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.