Demarks Old Maps and Labels

The latest series of stamps to be issued by Post Denmark features old maps of Denmark. Originally to be released on 10 June 2009, it was delays to 17 July 2009 which coincided with the international conference on the history of cartography held in Copenhagen from 11 to 17 July 2009. The rates of these issues was also increased from what was initially expected.



The series consists of four stamp issues. A 12.00 DKK stamp featuring the oldest preserved map of Denmark by Marcus Jordan from 1585. The first printed map of Denmark dating from 1570 is featured on the 18.00 DKK stamps. In 1650 Danish cartographer Johannes Mejer presented Frederik III with the map featured on the 6.50 DKK stamps. And finally, the over sized 5.50 DKK stamp features the first official map of Denmark published in 1841 by the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences.

On 10 June 2009, Post Denmark released their 2009 franking labels. The theme of these labels is Danish hydro-electricity. When ordered from Post Denmark they come as a set of four with values of 5.00, 5.50, 8.00 and 9.00 DKK. But you can also order them in any value you like from 0.25 up to 99.75 DKK. As far as franking labels go, I found the designs of these to be quite appealing.

Captain Robert A. Bartlett

Canada Post issued this stamp in sheets of 16 on 10 July 2009. It commemorates Captain Robert Bartlett and the 100th anniversary of his attempt to reach the North Pole. He had accompanied Robert Peary on three attempts at the pole and it was during the third attempt that his expedition reached a latitude of 87°48' N. This was farther North than any explorer had gone before him.

Japan - Polar Regions and Glaciers

Matariki 2009

Typically when I receive mailings from New Zealand Post they come in postage paid envelopes without stamps or cancels. But this latest mailing was stamped with and cancelled on the day of issue of the $2.00 Matariki 2009 Hei-tiki stamp issue. It was a very interesting way of marketing the issue and also very effect since here I am writing about it.





The Māori are the indigenous peoples of of New Zealand. And this year their new year, Matariki, was celebrated on 24 June. To mark the occasion, New Zealand Post issued a set of stamps featuring various Māori hei-tiki: decorative pendants worn around the neck by the Māori. These decorative pieces have become the icons of Māori art. The hei-tiki featured on my $2.00 stamp is 160 years old and held by the Museum of New Zealand.

The stamp series consists of six self-adhesive issues, each featuring a different hei-tiki. There was also a souvenir sheet issued featuring the same six stamps in a gummed format.

Covers from Russia and Germany

A couple of covers recently received:

Jan Mayen Cover

Jan Mayen is a small volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Norway and even though it is part of the Kingdom of Norway, the closest part of Norway is some 1000 km away. There are no civilian settlements on the island but the Norwegian Armed Forces mans a research station there year round. It took a couple of month to get my cover cancelled (slow delivery or perhaps a slow post office) but only two weeks to get it back to Canada. The cancel turned out perfect. I used a pair of Preserve the Polar Region stamps from the Norwegian souvenir sheet. I didn’t want to remove them from the sheet but I wasn’t too sure how the cancel would look against its grey background so out they came.

Jan Mayen is located at 70°59′N 8°32′W putting it just above the Arctic Circle.

Covers

Over the past month I've received a few covers from fellow European collectors:



Eric from France sent me this cover with several recent engraved stamps. I've always liked stamps produced this way and LaPoste does a really good job with them.



Adolf from Germany sent me a cover featuring a stamp that commemorates the Luther memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg. It was cancelled at the International Stamp Show in Essen (May 2009).



Andre from Portugal sent along a cover bearing some stamps from Portugal's "exotic fruits" series. I really need to get back to Portugal for a visit some day soon.

New San Marino Issues

The 2009 Europa issues from San Marino were recently issued (8 May). With San Marino stamps I either like them or hate them but I’ve enjoyed the last few Europa issues, including this one. I also liked the “Sammarinese Ceramists“ set issued 20 Feb 2009. It’s a series of three stamps that commemorates/brings awareness to the production of ceramic art in San Marino. So far it is my favorite San Marino issue of 2009.

Ross Dependency South Magnetic Pole Flyover Cover

On 17 January 2009, New Zealand Post sent 2500 Ross Dependency 2008 British Antarctic Expedition FDCs on a flight over the South Magnetic Pole. It was a commemorative flight, marking the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the South Magnetic Pole by Douglas Mawson, Edgeworth David, and Alistair Mackay. However there is some doubt that they actually found the correct location.



The occasion is marked on the FDC with a special cachet on the lower left. The stamp series on this envelope was issued 5 November 2008 to mark the anniversary of Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition: the British Antarctic Expedition. The $2 stamp in this series commemorates Mawson, David, and Mackay's discovery of the South Magnetic Pole.

I think a little more could have been done to make the cover special. Perhaps having them individually numbered would have been enough. It's a nice cachet - well done. But it's a first day cover for a stamp series that was issued 5 November 2008. I think it would have been more significant if the stamps had been cancelled on the day of the flight instead. Even so, it is a nice FDC and will find a good home in my collection.

New Stamps from Belgium

I received these stamps from a fellow collector in Belgium: Preserve the Polar Regions and Europa 2009. The Polar Regions sheet was issued 9 March 2009 and features Belgians Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer who walked across the Arctic from Russia to Greenland in 106 days in 2007. The Europa sheet was issued 6 April 2009 and this copy was signed by the stamps designer: Thierry Mordant - an extra touch that I really appreciate. Thank you Thomas!

Still Looking for Davo Preserve the Polar Regions Album

I’m still not able to find anything on the Davo website about this album but the recent issue of Greenland Collector does have a small advertisement with pricing. Apparently with all stamps included it sells for €95.00 and without stamps, €37.50.

BAT Recognizes 100 Year of Naval Aviation

The Royal Navy celebrates 100 year of aviation on 9 May 2009. This dates marks the 100th Anniversary of the first naval order for an air ship. A number of British Commonweatlh nations and territories are issuing stamps to commemorate the occasion. I believe the British Antarctic Territory was the first (1 January 2009) with a set of 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet. The stamps feature the Westland Lynx (10p), the Fairey Seafox (10p), the Westland Wasp (90p) and the Supermarine Walrus (90p). The £2souvenir sheet features the Mayfly: the first airship purchase ever made by the Royal Navy. The contract was awarded to Vickers and it took two years to design and construct. But it was never put into use. The ship was damaged beyond repair on its first test flight.