Battle of Rabot

SAINT LUCIA - CIRCA 1995: Three stamps printed in the island nation of Saint Lucia shows islanders and British redcoat soldiers, to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the battle of Rabot on 22 April 1795, circa 1995.

British interest in  St. Lucia began in the middle of the 16th century, but it was not until 1778 that they began the effort that gained possession of the island from the Empire in 1814. In the middle of this period of time the British also fought the "Brigands War," against African slaves who took the opportunity to seek their freedom.
     The Battle of Rabot which was one of the key events of the “Brigands War” was fought  April 22, 1795,  The souvenir sheet shows the disposition of the forces and the plan of battle. The war ended in November 1797 with an agreement by the British that the Brigands would not be re-enslaved but repatriated to Africa. At the end of the war the Brigands were recruited into the 1st West India Regiment, which was stationed in Sierra Leone. They served in the Regiment with honor.

Historic Battle of Rabot. The town of Soufriere, once capital of St Lucia under the French, is a colourfully spattered palette of the island’s dynamic past.  The picturesque town is home of architectural treasures, agricultural riches, and geological wonders. It is no wonder then that Soufriere was so coveted and as a result, the site of some of the most significant battles fought in St Lucia during the colonial era. Among them is the Battle of Rabot, a conflict in 1795 that determined more than possession of the territory. 

The French Revolution which reverberated throughout the French territories worldwide had brought an end to the institution of slavery, returning freedom to the thousands of Blacks who then populated the island of St Lucia. The British, who had been engaged in an ongoing struggle to wrest control of the strategically and economically important colony back from the French, attempted to intervene. A British victory would have condemned this newly liberated population to slavery. Much was at stake.

The battle deciding this fate was centred in the French stronghold and seat of power, Soufriere, and Fond Doux and Rabot Estates, prosperous sugar and cocoa producing plantations became the stage for the conflict. Fond Doux ridge, a strategic barrier and look out point over the basin of Soufriere, played an important role in determining the outcome of the battle.The revolutionary forces, known as Laree Françoise dams le Bois, used the strategic vantage of the ridge to ambush and beat back the advancing forces led by Brigadier General Stewart. Legend purports that Rabot Lake, a marshy, bushy death-trap played an integral part in thwarting the attempts of the British. Mired in the sludge and seemingly attacked by the vegetation, the British stood little chance. After the musket fire died down, victory was declared and the tricolour once more flew over the town of Soufriere. The town subsequently became the seat of the revolutionary tribunals and a guillotine was set up in the town square where the trials and executions of the Royalists took place.  Thank you Maria for this lovely FDC.

World Conference on technical cooperation between developing countries

The Conference reaffirmed the important role of technical cooperation among developing countries as an instrument for the promotion and implementation of ECDC, and in this respect reaffirmed the pertinent recommendations contained in the Buenos Aires Plan of Action.

With a view to promoting the reinforcement of TCDC, the Conference furthermore recommended:

a.      Priority utilization of the skills and opportunities available in the developing countries;

b.     Undertaking a study aimed at drawing up a model contract defining the conditions for recruiting experts from the developing countries. A group of experts shall be convened to study this matter prior to the end of 1982;

c.      Creating or reinforcing the TCDC systems at the national level, in cooperation with the ECDC focal points, with a view to gathering, processing and disseminating information concerning the methods, knowledge and experience acquired and opportunities available in matters pertaining to TCDC;

d.     Increasing cooperation and cooperation among the national TCDC system so as to study the methods which will ensure optimum use of the human and financial resources available for TCDC at the bilateral, regional and international levels.

The Conference took note of the UNDP project for a Development Information Network (DIN) for information flows among developing countries in support of economic and technical cooperation among developing countries and requested the Group of 77 in New York to review progress made on the implementation of the project, with a view to ensuring that this proposed project would contribute to the attainment of the objectives of economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.

The Conference recommended that, to the above ends, a biennial meeting of the heads of national technical cooperation agencies of the Group of 77 be convened, in accordance with the provisions contained in the mechanisms for coordination agreed to in this Conference. This meeting will also be entrusted with the task of helping in the follow-up, monitoring and evaluation of the recommendations in the field of TCDC adopted in the Conference in the areas of trade, technology, food and agriculture, energy, raw materials, finance and industrialization.

