nicknamed Nyi Roro Kidul or Kanjeng Ratu Kidul.

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 maxim card is rather rare portrait of Herman Hesse, whereas the postmark cancellation originated from Collina D'Oru and shows the Herman Hesse Museum located there.

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.

USPS Walt Whitman Commeratives: 1940 and 2019

USPS on 12 September  2019, in Huntington Station, NY, issued a non-denominated Walt Whitman stamp priced at the 3-ounce rate (currently 85¢) in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps.

With this stamp—the 32nd issue in the Literary Arts series—the Postal Service honors the bicentennial birthday of one of the giants of American poetry, Walt Whitman (1819-92), in the town where he was born on north-central Long Island, New York.

The stamp featured a portrait of Whitman based on a photograph taken by Frank Pearsall in 1869. In the background, a hermit thrush sitting on the branch of a lilac bush recalls “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d,” an elegy for President Abraham Lincoln written by Whitman soon after Lincoln’s assassination on 14 April  1865.

 

Considered by many as the father of modern American poetry, Whitman broke away from dominant European poetic forms and experimented with free verse and colloquial expressions, writing powerfully about nearly every aspect of 19th-century America.

The artist for the stamp was Sam Weber. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value, (currently 85¢).

Authors and poets both were the first to be celebrated with separate five-stamp sets by the Post Office Department in its Famous American series of 1940, and a 5¢ ultramarine stamp for Whitman with a long beard and artfully cocked hat was among them.

Statue of Walt Whitman by Jo Davidson, was first exhibited at the New York Worlds Fair in 1939. It presently stands at Bear Mountain State Park, New York.

The maxim card is rather large at 5"x7".

French Indo Chine Stamp of Annamite Woman on Postcard of a Meos Couple

FRENCH INDO CHINE (COLONIAL VIETNAM/LAOS/KAMPUCHEA) issued in the early 1920s stamp depicting an Annamite woman from the Annam region of central Vietnam. The stamp was available in different colours and values. This one is green with a value of five cents, and it is a vertical se-tenant of two stamps.

The postcard from 1922 showcases a young couple belonging to the Meos tribe in Laos. At that time, Laos was under French colonial rule, adding an intriguing historical context to this image. The woman is adorned with striking long curved silver earrings, which beautifully frame her face and highlight her cultural heritage. Meanwhile, the man wears a silver necklace featuring a long chain and rectangular pendant, symbolising his connection to tradition and identity. 

The photograph offers a glimpse into the rich diversity of customs and costumes prevalent among different ethnic groups in this region during the 1920s. It serves as a reminder of how cultures evolve over time while retaining their unique essence.

In today's world where globalisation has brought people closer together than ever before, images like these remind us of our shared humanity while celebrating our individuality. They prompt us to appreciate the beauty found in every corner of our planet and encourage us to embrace diversity. 

As we observe this young couple frozen in time through this remarkable photograph, we are transported back over a century ago when racial types were often used as markers for categorisation. However, it is important not to view them solely through such lenses but rather appreciate their story within their own cultural context - one that encompasses love, tradition, and resilience

Vietnam Cong Hoa Sampan Ferry Women - 1974

VIETNAM CONG HOA (REPUBLIC OF  VIETNAM) on  13 January 1974 issued two stamps showing sampan ferry women. The value of this  blue/multicoloured stamp and green/multicoloured stampwas 5 Dong and 10 Dong respectively Perforation was 14 X 13.5. Lithograph printing process was used. Postmark cancellation originated from Saigon, South Vietnam.

Vietnam Cong Hoa Injured Soldiers - 1972

VIETNAM CONG HOA (REPUBLIC OF  VIETNAM) on  1 September 1972 issued a set of three First Day Cover stamps dedicated to showing support for injured war soldiers of South Vietnam. Postmark cancellation originated from Saigon, South Vietnam.

South Vietnam  issued several propaganda and military related stamps, although not so much like those in the North.

 

Deutsche Bundespost Postcard Marking President Carter's Visit to Berlin - 1978

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST on 15 July 1978 issued postal stationery with special franking to mark President Jimmy Carter's three-day visit to West Germany. The stamp on this postcard shows it was postmarked Berlin Kongresshalle when Carter visited and addressed citizens in West Berlin.

 

The postage stamp is Friedrich Ludwig Jahn  (1778 – 1852) who was a German gymnastics educator and nationalist. His writings credited him with the founding of the German gymnastics (Turner) movement as well as influencing the German Campaign of 1813, during which a coalition of German states effectively ended the occupation by Napoleon's First French Empire. His admirers know him as "Turnvater Jahn", roughly meaning "Father of Gymnastics Jahn". Deutsche Bundespost issued this stamp in 1978.

As for President Carter's visit in Berlin, he stood before an audience of 1,000 Berliners and fielded questions for nearly an hour on everything from the security of the divided city to the size of his daughter's weekly allowance. At the town meeting in the Congress Hall, Carter addressed the audience in German: “Was immer sei, Berlin bleibt frei,” or “Whatever may be, Berlin stays free.” He had said the same thing earlier at a ceremony at the Berlin Airlift Memorial.

