Anniversary and Events in 24.9.1973

The five stamps on this first day cover from Cyprus commemorate five different anniversary and events in 1973 that were relevant to Cyprus.

The first stamp is about the 60th Anniversary of Cyprus Boy Scouts.

The second one commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Cyprus Airways.Cyprus Airways Public Ltd, operating as Cyprus Airways, is the national airline of Cyprus, a public limited company with its head offices located in the capital of the island, Nicosia. It operates scheduled services to 19 destinations in Europe and the Middle East. In summer months the airline also operates some charter flights mainly to the United Kingdom and Greece. It flies from its hub Larnaca.

The third stamp is about the 50th Anniversary of Interpol. The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO, French: Organisation internationale de Police Criminelle – OIPC), or INTERPOL, is an intergovernmental organization facilitating international police cooperation. It was established as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in 1923 and adopted its telegraphic address as its common name in 1956. The organization's headquarters is in Lyon, France. It is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations by member states.

The fourth concerns Cyprus’ Association with the E.E.C. Cyprus enjoys today one of the most advanced relationships among the third countries that are associated with the European Union. Cyprus initially showed an interest to establish an Association Agreement with the EEC in the early sixties in parallel with the British application for full membership to the EC. However with the freezing of the British application, its interest remained dormant until 1971 when it was reactivated almost simultaneously with the renewed efforts of the U.K. to join the European Community. Cyprus entered in 1971 into negotiations with the Community which were to lead to the signing on 19th December 1972 of an Association Agreement between the two parties. The final scope of the said Agreement was the completion in two stages and within a period of ten years of a Customs Union between Cyprus and the EEC.

And the last stamp commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the World Food Program. The World Food Program was established in 1961 by the XVI General Assembly Resolution 1714 as an experiment to be undertaken jointly by the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Thank you Merja for this wonderful FDC.

U.S. National Guard in both Peace and in Wartime 23.2.1953

The 3¢ U.S. stamp on this cover, commemorates the contributions of the U.S. National Guard in both peace and wartime. The stamp pictures a National Guardsman ready for action. The two background images picture a guardsman in a war scene and another protecting life and property. The stamp was issued on 23.2.1953 at Washington, DC.

The U.S. National Guard - The National Guard traces its roots back to the citizen militias of the British North American colonies. Several modern regiments are directly descended from the Massachusetts Bay Colony regiments that were created in the 1630s. The colony’s various militias were ordered to organize North, South, and East regiments. This same legislation required that white males between 16 and 60 years old take arms and defend their communities through nightly guard details and weekly drills. From such organization, state militias were created.

When the Marquis de Lafayette visited the U.S. in 1824-25, one New York battalion called themselves the “National Guard,” honoring Lafayette’s famous Garde Nationale de Paris. In 1903, part of the Army was renamed the National Guard and set aside as a Reserve force. During World War II, the National Guard accounted for 40% of the U.S. fighting divisions in France. The National Guard was officially established in 1916 and was made up of 19 divisions during World War II. 

The National Guard are state-based military forces that are equipped, trained, and paid by the federal government. The President can call them to active duty in the regular armed services.

Thank you Merja.

Marie Curie 4.2.2011

The United Nations proclaimed 2011 the International Year of Chemistry. To commemorate this event the French Post issued a stamp dedicated to the famous French chemist Marie Curie.

Marie Sklodowska Curie (1867-1934) was a Polish-born French physicist and chemist famous for her work on radioactivity. She was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity and the first person honoured with two Nobel Prizes – in physics and chemistry. She was also the first female professor at the University of Paris.

In 2011 France celebrated the 100th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Marie Curie.

This cover with Madame Curie’s stamp on it cancelled on the day of issue, namely, on 4^th February 2011 at Paris was sent to me by Eric.

Boston Tea Party 4.7.1973

This set of four stamps was the second time the post office used four separate designs to create one larger scene. These stamps depict the drama of that fateful night in US History in 1773, when enraged colonists, dressed as Mohawk Indians, dumped chests of tea into Boston Harbor in protest of an English-levied tax. The 8¢ setenant stamps were issued on the American Independence Day in 1973, namely on 4^th of July, and very appropriately released at Boston, MA.