Yes indeed Merja, this is a very interesting stamp and cover.

1961 Europa 13.11.1961

The pretty stamps issued by Iceland on 18.9.1961 along with the nice cover, depict a Stylised dove made up of 19 individual doves. 1 for each 1961 member of CEPT. Designed by Dutch Artist Theo Kurpershoek. Thank you Maria.

Åland Beetles - Lifelike Beetles Creeping Out 2.1.2006

Aland Post issued three new stamps that had postage values of 0.40, 0.65 & 2.00 Euro named "Lifelike Beetles Creeping Out" on the 2nd of January 2006. These definitive stamps show three very common beetles found in Aland. The beetles depicted on the stamps were selected by the Post's Stamp Committee from a list of many species. Each beetle is described below:

Metallic Green Rose-Chafer (0,40) - is green with a shimmer of gold or bronze and feeds on flowers of all sorts. It can fly without putting up its wing-sheaths

Seven-Spot Ladybird (0,65) - commonly called the Virgin Mary ladybird is 6-8 mm long and feeds on aphids.

Rhinoceros Beetle (2.00) - is about 38 mm long with a horn. The male has a long horn and the female has a short horn.

 Thank you Pia for this lovely cover with the three stamp beetle set of stamps. The postmark is also very distinctive.

Finland - Russia joint issue: Endangered animals 1.3.1995

Finland and Russia issued this Joint Issue of stamps and very sensibly decided to depict endangered animals.

EURASIAN LYNX. The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests, South Asia and East Asia. It is also known as the European lynx, common lynx, the northern lynx, and the Siberian or Russian lynx. While its conservation status has been classified as "Least Concern", populations of Eurasian lynx have been reduced or extirpated from western Europe, where it is now being reintroduced.

RINGED SEAL. The ringed seal (Pusa hispida), also known as the jar seal and as netsik or nattiq by the Inuit, is an earless seal inhabiting the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. The ringed seal is a relatively small seal, rarely greater than 1.5 m in length, with a distinctive patterning of dark spots surrounded by light grey rings, whence its common name. It is the most abundant and wide-ranging ice seal in the northern hemisphere: ranging throughout the Arctic Ocean, into the Bering Sea and Okhotsk Sea as far south as the northern coast of Japan in the Pacific, and throughout the North Atlantic coasts of Greenland and Scandinavia as far south as Newfoundland, and include two freshwater subspecies in northern Europe. Ringed seals are one of the primary prey of polar bears and have long been a component of the diet of indigenous people of the Arctic.

Thank you Pia for this FDC with the lovely stamps

Famous Personalities

The two stamps on this cover are part of a five set series of stamps issued by Iceland on 03.07.1979 to commemorate Famous Personalities. Maria my friendsent me this FDC. A brief history of thetwo ladies depicted on thestamps isgiven below.

Torfhildur Holm (February 2, 1845 - November 14, 1918) was an Icelandic writer. She was the first Icelandic writer who wrotehistorical novels and was also the first woman who wrote novels in English in Iceland. Torfhildur was born in Kálfafellsstaður inSkaftafellsýslu on second February 1845. Her parents were Thorstein Einarson priest and Gudrid Torfadóttir. Torfhildur studiedEnglish and hannyrðanám. Torfhildur moved to America in 1876 and her first novel, Tears Flower appeared in 1879 in a westernEnglish newspaper.

Inga H. Bjarnason (born in Thingeyri at Dýrafjörður December 14, 1867, d. Oct. 30, 1941) was the first woman to be elected to Parliament. She sat in Parliament from 1922 to 1930.  Inga was the daughter of Earl Bjarnason and Johanna Kristin Þorleifsdóttir. Inga completed her school degree in Reykjavik in 1882 and studied with Thora Pétursdóttir (also known as Thora Bishop) during 1882-1884. With Thora she studied drawing, Danish and English. She studied in various disciplines related to upbringing and education, and Physical education and earned a gymnastics teacher’sdegree. The first Icelandic lady to do so. Inga placed great emphasis on the importance of physical education.  

