Recently Added Stamps

By

Freestampmagazine

-

February 15, 2023

0

Here is a very small selection from the hundreds of stamps added daily to PostBeeld’s vast stock. For a better insight you are welcome to visit the company’s websites.

In 2001 this beautiful stamp sheet was produced by Botswana. It is one of Botswana’s “Wetlands” stamp series.

Above stamps from Latvia (1936) with portraits of famous Latvian poets and authors. From left to right are poet Atis Kronvalds, poet Andrejs Pumpurs, author Juris Maters and author and journalist Mikelis Krogzemis.

This Estonia stamp from 1924 shows a map of the country one year after it gained independence. In 1924 there was a failed coup d’etat by communist party supporters.

This Ireland 2022 stamp issue featured atmospheric photographs of four leading Irish singer/songwriters who have performed on the Pyramid and Acoustic Stages at the famous Glastonbury Music and Arts Festival. The featured artistes are Christy Moore, Sinéad O’Connor, Lisa Hannigan and Andrew Hozier Byrne (Hozier).

This wonderfully-illustrated stamp set from Jersey in 1984 featured various famous lifeboats that, via their heroic crews, saved the lives of people in distress on the seas surrounding the Channel Island of Jersey. The stamps show left, top to bottom, a 1949 rescue of survivors from the ship “Maurice Georges” carried out by the lifeboat “Hearts of Oak”. Then another 9p stamp depicting the rowed lifeboat (can you imagine!) “Sarah Brooshoft”, close to the Demie de Pas lighthouse. The 12p shows the “Elizabeth Rippon”, a Watson-class lifeboat based at St Helier from 1948 until 1975, carrying out a rescue operation in 1949. It was the first British lifeboat with a covered deck cabin and aluminium alloy structure. Top and middle right you have again “Elizabeth Rippon” pictured saving the yacht Santa Maria in 1951 and then saving people in 1973. Finally there is the “Thomas James King”, named after an heroic former St Helier lifeboat coxswain. Built by Groves and Guttridge at Cowes on the Isle of Wight, she served in Jersey from 3 February 1975 until December 1989. It was launched 288 times and saved 155 lives.

The year 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit and for the previous Rabbit year, 2011, Indonesia issued this beautiful celebratory special pack. Then below, also from Indonesia in 2011 a gorgeous set featuring traditional Indonesian textile patterns.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan produced the above stamps to commemorate the Festival of the Arabian Horse in 1989.

Gnomes, Goblins and Elves

By

Freestampmagazine

-

January 24, 2023

0

There are many postage stamps featuring imaginary characters from children’s stories and in 2002 Australia issued a stamp set showing figures from a book written for kids by Australian author John Marsden. Beginning top left we have: the Gnome; the Wizard and the Sprite. Bottom left the Bunyip – in Australian Aboriginal folklore a legendary monster said to inhabit the reedy swamps and lagoons of the interior of Australia; the Fairy and the Goblin.

A gnome and four-leaf clover represent good luck on a pair of New Year’s stamps issued by Slovenia in 2013.

Danish Post issued a set of stamps in 2016 showing traditional Danish “Nissen” (Gnomes or Pixies) in a variety of comic scenes.

This first day cover from Åland (2013) has a gnome-like figure that was sculpted by the man responsible for the design of the envelope and the stamp, Hakan Sandberg. The blue ribbon represents prostate cancer awareness, the stamp’s designer being a prostate cancer survivor. The Blue Ribbon charity stamp sold for €1.20, €0.20 of which was awarded to Åland’s Cancer Society.

The stamp sheet above entitled “De wereld van de kabouter” (The world of the gnome) was issued in 2020 and commemorated the 25th anniversary of the death of Rien Poortvliet (1932-1995), a Dutch artist and illustrator. Poortvliet saw himself as a storyteller in drawings. His drawings told the tale, and at most he added a short caption. His works were extremely popular and translated in many languages.