President Carter and Chancellor Helmut Schmidt laid wreathes at the Memorial to the 78 Britons, Americans and West Germans who lost their lives during the Berlin Airlift in 1948-1949. Accompanied by Chancellor Schmidt throughout, he then drove to Potsdam Square, where he mounted a platform and looked over the wall into East Berlin.

The state-sponsored trip also included stops in Bonn and Frankfurt (town hall) and military base in Wiesbaden.

Source: New York Times

Poste Italiani King Victor Emmanual III with Tripoli Postmark - 1912

POSTE ITALIANI from 1901 issued definitive postage stamps of  King Victor Emmanual III, King of Italy. The postcard itself, entitled “Jeune Arabe”, depicts a young Beduin woman from Tunisia. Lehnert and Landrock photographed her circa 1905-1906. This particular postcard featured the green 5C stamp of King Victor Emmanual issued initially in 1909. The postmark on this postcard originated from Tripoli (Tripolitana) in 1912, the year the Ottoman Empire ceded Tripolitania to Italy. Interestingly, Italian stamps from Tripolitania were overprinted "Tripoli di Barberia", but this one appears to be either an early Tripoli  issue or forgery from Italy passed off as Tripoli. Postmark is too light and faded to really know for certain.

Tripolitana was a historic region of western Libya, centred on the coastal city of Tripoli. Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Tripolitania was captured by Italy in 1911 during the Italo-Turkish War. Italy officially granted autonomy after the war, but gradually occupied the region. Originally administered as part of a single colony, Tripolitania was a separate colony from 26 June 1927 to 1934, when it was merged into "Libya". During World War II, Libya was occupied by the Allies and until 1947 Tripolitania (and the region of Cyrenaica) were administered by Great Britain. Italy formally renounced its claim upon the territory in the same year.

Tuvalu Post WWI Centenary of "The Christmas Truce"

TUVALU POST in December 2019 issued a mint sheet of four commemorative stamps marking the WWI centenary of  "The Christmas Truce".

These four stamps from Tuvalu featured the original illustration of British and German soldiers exchanging cheerful conversation. It first appeared in an artist's impression from The Illustrated London News of 9 January 1915. The caption read "British and German Soldiers Arm-in-Arm Exchanging Headgear: A Christmas Truce between Opposing Trenches". The selvage included the name of the artwork as well as text stating "Legend has it that some British and German trench soldiers made a temporary truce for Christmas in an incredible act of humanity in the middle of one of the world's most infamous wars."

The Christmas truce (or, known in German as Weihnachtsfrieden) was a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front of the First World War around Christmas 1914. The truce occurred five months after hostilities had begun. Lulls occurred in the fighting as armies ran out of men and munitions and commanders reconsidered their strategies following the stalemate of the 'Race to the Sea' and the indecisive result of the First Battle of Ypres.

In the week leading up to 25 December, French, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasonal greetings and talk. In some areas, men from both sides ventured into no man's land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs. There were joint burial ceremonies and prisoner swaps, while several meetings ended in carolling. Men played games of football with one another, creating one of the most memorable images of the truce. Hostilities continued in some sectors, while in others the sides settled on little more than arrangements to recover bodies. This would be less so in the following years as commanders on both sides had given orders not to fraternise with the enemy.

Sources: Tuvalu Post and Wikipedia

 

Islamic Republic of Iran Post Massacre of Hajj Pilgrims in 1987

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN POST  on 21 July 1988 issued a First Day Cover with two stamps in memoriam of Hajj pilgrims 'massacred' in 1987.

On 31 July 1987, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, a clash between Shia pilgrim demonstrators and the Saudi Arabian security forces resulted in the death of more than 400 people. The event has been variously described as a "riot" (Saudi Arabia account) or a "massacre" (Iranian account).

French Polynesia (Tahiti) 50th Anniversary of the WWII "Tamari'i Volunteers"

FRENCH POLYNESIA (TAHITI) on 21 April 2001 offered a First Day Cover stamp marking the 50th Anniversary of the Pacific Battalion formed from French Polynesia during WWII. The stamp and cachet featured the ship that carried the volunteers and their military insignia. The cancellation postmark originated from Papeete, Tahiti.

The Pacific Battalion was a unit of the Free French Forces formed in French Polynesia in 1940, and belonging to the 1st Free French Division of General Pierre Kœnig. He fought in particular in North Africa, Italy and France. The battalion's soldiers are nicknamed the "Tamari'i volunteers", which means volunteer children ("tamari'i" means "children" in Tahitian).

The battalion was created on the initiative of Félix Broche, then captain, who was promoted to commander, then lieutenant-colonel before being killed at the Battle of Bir Hakeim. He was affectionately nicknamed by his men “ metua” (the father).