After kicking off the “Conservation of Birds” series in 2008 with a set of stamps on the Taiwan blue magpie, Chunghwa Post is now following up with another set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet featuring the Swinhoe’s pheasant. This issue consist out of four stamps in a block with a souvenir sheet.
To commemorate the First World War Centenary, Gibraltar issued a stamp set of six depicting images from drafting to embarkation.
World War One gave the Gibraltarians the opportunity to show their patriotism and did quite well out of the war, without the use of guns or Garrison (Spain no longer had the power or facilities to participate on the European battlefield).
On the Rock of Gibraltar, the naval dockyard worked overtime, hospital ships transported the wounded to land for medical care and trade through Spain was flowing well. The Allied navies set up in Gibraltar, including the USA, and pioneered the tourist trade on the Rock, when sailors and soldiers spent time on leave in Gibraltar.
On the 125th Anniversary of the launching of the Peral submarine, a stamp will be put into circulation which reproduces the portrait of Isaac Peral, inventor of the submarine that appears beside him.
Isaac Peral y Caballero (Cartagena, 1851 – Berlin, 1895) features in the pages of history as a renowned scientist, soldier, and sailor of the Spanish Armada who invented the first electric propulsion submarine. Following family tradition, he joined the Armada very young, where he received technical training.
Irish author Bram (Abraham) Stoker, who was born in a coastal suburb of Dublin in 1847, was the man responsible for creating one of the most famous characters in literature – Count Dracula. The book Dracula was first published in 1897 and since then many film and theatre versions have been made. The first was made in 1925 and was titled Nosferatu and featured the character Count Orlock.
Marinus van der Lubbe from Leiden in Holland was the first Dutch victim of Nazi Germany. He was sentenced to death for setting fire to the Reichstag parliament building in Berlin. Van der Lubbe was guillotined on January 10, 1934 in Leipzig – which, by today’s standards might seem rather an extreme punishment for arson.
On 15 December 2013, following a period of mourning, the world said its final goodbyes to South Africa’s global icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Watched by millions of viewers on television screens throughout the world, Madiba was laid to rest during a state funeral in the small village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape. He died on 5 December at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg at the age of 95, leaving a rich and unique legacy not only to South Africa, but also to Africa and the rest of the world.
Thailand issued a special memorial stamp for H.R.H. Prince Nares Varariddhi, or formly known as Phra-ong-chao Krisdapinihan, was the 17th child or the 8th son of His Majesty King Mongkut (Rama IV) and Chao Chom Manda Klin. H.R.H. Prince Nares Varariddhi was born on 7th May 1855 and was the founder of the Kridakara Na Ayutthaya surname.
MaltaPost has released a stamp in a joint issue with Israel. The subject of the stamp features “The Knights Hospitaller Halls” as a theme common to both countries. The two countries share a common connection as, at some stage, the Sovereign Military Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta (SMOM) occupied both.
“Unbought and Unbossed.” That was the slogan of maverick politician Shirley Chisholm, who shattered barriers, spoke her mind, stood up for the disadvantaged, and in 1968 became the first black woman ever elected to Congress.
The Shirley Chisolm Stamp is the 37th stamp in the Black Heritage series features a painting of Chisholm by artist Robert Shetterly. The compelling portrait is taken from a series of paintings titled “Americans Who Tell the Truth.” Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.
Today, 55 years ago, was the day of the fatal plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.
The plane crash took the life of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the pilot Roger Peterson and The Big Bopper.
Buddy Holly set the template for the standard rock and roll band: two guitars, bass, and drums. He was one of the first in the genre to write, produce, and perform his own songs.