More kabouter/gnome stamps from the Netherlands, those above from 2008. Then, below, 12 mini sheets issued in 2016, designed by Rien Poortvliet and Wil Huygen with appropriate themes for the months of the year.

In 2022 the USA produced a “Holiday Elves” booklet with stamps featuring elves, in this case the helpers of Father Christmas, preparing children’s toys for Christmas delivery.

And another Christmas issue from Latvia featuring elf-like characters.

Fossils

By

Freestampmagazine

-

January 11, 2023

0

The set of four stamps issued by India in 1997 commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in the city of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and show two plant fossils. Professor Birbal Sahni (1891–1949) was the first Indian to revive interest in the study of Indian plant fossils. He saw the potential of palaeobotanical research in India in understanding plant evolution, applying knowledge gained for the benefit of human welfare. The artwork of the two stamps seen right show the extinct plants Williamsonia sewardiana and Pentoxylon, while the fossils seen left are Glossopteris and Birbalsahnia divyadarshanii, the latter named after the palaeobotanists Birbal Sahni and Divya Darshan Pant (1919-2001).

The 23rd International Geological Congress to be held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1968 was the largest since the first IGC was held in 1878 in Paris. Unfortunately it was cancelled by the organisers on 23rd August 1968, two days after Warsaw Pact forces invaded the country. The stamps issued to commemorate the Congress feature fossils found in Czechoslovakia. The stamps depict: 30h – Hypophylloceras bizonatum; 60h – Palaeobatrachus grandipes; 80h – A cross-section of a mineral; 1Kcs – Chlamys gigas; and the 1.60 Kcs – Selenopeltis buchi buchi.

The two stamps above commemorated the XIX International Geological Congress, held in Algeria in 1952. The 15F stamp shows a fossil of an ammonite, Berbericeras sekikensis. The 30F shows a phonolite volcanic rock dyke in Hoggar, Algeria.

Ethiopia produced these fossil shell stamps in 1977. They show: 5c Terebratula Abyssinica; 10c Terebratula Subalata; 25c Cuculloea Lefeburiaua; 50c Ostrea (Gryphia) Plicatissima; and 90c Trigonia Cousobrina.

The year 1969 was the 100^th anniversary of the Hungarian State Institute of Geology and the above commemorative stamp set was issued by the Hungarian postal service. It includes minerals and fossils stamps.

Greenland issued stamps in 2008 and 2009 with fossils as the subject. Above left is the worm-like Halkrieria evangelista, discovered in Cambran Period rocks on the Danish island Bornholm. The fossil on the stamp was found in North Greenland in 1980. The middle stamp shows Ichthyostega stensioei, one of the first amphibians. The first specimen of Ichthyostega was collected by Swedish expeditions in East Greenland in the 1920s and 1930s. The fossil on the right hand stamp is Eudimorphodon cromptonellus, a small pterodactyl and one of the first vertebrates to develop the ability to fly. The specimen was found by an expedition from Harvard University at the Carlsberg Fjord in East Greenland in the 1990s.

Then we have the 2009 examples. First the “horsetail” Schizoneura carcinoides, once common in East Greenland. Scaphites rosenkrantzi, seen on the middle stamp, is an ammonite from the Cretaceous period that was found in rocks on the Nuussuaq Peninsula in West Greenland. The fossil of a Mallotus villosus, or the capelin (right), is a small fish with a distinctive smell that is still common today in the Arctic seas. The capelin, however, can also still be found as fossils in West Greenland and appears identical to its living relatives.

This minisheet from Slovakia was produced in 2006. In geological and paleontological terms, the abandoned sandpit Sandberg (left stamp), situated in Devin – a borough of the capital, Bratislava, is one of the most important sites in Slovakia. This protected site is extremely rich in fossil remains of marine coastal and terrestrial fauna and flora. In Šomoška, Slovakia is a 9 metre-high stone “waterfall” (stamp right) composed of hexagonal basalt pillars. This unique rock formation formed around four million years ago when basalt lava hardened into these unique columns. It’s one of only seven similar formations found in the world.

