Winds

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I will start with some stamps from the early days of Republican government in Portugal... It was a very disturbed period in Portugal's history , with constant changes in government and general Political and social instability...It was a long period that starts in 1908 with the Assassination of King D. Carlos I and the Crown  Prince Luis Filipe at 'Praça do Comercio'  (Commerce Plaza), Lisbon..it  ends only in the middle of the 30's with the implantation of Salazar's successive governments.. during this period the situation has worsened with the development of the 1st World War...

However , in what concerns to postage stamps , it was a rich period with some of the series that better define Portuguese Philately.. We have the 'Ceres' Series in all this period , and in the 20's we have a group of commemorative series that were really remarkable ( in my point of view...)

  

• 1911 "Overprint 'Republica' at 1898 'IV Centenary of the discovery of the Maritime Way to India'" (6) [Perf 12] [Des (Carlos Maria de Miranda Costa)] Sc(193,194,195) [Engr (José Sergio de Carvalho e Silva)] [Typo (Casa da Moeda)]

here we have some stamps of a series (6) from 1911.. This series is based in stamps from 1898 that were overprinted with the label "Republica".. the picture show us the Zamorin of Calcut receiving Vasco da Gama..

This kind of stamp ('Porteado' in Portuguese) is commonly know has 'Postage due' stamps.. letters could be sent without any stamps (or with stamps of the incorrect value.. ) or pre-paid postal values, and the receiver, in order to pick the letter,  had to pay the correct amount with the acquisition of these stamps ..

• 1925 "Marquis de Pombal Commemoration" (3) [Perf 12.5] [Des (H. Fleury)] Sc(RA11,RA12,RA13) [Engr (John Augustus Charles Harrison 1,2)(G. Fairweather 3)] [Intaglio (Waterlow and Sons Limited, London)] 

These are Postal and Telegraphic Tax stamps.. this kind of stamps obeyed to a well defined legal background.. this Tax was applied in  pre established days and the resulting amount of money was managed by the Central Government or other entities according with the legality...

This particular series was used in all internal Postal or Telegraphic correspondence... by internal, I mean from Main land  to the Islands (Açores and Madeira) and Colonies (Angola, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique, Bissau Guinea, St. Thomas and Prince Islands,Macau, Timor, India, etc)..  

The first stamp show us the portrait of the Marquis; in the 2nd, the Marquis and his staff are studying the Plans of the Lisbon Reconstruction after the devastating Earthquake of 1755;; in the 3rd stamp is shown the Monument to the Marquis of Pombal in Lisbon.

• 1925 "Birth Centenary of Camilo Castelo Branco(Novelist)" (31) [Perf 12.5] [Des (Alberto Sousa)] Sc(357,363,370) [Engr (G. Fairweather ($30), John Augustus Charles Harrison ($75 and 2$00))] [Intaglio (Waterlow and Sons Limited, London)]

these are stamps from a (31) series.. it has to be taken step by step, buying one or more stamps , several times.. if You wish to get all the series at once, it will be expensive ( +/- € 300.00 for a used set [cv]...)

The series is a tribute to the life and work of Camilo Castelo Branco, Portuguese Writer and Novelist.. there are 6 different pictures in the series, and they represent aspects of the life of the writer and personages of his Famous novel "Amor de Perdição"... In the 3 stamps presented , we find the cabinet where Camilo used to write and work (1) , Teresa de Albuquerque (the heroine of the novel...) (2) and Mariana and her father José da Cruz (also personages of the novel..) (3)..it is curious the fact that Camilo Castelo Branco wrote this novel only in 15 days , when he was in prison due to a illicit romantic affair, at the age of 35..

The 2$00 stamp is a very beautiful Green on Green stamp...

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Greece Stamps

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We have here two Olympic stamps, one from 1901 and the other from 1906..

• 1901 "Red A.M surcharge over 1896 '1st International Olympic Games'" (5) [Perf 14 x 13.5] [Des (A. Guilleron)] Sc(159) [Engr (Eugene Mouchon)] [Recess (France National Printing House)] 

the stamp represent the Stadium and Acropolis..

• 1906 "1906 Olympic Games" (14) [Perf 14] Sc(190) [Recess (Perkins,Bacon & Co., London)]

after the success of the 1896 Games, the 1900 and 1904 were a complete failure, with the lack of results and participants ; the 4 Year count was braked , and Games were implemented in Athens in 1906 to improve International participation ...it proof to be a "winning bet" ..

