Sunday Stamps - Lions or lambs: India. Iran

They say that March comes in like a lion but goes out like a lamb. All I can say is that this year March came in earlier in February with the very strong winds and there are no lambs about, with the latter rather like my stamps. Even the lions proved a bit sparse too until I found four back to back.

This became the official Emblem of India in 1950. It is a representation of the Capital on the Ashoka Pillar. The Lion Capital of Ashoka itself now resides in an Indian museum; it was carved out of a single block of polished sandstone.

The Capital appears on India's official postage stamps.

India - 1957

I found another design also showing the Capital with detail I hadn't noticed until I scanned this stamp.

India 1967

I'd missed that Refugee Relief completely.

From Iran I found a different lion - 

Iran - 1950 to 1976

This was a postal tax stamp issued to benefit the Red Lion and Sun Society of Iran. The Society was established in 1922 and admitted to the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement in 1923. Because of its association with the late Shah it was replaced with the Red Crescent as in other Muslim countries.

For real lions and hopefully some lambs check out what others have posted by following the links at Sunday Stamps - lion

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'X' Hungary, Ireland

'X' always seems to be a difficult letter in any A-Z theme. The last time it came up in Sunday Stamps I had to be a bit inventive using stamps like this - 

Ireland - 2 December 1963:
100th anniversary of the Red Cross

To find a true 'X' I had to go fishing for a green-tailed swordfish in Hungary.

Hungary - 9 May 1962
Xiphophorus helleri

In Ancient Greek ξίφος (ksíphos) means a kind of double-edged sword and -φóρος (-phóros) means bearing. This alludes to the presence of an anal fin in male fish which enables it to hook into the vent of a female fish to deposit sperm.

hellerii: honours the name of Austrian botanist and naturalist Karl Bartholomaeus Heller (1824-1880), who explored Mexico between 1845-1848 and brought the type series of X. hellerii to Vienna.

The fish has been widely introduced into Mexico river basins and now occurs in rivers on all continents except Antarctica.

For other stamps from the 'X' files visit the links at Sunday-Stamps-x.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'X' Mexico, Brazil, Denmark

I could only find stamps from two countries with an 'X' in their name so had to extend my search as you will see.

Mexico - 26 October 1963
100th Anniversary of the Red Cross

Maybe that cross in not an X but it was the nearest I could get.

Searching for names with an X in them led me to Brazil.

Brazil - 1954 Luis Alves del Lima e Silva
Duke of Caxias

The Duke earned the 'title' of Peacemaker, and his birthday became the date on which Brazil honours its soldiers.

In 1969 Denmark commemorated the 100th anniversary of writer - 

Denmark - 28 August 1969
Martin Andersen Nexo

But the nearest I could get to an X on a stamp was provided by the 700th anniversary of the Fall of the Dannebrog from Heaven.

Denmark - 12 June 1969

The Dannebrog, the Flag of the Danes, is believed to be one of the oldest flags in the world. You may read about the history of the flag and the legend behind it at The History_of_the_Flag where you will find the X waving at you.

To see how others have solved the X-word puzzles cross over to the links at Sunday-Stamps-II-162.

Health and Welfare - Sunday Stamps II

I have chosen to go for organisations associated with health and welfare this week.

The Physicians of America were commemorated by this stamp in 1947.

USA - The Doctor (issued 9 June 1947)

This is from a painting by Samuel Luke Fildes, an English painter and illustrator, which hangs in the Tate Gallery. Sir Henry Tate commissioned the work which was painted in 1890.

The 'blurb' for the stamp on the US Stamp Gallery website heads it 'The Doctor, Sir John Fildes' for some reason or another. Apparently it depicts that doctors were no better off then than they had been for centuries, They could only sit and watch as the child depicted died of diphtheria.


The Red Cross is an organisation know world  wide.  On 7 September 1948 the USA issued a commemorative stamp.

USA - Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross

The Salvation Army is well know in the UK. A set of two stamps commemorating its centenary was issued  on 9 May 1965. (I have only one of the set)

Great Britain - Salvation Army centenary

I've written about Joseph Lister before (Lister) on Sunday Stamps but now have both stamps from the set commemorating the centenary of antiseptic surgery.

Great Britain - 1 September 1965

For more health and welfare posts please visit, no appointment needed, Sunday-Stamps-II-65.

Hospital Trains - Sepia Saturday

I have had to resort to the Internet to find some photos linked to this week's prompt, the kitchen on a WWI German hospital train.

Staying with WWI, I wonder about conditions on this Red Cross Train, no joint of meat for these sick and wounded French soldiers on their way to Paris in 1917.

A nurse touring the train distributing coffee

In WWII the British Medical Services provided medical transport.

Wounded soldiers playing cards in a hospital train in Belgium
(Photo ex Imperial War Museum - No. 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Sgt Biggins)

Trains like these were manned by both civilian and military crews, whose job it was to ensure safe and speedy travel for the casualties, including enemy wounded. Although damaged and disorganised.. trains played an important part in transporting casualties from hospitals and dressing stations to bases and evacuation areas. Casualties able to walk were given comfortable saloon coaches for the journey.

Sixty-nine years ago today at least one soldier was enjoying a cup of tea,

A soldier, evacuated from Normandy, on a hospital train,
7 June 1944 - One day after D-Day

He must have been going home judging by the smile on his face.

I must say that I am pleased that my experience on trains during my National Service was limited to night trains back to Catterick Camp.

To see what other warlike connections made this week take a trip across to Sepia-Saturday-180,

Norwegian Christmas - Sunday Stamps

Like most people I have so many Christmas stamps that it is difficult to choose those to show. I decided to post this sheet from Norway commemorating 75 years of Christmas stamps.

Norway's First Christmas Stamps 75 Years (1980)

Nasjonalforeningens og Sanitetsforeningens julemerke 1980 translates as The National Association and Gray Ladies Society Christmas stamps 1980.

I understand The Gray Ladies are the Red Cross volunteer workers who provide non-professional care and services for the sick and convalescent in hospitals.

To see what others have chosen for the holiday theme don't forget to visit Viridian's sunday stamps 49

Just in case I don't get the chance to join in next week, I wish all who participate in Sunday Stamps a very Happy Christmas. My special thanks to Viridian for the work she does each week in keeping us on our toes.