Madagascar: Definitive series (1930-1944)
Monday, June 30th, 2008: France & Colonies, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Malagasy Repbublic, Stamp ProfilesThe definitive series of 1930-1944 was unusual, as French colonial sets went, in that four of its designs were typographed, while the fifth was recess-printed.
Stamps of Thailand (Siam): The First Issues (1883)
Thursday, June 26th, 2008: Asia, Classic Stamps, First Issues, Printers, Printing Processes, Siam, Stamp Profiles, Thailand, WaterlowThailand’s first postage stamps appeared in August 1883, Waterlow and Sons recess-printing printing different designs and using different colours to denote the values: solot (½ att), att, sio (2 atts), sik (4 atts) and salung (6 atts).
Victoria Land (1913)
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008: "The Postage Stamp", Antarctic, King Edward VII, New Zealand, Overprints, Philatelic Journals, Stamp ProfilesWilliam Cochrane. I discovered this article in The Postage Stamp (1913). I have read through literally thousands of philatelic articles and have barely seen any reference to these issues. It gives good historical background to the stamps and their postal usage. ...
Stamps of Montenegro: Constitution Issue (1905)
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008: Montenegro, Overprints, Stamp Profiles, YugoslaviaPrince Nikita, who governed Montenegro, as if were his private estate, was forced to grant a constitution in 1905.
An Issue is Born: Gold Coast 1952-1954
Friday, June 20th, 2008: Bradbury, Designers, Gold Coast, Printers, Queen Elizabeth, Stamp Profiles, West Africa, Wilkinson & CoWilliam Cochrane. This article was taken from Gibbons Stamp Monthly (October, 1956). It contains some interesting material concerning the early issues of the Elizabethan reign and the printers and designs of these issues. It should be of interest to all of ...
Tibet: Dull and Shiny Stamps of 1912-14
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008: Asia, Stamp Profiles, TibetRichard A. Turton. This article by EA Smythies FRPSL, was originally published in GSM (October 1956). Tibet is coming under a great deal of scrutiny currently and material relating to the stamps of Tibet should be of much interest.
Stamps of Tunisia: Pictorial issues (1926)
Friday, June 13th, 2008: Africa, Designers, Engravers, France & Colonies, Stamp Profiles, TunisiaA pictorial series had been issued in 1906, with small designs for the low values and double-sized designs for the higher values.
Stamps of Modena: The First Issues (1852)
Friday, June 13th, 2008: Classic Stamps, First Issues, Italian States, Italy & Colonies, Modena, Stamp ProfilesThe Duchy of Modena introduced adhesive stamps in June 1852 (pictured above).
Stamps of Romagna: The First Issues (1859)
Friday, June 13th, 2008: Classic Stamps, First Issues, Italian States, Italy & Colonies, Romagna, Stamp ProfilesAdhesive stamps were not introduced in Romagna until September 1859, when a series from ½ to 20 bajocchi were issued. The stamps were typographed by Volpi and del Sassi of Bologna from electroypes by Amoretti Brothers. These stamps were suppressed in February ...
Stamps of Italy: The First Fascist Issues (1923)
Thursday, June 12th, 2008: Aircraft on Stamps, Designers, Fascists, Italy & Colonies, Stamp Profiles, Topicals or ThematicsA series of six stamps celebrating the assumption of power by the Fascists. The fascist emblem, the ancient Roman fasces or axe and rods, depicted on the highest denomination stamp (5 lire), was featured on many Italian stamps from 1923-1944.
Stamps of Thailand: UNICEF Issue (1964)
Thursday, June 12th, 2008: Asia, Printers, Printing Processes, Stamp Profiles, Thailand, Topicals or Thematics, UNICEFThe seventeenth anniversary of UNICEF was marked by 50 satangs and 2 baht stamps, issued in January 1964. The stamps reproduced the mother and child emblem of UNICEF and were designed and printed in photogravure by the Japanese Government Printing Bureau, ...
Stamps of Italy: The First Issues (1862)
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008: Classic Stamps, De La Rue, Designers, First Issues, Italy & Colonies, Printers, Sardinia, Stamp ProfilesThe first stamps of the united kingdom of Italy consisted of the series of Sardinia with perforations added.
Stamps of Venezuela: The First Issues (1859-1865)
Friday, June 6th, 2008: Classic Stamps, First Issues, South America, Stamp Profiles, VenezuelaAdhesive stamps were adopted by Venezuela in 1859. The first issue, with the coat of arms, being lithographed by an unidentified American printer.
Botswana: 10th Anniversary of Independence (1976)
Monday, June 2nd, 2008: Africa, Botswana, Printing Processes, Stamp ProfilesThe five Independence stamps, issued September 30, 1976, are sand grained, sand being the name of the texture and they are, quite probably, the first stamps with a texture since the United States of America issued stamps with an embossed ...
France: The Marshal Pétain Issues (1941)
Monday, June 2nd, 2008: France & Colonies, Stamp ProfilesThe 1 franc issue pictured is one of four recess-printed stamps issued in 1941 with the portrait of Marshal Pétain as head of state. The Third Republic came to an end on 10 July 1940. The inscription ‘Republique Française’ (French Republic) ...
Stamps of France: The First Issues (1849)
Sunday, June 1st, 2008: Classic Stamps, Engravers, First Issues, France & Colonies, Stamp ProfilesThe French ‘Penny Black’ made its début on New Year’s Day 1849. Although French postal administration closely observed the working of Uniform Penny Postage in Britain and the efficacy of adhesive stamps, eight years passed before the necessary legislation passed.
Mexico: 25 centavos stamp (1874)
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008: Central America, Mexico, Stamp ProfilesDifferent designs were used for each of a series of five stamps, recess-printed by the American Banknote Company, and released in 1874. A 4c. denomination was added in 1880. With this series the distinct overprints become more complex, usually including a district ...
Germany Federal Republic: 50 Years Women’s Suffrage (1969)
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008: Germany & Colonies, Souvenir Sheets, Stamp Profiles, Topicals or ThematicsOn the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Constitution of the Weimar Republic the Deutsche Bundespost issued a commemorative postage souvenir sheet to mark the introduction of franchise and eligibility for German women. The block bears the inscription “50 ...
Stamps of Israel: The First Issues (1948)
Monday, May 26th, 2008: Coins on Stamps, First Issues, Israel, Middle East, Stamp Profiles, Topicals or ThematicsThe first stamps of Israel were inscribed in Hebrew ‘Doar Ivri’ (Hebrew Post) and featured coins issued by the Jewish authorities at the time of the first and second Jewish revolts against the Romans, or in the reign of the ...
West Germany: Thomas Mann Commemoration Stamp (1955)
Sunday, May 11th, 2008: Nobel Prize Winners, Stamp Profiles, West GermanyThe German insurance clerk, who became a Nobel Prize winner, Thomas Mann, celebrated author and novelist, was born in Lübeck on June 6, 1855.