     

• 1924 "Byron Centenary" (2) [Perf 12] Sc(317) [Recess (Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. Ltd)]

the stamp represent us Lord Byron at the Messolonghi (Messolonghi is a Town in Western Greece.. it has represented a major role in the Greek Independence War, suffering two siege's , one in 1822 and other in 1825 , from the Ottoman Forces...) ..Lord Byron was a fierce activist of the Greek Independence and died in Messolonghi in 1824..)

• 1943 Air Mail "Winds (2nd Series)" (6) [Perf 12.5] [Des (O. Perivolakis)] Sc(568,569,572) [Litho (Aspioti Elkas)]

The series "Greek Ancient Art" is divided in three parts.. we have here 4 stamps of the 1st part 1954, one stamp from the 2nd part 1955 and 1 stamp from the 3rd part 1958/1960

I will give only the general data for this series..

• 1954/1960 "Greek Ancient Art (Part 1,2,and 3)" (12,8,8) [Perf 12.75 x 12.5] Sc(558,559,561,565,580,634) [Des (J. Kefallinos)] [Litho (Aspioti ELKA)]

the pictures represent : Homer , Zeus of Isteaea, Alexander the Great and the 'Calf Bearer'..

some of the stamps are damaged , but are easily replaced in the future.

• 1942/1944 "Landscapes" (18) [Perf 12.5] Sc(438,441,444,445,448,449,451) [Litho (Aspioti Elka)]

the pictures represent in order Up/Down Left/Right 

1.  Bourtzi Fort, Nafplion
2. Hydra
3. Pontokrator Monastery (Mt. Athos)
4. Pontokrator Monastery (Mt. Athos)
5. Pontikonissi, Corfu
6. Konitsa
7. Pontikonissi, Corfu

with this stamp, I have finished this series and finish also this post...

• 1945 " Roosevelt Mourning Issue" (3) [Perf 12.5] Sc(469) [Litho (Aspioti Elka)]

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The Stadium

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This time , I want to start with stamps from my own country.. two series that should be finished long ago..

Portugal

The reason why these are the last ones to appear is obvious after a quick look at a catalog.. these are the most expensive stamps of the series.. not a lot , but expensive..

stamps from the series (8) 1949 "Avis Dinasty" 

[Des] Pedro Guedes (b 1874/ d ??)

[Heliogravure]

Perf: 11.5

SG(1026,1028) Sc(699,701)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Aviz

Now we have a complete series that should be classified since 2012, time when i bought it..!

series (8) 1945 "President Carmona" ; this series has a MS available.. a very expensive one..
All the printing work done by Curvoisier..
Perf: 11.5
SG(977,...,984) + MS984a  Sc(650,...,657)+657a
[Photo]

.......... / ..........

Greece

stamps from a large series (17) 1961 "Tourism Publicity"
It is a beautiful series , with lots of great designs and beautifully engraved.. Unfortunately  I cannot get any data from the Designers and Engravers (I have a National catalog, very good, but it lack's this kind of info...) [if any viewer of this post have some catalog with this data , please leave a comment...]
Perf: 12.5 x 13.5
SG(852,856,857,859,860) Sc(693,697,698,700,701)
[Engr] [Wmk]

stamp from the series (3) 1966 "Centenary of Cretan Revolt."
Perf: 12 x 13.5
SG(1008) Sc(852)
[Litho] [Wmk]

These are stamps from one of the most famous definitive series of Greece... in most part of the European countries  this series appeared in the 40's and 50's... the stamps are divided in two groups , because there are 3 different issues of this series : in 1972, 1973 and 1974..
The first series has only 8 stamps , the second 17 and the third 15 .. All the stamps have a multiple Crown Wmk  and the designs are very beautiful.
[Left Group] stamps from the series (8) 1972 "Greek costumes (1st Series)"
SG(1199,1200,1201,1202,1203,1204) Sc(1040,1041,1042,1043,1044,1045)

[Right Group] from the series (17) 1973 "Greek costumes (2nd Series)"
SG(1238,1240,1242) Sc(1079,1081,1083)

Perf: 12.5 x 13.5
[Litho] [Wmk]

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The Games

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some stamps of Greece and Norway are presented in today's post...