Don’t Forget to Check Out PostBeeld’s Great Year End Offer – Up to 25% off Stamps up to 2nd January Inclusive

Sale Items

By

Freestampmagazine

-

December 27, 2022

0

Don’t Forget to Check Out PostBeeld’s Great Year End Offer – Up to 25% off Stamps up to 2nd January Inclusive

Some examples here of savings on stamp purchases in PostBeeld’s Year End sale. 75th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Charitable Society of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Mint stamps from 1944, 25% discount.

In April 1941 Germans and Italians set up the Independent State of Croatia. Ante Pavelić, seen on the stamp sheet above, was declared head of state. Also 25% off in the sale. Many more items can be found on the PostBeeld website.

Here is a ‘Coat of Arms’ stamp booklet from Jersey (1984), 20% off in the sale.

And 20% discount on these “Urgent Post’ items from Spain, 1956.

Anti-tuberculosis sheet, mint never-hinged, Belgium 1942, 20% off.

PostBeeld’s New Year Auction

By

Freestampmagazine

-

December 20, 2022

0

The fourth monthly PostBeeld auction is underway and bidding is currently (see website) possible. It is the largest to date with over 900 lots. In this New Year auction there are once again many unique items for the specialised/passionate collector, plus many interesting items that might not normally be visible in our webshop.

Reverse side of 1840 Penny Black – Plate 1A

The auction starts with a fine copy of the 'Penny Black', the very first stamp, but there are more interesting British Commonwealth lots.

Furthermore, a very extensive unique collection of Swiss soldiers' mail, divided into dozens of lots (found on the early and later pages on the website's Auction section). Much postal stationery, local mail, surprising thematic items (including a nice collection of first day covers and postcards featuring wines/wineries) and lots based on franking value. But if you look closely you will find many other special and unusual things.

Various special items from the Netherlands and overseas (including above, an unused copy 3rd issue 50 cents, NVPH number 12), many city stamps, personal stamps, letters and postal stationery.

Netherlands test stamps 1936, Shirley Temple

PostBeeld's auctions have an automatic bidding system that makes it easy to place your bids in advance (see the explanation in our auction conditions).

Every month there will be a new auction. Auctions will take place on the 1st day of the month from 14:00 Central European Time. Bids are possible from the 16th of the previous month, but lots can be viewed earlier on the website. Thus the following auction will be on the 1st of February.

Christmas Stamps

Philately

By

Freestampmagazine

-

December 16, 2022

0

Today we feature a small selection of festive season stamps, starting with Åland’s two beautiful 2022 Christmas stamps that show a modern version of the classic gnomes. Christmas is the holiday when we send most greetings by post. The stamp illustrates gnomes on their way to deliver Christmas mail on Åland, guided by the Sälskär lighthouse, in the northwestern archipelago of Hammarland, north of the main island of Åland.

The Netherlands’ contribution this year has 10 stamps designed by illustrator Miriam Bos. Her nostalgic design has drawings full of cheerful scenes in bright colours. Each stamp tells a personal story about Christmas and the month of December.

Sweden’s issue also consists of 10 stamp with winter scenes, most of which show children enjoying outdoor activities. Artwork by Sabina Wroblewski Gustrin.

Then from Latvia, with a gnome theme.

From Estonia, designer M. Balbat, children dressed as Christmas angels.

New Zealand chose various Christmas icons with greetings in Maori.

And Great Britain’s first bar-coded Christmas stamps represent the bible story of the birth of Jesus.

The Faroe Islands stamps feature an Advent wreath and Christmas tree with candles.

Then a different take on Christmas from Belgium, two snow globes featuring a snowman and a snowy town scene.