First Official Europa CEPT Issue

1960 was the first official Europa CEPT issue and on that occasion 20 countries issued a total of 36 stamps, more than the double of 1959! For 11 countries it was their first Europa stamp issue (Denmark, Finland, Great-Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden). The common design was a Roman mail-coach wheel with 19 spokesdesigned by the Finnish artist, Pentti Rahikainen.  Thank you Dear Maria for this memorable FDC.

Happy New Year

Russian 2012 New Year stamp, issued on December 1, 2011. Thank you Galina for this lovely First Day Cover.

Vienna International Centre (VIC)

These two FDCs and the lovely stamps on them were issued on 24.8.19791by the UN Postal Service in Vienna to highlight its 10 Years development workers – Program for people around the world. The conferences on this subject were held at the VIC. Thank you Merja for these two very nice FDCs.

For more details about the Vienna International Centre (VIC) please see my post dated 04.11.2012.

Scientists of Finland 26.9.1979

Brief details of the stamps on this cover are :-

1/3 - Pehr Kalm with the title page of his book "En Resa til Norra America" (Travels into North America).
2/3 - Title page of Pehr Adrian Gadd’s book "Försök till en systematisk inledning i svenska landtskötseln"  about landcare.
3/3 - Petter Forsskål and the title page of his book "Tankar om Borgerliga Friheten" (Thoughts on Civil Liberty).

PEHR KALM.  Pehr Kalm (6 March 1716 – 16 November 1779)  was a Swedish-Finnish explorer, botanist, naturalist, and agricultural economist. He was one of the most important apostles of Carl Linnaeus. Among his many accomplishments, Kalm can be credited for the first description of Niagara Falls written by someone trained as a scientist.

PEHR ADRIAN GADD.  The first real professor of chemistry was Pehr Adrian Gadd who was appointed in 1761 following the separation of chemistry from agriculture. Gadd was born in 1727 in Pirkkala, and was educated at Åbo. In 1749, after becoming a Magistrat, Gadd became Docent. He took the place of Kalm while the latter was visiting America. In 1758 he was appointed assistant to the professor, but because he wished it so, he received no salary. Gadd showed a decided interest for the applications of science to practical life; he devoted much of his experimental work to technical, mineralogical, and agricultural chemistry, rather than to the theoretical.  

PETTER FORSSKÅL.  Peter Forsskål (11 January 1732 - 11 July 1763) was a Swedish explorer, orientalist, naturalist and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus. Peter Forsskål was one of those pupils of Carl Linnaeus who lost their lives on expeditions in distant lands. He was the naturalist member of the famous Arabian Expedition (1761-1767), sent by Denmark to study the nature and culture of Yemen, “Arabia Felix” of olden times.

Thank you Pia for this nice FDC.

25 years of Swissair Service over the North Atlantic, special mail transport & 50 years of international air-mail traffic, 1922-1972

By a special flight on 02 May 1947 Swissair took up its regular Service between Switzerland and the United States. To mark the 25^thAnniversary of this event the Swissair Flight Geneva – New York of 02 May 1972 undertook a special mail transport, for which PTT Switzerland authorised  the use of the special date stamp or cancellation on the special stamp on this First Day Cover. The special stamp was also issued on this day to mark 50 years of international air-mail traffic, 1922-1972 - Geneva-Zurich-Nuremberg, the PTT issued a special postage stamp. Receipts from the sale of the special stamps amounted to 2.7 million Swiss francs, 80% of which went to the Pro Aero Foundation and 20% to the Swiss Air Ambulance Service.

Thank you my dear friend Maria for this lovely FDC.

Taxi transport in Finland 11.1.2006

Taxi transport in Finland marks its centenary in 2006. In earlier times, only the upper crust used taxis, but today they serve some fifty million customers a year, carrying them a total of roughly 700 million kilometres. One of the jobs performed by taxis is to take about 40,000 children to school. Old people and the disabled are also regular customers. In towns where buses have buses have become uneconomical to run, taxis run services to order and on preplanned routes. Taxi transport is therefore an inseparable part of life and transport in Finland, on special occasions and every day.

