Sunday Stamps - Flowers: Germany

I nearly saved the stamps for when blue became a theme.

Germany - 3 January 2011

I confess that I had not heard of a Balloon Flower before.

This one I knew however - 

Blue Gentian
Germany - 7 July 2011

Even if you are feeling blue you will find some other floral offerings by following the links at Sunday Stamps - tulips

Sunday Stamps N4 Denmark, Germany

My stamps on Danish navigation show different eras, but nothing from the time of issue.

Denmark - 24 September 1970

From Germany (West Germany) I found a stamp supposedly concerning protection of nature.

(West) Germany - 5 June 1973

'Umweltschutz luft' however translates as environmental  protection of the air.

(West) Germany - 13 May 1976

This rather splendid EUROPA stamp depicts a newspaper boy.

For more 'N' related stamps follow the links at https://seeitonapostcard.blogspot.com/2019/05/sunday-stamps-n.html

Sunday Stamps L3 - Mexico, Malawi, Germany

If you liked the kestrel in last week's post I'm sure that, like me, you will be pleased to see one of the Big Five from Malawi.

Malawi - 11 March 2011 - Leopard

However that is one stamp where I wish the country name was smaller.

If going to the theatre is your thing, how about visiting San Luis Potosi - 

Mexico -27 July 1945
Reconstruction of the Theatre of La Paz

In Germany I found an impressive castle, and no it didn't belong to Ludwig.

Germany - 2 January 2015
Ludwigslust Castle

In 2013 a joint issue between Germany and Australia commemorated the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Ludwig Leichhardt. Ludwig disappeared along with 7 men, 20 mules and 70 bullocks on an exploration expedition in Australia in 1848.

No trace of them has ever been found other than the burnt-out stock of a gun in a tree, despite searches  still being carried out. 

To search for more 'L' related stamps visit the links at Sunday-stamps-l.

Sunday Stamps F3 - USA, Germany, , Hungary

Benjamin Franklin appeared on the first stamp issued by the USA - he was postmaster general at the time. He signed the Declaration of Independence but never became President.  He did however become the first American minister to France.

USA - 20 October 1972

I guess Franklin knew about the flag with 13 stars - one for each of the original colonies at the time of independence - but he would have been pleased to see one with 50.

USA - 8 December 1973

Sightseeing in Germany may take you to a Flughafen

Frankfurt Airport - 14 January 1988

For a view of the city a plane in a Hungary series shows you the way.

Hungary - 17 October 1966

It's higher than 110 feet!

For more 'F' related stamps, fasten your seat belts an go over to Sunday-stamps-f.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'U' UNESCO

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation) was established in 1946. Since then many of its World Heritage Sites have been commemorated on stamps.

At  the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, 1968 it was decided that activities would be initiated to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Lenin, including the organisation of a symposium on the theme: 'Lenin and the development of science, culture and education'.

The symposium was held in Tampere, Finland, from 6 to 10 April 1970. Tampere was chosen because Lenin lived here from 1905 to 1907. The city houses the only Lenin Museum outside the former Soviet Union.

Finland - 6 April 1970

The medieval centre of the city of Regensburg in Bavaria was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006 and appears on a joint issue stamp with Japan in 2011.

Germany - 3 February 2011

One of my favourite Canadian stamps shows the Kluane, Wrangell-St Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini-Alsek national parks declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979  for its spectacular glacier and icefield landscapes and for its habitats for grizzly bears, caribou and Dall sheep.

Canada - 3 July 2015

For other stamps related to 'U' please visit the links at Sunday-stamps-u.

Sunday Stamps II - A-Z 'S' Germany

I have a number of Swastika stamps from the time of the Third Reich but I have no intention of ever showing those. I've settled instead for the poet/playwright and compatriot of Goethe - 

Germany  - Friedrich Schiller (1759/1805)

I must confess I do not know of any of Schiller's work, but knew of - 

DDR (East Germany) - 18 March 1975

It was Albert Schweitzer who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952,  and who is possibly more famous for setting up his hospital in Lambaréné in what was then the French Equatorial Africa (now Gabon). Schweitzer used his prize money to set up the leprosarium there. He died at his hospital in 1965.