Black Heritage – Part 15

By

Freestampmagazine

-

December 13, 2022

0

The person featured on the 2017 Black Heritage stamp was Dorothy Height (1912-2010). She fought long and hard for the rights of women, especially women of colour. Height helped to form the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971. She was the leader of the National Council of Negro Women when they joined the Council for United Civil Rights Leadership. She stood behind Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Among the honours awarded to her were the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994) and the Congressional Gold Medal (2004).

Lena Horne (1917-2010) was featured on the 2018 stamp. She helped break racial barriers by changing the way black women were represented in film, refusing to play roles that stereotyped African American women. One of the most popular African American entertainers of the twentieth century, she was known for her parts in films such as ‘Cabin in the Sky’ and ‘The Wiz’ as well as her trademark song, “Stormy Weather”, during her sixty-year career performing Lena Horne electrified audiences with her beauty and fine voice. She used her fame to fight social injustices toward African-Americans, working with civil rights groups.

Gregory Hines (1946-2003) was the subject in 2019. He was an American tap dancer, actor and choreographer who was a major figure in the revival of tap dancing in the late 20th century. Gregory Hines began dancing as a child and went on to launch a successful Broadway, television and film career. His notable movies include The Cotton Club and White Nights. In addition to his work on the dance and theatre stage, in film and on television, Hines’ wide-ranging career also included making a 1987 album called Gregory Hines, and writing forewords for the books “Brotherhood in Rhythm” about the careers of the fantastic tap-dancing Nicholas Brothers.

Lego

By

Freestampmagazine

-

December 9, 2022

0

The year 2022 is the 90th anniversary of the founding of a company that produces one of the most popular toys enjoyed by children and adults alike. Austria saluted the anniversary with the stamp seen here. We are talking about the LEGO Group, founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder. The name ‘LEGO’ is an abbreviation of the two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”.

According to company figures the approximate number of LEGO® elements sold per year is 70 billion. More than 60 colours are used in production and more than 3,400 different shaped parts are produced.

And in 2017 Malaysia issued these attractive stamps featuring Legoland Malaysia Resort, Malaysia’s first international theme park, which opened in 2012 with over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions. The first Legoland theme park was created in 1968 in Billund, Denmark. The park is located next to the original Lego factory and Billund Airport, Denmark’s second-busiest airport. To date there are others in California, Florida, New York, Malaysia, Dubai, Windsor, Japan, Korea and Germany.

Recently Added to Stock

By

Freestampmagazine

-

November 15, 2022

0

Crypto stamps have attracted younger people to look at stamp collecting from a completely different angle and the popularity of these items has seen more countries being involved with issuing crypto stamps. Above is the first Crypto stamp. Österreichische Post AG issued the world’s first blockchain stamp on 11 June 2019.

On the 180th anniversary of the issue of the first postage stamp, the “Penny Black”, Croatia issued its first crypto stamp.

Thailand Post is the first postal service in Southeast Asia to produce Crypto stamps.

And above is one design from a set of 10 crypto stamps produced by Swiss Post in 2022.

The Netherlands and Austria co-operated with this 2022 crypto issue, using different background designs.

Then we have three stamp sheets from Spain depicting a satirical and humorous journey through the history of Spain through the stamps and drawings designed by the graphic humorists José Gallego and Julio Rey.

From Atapuerca Neanderthals to the Swabians, Vandals and Alans; from the Visigoths to the Catholic Monarchs and from Columbus to Philip III, the idea behind these wonderfully illustrated stamps was to teach schoolchildren how postal messaging works.

Belgian chocolate is world-famous, 1999 saw the above stamp issue from Belgium. Same year the 50th anniversary of the death of Belgian expressionist and surrealist artist James Ensor was commemorated with stamps featuring three of his artworks.

We have also recently acquired a great amount of stamps from the Arab States. A few examples of which follow.

The Scientific Center of Kuwait, inaugurated in April 2000, was considered the first of its kind in the Middle East Region. The Center is dedicated to the advancement of the sciences and cultural heritage of Kuwait, promoting public awareness and knowledge of the wildlife and ecosystems of the Arabian Gulf Region and, consequently, committed to the care and preservation of these ecosystems. The 12-stamp sheet above features the Center and fauna from the region.