Century of taxi transport. In honor of the century of taxi transport, a stamp booklet with four self-adhesive stamps is to be issued. The stamps depict taxis from different decades. The models shown are Oldsmobile (photo from 1906, Helsinki City Museum/Hanko Museum), Chevrolet from 1929 (photo: Helsinki Taxi Drivers Association), Pobeda from 1957 (photo: Vantaa Taxi Drivers Association) and Mercedes-Benz 2002 (photo: Finnish Taxi Association).

Thank you Dear Pia for this lovely FDC.

The International Year of Disabled Persons 1981

In 1976, the General Assembly proclaimed 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP). It called for a plan of action at the national, regional and international levels, with an emphasis on equalization of opportunities, rehabilitation and prevention of disabilities.

The theme of IYDP was "full participation and equality", defined as the right of persons with disabilities to take part fully in the life and development of their societies, enjoy living conditions equal to those of other citizens, and have an equal share in improved conditions resulting from socio-economic development.

Other objectives of the Year included: increasing public awareness; understanding and acceptance of persons who are disabled; and encouraging persons with disabilities to form organizations through which they can express their views and promote action to improve their situation.

A major lesson of the Year was that the image of persons with disabilities depends to an important extent on social attitudes; these were a major barrier to the realization of the goal of full participation and equality in society by persons with disabilities.

The stamps on this lovely cover sent to me by my friend Merja are part of a six stamp set issued by the UN on 6.3.1981 in Vienna with the Geneva Cachet.

Private car traffic and road safety in Finland 1.10.1979

Merja sent me this very eye opening FDC with a stamp issued in Finland on 1.10.1979.  In the early 1970s, more than one thousand people died in road traffic accidents in Finland each year. When the number of motor vehicles and total vehicle mileage are taken into account, that figure is many times higher than today. The most common cause of accidents is found between the wheel and the driver’s seat.

Seat belts for drivers and front-seat passengers became compulsory in Finland at the beginning of 1971. However, although passenger cars were fitted with seat belts, wearing them was not compulsory at the time. The lack of use probably partly explains the high number of fatalities in road traffic accidents in the early 1970s.

The number of road fatalities continued to grow for the next couple of years, after which the number began to fall rapidly. Key reasons for this trend probably included changes in attitudes, the introduction of speed limits, as well as the introduction of a law requiring people to wear a seat belt on 1 July 1975.

According to the VALT study, seat belt was worn by 54% of those who died and by 64% of those who were injured in fatal accidents. Of those who died not wearing a seat belt, 33% would probably have been saved if they had been wearing a seat belt.

The most typical single risk factor was the driver’s steering error. Speed-related background factors, such as speeding or excessive speed with respect to driving conditions, driver’s skills or the vehicle, were present in 44% of all motor vehicle accidents.

Fatal accidents resulting from a purely technical failure in the vehicle were extremely rare. So, People do be careful when driving on icy roads in winter.

Historic Monuments

Thank you Maria for this nice FDC with the four stamps of Switzerland depicting historic monuments there. The monuments shown are :-

The Castles of Bellinzona(2.80) are a group of fortifications located around the town of Bellinzona in canton Ticino, Switzerland. The group is composed of Castelgrande, castle Montebello, castle Sasso Corbaro and fortified walls. The Castelgrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of fortified walls that protect the old city and connect to the Montebello. The third castle (Sasso Corbaro) is located on an isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other two The Three Castles of Bellinzona have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

The Monastery at Biel Bienne (1.30) was founded Belleley in 1136 and in 1142 first mentioned. However, the monastery was abandoned in 1815 and then served as a watch factory and glass factory, until finally the canton of Bern took over the property and brought it under the Psychiatric Clinic. Today, the beautifully renovated former church is open to the public, which hosts regular art exhibitions.

Einsiedeln Abbey (1.70 & 2.20) was founded in 835 AD by a monk, and is the popular pilgrimage and tourist site in Switzerland. Einsiedeln Abbey located in the Kloster Einsiedeln, CH-8840, Einsiedeln in Switzerland.