For more 'S' related stamps check out the links at Sunday-Stamps-s.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'T' Tanganyika, Togo,Turkey

No links to Rhodesia this week, but I have at least started with a territory in East Africa administered by the UK from 1916 to 9 December 1961 when it became the independent state of - 

Tanganyika - Independence Day 9/12/61

Its time as an independent state lasted only until 26 April 1964. It now forms part of the state of Tanzania.

Now it's time to go to the West African coast and a country sandwiched between Ghana and Benin.

Togo - 6/10/47

A German protectorate from 1884, known as Togoland, it was transferred to France after WWI and gained its independence in 1960.

And as it's nearing Christmas I guess that it's time to go a look for a --

Turkey - 1/2/71

A Turkish army officer and revolutionary name Ataturk (1881-1938) became the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey from 1923 until his death.

I'm sure that there will be enough Christmas Turkey left over Togo for sandwiches until A-Z resumes in the New Year.

For more stamps that suit you to a tee please visit Sunday-Stamps-II -157. 

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.

Easter/Spring - Sunday Stamps II

I struggle every year with this theme - I've shown flowers, rabbits and cathedrals before. This time I have chosen stamps containing chapels and churches from Scandinavia and Europe.

Finland - Lammi Church - 4 March 1956

The original church was built in 1490/1510. It was initially a Catholic church but converted to Lutheran in the mid 1500s. It's also known as the church of St Catherine of Alexandria.

Le Corbousier was the architect of the chapel on my next stamp from 1965.

France - Chapelle de Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp

The building was finished in 1954 and has appeared on a number of stamps of different denominations.

My third stamp shows the national shrine of Bavaria dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

West Germany - Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, 9 February  1989

For more Easter offerings please visit the links at Sunday-Stamps-II-67

Making Music - Sunday Stamps II

I'm not musical at all but I know that you will need some instruments to play.

What could be better than these traditional instruments from Guinea-Bissau.

Even I can work out what you would need to do with these.

I wonder what a German composer would have made of them.

Germany - Carl Maria von Weber 1786 - 1826

He would have probably joined in to celebrate his 150th anniversary on his piano or his guitar.

Would the violinist celebrating the 50th anniversary of the British Council promoting the arts have joined in too at the Acropolis in Athens?

Great Britain - 1984

But perhaps you prefer - 

USA -  Celebrating the Century, 1950s

To dance to other tunes check out music made by others at Sunday-Stamps-ii-26.

Peace or Unity - Sunday Stamps II

With the 70th VE Day commemoration this weekend I just had to show some of my favourite stamps.

Great Britain (11 June 1946)
Symbols of Peace and Reconstruction

There was a 3d stamp issued at the same time showing a dove with an olive branch. I have not managed to find one yet.

The Europa, Peace and Freedom theme of 1995 was marked by a set of stamps that included an image of a icon that survived the war unscathed.

Great Britain (2 May19950
St Paul's Cathedral and Searchlights

The Channel Islands were liberated the day after VE Day in 1945. They issued two stamps on 10 May 1948 commemorating the Third Anniversary of the Liberation , sixty-seven years ago today.

Channel Islands

These show seaweed being collected; the designs chosen by the King  are based on drawings by J R R Stobie and E Blampied.

That Europa set included a stamp showing the dove of peace. I recently came across the dove on these four stamps from Germany issued in 1947.

This morning there will be a service of commemoration of the 70th anniversary of VE Day at St Paul's Cathedral attended by the Queen.

To see what others have chosen this week just follow the links at Sunday-Stamps-ii-21.

Famous People - Sunday Stamps II

It wasn't until 1964 that someone other than the monarch appeared on stamps of Great Britain. That first person was commemorated on a set issued on his birthday - 23rd April.

Great Britain - Shakespeare Festival, Eve of Agincourt
(Henry V)

But the first person to appear who had been alive in my lifetime was - 

Sir Winston Churchill (8 July 1965)

Also in 1965 the pioneer of antiseptic surgery was honoured on the centenary of his discovery.

Great Britain - Joseph Lister.

It was 1967 before a living person appeared on a GB stamp and then you have to look hard to see him.

Sir Francis Chichester's Round the World Voyage.

Two years later it was the centenary year of one of the first foreign men that I was aware of as a boy, other than Hitler of course.

Gandhi Centenary Year.

Rather than show a Hitler stamp I'll show a German stamp.

West Germany

Our host has chosen a German stamp as well, to see this and follow the other participants please cross over to Violet at Sunday-stamps-ii-4.