Sunday Stamps II: A-Z 'G'

Despite posting from the USA I sailed this week to Guinea- Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau - 1988

This Egyptian navy ship is one of a series of old ships issued at the same time. This West African country was once part of the kingdom of Gabu, colonised by Portugal it was formerly Portuguese Guinea.

Each week I have tried to maintain a link (of sorts) to the previous week. Last week we saw the work of the goldsmiths in Finland.

So while in West Africa where better to stop off than Ghana which before its independence from Britain in 1957 was the -

Gold Coast - 1952

Too late I thought of golfing stamps, but you can make up for this by checking out Sunday-Stamps-II-144.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z: 'F'

I have only three countries to choose from this week.  

Fortunately I can maintain an art link to last time with a stamp from Finland.

Finland - 6 August 1971

This commemorated the 600th anniversary of goldsmith's art.

No link to France where I could only use Marianne to identify a President's choice.

France - 1 July 2008

This is the most recent of my Mariannes on a euro stamp -  President Sarkozy's Marianne.

Sunday-stamps-II-143 has chosen to go with fish; visit the links there to find choices made by others.

Sunday Stamps II; A-Z 'E'

Last week we were on the Djibouti-Ethiopia railway. This week it's Ethiopia itself.

Ethiopia - 26 July 1968

The stamp shows the Rastafarian Haile Selassie and commemorates the Ethiopian struggle for freedom. Selassie had become the countries emperor and led the country for many years.

My second stamp is also from an African country well know for the pyramids, but this stamp is catalogued on Stamp World as depicting Historical Art & Stone Carving.

Egypt - 1 March 1993

For other stamps this week check out the links at Sunday-stamps-!!-142.

Sunday Stamps II - A-Z; 'D'

Last week I showed a stamp from Cuba; this time I have a Cuban revolutionary from the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic - 1954

Jose Marti (1853-1895) became a symbol for Cuba's independence from Spain, and is referred to as the 'Apostle of Cuban Independence.' The stamp was issued to commemorate his 100th anniversary.

I had an African connection last week in Chad. Now we move to Djibouti.

French Somali Coast -1943

The Ethiopia - Djibouti railway has got through hard times. A new railway began operation in January 2017 and is a big hope for pan African trade. It uses some of the old route.

Djibouti became independent in 1977 as the Republic of Djibouti.

For more from Djibouti and other places, check out Sunday-stamps-ii-141

Sunday Stamps II - A-Z: 'C'

The Republic of Chad is the fifth largest country in Africa; located in central Africa it is bounded by Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger.

Its wildlife includes the rhino, whose numbers have been decimated by poachers.

I have only one stamp from this country - it's a postage due stamp showing a rock painting.

Chad - 1962

My second stamp this week is also from 1962, and is the only stamp I have from Cuba. I think you can work out for yourself the date on which it was issued

Cuba - International Labour Organisation

The ILO was set up by the League of Nations after World War One. Over 180 countries are now members of this United Nations organisation.

For other 'C' related stamps visit the links at sunday-stamps-ii-140.

Sunday Stamps - A-Z; 'B"

Bahrain is a nation of more than 30 islands in the Arabian Gulf.

Bahrain - 17 June 1961

Isa bin Salman Aj Khalifa, the first Emir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death in 1999.

I had intended to have one stamp from each of two countries in this A-Z. This soon proved to be a problem when it came to the Belgian Congo as I could not decide which one to choose.

I eventually settled for three from 1947 depicting African Masks and Wood Art.

Belgian Congo - 8 December 1947

A former Belgian Colony from 1908 to 1960, after which it became the Republic of the Congo. Its chequered and sometimes bloody history saw its name change again to Zaire and today it has become the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Well known to British TV fans of the 'Pointless' quiz programme.)

For other 'B' related stamps and not just countries please visit the links at Sunday-Stamps-II-139.

Sunday Stamps II begins an A-Z

Each year when the April A-Z Challenge comes along I consider using stamps as a topic.

Now Sunday Stamps embarks on an A-Z with, fortunately, one letter a week. In choosing what to show I am picking countries where I have fewer stamps and hopefully ones I have not shown before.

I'm not a great lover of cats but a Siamese on my only Albanian stamp starts the sequence off.

Albania - 20 September 1996

From Andorra, again a single stamp - 

Andorra - Gothic Cross at Meritxell - 17 June 1961

At the last count I have stamps from 8 'A'countries; it will be interesting to see how other letters fare.

To check other 'As' visit Sunday-stamps-II-138