More than Beautiful Colors

 

I originally posted this on one of Facebook stamp groups to which I belong. My only words were what lovely colors.  I had not researched the stamp and really had no intentions to.  Another gentleman responded asking what is lovely about those stamps, that they are a Nazi stamp.   I responded, "the colors", and moved on.

Yesterday, weeks later, I awaken from an afternoon snooze (#retirement life) and the First Lady and Director of Research had picked this stamp ou

t to study.  

This is a 1936 issue to publicize the sixth congress of municipalities in what was then, Nazi Germany.  Try as we may, we could get no detail of  the sixth congress other than  it took place 6/7-6/13 in 1936 in  both Berlin and Munich.  I wonder what they served for lunch.  Can you imagine the titles of the "breakout sessions?"  

The stamp depicts a woman caring for  kids.   Hitler was very clear about the role of women in Nazi Germany.  Women were to be home and caring for the  home and children while  the men worked.  We are less than 100 years beyond those times and yet, the world is smaller than ever and political divide seems wider than ever.  There is a lot going on in this world of ours but let us never forget that it could be worse.....1936 Nazi Germany worse.  

 

What is a perfin and Who/What is Pathe` Exchange

Perfins are stamps that have been perforated with designs, initials, or numerals by private business and governmental agencies to discourage theft and misuse. 

 Through trial and mostly error, I have learned a little.  This particular perfin was created by the Pathe`Exchange.  More  on that later.

For me the more interesting story is how I come to have this stamp.   A lovely gentleman from California posted that he had a lot of these to sell and I jumped in.  Short money.   Of significant note, we exchanged money in a card and stamps in the mail on nothing more than word!  How often does that happen in this world of the internet?  Our short exchange of emails brightened my life. I learned he was celebrating 60 years of marriage, was retired from the USAF, endured many a medical challenge, and a Professor Emeritus at California State University, foreign languages, and been collecting stamps for  many, many years.

So another fine gent on a facebook perfin page identified this as from the Pathe` Exchange (Yes, I know the punctuation on the e is backward but it is the best I got)  He identified this by the number of perforations 9 on the P and 10 on the E and via some great bank of knowledge that far exceeds my own. (not difficult but hey, dementia)  Pathe' Exchange was an independent film production and distribution company, wildly successful and with quite the history on Wikipedia.  The parent company was a French company, Pathe', and around early 1900 was the most successful film studio in the world.

Edit....This morning I awake to another post from a gent who claims this is from Pacific Electric Company....so there we have it.   Dueling perfin experts.  I have no clue, but that is nothing new.

 

1961 US issued stamp to commemorate the Chinese resistance against the Japanese empire. The stamp honors Dr. Sun Yat-sen who is viewed as the father of the Republic of China. His basic principles of nationalism, democracy and people's livelihoods were inspired by the last portion of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Took a second look to be sure this was a US stamp. Compliments to the Mrs. for her diligent research.

There is something to be said about this Gallic Cock

 

One thing I can say is I do  not think it is a pretty stamp. Muted colors--not distinctive to my eye.  I had to look hard to determine exactly what it was that I was looking at....admittedly I am half blind.   However it has some  interesting history.

Originally a religious symbol as a sign of hope and faith.  Later in life it became politicized in support of the emerging French nation.  Ultimately a symbol of French resistance.  Sprung from peasant origins, proud, opinionated, courageous and prolific.   This stamp was issued in 1965 by Republique Francaise.

Who is this dude? Desiderius Erasmus

This is Desiderius Erasmus who was a prominent linguist, philosopher and “reformer.” He was a prominent scholar during a period referred to as the Northern Renaissance. He was Dutch but also fluent in many European languages. He had a major influence on the Protestant Reformers although he remained a Roman Catholic. His translations of the New Testament in Greek and Latin provided the basis of a Bible that could be translated into the common language. Luther’s German translation had a profound influence in uniting the German  (Full credit on this information to Dewey Jones, fellow philatalist from the Spellman site.)

This is a 1969 commemorative issue by the government of the Netherlands.

He is assigned to the good guys team.  Later we will have a contest of sorts between the good dudes and the bad dudes as to who makes the more attractive stamps.

Was the UN ahead of the curve with a pride colored mosaic bird in 1970?

I genuinely was attracted to this stamp in thoughts that somehow at some point past, this stamp may have had "Pride" origins.  It was a small shot but worth the look.   I am quite certain not.  That said, I am looking in all the wrong places for information as to the etiology of this stamp.  I can find a nice picture on Pinterest but they don't tell you anything.  Previously I looked at this but lost my very insubstantial notes.  My memory says it was a 1970 issue.  If you trust my memory, you do not know me well.  

