Sunday Stamps - Lunar New Year animals: South Africa, Great Britain

 After 10+ years of Sunday Stamps I have run out of Lunar New Year stamps and have used all other stamps that 'link' to the 12 representative animals.

One lone South African stamp is the nearest I can get to an ox I thought -  

South Africa - African Bull - 31 May 1961

And then purely by chance I found these in my 'odds & sods' box on a cut up card acquired from a market stall more years ago than I remember.

Great Britain - 6 March 1984 FDC

• 16p Highland Cow
• 20/1/2p Chillingham Wild Bull
• 26p Hereford Bull
• 28p Welsh Black Bull
• 31p Irish Mulled Cow

To see other lunar New Year Animals check out those linked to Sunday Stamps.

Sunday Stamps Z4 - South Africa: Zebra

When it came to learning the alphabet I always knew that 'Z' always stood for - 

Zebra

Because of that I must show (again) the South Africa stamp - 

South Africa - 20 November 1954

So ends the fourth A-Z round of Sunday Stamps. Check out other endings at Sunday-stamps-z.

Sunday Stamps 'S4' USSR, Sweden, South Africa

India and the Soviet Union signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 1971. A stamp commemorated this friendship in 1976.

USSR - 8 September 1976

A ceiling painting from  Dädesjö church in Småland depicts St Stephen, the Stable Boy.

Sweden - 9 February 1970

South Africa  has many superb animal stamps. You could say that the Springbok is iconic too.

South Africa - 14 October 1954

For more 'S' related stamps please visit Sunday-stamps-s.

Sunday Stamps M4 Norway, South Africa, Switzerland

As it was my birthday yesterday I guess it is appropriate to start this week with a mushroom,

Switzerland - 6 March 2014

That long Latin name is for 'The Old Man of the Woods.'

From Norway I've selected another Latin name - 'Mustela erminea' - for a mammal.

Norway - 20 February 1989

We see these stoats occasionally near the local woods.

To maintain the 'M' theme I have to resort to yet another Latin name of a South African bird that is on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species - 'Morus capensis' - The Cape Gannet.

South Africa - 20 November 1974

For other 'M' related stamps just visit the links at Sunday-stamps-m.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'Z' Romania, South Africa

Following a suggestion on my 'Y' post for a Zeppelin I searched my stamps in vain.

South African flowers allow me to present arum lilies as a tribute to the work that Violet puts in each week hosting Sunday Stamps now that we have ended the second A-Z round.

South Africa -20 November 1974
Zantedeschia aethiopica

Bucharest Zoological Gardens  has some splendid birds as shown on this stamp from 1964.

Romania 14 October 1964
 Black Crowned Cranes

I've enjoyed this second A-Z, to round it off all that's left is the check on Sunday-stamps-z to see what others have contributed this week.

Sunday Stamps !! A-Z 'Z' - Czechoslovakia. South Africa

As we come to the end of this round of A-Z I thought I would have at least 2 'Zs' for the price of one - 

Czechoslovakia - 18 July 1953

Antonín Zápotocký was born at Zákolany in 1884. A communist, he became Prime Minister in 1948, and President in 1953 until his death later that year.

I searched for a stamp connected with Zulus but had to settle for this South African stamp from 1954

Zebra - 14 October 1954

To see what other 'Z' related stamps are on show this week please visit Sunday-stamps-II-164.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'W' - French West Africa, Wales

I really struggled with this letter so much so that I got quite wild. So it seemed natural to look for something different. Eventually I came up with not one but two - 

Wildebeest

Not being able to find stamps from the states of Wisconsin or Wyoming I settled for a President's wife.

Martha Washington

I did not think Senegal would come to my rescue until I realise it used to be one of the colonies making up -

French West Africa

I have got so used to looking at stamps from Great Britain I forgot that we have a 'W' on our doorstep.

Wales - Wilding Definitive

And later from decimal currency - 

Which Welsh dragon do you prefer - Wilding or Machin?

Select your choice with an 'X' - sorry that's next week!

For more 'W' stamps cross over to Sunday-Stamps-II-161.

Wild Animals - Sunday Stamps II

After struggling last week, this week couldn't have been more different with so many stamps to choose from.

Africa is a continent with many animals depicted on stamps, some of which I have included before. The King of them all for me is shown on a Malawi stamp from 2011, one of the Big Five.

Not quite as attractive is the animal on stamp from 1954 - head and shoulders only.

South Africa - Warthog

The Czech Republic has many wild animal shots; some smaller one are shown in these stamps from April 1996.

They are from left to right:

• Eliomys quercinus - Garden Dormouse
• Dryomys nitedula - Forest Dormouse
• Spermophilus citellus - European Ground Squirrel
• Sicista betulina - Northern Birch Mouse

For more wild animals visit Sunday-Stamps-II-103. to see what you can find.

Technology/industry - Sunday Stamps II

I'm sure that you are all aware how quickly technology gets outdated. The FDC I acquired recently illustrates this very well.

Great Britain - Information Technology, 8 Sept 1982

You will appreciate this more when you look at the individual stamps.

Development of Communications

Modern Technological Aids

I don't think I need to explain anything else.

From 1939 when Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, the country was split into Bohemia and Moravia.

Czechoslovakia: Bohemia - 1939

The stamp shows the ironworks at Moravska-Ostrava.

A stamp from South Africa depicts

South Africa - 1961, Western Deep Level Mine

The mine is located in the West Wits gold field and then was said to be the world's deepest.

For technological/industry examples follow the links at Violet's Sunday-Stamps-II-40.

Lunar New Year - Sheep; Sunday Stamps II

Canada has issued two stamps to mark the Lunar New Year.