By Horse and Sleigh to the Christmas Service 9.10.2006

The 2006 Christmas stamp is reminiscent of the Aland Christmas traditions of past times, when people used to ride by horse and sleigh to the early service on Christmas Day below the sparkling starry sky. The stamp is designed by the Finnish artist Paivi Mansikka-aho. It shows a family returning home by horse and sleigh from the early Christmas service at the church of Finstrom. The church was also a stamp motif in 1989.

The sky on the stamp is covered with glittering hologram stars. The denomination is 'Christmas Postage 06', and this is the first Aland stamp of this denomination. 'Christmas Postage 06' implies that the stamp may be used as postage for Christmas greetings within Aland and to Finland and Sweden (equivalent to ˆ0.50) during a limited period in November and December. This stamp and the lovely cover, and not forgetting the lovely postmark was issued on 9.10.2006 were sent to me by my friend Pia.

120thAnniversary of the Singapore Botanic Gardens 15.12.1979

It is the 153rd Anniversary of The Singapore Botanic Gardens which are a dynamic and living monument to the foresight of the founding fathers of Singapore. Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore and a keen naturalist, established the first botanical and experimental garden on Government Hill (Fort Canning Hill) in 1822, shortly after his arrival in Singapore. He aimed to introduce cultivation of economic crops such as cocoa and nutmeg. However, without a full-time salaried director and sufficient funding, the garden languished and was closed in 1829, after Raffles' death.

The Gardens at its present site was founded in 1859 by an Agri-Horticultural Society. Planned as a leisure garden and ornamental park, the Society organised flower shows and horticultural fetes. In 1874, the Society handed over management and maintenance of the site to the government. The scientific mission of the Gardens evolved when the colonial government assumed management and deployed Kew-trained botanists and horticulturists to administer the Gardens. I had the pleasure of spending many pleasant hours at these wonderful botanical gardens in 2011 and early this year too.

The three lovely stamps on the first day cover were issued by Singapore on 15.12.1979 in order to Commemorate the 120^thAnniversary of the Botanic Gardens.

Endangered birds - Greece

Greece issued this lovely set of stamps on the Endangered birds in that country. Thank you very much indeed Merja for this wonderful FDC. The birds depicted in the stamps are :- 

6d		Purple Heron    Ardea purpurea
8d		Audouin's Gull    Ichthyaetus audouinii
10d		Eleonora's Falcon    Falco eleonorae
14d		Common Kingfisher    Alcedo atthis
20d		Great White Pelican    Pelecanus onocrotalus
25d		White-tailed Eagle    Haliaeetus albicilla

Stamp Show at Locarno

This cover was issued to commemorate the feeling of European Brotherhood during the 3^rd Philatelic Exhibition, 23-24 September 1961 at the twin cities of Locarno – Luino.

The stamp on the cover is regarding aid to help countries in development. 

Thank you Dear Maria for this nice card issued by Switzerland.

150th anniversary of the Finnish stamp

A miniature sheet of three stamps to mark the 150th anniversary of the Finnish stamp, along with a nice covercommemorated this wonderful event. Thank you Pia for this fabulous FDC.

 Heraldic lion on postage stamps. The heraldic lion of Finland adorned the jubilee issue for the 150th anniversary of the Finnish postage stamp in 2006. In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Finnish stamp, a miniature sheet was issued on 27 October 2006 in scintillating red, blue and gold, on the theme of the lion coat of arms of Finland on Finnish stamps. The miniature sheet includes three stamps with values 0.70, 1.40 and 0.95. The jubilee sheet was designed by Päivi Vainionpää and was printed in a run of 220,000. In addition to these, a special numbered edition of 3,000 was printed of the jubilee item, with the lion printed in genuine 22-karat gold.

The lion coat of arms is a vital part of the history of the Finnish stamp: with a few brief exceptions, it has always been the picture on the definitive stamp. A number of designers have contributed their own versions of the stamp. The designer of the jubilee sheet, Päivi Vainionpaä, aimed to bring together a time-honored heritage and state-of-the-art technology: she has used on the jubilee sheet both old lion stamp originals and modern-day refinements of specialist printing technology.

