The Worker

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In our hobby , something we learn to value and cherish is the fact that sometimes a little "push" is needed to light this 'collector fire'... My father was always the motor that push me to this activity , but unfortunately, only his death made me awake to this dream of 'collecting stamps...' ; Yes, it is the Dream that keep us going , always trying to get more and more of our desired stamps.. the dream of having... As a Portuguese Poet once said "By the Dream We're going...".. Being a highly organized and disciplined man , my father have almost all the attributes necessary to be a Great collector... but the Dream was missing... I am a disorganized person , always starting new things and let them die in oblivion, but I have plenty of Dream... The beginning of this post is , more them remembering, a reflection about the "myth" that there are qualities needed to be a collector... I think that only dreaming is necessary to ' ignite and keep the flame burning...' 

In today's post we have small groups of stamps from 5 countries..

CHINA

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Since my infant days in Cape Verde that China has a great influence in my imagination..I remember that I had (when I was 5 or 6 years) a gold colored silk pajama filled with beautiful Chinese drawings , that ( in that time..) was one of my favorite objects.. All of this to say that to collect Chinese stamps , was a natural thing for me and almost a necessity...

I have here three stamps from a series of 4 and I decided to present it today , even if one is missing..

As in many other Chinese series, we must first distinguish the Original and the reprinted stamps... this is one of the more famous and classic , but I present it the same..

At right we have the small picture that is important to make this distinction... if just one line is presented between the worker's legs , we have the Original.. If there are two , we have a reprinted stamp.. so I have here three reprinted stamps, of lower value in comparison to the Original stamps... 

1952 "Agrarian Reform" (4) [Des (Sun Chuanze)][Recess][Shanghai Daye Printing Company] Sc(128,129,130)

JAPAN

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Beautiful series from 1949 , representing a ferry boat to Beppu , Kyushu Island..

Japan- is one of my favorite countries , as I said before , but I'm not going to make more considerations, leaving them to future posts.

1949 "Tourist Issue (Beppu Ferry)" (2) [Engr] Sc(446,447)

NORWAY

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For some time I wanted to present these stamps, but I have always delayed the presentation , because classifying these stamps is a hard task.. not only by the similarity in the design of several series , but because I don't have stamps from the first series ... I will try to explain why I think these 13 stamps belong to the same series...

• all the stamps use the same letter for the labels
• the Oval shaped figure has Vertical lines Background
• the post horn central circle has white solid background..
• the post horn ring has no background..
• The Oval shaped figure frame has solid background.
• .the post horn ring is continuous, without no interruptions... if there is  an interruption in this ring , immediately below the crown , we have an original stamp.. in this case we know that all the stamps are redrawn's..(left picture)

However , and after the 'match' of all these aspects I still have my doubts about the 7 ore stamp.. 

I would like very much that someone with more knowledge about these stamps, could help me knowing if I'm classifying them correctly .. ( remember that if the comment is helpful for the post , I will make update's to the post with those remarks...) ; of course , I almost forget the perforation that also is the expected..(14.5 x 13.5) 

1910/1929 "Post Horn & Crown" (22) [typo] Sc(77,78,79,80,84,85,86,87,89,91,93,94,95)

MONACO

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there is nothing to say about  Monaco stamps , except the fact that the presence of so many Masters of the design and engraving in the production of their stamps was a 'bless' for this small Principality..

1926/1931 "Surcharge on stamps of 1924" (7) [Des (Henry Cheffer)][Typo] Sc(112)

Two stamps with the same design separated by 15 years!!..

[Left stamp] "Views of Monaco-New Values and Colors(1939/1946)" (35) [Des (Antonin Delzers)][Engr (Antonin Delzers)][Intaglio] Sc(168)

[Right Stamp] "Views of Monaco 1954 " (Des (Antonin Delzers)][Engr (Antonin Delzers)][Intaglio] Sc(319)

SPAIN

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Now , and to finish , I will present some parts of sheets of stamps from Spain... they are all from stamps of the Definitive series "King Juan Carlos I 1994/1995" ; I already have these stamps individually , so I will not present any data from them.. these are only extra's for the collection...

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The Promise and the Traveller's Poem

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I have made some posts with Japanese stamps.. in one of them I talked about a poem in stamps... I even have classified one stamp of the series just to have that conversation with You , the viewer... in that moment , I promised that I would present in a near future the entire series ... there were only 5 stamps missing... well, despite my financial situation , I bought those stamps, and here Am i , presenting you the Poem in stamps...

"Oku no Hosomichi"

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

by Matsuo Basho

I will start this small introduction by talking about the Series, it's temporal distribution and some of the particularities that turn it itself almost into a poem ( with well defined rhythms , blocks, etc..) ;Matsuo Basho was a great Haiku poet , so his poems were 17 syllable poems...

 the series was issued between 1987 and 1989, with 10 groups of 4 stamps .... each group is constituted by two se-tenant pairs of stamps.. each of the se-tenant stamps has one complete haiku [ the same for both stamps..]  (the left stamp has the haiku in the right frame , and the right stamp has the haiku in the picture itself...)