The Boston Tea Party (initially referred to by John Adams as simply "the Destruction of the Tea in Boston") was a nonviolent political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. Disguised as Indians, the demonstrators destroyed the entire supply of tea sent by the East India Company in defiance of the American boycott of tea carrying a tax the Americans had not authorized. They boarded the ships and threw the chests of tea into Boston Harbour, ruining the tea. The British government responded harshly and the episode escalated into theAmerican Revolution. The Tea Party became an iconic event of American history, and other political protests often refer to it.

The Tea Party was the culmination of a resistance movement throughout British America against the Tea Act, which had been passed by the British Parliament in 1773. Colonists objected to the Tea Act because they believed that it violated their rights as Englishmen to "No taxation without representation," that is, be taxed only by their own elected representatives and not by a British parliament in which they were not represented. Protesters had successfully prevented the unloading of taxed tea in three other colonies, but in Boston, embattled Royal GovernorThomas Hutchinson refused to allow the tea to be returned to Britain.

The Boston Tea Party was a key event in the growth of the American Revolution. Parliament responded in 1774 with the Coercive Acts, or Intolerable Acts, which, among other provisions, ended local self-government in Massachusetts and closed Boston's commerce. Colonists up and down the Thirteen Colonies in turn responded to the Coercive Acts with additional acts of protest, and by convening the First Continental Congress, which petitioned the British monarch for repeal of the acts and coordinated colonial resistance to them. The crisis escalated, and theAmerican Revolutionary War began near Boston in 1775.

Thank you Very Much indeed Dear Merja for this important FDC’s.

The Peace Corps 11.2.1972

The Peace Corps was proposed by John F. Kennedy and founded in 1961, thegoals of the Peace Corps are simple: "To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans." By 1972, the number of volunteers had reached 50,000.

The stamp on this cover issued on 11.2.1972 and released at Washington, DC, to commemorate the Peace Corps.

Thank you Merja.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

The 3¢ blue green U.S stamp on this cover commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial on 11^th August 1952. The stamp was released in the city of Keystone, SD.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a gigantic sculpture carved into a granite cliff called Mount Rushmore. This cliff is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, about 25 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota. The sculpture shows the faces of four American Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is said to represent the first 150 years of American history.

Gutzon Borglum (1867-1941) designed the memorial. In 1927, Borglum began guiding 400 workers using drills and dynamite in shaping the sculpture. After Borglum’s death in 1941, his son, Lincoln, supervised the completion of the monument. This was accomplished several years later.

Each President’s granite sculpture is about 60 feet high – equivalent to a five-story building. The memorial rises more than 500 feet over the valley, which adds to its dominating impression. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a very popular tourist destination.

Thank you Merja for this lovely cover.

U.S. Bicentennial Series 13.4.1973

U.S. Bicentennial Series of stamps were issued to commemorate the upcoming Bicentennial celebration. This US stamp set of four stamps depict the many ways patriots communicated the spirit of independence during the American Revolution. Each of the set of four stamps was issued on a different date and in different cities.

“Printer and Patriots Examining Pamphlet” was issued on February 16, 1973, in Portland, Oregon.  Issued to salute the roles of printers and pamphleteers who produced the words to unite patriots, keep their courage high, and urge Americans to fight for freedom.

“Posting a Broadside” was issued on April 13, 1973, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Issued to point out the importance of communications during the Revolutionary War. Broadsides were posters that were displayed to keep the colonists aware of events or to spread propaganda.

“Postrider” was issued on June 22, 1973, in Rochester, New York. Issued in honor of the post rider who carried the mail on horseback. He was an invaluable source of information as his travels from colony to colony enabled him to know the mood of the people.

“Drummer” was issued on September 28, 1973, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The last in the series on Colonial Communications is the drummer who marched into battle or used his drum to summon his neighbors to defend their homes.