Miniature sheet. The 95-cent postage stamp on the sheet is a cropped image of a ten kopek oval stamp. This was one of Finland's first stamps, from 1856. On the jubilee sheet it is portrayed stylishly: in red foil and embossed. The heraldic lion of Finland from 1930, drawn by designer Signe Hammarsten-Jansson, is shown on the 70-cent stamp. The white lion is embossed on a dark-blue background. The middle stamp on the sheet, with a face value of 1.40 Euro, is a section of the coat of arms stamp drawn by designer Pirkko Vahtero in 1975. The cropping, letterpress and gold foil bring out the lion strongly, with sculpted features on a dark-blue background. On the numbered series of miniature sheets, 22-karat gold is used to print this lion.

1980 Winter Olympics

The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932. The only other candidate city to bid for the Games was Vancouver-Garibaldi, British Columbia, Canada; which withdrew before the final vote.

The mascots of the Games were "Roni" and "Ronny", two raccoons. The mask-like rings on a raccoon's face recall the goggles and hats worn by many athletes in winter sports.

The sports were played at the Olympic Center (later renamed Herb Brooks Arena), Whiteface Mountain, Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run, the Olympic Ski Jumps, the Cascade Cross Country Ski Center, and the Lake Placid High School Speed Skating Oval.

Highlight. The most notable highlight of the Games involved the United States men's ice hockey team. The team was composed mostly of collegiate players and was not predicted to advance beyond group play. They won the gold medal, defeating the heavily favored Soviet team and Finland  in the medal round. The United States team's 4–3 win over the Soviet team, which came into the 1980 Games having won 4 consecutive Olympic gold medals, became known as the ”Miracle on Ice” in the US press. The win captured the hearts of Americans during a time of Cold War tensions, even though it was the win against Finland that captured the gold medal. A film about the event, called ”Miracle” was released in 2004.

Liechtentenstein issued these three lovely stamps with the first day cover on 6^th December 1979. Thank you Merja for this nice FDC.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (French: Cour internationale de Justice; commonly referred to as the World Court or ICJ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its main functions are to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorised international organs, agencies, and the UN General Assembly.

Jurisdiction. As stated in Article 93 of the UN Charter, all 193 UN members are automatically parties to the Court's statute. Non-UN members may also become parties to the Court's statute under the Article 93(2) procedure. For example, before becoming a UN member state, Switzerland used this procedure in 1948 to become a party. And Nauru became a party in 1988. Once a state is a party to the Court's statute, it is entitled to participate in cases before the Court. However, being a party to the statute does not automatically give the Court jurisdiction over disputes involving those parties. The issue of jurisdiction is considered in the two types of ICJ cases: contentious issues and advisory opinions.

This nice FDC was given to me by  my friend Merja.

Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements (1976)

In 1976 in Vancouver, Canada, the United Nations held its first conference on the issue of physical and spatial organization of human life on this planet, and on the national and international actions needed to accommodate the growing number of population in urban and rural communities. This conference, called Habitat: United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, established the concept of human settlements to consist of several elements that had been previously considered separately from one another - housing, building, planning and the relationship of these and such other activities as environmental change and national and international development. Vancouver Declaration defined human settlements as follows:

Human settlements means the totality of the human community - whether city, town or village - with all the social, material, organizational, spiritual and cultural elements that sustain it. The fabric of human settlements consists of physical elements and services to which these elements provide the material support. The physical components comprise:-

Shelter, i.e. the superstructures of different shapes, size, type and materials erected by mankind for security, privacy and protection from the elements and for his singularity within a community;

Infrastructure, i.e. the complex networks designed to deliver to or remove from the shelter people, goods, energy or information;

Services cover those required by a community for the fulfilment of its functions as a social body, such as education, health, culture, welfare, recreation and nutrition.

