Straits Settlement Postcard of Javanese Woman with King Edward VII Stamp - 1904

 

STRAITS SETTLEMENT postcard bearing a light purple, 3 cent stamp of King Edward VII, was issued 1903-1904. The postmark cancellation originated from Singapore. It was dated 11.45AM, 2 August 1906. It arrived in Columbus, Ohio on 6 September 1906.

The postcard by G.R. Lambert & Company, Singapore, depicted a "Javanese Woman". On further research, the postcard photo apparently was taken originally in the 1880s, Dutch East Indies. The caption in other prints state "A Malay woman in dancing costume". Suffice it to say, this postcard was in circulation for at least a few decades.

The young woman appears to have posed for this portrait in a photo studio -- quite possibly G.R. Lambert & Co.  She is wearing  a traditional batik sarong, tiara, necklace, bracelets and large belt buckle. This fashion would have been very common for the time not only in Java, but in the Straits Settlements of Malaya.

Cover Letter Old Stamps from France

REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE POSTE stamps: Général Desaix (Issued 1968), 1946 Paris Peace Conference, Le Lac d'Anterne (Landscape), A. Honnorat (Issued 1970), and French Landscape & House. Received 22 December 2023.

Cover Letter from UK

Nice assortment of stamps on a cover letter from Norfolk, UK. Received 19 December 2023.

Yusei Jigyocho Enthronement of Emperor Hirohito - Postcards and Stamps, 1928

YUSEI JIGYOCHO (Japan Postal Agency) issued on 10 November 1928 four First Day Cover stamps marking the Enthronement of Emperor Hirohito. Shown here is the 1 1/2 sen deep green "Phoenix" stamp with commemorative seal; a similar red phoenix with a value of 6 sen was issued too, as were two stamps of the Enthronement Hall. As it was taboo to illustrate him, the image of a golden phoenix was selected, perhaps symbolic of a leader/nation rising from the ashes  to live a long life.

There were five official postcards released of the Emperor Hirohito (Showa) Enthronement Ceremony. Shown here are two of those postcards: 1) the ceremony at the Shishinden as viewed from the Shomei Gate; and 2) The Gosechi Dance (Gosechi mai no zu), from the series In Commemoration of the Enthronement (Tairei kinen)by Yûki Somei (1875–1957). These woodblock artworks were originally printed by Japan Woodblock Printing Art Company, for the Ministry of Communications (Teishinshô). Again, these were issued during the Shôwa era, 1928 (Shôwa 3).

Nippon Post "Kami" (Hair) by Kokei Kobayashi

NIPPON POST on  20 April 1969, as part of their Philatelic Week Series, issued a First Day Cover stamps entitled "Kami" (Hair). The illustration was created by Kokei Kobayashi ( Kobayashi Kokei) (1883- 1957) who was a Japanese Nihonga painter.

I find it interesting a stamp called "Hair" was printed with a semi-nude woman as the model. It all seems to allude to the 60s era of long hair and the Broadway play called "Hair". Although the artwork was painted many years ago, I find the timing uncanny. I wonder.

Yusei Jigyocho Emperor Taisho Enthronement Ceremony and Stamps and Postcard - 1915

YUSEI JIGYOCHO (Japan Postal Agency) issued on 10 November 1915 several postcards to commemorate the enthronement ceremony of  Emperor Taisho, Yoshihito (1879-1926).. This particular postcard was designed by artist Kikkawa Reika who printed it using the woodblock method. The postcard depicts the classical "Dance of Peace" with four actors portraying samurai. 

The two postcards shown here, have different stamp values. One of the postcards (with four stamps) may be from the WWI Bandō POW camp in Tokushima, according to the notation scribbled on the card.

