Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'Q' - Qatar and Queens

'Q' is a letter I thought I would have trouble with in my country stamp theme.

Then I found a former Emir of Qatar on my one and only stamp.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani - 15 January 1970

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He died aged 84 in 2016. He was Emir from 1972 to 1995 when he was deposed by his son.

Still in that part of the world,I was surprised to learn that the Queen of Sheba was a queen in Saba, which is located in the Yemen.

Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon - 1 December 1967

This has been an eventful week for heads of state. When Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe stepped down it left Queen Elizabeth II as the world's oldest reigning head of state. 

In 2015 Australia issued a stamp commemorating that she had become the longest reigning monarch in British History.

Australia - 9 July 2015

She must have appeared on more postage stamps than any other Queen as she appears on many stamps from around the world as well as those from Great Britain.

There must be many buildings which commemorate her name - like this one.

Queen's Hall - 24 September 1966

If its shape reminds you of an aircraft hangar then your eyes are not deceiving you.

This is a post for 'Q' related stamps. You can find more by visiting Sunday-Stamps-II-154 where you can start in Quebec City.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z; 'P' - Persia & Portugal

In 1935 Persia became Iran, but you could say it always had been. Apparently Persia is Iran in Persian.

During WWII Iran had been cooperating with Hitler's Germany, and the Soviet Union and Britain had occupied the country from 1941-1946. In that capacity they censored all postal matter.

Iran - 6 May 1942

I found the above two stamps on an envelope in the local flea market which shows the censorship marks.

Anglo - Soviet - Persian Censorship

On the same flea market stall  I found this Express Parcels Consignment note from Lisbon to a lady in Frankfurt, Germany. As you will see it is covered in Portuguese stamps.

The date stamps shows that the parcel passed through Frankfurt airport in 1974.

Two of the stamps show a knight on horseback taken from the Seal of King Dinis who was also called the Farmer King and the Post King. He reigned from 1279 - 1325.

Marconi's centenary was commemorated in 1974 by this stamp (two on the note).

The other stamps were

Palacio Da Vila Sintra

University Tower, Coimbra

Jardim Episcopal, Castelo Branco Gardens

I have been unable to identify the scene on this stamp so far.

Having minded my 'Ps' I look forward to 'Q' on Sunday-Stamps-II-153. where you can find more 'P' stamps today.

Sunday Stamps II: A-Z 'O'

I knew I would be in trouble as I have no stamps for a country beginning with 'O'.

For reasons that will become apparent I chose this instead.

Munzturm Hall - Republic   Österreich

Last week I chose an 'old' stamp deliberately, when I did the same today for Germany I came across another connection to a 'national figure'.

Germania - Deutsches Reich - 1920

The actress Anna Führing was the model used by engraver Paul Edward Waldraff. Germania wearing an octagonal crown, holds a sword and an olive branch.

It was the economic situation in Germany that lead to the issue of this stamp in 1922.

Stamp over printed 1 million marks

It was not long before the country became under the rule of - 

Adolf Hitler

He had been born in Austria and was to set Albert Speer on creating the new capital of Germania for the Reich that was intended to last for 1000 years. The great hall planned to stand near the Reichstag was intended to hold 180,000 people.

The rest we say is history.

For more 'O' related posts please  visit Sunday-Stamps-II-152.

Sunday Stamps II; A-Z 'N' Maps & Zealandia

I have found another stamp showing a map of the country's location. Although the country has the name of Sabah it used to be: 

North Borneo - 1 February 1961

Now for something old as well as new - 

New Zealand - 1901

The female figure of Zealandia was intended to become a figure of national personification representing New Zealand in the same way that Britannia represents the UK.

For other 'N' related stamps please visit the links at Sunday-Stamps-II-151.