However, I did learn the following:  United Nations stamps in United States denominations are valid for postage only if mailed at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Stamps in euro  denominations are valid for postage only if mailed at the Vienna International Centre, Austria. Another source tells me that with Swiss Francs, you can buy United Nations Stamps at an office in Geneva.    

That said, why does the UN even issue stamps?  To illustrate the aims and achievements of the United Nations so says the marketing/propaganda machine.   Seems rather frivolous to me.

But what about the United Nations?   Does it still have value here in 2021?  From my novice outside eyes, i do not see them solving any world crisis.  Perhaps there best work is behind the scenes and  invisible.

This stamp is roughly 154 years old---or not

The real question here is this real or a forgery/fake.   This stamp has a history and not all of it clean.  

Issued in 1867, this stamp was a regular 10 centisimo value  by the Franco Bollo Postale, which I  believe to be a Vatican address.   The stamp depicts the Coat of Arms.  Research noted the color to be naranga, which I have further  learned to be a Spanish word, adjective and noun, but as an adjective, its best described as orange.  This stamp is without perforations, hence imperforate.  By my fast (and old-fashioned) math, I calculate the stamp to be 154 years old.....more than twice as old as I (but actually not that that much so).  I should look so clean, nifty and bright at that age.

Is it real?  I don't know and I am not sure its value is that overwhelming if it is.  This another of a small group of stamps I will set aside as a small collection to have an auction contact assess.   In actuality, I will do that and there that stamp will live till forever more......until someone else puts their hand and eyes on it.

Long may we ---and this lovely stamp , (maybe, probably a forgery) live.

 

Who do you think is the better dancer?

I am going out on a very long limb here and picking the dancer as portrait on the left.  This beautiful stamp was designed by Adrian George.  The ballerina is part of a 4 stamp commemorative set honoring the British Theatre.  In addition to the ballerina, there is a harlequin, Hamlet and an opera singer.  I will actively seek to purchase this set as each stamp is more lovely than the next.

While i do not doubt the prowess of Simon Bolivar to move on the dance floor, it is not for that he adorns this 1893 Venezuela stamp.  Initially this was a school tax revenue stamp later repurposed (Well ahead of the times!) to supplement salaries of postal workers.

Simon Bolivar liberated Venezuala from Spanish rulers in 1813.  He was appointed Dictator which led to a Civil War.  After years of conflict, by the end of 1824 he was President of Columbia, Dictator of Peru, and President of the newly created Bolivia.  Way too much more to that story.   However of note, the internet continues to churn stories of Bolivar's excellent moves on the dance floor, but I still choose the ballerina.

 

Gold Star Mothers.

Prior to this stamps issue in 1948,  only 10 US postage stamps celebrated women.   Think about that.   I want to know who those ten women were and I would like to identify another ten  who despite their accomplishments could not get their face on a stamp (and their stories told)  That is the making for a future blog.

 In this case, the stamp was issued to celebrate  mothers who lost their child to war.  (Fathers get no love with this particular issue but so be that).   A mother's loss of child must engender some of the deepest grief and pain imaginable.  A stamp is what we have today to celebrate and  honor.  It seems the smallest of tokens.

The stamp was designed by Charles R. Chickering at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  (Thank you to postalmuseum.si.edu for this education)

Some might recall there was a kerfuffle early in the former President's tenure regarding disrespect (sort of a normal thing at the time) toward the gold star mother and father who lost their son to combat.  They were Muslim and anti- Muslim sentiment was rampant through that first year of his administration.  There is more to  that story but not to the point here.   What I did learn here is that Senator Blumenthal from CT wrote to the Postmaster General at that time (8/2016) requesting that the stamp be reissued.  Suffice to say, the stamp was not reissued.  Nothing like using the issue of Gold Star Mothers to gain some political points.   

Today I  honor and celebrate the mothers of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so I can sit here at my computer, research stamps, manage The Urban Legends, write my blog, cook my dinner...........well I imagine you get the point.

 

Meet Kate Tucholla.  She was an excellent and avid field hockey player in school and at club level in Germany.  Around the fields she met her husband, Felix Tucholla, who was active in the political scene.  They both joined the Combat Community for Red Sports Unit.

Soon they were both active in the anti-fascist movement.  Kate acted as a courier driver and also helped to find housing for persecuted anti-fascists.  In a mtter of 3 days in July, 1942, both were arrested.  Both were executed in September 1943.