Canada - Year of the Ram 2015

The domestic stamp shows three rams welcoming spring. Hopefully someone else will be able to show us that.

The Merino is a famous breed of sheep and it appears on stamps from - 

South Africa - 1972

and

Australia - Poll Dorset and the Merino 1989

These were two of a set of four issued to commemorate the World Sheep and Wool Congress held in Tasmania that year.

I have had some close encounters with sheep - well their fleeces at least. In school summer holidays I had the pleasure of baling fleeces at a Central Wool Growers plant where fleeces were graded according to the quality of their wool. My hand have never ever been as soft since then - thanks to all the lanolin they contained.

I'll draw a line under the effect of baling dags - the clippings from sheep's behinds.

There have been some articles in the UK newspapers this week on whether this should be the year of the sheep, or as they are too meek, the year of the goat instead. I don't think I would argue with a Merino ram.

But just in case here's a - 

Goat from Norway - 1981

There's no need to be sheepish when you can see more at Sunday-stamps-ii-10. and where I've just discovered both the Canadian stamps and more about goats.

Birds from Europe, Middle East and South Africa - Sunday Stamps

For birds this week I decided to start with some game birds from Europe.

Switzerland - Alectoris graeca - Rock Partridge

The Ring-necked Pheasant occurs in many countries, including - 

Yugoslavia - Phasianus colchicus

I just wonder whether a bird of prey used for sport would take one of those.

UAE - Falcon (issued 07/04/2013)

Finally two birds from South Africa.

South Africa - Bokmakierie and Bateleur

The Bokmakierie (Maiaconotus zeylonus) is a large yellow bushshrike. As you may be able to tell from its beak the Bateleur (Tetrathorpius ecaudatus) is an eagle.

For other birds selected this week please visit Viridian's Sunday-stamps-198.

Ships and Boats - Sunday Stamps

I was quite surprised to see how many stamps I had to match Viridian's 'Ships and Boats' theme. I settled on four from different countries.

From the ill-fated Munich Olympics of 1972 there was this:

Yemen Arab Republic

The Olympic City of Kiel was where the Munich sailing events where held. The stamp shows a racing yacht from the 55m class.

There are more yachts on an oil painting from Kalnins on this 1974 Russian stamp.

Russia

It appears to commemorate an event in 1962.

I couldn't let this week go by without showing an old Swedish sailing ship - the Flag Ocean.

Sweden

In South Africa I found this ship commemorating the centenary of the ocean mail service contract in 1976.

South Africa

Hope you like my selection. To see what ships/boats others have chosen be sure to visit Viridian's Sunday-stamps-145.

Postal Services - Sunday Stamps

As I am on holiday in the USA this is what I prepared in advance for this week's theme.

Iceland - UPU Anniversary

Last week when admiring wild animals on stamps from South Africa another of their stamps caught my eye.

Republic of South Africa - Mail Coach

This set me looking for similar stamps - and led me to this;-

Sweden - Mail Coach

which was issued in 1971. It shows an oil painting from 1928 by E Schwab which is now in the Postal Museum in Stockholm.

If you look closely you will see the posthorn signal used by many countries on their stamps so it seems appropriate to include a video.

I may have trouble taking part for the next three weeks - it depends what I can find in my daughter's albums.

I will however check in as you should at Sunday-stamps-136.

Wild Animals - Sunday Stamps

Africa has many of the world's most impressive animals. These two, endangered by poachers and the ivory trade, are unmistakable. 

South Africa - Rhino & Elephant

This antelope appears on an environmental conservation stamp.

Republic of South Africa - Damaliscus dorcas

A much smaller antelope with a charming name appears on my fourth and final stamp today.

South West Africa - Kirk's Dik-Dik

I was surprised at how many stamps I had to meet this week's wild animal theme. Please check out those chosen by others at Viridian's Sunday-stamps-135.

Helmets, Bicycles and the Police - Sepia Saturday

I was at a bit of a loss when I saw the picture Kat had posted for this week.

I had covered A Policeman's Lot before and Get on your bike has been visited by more people than any other of my posts. However by searching round a bit I have come up with this.

Sir Robert Peel's first "Bobbies" may have worn top hats but it wasn't long before they had the iconic helmets.

Victorian Police Constable with an itinerant

(2010 recreation - Anthony McCallum - CC A-S A 3.0 unported licence - Wyrdlight.com)

In South Africa black policemen had no shoes.

Black Policemen, Natal, South Africa - 1890

At least one had a helmet and all sported the policeman's whistle

By 1914 cops were on the screen, immortalised by Mack Sennet Studios.

The Keystone Cops

Publicity still from "In the Clutches of the Gang" 1914

These days however it is necessary unfortunately for the "Bobby" to wear a stab vest on duty.

A British Policeman at Westminster - 2009

(By Schlauwiesstrumpf - CC BY 3.0)

Of course there is a variety of headgear as shown by this collection from Thames Valley Police.

Types of headgear worn by Thames Valley Police - 2008

(By Kaishu Tai - CC A-S A 3.0)

In our village the police always seem to be in patrol cars but these are not as photogenic as this patrol vehicle.

Ross-shire Constable with his patrol vehicle - 1920s

(Source Ross & Cromarty Constabulary; author dave conner, Inverness, Scotland - CC BY 2.0)

Finally and much closer to home I've found some windows for you to admire.

Yarm Police Station - Nov 2009

(Author Gordon Hatton - CC A-S A 2.0 generic - from geograph.org.uk)

The station had moved from a Victorian police station around the corner in Bentley Wynd to this even older building on the High Street. The building is early 18th century, way before a police force existed, and has unusually rounded head windows.

Now it's time for you to head off and check out other posts on offer at Sepia-saturday-148

with one last look at how protective a policeman's helmet may be.