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Sunday, 25 May 2014

Gibraltar and Victory - Sunday Stamps

Horatio Nelson died at 1630 on 21 October 1805 on board HMS Victory. He had been shot on board by a French sniper during the Battle of Trafalgar.

Gibraltar issued a set of stamps to commemorate the 175th anniversary of his death.


This painting shows the Victory, with Nelson's body on board, being towed into Gibraltar for repairs after the battle. The famous Rock is unmistakable.

The four stamps issued in 1980 include one of the painting.





It shouldn't be too hard for you to work out where I found the sheet and the set of stamps. It wasn't under a rock.

To see what others have chosen please follow the links at Viridian's Sunday-stamps-172.

13 comments:

agi said...

haha yes i think we can guess :) a part of history that i am more familiar with - very interesting personality that mr. nelson

VioletSky said...

That poor ship seems to be going in two different directions!

Joy said...

I always enjoy paintings of ships at sea. The Victory being towed in to Gibralter is a sad sight although nowadays she looks so beautifully painted and preserved.

Postcardy said...

I like seeing old paintings on stamps.

Jo said...

Oh I'm a good English woman, I never realised the battle of Trafalgar took place off Gibralter. The Hornblower books were supposed to be base on Nelson's life. Love the stamps. Wonderful tribute.

Bob Scotney said...

Jo - Cape Trafalgar is on the Spanish Atlantic coast south of Cadiz. The battle took place off Cadiz. Gibraltar happens to be the nearest British base the the Victory could reach.

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

These are beautiful stamps. I used to visit the Victory in Portsmouth quite often when I lived in that area.

Ana said...

Horatio Nelson - a new important name to learn for today...and yes, the stamps are just great! I love the colours of the skies above the ships and the feeling of restless waters

Jo said...

Thanks Bob, I just googled it. I had no idea. I am ashamed of myself for not knowing

Jo said...

I used to live close to Chatham Dockyard where the Victory was built. In fact Matt and his father both worked in Chatham Dockyard at one time.

luvlinens said...

Am seeing lots of Maximum Cards recently. I love 'em all.

faizalnizam said...

Very nice stamps there.

Mail Adventures said...

I like to see this landscape also on stamps. Even if I just need to walk 5 km for see the Rock... On the other side of the Detroit, I mean.
Nice choice!