  

here we have some of the lower value stamps of the series 12 1896 "1st International Olympic Games, Athens" ...this is a great series , a "must have" situation, I think for all stamp friends.., and one of the many works of the French Engraver Eugene Mouchon...these stamps look old , but without any visible damage..I have already 7 of the 12 stamps (of course, the one's that are still missing are the most expensive of the series...)

Perf: 13.5 x 14.5

SG(110,111,113) Sc(117,118,120)

some stamps of another very important series from Greece...This series has a curiosity ; from the 18 stamps of the series , 9 are "worked" (printed and engraved) by Bradbury & Wilkinson Ltd , and the other 9 are by Perkins, Bacon & Co Ltd..It is just one more example of the ( I think I could say it..!!) 'War' that existed in the end of XIX Century and first years of the XX between " a hand full " of  "Monster" Company's that produce stamps and Bank notes...[ I think that I have talked of this in another post..]..

The series is about the Independence War ; Greece , with help of England, France and the USA , fight to be an Independent State against the dominant Ottoman Empire.. Almost all the main personalities and leaders of the revolution, are represented in this series.

Perf: 12

SG(434,439,443) Sc(353,356,358)

two stamps from the series 6 "Centenary of Battle of Navarino (1927/1928)" ; the first stamp is the high value of the series.. there are two equal stamps , one with the Label 'Sir codrington' and another -- this one -- with 'Sir Edward Codrington'.. the stamps have some small rust spots, and are badly 'hurt' by Post marks.. the Battle of Navarino was a naval battle between the fleets  of the Ottoman empire and a Mix of Russian, English and French vessels.. The battle was won by the allied forces..

[Lithographed]..

Perf: 13 x 12.5

SG(430,431) Sc(341,342)

Let us now see the Norway stamps.

this stamp has a beautiful ultramarine blue..

from a series 3 1939 "Tourist Propaganda" 

There are two similar series, one watermarked and the other not....

Perf: 13.5 x 13

SG(264) Sc(183)

Wmk

This is a stamp issued during the II World War ; the series present us some pictures of the Norway Armed Forces... it is a series 8 that I called "Armed Forces (1943/1945)"

[Engraved]

Perf: 12.5

SG(343) Sc(261)

from a series 3 1957 "International Geophysical Year" 

Perf: 13 x 12.5

SG(467,469) Sc(355,357)

from the series 3 1935 "Norwegian Tourist Association Fund"

Perf: 13.5 x 14

SG(223) Sc(B1)

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Victory

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Today's post is shorter than usual, and fewer stamps are presented...not because of a casual lack of time , but due to the fact that today a complete series of 9 stamps is presented, and that is , I think the first time in the short history of the Blog. 

The series presented here today is , as I said before, a series 9 1946 "Victory : War Scenes" : It was issued in 15/11/1946 , after the end of the II World War..

Little is to tell about this series... The set had initially 8 stamps , but in 1948 other 1000d stamp was issued ; The initial 8 stamps were printed by "Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd" and the 1948 (15/09/1948) stamp by "Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd"; this last stamp has slightly different dimension than the others ( as we can see in the picture...[2nd stamp from 2nd row]) and different perforation.. 

Perf: 12.5  (13 x 13.5 for the 1948 stamp)

SG(646,647,648,649,650,651,652,653,682)

Two different Vatican FDC of the series 1973  "500th Birth Anniversary of Copernicus".. In each one of them, 2 of the 4 stamps of the series are present.
In the back side of each FDC , a resumed history of Copernicus.
SG(597,598,599,600)


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The Chariot

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I'm starting with some beautiful stamps from Mongolia..The first thing that we mark is that these stamps are very different from those large stamps with , sometimes, less evolved paintings that we are accustomed to find ... these are really good stamps and are in the "folder" of the "appealing stamps"...( in my opinion, of course..)..This is the first Mongolian series where human figures appeared, and also landscapes , buildings.etc. before they were more abstract pictures , perhaps with a more religious approach...The aspect that troubles me , in these stamps, is the word "postage".. Why is that a country in the influence of the Soviet Union and/or China, make stamps with the word "postage".??; the stamps from the 30's , 40's and 50's , until 1960 have maintained a very "Chinese " style and in 1960 , something happened.. I'm not in conditions to know what really happened , but something did!! ( I will leave a link to a very good article about Mongolia , in Wikipedia.)