This stamp is one of a pair, the other depicting Ms. Tucholla in field hockey action.  That pair and 4 other constitute a nice set honoring German athletes killed resisting.  The stamp was issued in 1963.

Sometimes it is just the colors and the artwork that make the stamp

Sometimes it is just about the color and art.  Unfortunately, I cannot put this stamp in that category.  The colors and the art just do not do it for me.    The stamp is from Poland, issued in1983 and commemorates a national traditional headdress.  Somehow only unmarried women and young girls could wear a flower wreath.  Married women had to wear a kerchief.  The  notation of rozbarski on the stamp refers to a district called Rozbark.  I welcome your further research to tell me what that really means.

Now if you are looking for, in my opinion, a pretty stamp.  Look no further.

Lovely blue and browns and gold.......The stamp on the right has always been a favorite of mine for the double shading of pink and blue.  They are two of a set of 6 issued in 1974 in Poland honoring wooden architecture.   Go far enough down the rabbit hole and you'll find there is a stamp for damn near everything.

 

Retard as a verb is good. Retard as an adjective is bad.

 A controversial stamp by today's standards, for sure.  Over the last many years, the use of the word retarded has in fact, faded from the landscape.  In today's words, it has been cancelled.  However, am I a bad person to admit that I like the VERB retard.   I am certainly not a retard (NOUN) for trying to create and write a stamp blog.  While my next door neighbor might be different, she is certainly not a retarded (ADJECTIVE) child.   However I might add that my limited research skills retard (VERB) my progress with this blog.  Having worked for the Department of Retardation back in the day, I lived through a period when the word was quite acceptable.  It is surely not today and should not be used in the context of defining a child or adult. 

The stamp was issued on 10/12/1974 at a time to coincide with the convention in Dallas of the National Association of Retarded Children.  It was part of an ongoing series to use the postal service as an awareness tool for societal challenges. (drug use etc).  The precursor to the NARC was originated in 1850 and was called the National Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Retarded Children with a constituency of 200,000.  (old NYT)

We have come a long way (baby)......and miles to go before we rest.

 

The Temple of Heaven, Bejing China

 

(This blog has an update below)

My first question that I cannot answer is why a Chinese stamp would have a 50 cent denomination written in English?   The answer is likely more complex than my simple brain can process.  It involves to some degree a deeper study in China history, Japanese involvement, (it is possible that this stamp is a japanese issue while provisionally governing China?---again more research)

The exact etiology is a mystery.  The stamp depicts the Temple of  Heaven in Bejing.  There was an identical issue in 1909 which mentions a 50c denomination, but I could find no picture, no verification.  There was a similar issue of revenue stamps in 1940-41 called Nanjing Revenue Stamps, but again, no visual verification of this stamps.  Various deeper dives into web sites specializing in Chinese postal history gave me popsicle brain.  So, we leave it a mystery....one to pass on to the mysterious future auctioneer.

 From Wikipedia I learn, The Tempe of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a good harvest. The Temple of Heaven was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and was described as "a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world's great civilizations..." as the "symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries."^[1]

So it is a very historic building that  I  likely will never see in person.  I am still very mystified as to why I have a (seemingly Chinese) stamp with a value of 50 cents.   We live in a mysterious world......sounds like words that might be found in a popular song.

 UPDATE     (Later that day)  So with the help from a friend at the Spellman Museum site, and via postalwiki.cn, I learn this was a tax stamp issue in 1940 by a provisional (and puppet Japanese) government.  It is one in a series of ten with the largest 2 denominations most rare. I have not been able to determine whether this has any real value.  It was a tough and tedious research, so that makes this final determination  worthy.

One for the Good Guy's Team

 

Say hello to Father Bento Dias Pacheco.   Padre Bento was a priest who initially in his younger years served the slaves in a district near San Paulo.  Later he would dedicate his life to serving people with Hansen's disease, which is often referred to as leprosy.  He lived with them, dressed and cleansed them, and helped those who could no longer see or walk.  For 42 years he dedicated his life.  He died in 1911.

Some---no, many many people are better that I.  Padre Bento  is high on that list.  Sacrificing your life in the service of those afflicted.

As for the stamp, one of the smallest you will come across.  This stamp was issued in 1955.  Protecting the children against the evils of Hansen's disease is the literal description of what is written on the stamp.  This stamp is one of a  multi colored set, details of which you are welcome to research and let me know.  

Seriously, more good history coming from these little pieces of art.

Thanks are always in order to  Mr Google, and Ms Wikipedia for their undying documentation of knowledge.

Waltzing Matilda, a poem, in 5 beautiful stamps.