Broadened Concept of Human Settlements as a Framework for Economic and Social Development. Over the years, this concept of human settlements has been broadened to become a framework for an overall national socio-economic development in the context of formulating global shelter strategies for the year 2000. It is now contended that human settlements are the spatial dimension as well as the physical expression of economic and social activity. No creative act takes place without being influenced by settlement conditions. In turn, the creation of workable human settlements inevitably becomes an objective of, an indicator of and a prerequisite for social and economic development. Settlements are an objective of development in that places where people can live, learn and work in conditions of safety, comfort and efficiency are a fundamental and elementary need. Settlements are also an indicator, in that they are the most visible expression of a society's ability to satisfy some of the fundamental needs of its members: they can mark accomplishments as well as expose destitution, neglect and inequality. Finally, settlements are a prerequisite for social and economic development, in that no social progress for sustainable economic growth can occur without efficient settlements systems and settlement networks.

Thank you Dear friend Merja for this FDC with a stamp advocating these wonderful ideals of the UN.

Monasteries Of Bhutan

Bhutan Post issued four stamps on “Monasteries of Bhutan” celebrating the “Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King” on November 11, 2005.  These stamps were released on 11.11.2006.  Shashi gave me this nice FDC.

Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) is one of the most sacred monasteries in Bhutan.  It is perched on a rocky cliff at 2600 feet (800 meters) above the Paro Valley and was built by the fourth Druk Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye in 1692.

Kichu Monastery Kichu Monastery is one of Bhutan’s most sacred monasteries dating from the introduction of Buddhism in the 7^thcentury.  Located in Paro, it is the oldest monastery in the country built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 659 A.D.  

Kurjey MonasteryLocated in the beautiful valley of Bumthang, Kurjey is a complex of three temples, beneath a giant cypress tree.  The main temple was built in 1652 by Minjur Tempa, Trongsa Penlop.  This temple houses the cave where Guru Rinpoche had left his body imprint visible on the rock while meditating during the 8^th century to subdue the local deities. 

Jambay Monastery Jambay Monastery is believed to have been built on the same day as the Kichu Monastery in Paro by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 59 A.D.  The central figure in the sanctuary is the statue of Jampa, the Buddha of the future.  It was here that Guru Rinpoche conducted his first sermon on Tantric Buddhism for the local ruler of Bumthang, King Sendha Gyap, his family and subjects.  The Monastery is built over a lake in which Guru Rinpoche is said to have hidden many sacred and religious treasures.

The International Year of the Family (IYF) 1994

The International Year of the Family, 1994, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 44/82 of 9 December 1989.The theme of the Year was "Family: resources and responsibilities in a changing world". Its motto: "Building the Smallest Democracy at the Heart of Society".

In proclaiming the Year, the General Assembly decided that the major activities for its observance should be concentrated at the local, regional and national levels, assisted by the United Nations system. The United Nations Commission for Social Development was designated the preparatory body and the Economic and Social Council as the coordinating body for the Year.

Activities for IYF will seek to promote the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms accorded to all individuals by the set of internationally agreed instruments formulated under the aegis of the United Nations, whatever the status of each individual within the family, and whatever the form and condition of that family; Policies will aim at fostering equality between women and men within families, to bring about a fuller sharing of domestic responsibilities and employment opportunities;

Activities for IYF will be undertaken at all levels - local, national, regional and international; however, their primary focus will be at the local and national levels;

 Thank you Pia for this nice and educative FDC.

Art Motifs on UN Definitive Stamps

These two Definitive stamps were issued by the UN Postal Department to commemorate the two of the symbols at the League of Nations HQ in Geneva. The stamp affixed to the left on the FDC is the  Celestial Sphere . The grounds of the Palais des Nations (seat of the United Nations Office at Geneva) contain many fine objects donated by Member States, private sponsors and artists. The Celestial Sphere (also known as the Armillary sphere) in the Ariana Park of the Palais des Nations is the best-known of these. The huge - over four meter diameter - Celestial Sphere is the chef d'oeuvre of the American sculptor Paul Manship (1885–1966). It was donated in 1939 by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation to what was then the League of Nations building. Known also as the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Sphere of the Palais des Nations it is today a symbol of Geneva International and of Geneva as the centre of dialogue and peace. Today the Celestial Sphere stands in the Court d’Honneur of the Palais des Nations, itself an important landmark of the City of Geneva. It serves as a vivid reminder that despite all cultural and religious differences we are inhabitants of one and the same planet of the galaxy, the earth. The time has come to think in terms of Pax Universalis rather than of other Paxes, and one of the contributors to a Pax Universalis is an action-oriented dialogue, based on common human values and the ideals of the United Nations.