As for the stamps, there were four types of Taisho enthronement commemorative motifs: 1 sen, 5 sen, 3 sen, 4 sen, and 10 sen, and the date of issue was 10 November 1915. The designs and number of copies issued are as follows:
- 1 sen 5 rin: Daijosai Crown  - 22.7 million pieces
- 3 sen: Takamikura  - 23.65 million pieces
- 4 sen: Shishinden south garden ceremony hall in red - 2.17 million pieces
- 10 sen: Shishinden south garden ceremony hall in blue - 2.23 million pieces 

Posten Norge Birth Centenary of Thor Heyerdahl

POSTEN NORGE on 28 April 2014 issued a First Day Cover of four stamps to mark the centenary of the explorer Thor Heyerdahl's birth. The stamps featured the following motifs: Heyerdahl, Kon-Tiki, Ra II and Easter Island statue.

Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer with a background in biology with specialisation in zoology, botany and geography. He is known for his adventurous expeditions.

Heyerdahl became world famous in 1947 when he crossed the Pacific Ocean with the Kon-Tiki raft. The raft was made of balsa wood. For over a century, scientists had debated whether balsa rafts were seaworthy. And whether natives of South America could have populated the Pacific Islands. Heyerdahl traveled out with Kon-Tiki to find out more about this. The raft was a copy of the rafts used by the Indians along the coast of Peru and Ecuador at the time when the first Europeans arrived.

 

Later, Heyerdahl made other voyages to demonstrate the possibility of contact between widely separated ancient peoples, notably the Ra II expedition of 1970, when he sailed from the west coast of Africa to Barbados in a papyrus reed boat. He was appointed a government scholar in 1984.

He died on 18 April 2002 in Colla Micheri, Italy, while visiting close family members. The Norwegian government gave him a state funeral in Oslo Cathedral on 26 April 2002.

 

Source: Posten Norge

Belgium Post 50th Anniversary Belgian Radio & Television (RTB)

BELGIUM POST on 24 November 1973 issued a First Day Cover stamp celebrating the 50th anniversary of Belgian Radio & Television (RTB) - 1923-1973. Postmark cancellation originated from Brussels.

Thailand Post 1st Asian International Trade Fair 1966

THAILAND POST on 1 September 1966 issued two First Day Cover stamps dedicated to the 1st Asian International Trade Fair in Bangkok. Shown here is one of the stamps that featured a silhouette of Bangkok. The cachet depicts a typical small business one might find not just in Thailand but anywhere in Asia. Postmark cancellation originated from Bangkok.

Thailand Post International Rice Year 1966

THAILAND POST on 25 November 1966 issued two First Day Cover stamps dedicated to the International Rice Year 1966. Shown here is one of the stamps that featured a lovely Rice Goddess protecting a field of growing grain and holding a stalk, flag leaves and gracefully drooping panicle of ripe rice. The cachet depicts field workers doing the hard work by hand while another rides a water buffalo in rice paddy transplanting seedlings  all except the sky is hand-painted. Postmark cancellation originated from Bangkok. Designer was Post and Telegraph Department Printer was The Government Printing Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Japan.

 

Islamic Republic of Iran 20th Anniversary of the 15th of Khordād 1963 Uprising

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN on 5th June 1983 issued a First Day Cover stamp  commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 15th of Khordād 1963 Uprising. The stamp shows inset images of Qasr Prison in Tehran where  Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was imprisoned, Khomeini and the protestors who supported his views. The stamp carried a value of 10 riyal. The postmark cancellation originated in Tehran. Interesting, the English and French text state the Gregorian date for this FDC release, whereas the Farsi (Arabic script) states 15th Khordād 1963.

 