I maybe misinterpreted when I somehow diminished more recent stamps from Mongolia... I like them , I collect them and I have a large number of them(!..), but I prefer this more "Worked and classical " style.. 

These are stamps from a set 13 1932 "Nature, Culture and Personalities of Mongolia" (invented name., again..)

Perf: 12.5 x 12

SG(46,47,48,49,50,51,52,54) Sc(62,63,64,65,66,67,68,70) Wmk [beautiful and clearly visible]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia

stamps from Croatia ... the paper used in these stamps , is very thin and plain, similar to that used in some of the Chinese stamps of this same period of time..Yes, these are stamps from 1943/1944 and the featured personality is Ante Pavelic.. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ante_Paveli%C4%87  ]

This set 20 was issued with two perforations..12.5 and 14 ; this particular 3.50k stamp has a history of it's own..First it is different from the others because of the perforation.(11.5). A simple analysis show that the paper is also different (more thick..); but the story came with the day when it was specially issued ..at 13/06/1943 , Pavelic's Saint's Day (!!??.) it has a superior catalog value [ let me say , that this stamp also exists with normal perforations..]

Perf: 12.5 (3k) 14(1k,2k,4k) 11.5(3.50k)

Sc(64,66,67,68a,69)

also issued in 1943, these stamps belong to a set 3 "Famous Croats"... 

Perf: 12 x 12.5

SG(83,84) Sc(57,58)

from the set 2 1943 " Honouring Ruder Boskovic (astronomer)"

Perf: 11

Sc(59)

I received this stamp Yesterday and I came to the conclusion that I only bought 4 stamps in this all year of 2014..and spent less then € 10.00...[ Earth spins in it's perpetual movement and we spin also with our up's and Down's... I think that , perhaps the World have stopped from spinning, because my Up's are kept away from me...]

From the set 12 1896 "1st International Olympic Games"

Perf: 13.5 x 14

SG(117) Sc(124)

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Hercules, Independence, Agriculture and Hermes

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These Stamps belong to the 1970 set 11  "The Labors of Hercules" ; beautiful stamps about the Mythological Hero Hercules ..His father was Zeus and his mother a Greek mortal Woman, Alcmene.. Hera became angry with Zeus and tried several times to kill the recent born baby...; without success ,Hera swore that Hercules life will be miserable.. 

After his marriage with Megara , Hercules had 2 children.. Hera,with all of her powers, spread confusion and Evil Madness in Hercules spirit , and in a terrible episode of anger and rage Hercules murder his own family... After some time Hercules call for the intervention of Apollo .. In return for the cure to Hera  "Mind Pollution", Apollo forces Hercules to purify himself by making the Famous Heroic Labors. 

Perf: 12 x 13.5 or 13.5 x 12 

SG(1134,1136,1137,1138,1139,1140)   Sc(975,977,978,979,980,981)

2 stamps of the 1971 set 6 "150th Anniv of War of Independence (4th issue). The War on Land "

Perf: 13.5

SG(1181,1182) Sc(1021,1022)

Complete set 2 1962 "Greek Farmers' Social Insurance ".
Perf: 13 x 13.5
SG(900,901)  Sc(741,742) 

stamp representing Hermes putting on his sandals ; it belongs to a definitive set 16 (1911/1921) ...among this 16 stamps there are other 2 representations of Hermes and 1 of Iris,  also repeated with different values and colors [Hermes head and Caduceus , Hermes holding Arkas ]. This set appears in substitution of the famous "Flying Mercury" 1901 set.In the classification of these stamps , we have to keep in mind the quality of the paper... it is a white paper with a particular pattern of small "diamond shape" figures. It is quite visible when we put the stamp against the light..this pattern have a vertical orientation for all the stamps of this set . Unwatermarked set.
Perf: 13.5
Sg(223) Sc(207)  

stamp from the set 18 (1913/1923) ; the progressive diminished quality of the paper is specially marked in the last years of these period , when various quality's of paper and gums were used..Unwatermarked set
Perf: 13.5
Sc(217)

from the same set 18, but it was issued only in 1923.
Perf: 13.5
Sc(225)





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