The stamp on the right is Georges Matheiu’s art work about Geneva Symbolism. Thank you Merja for this nice FDC issued on 30.1.1987.

Jon Stefansson (1881-1962)

Iceland paid tribute to the Icelandic painter Jon Stefansson (1881-1962) with the release of this stamp on November 16, 1978. The stamp features Stefansson's painting, "Lava Near Mt. Hekla."

 Mt. Hekla is a stratovolcano in the south of Iceland with a height of 1,491 metres (4,892 ft). Hekla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. During the Middle Ages, Europeans called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell."

Hekla is part of a volcanic ridge, 40 kilometres (25 mi) long. The most active part of this ridge, a fissure about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) long named Heklugjá, is considered to be the volcano Hekla proper. Hekla looks rather like an overturned boat, with its keel being a series of craters, two of which are generally the most active.

The volcano's frequent large eruptions have covered much of Iceland with tephra and these layers can be used to date eruptions of Iceland's other volcanos. 10% of the tephra created in Iceland in the last thousand years has come from Hekla, amounting to 5 km³. The volcano has produced one of the largest volumes of lava of any in the world in the last millennium, around 8 km³.

Thank you Maria for this nice FDC with the lovely stamp.

Mythical Princess Signhild 27.3.2008

In March 2008, the third and last miniature sheet of the joint Nordic series featuring Nordic mythology was issued on 27.3.2008. The designer of this pretty piece was Juha Pykäläinen. The theme was Mythical places. Åland has plenty of mythical places and the motif chosen for the miniature sheet is fascinating and surrounded with myth, to say the least!

This First Day Cover with the miniature sheet commemorating this great mythological event was given to me by my Dear friend Pia. Isn’t it a lovely FDC?

Legend has it that Signhild, a British princess, was instructed to marry a Norwegian prince. Accompanied by her communion godfather, her servants and her beloved horse she sailed off to Norway. Upon arrival, the prince had died. The princess, however, decided to travel on to preach Christianity to the people up north. Signhild's ship was wrecked in a nasty storm and ended up in Åland. Many died, but Signhild somehow miraculously managed to make her way to shore at Isaksö in Geta. She rode ashore on her beautiful horse, and the spot where the fabled St Signhild rode ashore still exists and is known as 'Drottningkleven', the Queen's Gorge.

Folklore and Feasts

In 1981 the theme for EUROPA CEPT stamps was folklore and feasts. And Switzerland issued these two stamps and the FDC on 4.5.1981, depicting a couple dancing while wearing traditional costumes. The other stamp depicts a man in a “trial of strength” sport. Thank you Maria for this interesting FDC.

13th Century Bulgarian Mural Painting (fresco)

A beautiful First Day Cover from the United Nations (New York) with two exquisite stamps depicting the Art Series, Frescoes issued in 1981.

In 1973, the Government of Bulgaria presented the United Nations with a replica of a 13th century Bulgarian mural painting (fresco) which was painted inside Boyana Church near Sofia in 1259.  Boyana Church possesses some of Europe’s best 13th century paintings of church founders.  Frescoes are wall paintings created on damp plaster.  These issues belong to the Art at the U.N. Series.

Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church consists of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th century, then enlarged at the beginning of the 13th century by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, who ordered a second two-storey building to be erected next to it. The frescoes in this second church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings. The ensemble is completed by a third church, built at the beginning of the 19th century. This site is one of the most complete and perfectly preserved monuments of east European medieval art. 

The church was recently restored by means provided by UNESCO as part of their preservation program for World Cultural Heritage Sites.  The frescoes of Boyana are all dated to around 1259.

The United Nations (New York) issued in 1981 two stamps showing Sebastocrator Kaloyan (Theodor Tiro, one of the ancient Bulgarian rulers) and his wife, Madame Desislava. The frescoes are shown full size on the relatively small stamps.  Both stamps are alike, but in different face values. The stamps give a good impression of the splendour of the frescoes. Thank you very much Merja for this lovely FDC. The artistic postmark is also worth admiring.