In 2012 Kuwait produced the above to celebrate 50 years membership of UNESCO (1960-2010).

Al Marash, Oud oil, Agar wood and Al Moghass – four perfumes dear to Qatari people – were shown on the stamp sheet “Traditional Perfume”, issued by Q-Post in 2008. And below an issue to celebrate Qatar’s capital Doha being 2010’s Capital of Arab Culture.

Opel is one of Europe’s largest automakers. It was founded by Adam Opel in 1862 in Rüsselsheim, Germany. In the beginning, Opel just produced sewing machines in a cowshed in Rüsselsheim. Encouraged by success, Adam Opel launched a new product in 1886. He began to sell high front-wheel bicycles, also known as penny-farthings. Opel died in 1895 and four years after the death of her husband – after listening to the advice of her sons Carl, Wilhelm and Friedrich – his widow Sophie Opel decided to start producing cars in 1899. Thus Opel joined the ranks of the automotive pioneers of the late 19th century that included Daimler, Benz and Peugeot. In the spring of 1899, the first of 65 hand-made Opel Patentmotorwagen “System Lutzmann” was built in Rüsselsheim. The two souvenir sheets, issued in 2012 by Burundi, commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Adam Opel AG (Opel) automobile company. That on the left has a portrait of the founder with a sewing machine, his son Fritz (Friedrich) on a later bicycle model, the first vehicle (1899) and an Opel Olympia from 1935. The second sheet includes images of contemporary Opel models at the time of the stamp issue, including the 2011 Opel Ampera, the 2008 Opel Insignia, and the 2012 Opel Mokka. The stamp includes an image of the 2011 Opel RAK e Concept car.

PostBeeld currently has this rare mint never-hinged definitive set from Ethiopia, produced in 1994, depicting the Simien fox, also known as the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), a canine native to the Ethiopian Highlands.

And how about 100 beautifully illustrated overprints from North Korea, dating from the 1970s?

Another Unusual Subject

Philately

By

Freestampmagazine

-

November 1, 2022

0

Chimney sweeping! Who would have thought it could be the subject on a postage stamp? Part of the attraction for many collectors is the incredibly varied amount of topics to be found on stamps. The Chimney Sweeper Switzerland association celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2022. The special stamp issued by Switzerland to mark that fact has a woman and a man in traditional chimney sweep costume with the typical tools of the trade. The chimneys that can be seen on the rooftops are grey but can be scratched clean. The clover leaf brings luck on the roofs. The sheet also contains self-adhesive lucky charms. In addition to the chimney sweepers’ top hats, the charms also include a ladybird, a 1-centime coin and a four-leaf clover. As long ago as the Middle Ages, chimney sweepers were seen as bringers of good fortune, because they protected people from poisoning and fire by unblocking their chimneys. They also evidently had no fear of dark chimneys, where spirits were believed to live. Touching a chimney sweeper was believed to bring good luck in the New Year.

Good luck wishes are also conveyed through the two stamps shown above. The “Horseshoe” (CHF 0.90) and “Cloverleaf” (CHF 1.10) special stamps come with gold foil embossing. In addition to the phrase “Good luck” in five different languages, a horseshoe and cloverleaf adorn the stamps as symbols of good luck. However, portraits of a female chimney sweep and a male chimney sweep, which also frequently appear as lucky charms, take centre stage.

Donald Duck even gets in on the act as a chimney sweep on the Le 100 stamp in this set of Disney definitives from Sierra Leone in 1990.

And the bottom left stamp of the Sweden stamps above features a chimney sweep.

And finally, the Royal Society of Arts’ 250th anniversary was celebrated by Great Britain with the above stamp set. Bottom left lies the chimney sweep connection – the RSA Gold medal 1805 was awarded to George Smart for his apparatus for sweeping Chimnies without employing boys.