  Waltzing Matilda as illustrated in a strip of 5 Australian stamps.  I rarely buy stamps but I did buy this strip of 5....for the outrageous cost of $1.    I posted 2 of the stamps individually below as it allows the reader to see how the stamp is portrayed and written.  I will be back to edit this post with more information about the stamp.

From google I learn that the title was Australian slang for travelling on foot (waltzing) with one's belongings in a "matilda" (swag) slung over one's back. The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or "swagman", making a drink of billy tea at a bush camp and capturing a stray jumbuck (sheep) to eat.

Of note, this stamp generated the very first comment ever on this blog.  No small feat considering my very limited marketing of it.  The PUNK PHILATELIST from Australia is a real stamp blog.  I urge everyone interested to check it out.  

 

Overwrites, history and popsicle brain

 

First off, who is King Edward VIII?   Reading about the British Monarchy gives me popsicle brain.  Suffice to say to the current generation, he was uncle to Dianna by marriage.    He reigned for 11 months only, became the first ever to abdicate the thrown.  It was his desire to marry an American divorcee.

So why is  he on this stamp with Moroccan Angencies and other overwrites.  This is where things get a bit  complicated.  The stamp is a definitive stamp The overwrites were to be used in Morocco and labeled Morocco agencies.  They were to be used by British Post offices in Morocco with both French and Spanish values depending on zone utilized.   .Morocco was mostly a colony of France although Spain still has 2 colonies within.  This is where my brain freezes over and I cannot understand what I read let alone try to explain it. Morocco is a mostly Arab country in the North of Africa.  We will leave it there and make compliment to the stamp.

Issued in 1936, it is a lovely set in its rich colors.  The overwrites make them somewhat unique though not at all necessarily valuable.  They do provide numerous challenges for the collector.  A definitive stamp is nothing special.  There is no cap on  production and will certainly never be rare.

It's Friday evening.  Time to drink or in the case of others (me), time to sesh.  This popsicle brain needs to be thawed.

.   

Sometimes it is just a pretty stamp with pretty colors, and not much more.

 

This polish stamp was issued in 1974 depicting a town hall of wooden architecture.  It has no inherent value, but to me, its coloring is beautiful.  My pic doesn't do it full justice.  Beauty in art. 

Farewell to my sweetheart.

 

This stamp is 1914 issue from Russia.  The stamp illustrates Don Cossack bidding farewell to  his sweetheart.   It is a charity stamp issued to  raise money for national organizations, public events, and public charities.  The stamp is typographed on unwatermarked paper---maroon and grey green on pink.   

As to the value of the stamp, barely none.  The stamp shows an override print of 25r, assumed to be for 25 rubles.   My researcher (The First Lady) have thus far not been unable to see any with this designation, likely making this stamp extremely rare and valuable.  Fantasy stamps, play it!  For those speculating, I have 3 in very good condition.

Indigenous Peoples ---So much I don't know.

 

 Chief Joseph.  I bow my head to you.  He is honored with this stamp issued in 1968. Chief Joseph (1840-1904) was a leader of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce Tribe, who became famous in 1877 for leading his people on an epic flight across the Rocky Mountains. ... Chief Joseph took over for his father, the elder in 1871.  Settlers were inhabiting  the area occupied by Nez Perce tribe but they did coexist peacefully until a few of his tribe ambushed and killed some settlers.  The heat and battle was on.  He deftly led his tribe in retreat trying to reach Canada.  Unfortunately he had to surrender just short of  his intent.  He was admired by his enemies for his principled resistance and deft fighting skills.  He became renowned as a  humanitarian and peacemaker.  Obviously there is a lot more to the story and it took me on an interesting and fun educational ride.

The stamp above, and  not a good picture, is to keep with the Indigenous people theme.    To my eyes, it is not at all a pretty stamp but that is on me.  On October 14-15, 1948, Native Americans of the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma - Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole - would gather in Muskogee, Oklahoma to commemorate the centennial of their forced move [the Trail of Tears] by the United States government from their tribal lands on the East Coast to Indian Territory [later Oklahoma].  The Trail of Tears was started and in 1848, ten years later, all the Five Civilized Tribes were moved by force to the Indian Territory which is now Oklahoma."   Obviously  more to  this story as well including some last minute political maneuvering.  

On another planet and to be sure we were on  the right side of  history, Manager Ron and me made sure in our current ASTI Championship Series,  The Cleveland Indigenous people played in one series of games followed by the Atlanta SIps, (Southern  Indigenous people). Please feel free to ask about all that.   Ain't no denying, we are woke as shit and proud to be.