The demonstrations took place on 5 and 6 June 1963, (or the 15 Khordād according to the Iranian calendar).  The protest occurred after the arrest of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who had earlier denounced  Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Israel in a manifesto signed by him and eight other clerics. Although the police and military ultimately quelled the unrest, the events established the importance and power of (Shia) religious opposition to the Shah, and it elevated Khomeini as a major political and religious leader. Fifteen years later, Khomeini would lead the Iranian Revolution and overthrow the Shah, thus ending the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty and establishing the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The roots of this uprising began when the Shah of Iran announced "The Revolution of the Shah and the People" or the White Revolution. It was referred to as white due to it being a bloodless revolution. These plans were to make social and economic changes in Iran.  On 26 January 1963, the Shah held a national referendum for 19 rules of White Revolution. The rules of this revolution were land reforms, nationalisation of the forests and pastureland, privatisation of the government owned enterprises, profit sharing, extending the right to vote to women, formation of the literacy corps, formation of the health corps, formation of the reconstruction and development corps, formation of the houses of equity, nationalization of all water resources, urban and rural modernisation and reconstruction, didactic reforms, workers' right to own shares in the industrial complexes, price stabilisation, free and compulsory education, free food for needy mothers, introduction of social security and national insurance, stable and reasonable cost of renting or buying of residential properties, and introduction of measures to fight against corruption. The Shah announced this revolution as a way towards 'Modernisation'. Also, other sources believe that the Shah could give legitimacy to Pahlavi dynasty with his White Revolution. The revolution caused a deep rift between Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Iranian Shia religious scholars, Ulama. They claimed these changes were a serious threat to Islam.

Source: Wikipedia

Pos Indonesia 3rd Annual Indonesian Wayang Week - 1978

POS INDONESIA issued on 22 July 1978 a First Day Cover of Wayang series of stamps for the III Indonesian Wayang Week (22 - 29 July 1978). A special Bandung cancellation was affixed to three stamps depicting Wayang Kulit, Wayang Golek and Wayang Orang.

 

Wayang kulit is a traditional form of puppet-shadow play originally found in the cultures of Java and Bali in Indonesia. In a wayang kulit performance, the puppet figures are rear-projected on a taut linen screen with a coconut-oil (or electric) light. The dalang (shadow artist) manipulates carved leather figures between the lamp and the screen to bring the shadows to life. The narratives of wayang kulit often have to do with the major theme of good vs. evil.

Wayang golek is one of the traditional Sundanese puppet arts from West Java, Indonesia. In contrast to the wayang art on other areas of Java island that use leather in the production of wayang, wayang golek is a wayang art made of wood. Wayang Golek is very popular in West Java, especially in the Pasundan land area.

Wayang wong, also known as wayang orang (literally "human wayang"), is a type of classical Javanese and Balinese dance theatrical performance with themes taken from episodes of the Ramayāna or Mahabharāta. Performances are stylised, reflecting Javanese court culture.

Source: Wikipedia

Pos Indonesia "Danau Tondano"

POS INDONESIA on 2 February 2002 issued a First Day Cover of an Indonesia folktale entitled "Danau Tondano". 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.

Lake Tondano, North Sulawesi

In ancient times in the Tondano area, North Sulawesi, there stood a towering mountain. On the slopes of the mountain there was an area divided into two sections, north and south. The southern region was controlled by a Tonaas (ruler) who had an only son named Maharimbow. Meanwhile, the ruler of the northern region also had an only daughter named Marimbow. 

The northern ruler was often filled with worry when thinking about the heir to his throne, because his child was a woman. To overcome this concern, he came up with an idea that felt strange. He asked his son to behave and dress as a man and promised not to marry as long as he lived. North Tonaas' request was fulfilled by his son who was given a vow in a ceremony in front of the Opo Ompung (elders). If this oath is violated, the consequences will be disaster in that area. Meanwhile, South Tonaas apparently had almost the same problem. Maharimbow was asked to swear not to marry while his father was still alive. 

One day, the two heirs to the respective thrones who did not know each other met in the border area. Maharimbow felt that the person he saw, although dressed as a knight, exuded the tenderness of a woman. He became curious to find out more about this mysterious person. 

At their next meeting which started with an argument, Maharimbow managed to reveal that the mysterious person was a woman. He is Marimbow. Then they each fell in love with one another. They agreed to become husband and wife and were determined to unite the two regions. They did not realise they had broken their oath.

The next day, suddenly there was an earthquake and the volcano erupted which destroyed the area with piles of rocks and hot lava. Then the area turned into a lake which is now known as Lake Tondano .