The U.S. Bicentennial was a series of celebrations during the mid-1970s that commemorated the historic events leading to America’s independence from Great Britain.

The official events began on April 1, 1975, when the American Freedom Train departed Delaware to begin a 21-month, 25,338-mile tour of the 48 contiguous states. For more than a year, a wave of patriotism swept the nation as elaborate firework displays lit up skies across the U.S., an international fleet of tall-mast sailing ships gathered in New York City and Boston, and Queen Elizabeth made a state visit. The celebration culminated on July 4, 1976, with the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

The U.S.P.S. issued 113 commemorative stamps over a six-year period in honor of the U.S. bicentennial, beginning with the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission Emblem stamp (U.S. #1432). As a group, the Bicentennial Series chronicles one of our nation’s most important chapters, and remembers the events and patriots who made the U.S. a world model for liberty.

Thank you Merja for this nice set of FDC’s.

Marquis de Lafayette Arrives in America.

Issued in 1952, this bright blue 3¢ U.S. stamp issued on 13.6.1952 at Georgetown, SC commemorates the175^thanniversary of the arrival of Marquis de Lafayette in America.

Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette was born in Chavaniac, in Haute Loire, France. His father died on the battlefield when Lafayette was two years old. His mother and grandmother died when he was 13. The young orphan inherited a great fortune. Descended from a long line of soldiers, Lafayette studied at the Military Academy at Versailles. When he was 16, he married Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles, the daughter of one of the most powerful families in France. Shortly after his marriage, Lafayette became a captain in the cavalry. However, he disliked court life, and soon grew interested in the events of the American Revolution.

This wealthy French aristocrat believed so strongly in the American independence movement that he purchased a ship with his own money and sailed for America in 1777. He had convinced several French officers to accompany him. On June 13, 1777, he arrived near Charleston, South Carolina, and volunteered his services to the war effort.

At first, the Continental Congress was unimpressed with Lafayette, who spoke little English. But, when he agreed to serve without pay, the cash-poor Continental Congress appointed him a major general. Lafayette joined George Washington’s staff. Washington developed a fatherly affection for the young man, and the two developed a life-long friendship.  Like Washington, Lafayette served in the Continental Army without pay.

Lafayette served with distinction at the battle of Brandywine, where he was wounded. His victory over Hessian troops at Gloucester earned him the command of a division. He served at Valley Forge during part of the terrible winter of 1777-78. Lafayette also fought at the battles of Barren Hill and Monmouth, and during the campaign to capture Rhode Island.

In 1779, Lafayette returned to France to participate in an invasion of Britain. Although the invasion never took place, Lafayette secured French aid for the Americans. He returned to America in April 1780. In 1781, Lafayette played an important role in the American victory at Yorktown. When he returned to France in 1782, Lafayette was received as a“hero to two worlds.”

Thank you Merja.

TRANSKEI XHOSA - RSA

The cover and the stamp on it were issued by the South Africa Self Governing Tribal Homeland TRANSKEI XHOSA. This stamp was part of the Lifestyle issue "MEAL PREPARATION". 

The Transkei (meaning the area beyond [the river] Kei), officially the Republic of Transkei (Xhosa: iRiphabliki yeTranskei), was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa. Its capital was Umtata (renamed Mthatha in 2004).

Transkei represented a significant precedent and historic turning point in South Africa's policy of apartheid and "separate development"; it was the first of four territories to be declared independent of South Africa. Throughout its existence, it remained an internationally unrecognised, diplomatically isolated, politically unstable de facto one-party state, which at one point broke relations with South Africa, the only country that acknowledged it as a legal entity. In 1994, it was reintegrated into its larger neighbour and became part of the Eastern Cape province.

The Transkei government was a participant in the Codesa negotiations for a new South Africa. The territory was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, and the area became part of the Eastern Cape province.