Here we go again.........who is this dudette? Who is this dude?

The dudette is the daughter of a bad man.  Angelita Primera was 16 years old at the time of this picture.  She is the daughter (hello Ivanka) of Rafael Trujillo.  

Mr. Trufillo ruled the Dominican Republic as a dictator from 1930-38  and 1942-52.  He was a military strongman, reputed to be very brutal in his regime and also reputed to be worth billions today and living in the US.  The picture of Angelita was taken at the Fair of the Free World, 1955.  This fair was in honor of her father.  Angelita lived a privileged childhood, wrote a book about her dad, Trujillo, mi padre", and now lives in Miami.  Of course she does.  The stamp itself has no inherent value.  I am not even sure what year it was issued.  (Kudos to The First Lady for her assistance, and  excellent research skills......and for the company in the rabbit hole.

Hats of to the dude.   Meet Baron Hisoka Maejima.  Also, calling bullshit on my prejudice/racism.   I assumed he was another badman.,,,conductor of military  madness.   He was in fact, a Japanese government official and a statesman.  More so, he was "The father of the modern Japanese postal system."  How about that!   This one yen stamp was issued in 1952 (a great year to be born, I would say)  making it 69 years old---or 70 next year as another might add.  This stamp is particularly valuable on the collector's market.  I believe it may have a value of a cent or three.

   Indeed, this study of stamps is a deep and spindly rabbit hole that is able to consume hours of my time between  admiring, photographing but mostly searching and reading.  Mr and Ms. Google are certainly most able and helpful partners but the fact that they can decipher a phrase as obscure as "Corrientes brown stamp."  remains amazing to  me.  However in this case they did.  I was referred of course to another friend Wikipedia who was glad to deliver a boatload of intelligence of the origins of this particular stamp.  For the sake of  brevity, this stamp is from the 1860-1880 period and from the "province" of Corrientes in Argentina.   The ability of the camera and zoom capability of the computer allow me to see detail that is far superior to even a very good magnifying glass....so respect again science and technology.  This is a giant leap from 8 years ago when I first actively pursued this hobby.  

  Corrientes is the capital city of the province of Corrientes which is about 160 miles from Buenes Aires.  They created their own stamps, which were also used for small change up until 1880 when the stamp business became centralized with the government of Argentina.  The design of the stamp came from (copycat actually) a french stamp  from that period that bore effigy to Ceres.  She apparently was the Goddess of growing plants according to Roman mythology.

  As to value, like most things  it depends on who wants it  and how badly.  This stamp is  not in good condition.  It is possibly a forgery  which oddly enough could make it more valuable.  From my very minor league research analysis,  value seems to be less than $100 on its best day.   

                                

   1895-1904 from Maritius, 4 cent value. Officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island  nation off the southeast coast of Africa, east of Madagascar.  At was to what was happening there at that time and  more detail as to the development and history of this stamp, I leave it to you.  Enjoy the chase.

Just like riding a bike. 4/18/21

 

Just like riding a bike.

  Well, not quite. I needed 33's technical acumen to bring the page back to life.  I enjoyed  writing this blog and working with the stamps when  I did it.  I have  no memory as to why I stopped and re-reading some of  my blogs does bring some of it back.  My  writing was and is often sloppy as I like to  write like I  converse.  I have to break up with the .... ellipse.....(or maybe I  won't.)  I do have a friend, Clarence, who is committed to working on the editing part of  this.

The beauty of it all  is I  get to look at beautiful miniature pieces of art and with that, comes research and education.   

As for this lovely stamp, I can tell you nothing.  I have been unable to identify its age or origin.  When that happens, I often get a tingle of excitement that   this stamp is so rare there is little to no information or literature about it.   That's why playing  fantasy stamps is so fun.....not as much fun as fantasy baseball, but I digress.   The partial  cancel is clean as is the stamp.  The cancel may or may  not affect stamp value (likely none).  That said, offers always accepted.  EDIT-4/27/21-----this stamp is Japanese issue. Still no year or info.  EDIT2 same date...conflicting internet opinions.  Further research indicates it is a China stamp......more detail to follow.  I bet you can barely wait.   And here it is   This is a 1988 stamp from China, part of a  4 stamp set.  Nothing rare or special about it from a stamp value perspective.  I like the Buddah.

The beauty and the beast of writing this blog...and my others, is that readership and interest is limited.    I am  writing for myself and I am fine with that.  

With that my non-reader, if  you are  looking for serious literature,  I  can surely send you a signed copy of my "2020 APBA Baseball Tournament, a short but true story."