Christmas Stamps on Sunday: Great Britain

 British stamps have acquired bar codes this year - but fortunately not all of them. No-one in our post offices (counters in a newsagent and a general shop) can tell us what they are for.

Christmas without a barcode

Christmas with a bar code

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all.

Don't forget to follow the links at Sunday Stamps for more Christmas stamps.

Sunday Stamps - Winter: Great Britain, Canada

 We moved into our present home in 1991. At that time we could stand at the windows at the back of our house and see the North Yorkshire Moors in the distance. This view has now been lost due to new houses blocking the way.

In 1992 the first series of the Four Seasons - Wintertime was issued and included this ...

Hare on the North York Moors
Great Britain - 14 January 1992

It is difficult to match winter and the snowy conditions in the Canadian World Heritage Site, The Dinosaur Provincial Park and there's not a dinosaur to be seen as a competitor of our Yorkshire hare.

Canada - 21 August 2015

However you may see competing Canadian animals and another of the GB Wintertime series at Snow on Sunday Stamps

Sunday Stamps - Mountains: USA

 1967 saw the centenary of Canada and a USA stamps for Canadian Landscape with what looks like a mountainous background.

USA - 25 May 1967

This stamp from 1967 contains the unmistakable Mount McKinley.

USA - 17 April 2001

For mountain ranges the place to start this week is On the ranges at Sunday Stamps.

Sunday Stamps - Another Dog

 I'm known as the man who talks to all the dogs I meet and I sometimes carry treats for them when i go on my daily walk.

When in my wife's car she often asks me, "Who is that?" Often my reply is "I don't know, but the dog's name is ...

So it seems natural when we have a 'Your Choice' theme on Sunday Stamps to show yet another dog.

USA - 20 September 2002

To see what others have chosen just visit the links at Sunday Stamps

Cartoons on Sunday Stamps: USA

 I just had to post this sheet sent to me by my daughter some months ago. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of - 

USA - 27 July 2020

For other cartoons just visit the links from other countries at The Editorial Content at Sunday Stamps.

Sunday Stamps _ British Trees

 "Under a spreading ..

Great Britain - 27 February 1974

.. chestnut tree,

The village smithy stands" (Longfellow)

The horse chestnut trees I pass six days every week stand inside a wood alongside some mighty oaks.

Great Britain - 28 February 1973

This mighty oak also appears on trees posted at Trees, Tall and Wide on Sunday Stamps this week.

Sunday Stamps - Music from Great Britain

The theme in 1985 was Europa Music Year and included in a set of stamps were these two - 

Great Britain -14 May 1985

Great Britain -14 May 1985

In the 1950s while I was still at school I saw a local G&S production of The Pirates of Penzance. In 1992 a series was issued to commemorate the 159th anniversary of the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan - unfortunately I do not have the stamp for this - just one other from the set.

Great Britain - 21 July 1992

For more lively songs and music just play the key links at folk songs

Sunday Stamps - Bridges - Bohemia & Moravia, New Hebrides

I had to look hard for bridge stamps that I hadn't shown before. 

With a bit of luck I found this from the New Hebrides,

New Hebrides - 15 August 1986

 I then had to find where the New Hebrides were, especially as the stamp carries the EIIR designation. It now is the independent country of Vanuatu.

The Lainsitz Bridge is located in Czechoslovakia - the stamp depicting it is from 1940.

Bohemia & Moravia - 20 November 1940

 For more bridges just visit the links at Crossing Point

Sunday Stamps - Felines: Benin, Hungary

Felines don't come much bigger that a big cat like this lion from Benin.

Benin - 20 September 1995

Eastern European countries have issued many stamps of cats, Here's one from Hungary whose eyes may captivate you.

Hungary - 30 March 1968

To see more cats from elsewhere just visit the links at Cats

Sunday Stamps - Great Britain: Queen Victoria One Penny Red

 One of our neighbours from one of our previous addresses has provided me with stamps over a number or years. These have been mainly from Greece but last week she brought me a stamp that has become the oldest in my collections.

Great Britain - 1841

The One Penny Red was first issued in 1841 - the second stamp issued. The original was unperforated. Several different versions were issued - perforated and with different letters in the bottom corners. This has O - A.

As you can see the stamp is a bit tired but that's not surprising for something around 180 years old. I still have to establish exactly what year this was issued.

The theme today on Sunday Stamps is transportation. My old stamp has transported me back even if it's not on theme.

Sunday Stamps - Geology: Jersey

 I enjoyed studying geology at university, especially the field trips with a hammer in my hand. To find a rock like this would have made my day.

Jersey - 23 January 2007

This shows muscovite in a pegatite vein, felspar and mica.

Muscovite, aka common mica, isinglass or potash mica is a hydrated silicate of aluminium and potassium. Cleavage can give thin laminae sheets. Pegmatite is an igneous rock composed of quartz, felspar and mica.

For more geological samples check dig out the link at Treasures. where you may find an old fossil like me.

Sunday Stamps - Food: Fruits of Malaysia

 Malaysia issued series of stamps depicting Fruits of Malaysia, I had to resort to Google to convert their Latin names.

Nephelium lappaceum

Not that I was much wiser for this 2002 stamp  when I found out that it is 'rambutan' the fruit from the same tree.

I had better understanding from this 2005 tree/fruit

Averrhoa carambola

This provides the 'star fruit'.

I didn't really need a translation for another from 2002.

Carica papaya

Also known as a 'pawpaw'.

For others that could make up your 'five of the day' visit Sunday Stamps follow the links and take your pick.

