USPS 200th Birth Anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, there came a rapping at chamber door..."

USPS has done it again. On 16 January 2009, the US Postal Service issued its second commemorative stamp to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe, who authored the above open lines of his most famous poem, "The Raven", published on 29 January 1845 to immediate critical acclaim and success. Edgar Allan Poe was previously honoured on a U.S. postage stamp on 7 October 1949 upon the 100th anniversary of Poe's death. The postmark cancellation originated from Richmond, Virginia. 

Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as one of the central figures of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States, and of early American literature.

Poe died in Baltimore in 1849, aged 40, under mysterious circumstances. The cause of his death remains unknown and has been attributed to many causes, including disease, alcoholism, substance abuse, and suicide. 

UAR (Egypt) Launch of Cairo Tower

UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC (EGYPT) on 11 April 1961 issued a commemorative First Day Cover  stamp of The Cairo Tower that was designed by architect Naoum Chebib and inaugurated on this date. 

It remains one of the modern icons of the Egyptian capital, with its stylised appearance and lattice covering intended to mimic the image of a lotus flower.  It was built with granite from Aswan, a material noted for its nobility and very symbolic in Egypt because it is the same material used in the construction of the pyramids.

 

It measures 187 meters and was for 10 years the tallest tower in all of Africa, until 1971 when it was surpassed by the Hillbrow Tower in South Africa.

Grossdeutsches Reich Generalgouvernement Semi-Postal Cultural Issue 1944

GROSSDEUTSCHES REICH  GENERALGOUVERNEMENT on 15 July 1944 issued  semi-postal issues include five stamps:

- 12+18 gr dark green - Konrad Celtis (1459- 1508), humanist and university teacher;

- 24 +26 gr red carmine - Andreas Schlutter (1664-1714), sculptor and architect:

- 30+30 gr dark lilac - Bonar (Bonner) (1463- 1523), Krakow merchant;

- 50+50 gr dark blue - King August II the Strong (1670-1733); and

- 1 PLN + 1 PLN red-brown - Jerzy Bogumił Pusch (1791-1846), geologist.

The stamps were designed by Prof. W. Dachauer , the engraving was made by Prof. F. Lorber. The stamps were printed in sheets containing two sectors of 50 stamps each. A sector was a sales sheet. Under the 41st stamp the number ("15" or "25") indicates the sector, under the 45th stamp the inscription "Entwurf: W. Dachauer" (facsimile), under the 46th - "Stich: Ferd. Lorber" (facsimile), under the 50th stamp "Staats/Druckerei/Wien/VI. 1944." The printing method entailed steel engraving by the State Printing House in Vienna.

The General Government — sometimes also referred to as General Governorate (Generalgouvernement in German, Generalne Gubernatorstwo in Polish, and Генеральна губернія in Ukrainian) — was a German zone of occupation established after the joint invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 at the onset of World War II. The full title of the regime in Germany until July 1940 was the Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete, a name that is usually translated as “General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories”. On July 31, 1940, governor Hans Frank, on Hitler’s authority, shortened the name to just Generalgouvernement. A more literal translation of Generalgouvernement, which is a borrowing from French, would be General Governorate. The correct translation of the term “Gouvernement” is not government but actually governorate, which is a type of administrative division or territory. The area was also known colloquially as the Restpolen (“Remainder of Poland”).

Deutsches Reich Generalgouvernement Semi-Postal Cultural Issue 1942

DEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT on 20 November 1942 on its 3rd anniversary issued five semi-postal stamps:

- 12+18 (gr) dark purple,  sculptor Veit Stoß (1445-1533);

- 24+26 (gr) brown-carmine - painter Hans Dürer (1490-ca. 1538), creator of the frescoes on Wawel Hill;

- 30+30 (gr) violet-purple-architect Jan Szuch (1752-1813), builder of the Łazienki Palace in Warsaw;

- 50+50 (gr) black and violet-blue-composer Józef Elsner (1769-1854), creator of operas and teacher of F. Chopin; and

- 1.00-1.00 PLN black and blue-green- Nicolaus Copernicus, astronomer (1473-1543)

The stamps were designed by Prof. Wilhelm Dachauer, engraved by Prof. Ferdinand Lorber. The stamps were printed in sheets covering two sales sectors of 50 stamps. On the margins of the 50-stamp sheets are the inscriptions: at the top - the German coat of arms and "Generalgouvernement. Deutsche Post Osten /50 Freimarken zu..." etc. On the side margin are the settlement numbers, at the bottom, in addition to the name of the designer and engraver and the name of the printing house, "3 Jahre Generalgouvernement". The printing method entailed retrograve engraving by the State Printing House in Vienna.

The General Government — sometimes also referred to as General Governorate (Generalgouvernement in German, Generalne Gubernatorstwo in Polish, and Генеральна губернія in Ukrainian) — was a German zone of occupation established after the joint invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 at the onset of World War II. The full title of the regime in Germany until July 1940 was the Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete, a name that is usually translated as “General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories”. On July 31, 1940, governor Hans Frank, on Hitler’s authority, shortened the name to just Generalgouvernement. A more literal translation of Generalgouvernement, which is a borrowing from French, would be General Governorate. The correct translation of the term “Gouvernement” is not government but actually governorate, which is a type of administrative division or territory. The area was also known colloquially as the Restpolen (“Remainder of Poland”).

Deutsche Bundespost 150th anniversary of the Hambacher Festival.

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST on 27 May 1982 issued a First Day Cover stamps to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Hambacher Festival.

The Hambacher Festival was a German national democratic festival celebrated from 27 May to 30 May 1832 at Hambach Castle, near Neustadt an der Weinstraße, in present-day Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The event was disguised as a nonpolitical county fair.[clarification needed] It was one of the main public demonstrations in support of German unity, freedom and democracy during the Vormärz era.