Of course, in this case the stamps are presented as individual stamps, out of their se-tenant form..( but you can always imagine them in that form...).. I choose to present the stamps as they were issued , in groups of 4 stamps...

I must tell you that there were several different translations of this Poem,, you can find some of them in one of the links I leave here for you to explore, if that is your wish...I choose the one I think is according to a XVII century writing... ( one of the others , made with language of XX Century is much more appealing , but perhaps, not so correct.. I don't know , I'm not an expert..!

I tried after reading the Poem to make some sense between the stamps and the Poem itself, but only by the images I cannot complete this task.

I leave here only the Prologue made by Basho himself...

"The months and days are the travellers of eternity. 

The years that come and go are also voyagers.
Those who float away their lives on ships or who grow old leading horses are forever journeying, and their homes are wherever their travels take them. Many of the men of old died on the road, and I too for years past have been stirred by the sight of a solitary cloud drifting with the wind to ceaseless thoughts of roaming.
Last year I spent wandering along the seacoast. In autumn I returned to my cottage on the river and swept away the cobwebs. Gradually the year drew to its close. When spring came and there was mist in the air, I thought of crossing the Barrier of Shirakawa into Oku. I seemed to be possessed by the spirits of wanderlust, and they all but deprived me of my senses. The guardian spirits of the road beckoned, and I could not settle down to work.
I patched my torn trousers and changed the cord on my bamboo hat. To strengthen my legs for the journey I had moxa burned on my shins. By then I could think of nothing but the moon at Matsushima. When I sold my cottage and moved to Sampū’s villa, to stay until I started on my journey, I hung this poem on a post in my hut:

kusa no to mo sumikawaru yo zo hina no ie 

Even a thatched hut
May change with a new owner
Into a doll’s house."    Translation by Donald Keene

Sc(1710,1711)

Sc(1712,1713)

Sc(1714,1715)

Sc(1716,1717)

Sc(1718,1719)

Sc(1720,1721)

Sc(1722,1723)

Sc(1724,1725)

Sc(1726,1727)

Sc(1728,1729)

As you can see , Scott Catalog presents one code for each pair of stamps.

Sorry for these horrible Postmarks but these are the stamps I have ... Sorry again.

1987/1989 "300th anniversary of the Matsuo Basho Trip / "The Narrow road to the Deep North" (40) [Perf 13 x 13.5) [Photo]

I just want to tell you about the 21 and 37 stamps.. they are different from the others , because they react to light.. They have a silver and gold colored ink that react with light to create a beautiful effect .. it's very curious..

One more time , I cannot find data from the Designer or Designers of the stamps.. I am working to resolve these problem soon...

Now that you read the Prologue you certainly want to read more... Well , good reading  , if that is the case , or just Good Night...

SeeYou.

Dancing in the Ice

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Today I will present some stamps from Japan.. beautiful stamps as usual..!!

Japan Post has started in 1992 a series named "Men of Culture" that is repeated every year with new personalities.. I just have Japanese stamps until 2004 , and at this time this series continue to have it's own place in the well structured Year plans of Japan Post..

As we know ,the Original "Men of Culture" Series (18) 1949/1952 is a series that all Japan Philately Fan want to have.. ( I never found this series selling anywhere...complete , of course..)..

1)2) Complete series "Men of Culture" 1998[ I'm going to specify the Perforation just once , because all of these stamps have the same perf: 13] [Personalities: Yoshie Fujiwara (Opera singer) , Bakin Takizawa (Writer)]

SG(2558,2559)

3) from "Men of Culture" (2) 1994 [Michio Miyagi (Composer)]

SG(2325)

4) from "Men of Culture" (2) 1997 [Khouda Rhouan (Writer)]

SG(2485)

5) from "Men of Culture" (2) 2003 [Mokichi Saito (Writer)]

SG(3185)

6) from "Men of Culture" (3) 2004 [Koga Masao (Composer)]

SG(3280)

Another beautiful series is the "My Favorite Songs".. This series started in 1997 with the 1st and 2nd issues ; in 1998 there were 5 issues and in 1999 2... Each issue have 2 stamps ,so we have a total of 18 stamps ; the stamps represent each one , a  different song and fractions of the musical notation appear in the inferior part of the stamp...When I finish these series I will present here in the blog.. 3 stamps missing!!

1) "My Favorite Songs 5 Issue" (2) 1998

Perf: 13

SG(2528)

2) "My Favorite Songs 7th Issue" (2) 1998

Perf: 13

SG(2559)

these are Prefecture Stamps.. they are really beautiful and I must highlight  that this particular branch of Japanese Philately is a "Paradise" for a Flower stamps Collector...they appear in almost every stamp and we always finish  thinking "What a beautiful Country..!!..."