(Sorry about the scanned quality of my images this week)

Sunday Stamps - Discoveries/Inventions: Denmark

 You may argue that the atomic theory developed by Niels Bohr is not strictly a discovery or an invention. However ts importance cannot be denied.

Denmark issued commemorative stamps for the 50th anniversary of his theory which has stood the test of time.

Denmark - 21 November 1963

It was in the 1950s when I first became aware of his work when studying atomic physics as part of my degree course at St Andrews University.

For more theories, discoveries and inventions check out the links at The Fathers of Invention

Sunday Stamps - Summertime: Great Britain

 In August 1994 the 3rd Series of the 4 Seasons depicted events from Summertime.

I have 3 of the 5 stamps in the set - 

Great Britain - 2 August 1994
Royal Welsh Show

The Royal Welsh Show will be a virtual event this year on 19th July.

Wimbledon Tennis Championships

Wimbledon will begin on 28 June having avoided a 'virtual' threat.

Braemar Gathering

Unfortunately the organisers of the Braemar Gathering have decide to cancel this years event.

To check out others' summertime offerings just visit the links at Sunday Stamps

Sunday Stamps - Cats: Argentina, Bangladesh, Hungary

 A 1959 stamp from Argentina featured a puma. Unfortunately the one in my collection was so heavily postmarked the puma could not be seen.

However thanks to the internet I have been able to find this image - 

Argentina - 1959

Somehow I don't think you would need to get the fire brigade to help it out of the tree.

A pair of stamps from Bangladesh show a magnificent tiger, but perhaps not in a colour that you would expect.

Bangladesh - 30 April 1973

There are a lot of stamps depicting domestic cats so I just had to include one even although I can't say that I am a cat lover.

Hungary - 30 March 1968

For other cats - big or small check out the links at Sunday Stamps - Cat

Small Animals in Britain - Sunday Stamps

 I showed this set of stamps back in 2012 but as it is a favourite of mind I just had to post it again, The strip of five wild animals was issued in 

 1977.

Great Britain - 5 October 1977

We had a hibernating hedgehog in our garden a few years ago. Unfortunately I only see them as roadkill these days.

Grey squirrels still visit us in the hope that the bird feeders have left something for them.

Otherwise there are no hares or badgers near us and I don't know of any otters in the local rivers.

To see other small animals visit the links to be found at Island mammals at Sunday Stamps.

Sunday Stamps - Royalty: Thailand, Yemen, Trinidad & Tobago

 When he died in 2016 King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand had been king for over 70 years.

You would never have predicted that when this stamp was issued.

Thailand - 1 July 1967

When it comes to kings from a long time ago King Solomon comes to mind. He appears on a stamp from the Mutawakelite Kingdom of Yemen issued in1967.

Yemen - 1 December 1967

This is from a set for the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. Unfortunately I do not have the stamp that shows her alone.

When it comes to long serving monarchs Queen Elizabeth II will have reached 70 years in 1922. She has appeared on more stamps than anyone including this from Trinidad & Tobago.

Trinidad & Tobago - 20 April 1953

First Boca or Boca de Monos  separates Monos Island from the Chaguaramas Peninsula of Trinidad. It is the first of four channels in the body of water known as the Boca del Dragon (Dragon's Mouth) which lies between Trinidad and Venezuela.

For more Royalty check out Sunday Stamps.

Sunday Stamps - 'P': Great Britain

 Way before the issue of postage stamps and the Pony Express there was a Postboy blowing a Post Horn ...

Great Britain - 7 July 1960

 ... commemorating the Tercentenary of the Establishment of the General Letter Office.

The British Discovery and Invention set in 1967 included 'Penicillium notatum' 

Great Britain - 19 September 1967

For more 'P' related stamps just follow the links at Post Crossing on Sunday Stamps

Sunday Stamps - Buildings: USA

 I always have to check what sesquicentennial means when I see it describing a stamp even if I can work it out from dates on the stamp itself.

USA - 21 January 1938
Old Courthouse, Williamsburg VA

The Pan Am building in Washington DC appeared on an airmail stamp issued in 1947.

USA - 30 August 1947

The plane is one I have never heard of (Martin 2-0-2), but then it was a long time before I flew with Pan Am. I'm also unlikely to make it to Washington now either.

For buildings from elsewhere visit the Modern links at Sunday Stamps.

Sunday Stamps: Greece - Hercules

 Normally I would show stamps from a set in denomination order.

Today under the 'labourers' theme they are in the order of the Labours of Hercules. All issued on 16 March 1970 in Greece.

1 Kill the Nemean Lion

2 Kill the Lernean Hydra

4 Capture the Erymanthian Boar

6 Kill the Stymphalian Birds

10 Capture the Cattle of Geryon

Unfortunately there was only 11 in the set and I have so far not matched up the designs for the rest I have. 

?? Centaur?

???

Can anyone help me out with these?

For other 'labourers' visit Sunday Stamps

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: Z - Zebra

When I learnt the alphabet it always began with 'A' for apple (as my challenge started) and ended with 'Z' for Zebra.

So here they are:

 

These were at Newquay Zoo the ones below at the zoo in Detroit.

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: Y - Yarm

 If you follow the A67 from my previous post you will find yourself in the town of Yarm.

There you will be able to see the bridge built originally in the 1400s when it was the bridge over the River Tees nearest the sea.

Yarm Bridge with the Viaduct behind it.

Hopefully you will have seen a shot of the Viaduct under the letter 'V'.

You can get a feel for the size of it from this shot in the town.

The town hall (1700s) would probably fit under one of the arches.

If you have time it will be no problem to explore - 

Yarm Castle

Probably not what sightseers were expecting is it?