The Festival confirmed the establishment of the combination of black, red and gold as a symbol of a democratic movement for a united Germany. The colours were later used by democratic revolutionaries in the Revolutions of 1848 as a symbol of German unity, but it was not achieved until 1871 and, even then, to Otto von Bismarck's specifications. After World War I, Black-Red-Gold were adopted by the Weimar Republic as the national colours of Germany and are used on the modern German flag.

USPS Assorted Stamp Cover

 

This USPS cover contains some of the 2024 Dungeon & Dragons stamps and 1960s commemorative issues including:

- 1960 - 4¢ Robert A. Taft

- 2024 - 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons featured  10 (five shown here) different designs that highlighted the characters, creatures and encounters familiar to players of the game.

- 1960 - 4¢ Champions of Liberty: Ignacy Paderewski, block set.

- 1960 - 4¢ 150th anniversary of Mexican Independence, block set.

- 1960 - 4¢ SEATO  (South East Asia Treaty Organization). 

- 1962 - 4¢ 25th anniversary of the US Apprenticeship Act that FDR signed into law in 1937.

Habib Jewels Limited Edition Tanah Airku Gold Wafer Stamp Collection

HABIB JEWELS Limited Edition Tanah Airku 999.9 Gold Wafer Stamp Collection consists of five regions in Malaysia: East Malaysia (Malaysia Borneo), East Coast, Central, Northern and Southern Malaysia.

Total weight of five wafer stamps:  1.00GS

tamp Dimension : 3.0cm (H) x 2.2cm (W)

Cover Dimension : 3.4cm (H) x 2.6cm (W)

Metal Type: 999/24K Yellow Gold

Fragile

Poste Italiane Assorted Stamp Cover

Poste Italiane Assorted Stamp Cover
 

India Post Assorted Stamp Cover

 

This INDIA POST cover features assorted stamps of notable Indian military, politicians and academics including:

-  2020 - 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo.

- 2023 -225th Anniversary of 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment (Indian Special Forces) 

- 2023 - General K. S. Thimayya 

- 2015 - 11 Definitive Series of notable Indians: Bhagat Singh, Deendayal Upadhyaya, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi.

 

Nederland Post Assorted Stamp Cover

Nederland Post assorted stamp cover
 

Pos Malaysia Centenary of the First Postage Stamps of Malaysia

POS MALAYSIA  on 2nd December, 1967 issued three First Day Cover stamps to mark the Centenary of the First Postage Stamps of Malaysia. These commemorative postage stamps were printed in denominations of 25 cents, 30 cents and 50 cents. They followed a Trapeziform with the following dimensions of perforation in sheets of 50: (a) Vertical - 30 mm, (b) Horizontal (at top) - 35 mm, (c) Horizontal (at bottom) - 42 mm. A photogravure printing method on unwatermarked paper was employed. The Government Printing Bureau of Japan printed these multicoloured stamps that were designed by Artist Ng Peng Nam. This postmark cancellation originated from Kuching, Sarawak and was posted to London, UK.

The three stamps depicted the following:

- 25 cents - showed the 1867 Straits Settlements 8c stamp and the current 25c Malaysia stamp, both in actual colours from the respective periods.

- 30 cents - featured the 1867 Straits Settlements 2c stamp and the current 30c Malaysia stamp, both in actual colours from the respective periods.

- 50 cents - contained the 1867 Straits Settlements 32c stamp and the current 50c Malaysia stamp, both in actual colours from the respective periods.

Another interesting fact about this  FDC is that it was sent by one Ungku Abu Bakar and received by an Ungku Suleiman Aziz. These are titles (Ungku) used by members of Malay royalty, although I cannot locate their family lineage. I suspect Johor.

Postes Republique Libanaise Proclamation of Independence - 1942

POSTES REPUBLIQUE LIBANAISE  on 18th September 1942 issued a set of six First Day Cover stamps with two different designs. The stamps depicted Emir Bechir Chehab and a plane flying over Mount Lebanon. The stamps were released one year after Lebanon's proclamation of independence. The designer was Paul Koroleff, whereas the engraver/printer was I.C. Beyrouth. The postmark cancellation on this FDC states 11.V.1942.

In 1941 turmoil in Europe raised the fear that Germany would gain control of Syria and Lebanon, leading French and British troops to occupy Lebanon. Under various political pressures from both inside and outside Lebanon, General Charles De Gaulle decided to recognise the independence of Lebanon. On 26 November 1941, General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government. It was not until 22 November 1943 that the French government officially accepted the independent republic of Lebanon, but the country was not evacuated by French troops until 1946.

Emir Bechir Chehab was an Emir of Lebanon who ruled Lebanon in the first half of the 19th century and was one of the most important figures in the history of the country. Postes Republique Libanaise dedicated a set of 4 stamps with the denomination ranging from 0.50 Lebanese piasters to 15 Lebanese piasters.

The second set included two air mail stamps of 10 Lebanese piasters and 50 Lebanese piastres which depicted a plane flying over Mount Lebanon which is a national symbol. A follow-up issue on the second anniversary of independence featured various denominations and colours.

From the 1940s the term Liban started to be used, which is Lebanon's name in French. Today all stamps of Lebanon are marked simply Liban.

Deutsche Post Assort Cover Stamps: “Welt der Briefe” and "Bobi and Tina"

DEUTSCHE POST current definitive stamp series called “Welt der Briefe” (World of Letters). There are eight designs at different rates: 5, 32, 37, 45, 50, 70, 85 and 95 eurocents. A complete list may be found here; "Welt der Briefe" – Wikipedia. Additionally shown here is "Best friends go on adventures: Bobi and Tina", "The Brave Tailor at Work" and Blue Bells.