1)Complete series " Tohoku's Four Season's Story II, Fukushima" 2003

Perf: 13.5

SG(17) [from Fukushima Prefecture]

2) Complete series "The Pagoda of Murouji Temple,Nara" 2004

Perf: 13.5

SG(9)[from Nara Prefecture]

3) "Cultural and Natural Heritage II,Hokkaido" (2) 2004

Perf: 13.5

SG(61)[from Hokkaido Prefecture]

 Japanese stamps that use Gold and Silver patterns, and they are many, are much more beautiful "Live" in your hand.. they loose almost their entire glow and  beauty in a photo or scan...

[Left] from a series (10) 2003 "Inauguration of Japan Post (public postal corporation)" 

Perf: 13.5

SG(3130) [Self Adhesive Stamp]

[Right] from aseries (2)+MS 1991 "Philatelic Week (120th Anniv. First Japanese Stamps)"

Perf: 13

SG(2141)

[Left] Complete series 2002 " Fleet Review"

Perf: 13

SG(3070)

[Right] complete series 1999 "100 Years of Japanese Emigration to Peru"

Perf: 13

SG(2588)

[Left] from a series (2) 1988 "International Correspondence Week" 

Perf: 13

SG(1970)

[Right] Complete series 1988 "43rd National Athletic Meeting, Kyoto"

Perf: 13

SG(1972)

[Left] Complete series 2002 "12th World Psychiatry Congress."

Perf: 13

SG(3055)

[Right] Complete series 2002 " 50th Anniv of Japan-U.S.A. Fulbright Exchange Programme"

Perf: 13

SG(3016)

Complete Series 2002 " World Figure Skating Championships, Nagano"

Perf: 13

SG(3008,3009)

Complete series 1999 "Centenary of Patent Attorney System"

Perf: 13

SG(2595)

A Small video I made in 2012, about a Japanese stamp...[with Sound!!..]

Sorry, because I have much to say about Japanese Stamps , but I don't have the time  right now... I have to leave , and I want to finish this post before...

SeeYou

The Goddess, a Poem and the Puppets

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stamp from the set 2 1995 "World Heritage Sites (2nd series)" ; it represents the Goddess Kannon..

I want to say something about the stamps I present today; I have this lot at home for a long time, and Yesterday when I was classifying them I noted the presence in most of them, of these wavy postmarks , that can deteriorate the overall aspect of the stamp... the stamps are in good shape but ...

Perf: 13

SG(2347)  Sc(A1892) 

this is a stamp from the set 2 1995 "Cultural Pionners" and represents the painter Hayami Gyoshu.. when I'm talking here about Culture , I must say that Japan has one of my "most Wanted" series "Men of Culture series" 1949 ; only have 2/18 stamps of this series and they are somehow rare...

Perf: 13

SG(2326)  Sc(2535)

these stamps represent a Japanese classical form of Theatre ("Kabuki). 

The 1st 2 stamps are from a complete series of 1991 "Kabuki Series / 2nd. Issue" and the 3rd is from a series of 2 from 1992 "Kabuki Series (5th series)" .. They all belong to the same series , but different issues , from 1991 to 1992 (the total is  6 series of 2).

Perf : 13 and 13.5 (The bigger stamps have 13.5 of perforation, while the smaller have 13)

SG(2164,2165,2186)  Sc(2094,2095,2099)

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

 Complete set 1987 "Philatelic Week. Paintings by Goyo Hashiguchi."; Philatelic Week is one of the famous Japan series, because it has been issued since 1948, year when the chrysanthemum seal was banned from stamp production.. some of the earlier stamps have already significant catalog values...(that is not the case of these 2 stamps...)

Perf:  13

SG(1890,1891)  Sc(1737,1738)

complete set 1987 "Centenary of Japan-Thailand Friendship Treaty"

Perf: 13

SG(1910)  Sc(1754)

This is a stamp from a beautiful Series 40 1987/1989. I've been searching for stamps of this set , and I've got now 35 stamps.. the series is about a poem ""Narrow Road to a Far Province" by Basho Matsuo"; the set is dived in 10 groups of 4 stamps; each group has 2 stamps with the poem itself and 2 stamps with beautiful landscapes or designs. It is , without doubts another "must have" situation..!

This stamp in particular belongs to a set 1988 ""Narrow Road to a Far Province" by Basho Matsuo 4th Issue" 

Perf: 13.5 x 13

SG(1928)  Sc(1725)

Complete set 1988 " International Puppetry Festival, Nagoya, Iida and Tokyo. "

Perf: 13

SG(1956,1957,1958,1959)  Sc(1800,1801,1802,1803)

Complete set 1978 "Centenary of Tokyo Astronomical Observatory".

the stamp is slightly damaged..

Perf: 13

SG(1512)  Sc(1350)

Complete set 1995 "Modern Anatomy Education."

Perf: 13

SG(2353)  Sc(2459)

Complete set 1989 "50th Anniv of Japanese Copyright Control Act."

Perf: 13

SG(2028)  Sc(1999)

Here is another 2 stamps from a 1986 complete set "Philatelic Week. Details of "South of Hateruma" by Kaigetsu Kikuchi"

while the 1st stamp has a beautiful postmark, that annoys nobody, the 2nd is almost destroyed by a terrible wavy postmark..

Perf: 13

SG(1834,1835)  Sc(1669,1670) 

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