School as the cornerstone of Finland's success 4.11.2013

In November, Itella Posti Oy would be starting a five-publication series of stamps celebrating the 100th anniversary of Finland's independence in 2017. The first publication in the series is the From Grammar School to Pisa,presenting the Finnish school system, which was published on November 4. The six 1^st class stamps designed by Ville Tietäväinen depict the cornerstones of the internationally renowned Finnish school system.

The themes of the 1^st class stamps feature Uno Cygnaeus, the founder of the school system, school healthcare, school lunches, school tuition, physical education, and language instruction in school.

Ville Tietäväinen is a Finnish graphic designer, illustrator and comic artist. His first comic book Linnut ja meret was published in 2003. Tietäväinen gratuated as an architect but he has worked as an illustrator and graphic designer since 1990's.

Probably the most influential work by Tietäväinen is the Invisible Hands (Finnish: Näkymättömät kädet) comic book released in 2011.  The book was the winner of Finnish Graphic Novel Finlandia Prize in the year 2011. Invisible Hands tells the grim story of a Moroccan tailor Rashid who faces economic difficulties in his home country and leaves his family to look for work in Spain as an illegal alien. The comic book deals with themes like social injustice, illegal immigrants and globalization.

Thank you Ella for this lovely new FDC.

The Christmas stamp celebrates its 40th anniversary - Merry Christmas 4.11.2013

On Monday 4th November, Itella Posti Oy published its new Finnish Christmas stamps, which are inspired by the nostalgic world of scrapbook pictures. The motifs for the stamps, designed by Susanna Rumpu and Ari Lakaniemi, are old drawings used on post cards or scrapbook pictures. 

The EUR 0.65 stamp for Christmas greetings is the atmospheric Christmas Hug, featuring endearing child figures from an old, original post card. The background of the stamp glows warm and golden, creating the mood of candlelight. 

The first-class stamp, Christmas Tree Boy, features an image photographed from of a scrapbook picture, in which a small boy in winter clothes carries home small Christmas trees in a blue-hued snowfall. The stamp sheet also has Priority labels designed to suit the mood of the stamps. 

As a 2nd-class stamp, the traditional Angel can be used for various other greetings in addition to Christmas greetings. For most Finnish people, the angel image conjures up warm childhood memories. 

The Christmas stamp celebrates its 40th anniversary 

2013 is a year of celebration of Finnish Christmas stamps, as the first ones were published 40 years ago on November 15, 1973. In the first Christmas stamps designed by Pirkko Vahtero, a reindeer pulls Santa in a sleigh through the snow.18 million of these stamps were printed in the banknote press of the Bank of Finland. They were valued at 30 Finnish pennies.

Thank you Ella for this lovely FDC.

Robinson Jeffers 13.8.1973

U.S.  8¢ Prussian blue and multi coloured stamp on this cover Salutes the American poet who, early in life, studied medicine and forestry. His poetry has been described as "hard to love, hard to forget." The most famous of his poems was Be Angry At The Sun. The first day of issue postmark is from Carmel, CA dated 13.8.1973.

Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), a remarkable student with a world-class education, Jeffers moved to Carmel, California, in 1914. Jeffers drew inspiration from the great beauty of this setting. He won fame with Tamar, a collection of his verse published in 1924. Other notable works include Roan Stallion and Dear Judas, as well as his adaptation of Euripides’ tragedy Medea.

Thanks Merja.

Sidney Lanier 3.2.1972

Born in Macon, Georgia, Sidney Lanier was a teacher at Johns Hopkins University and an American poet noted for writing about the beauty of the American South. Lake Sidney Lanier, located on the Chattahoochee River in northern Georgia, is named in his honour. This 8¢ stamp was issued on 3.2.1972 in Macon, GA, that is in Lanier’s hometown on the anniversary of his birthday.

Sidney Clopton Lanier was born February 3, 1842, in Macon, Georgia, to parents Robert Sampson Lanier and Mary Jane Anderson; he was mostly of English ancestry. His distant French Huguenot ancestors immigrated to England in the 16th century fleeing religious persecution. He began playing the flute at an early age, and his love of that musical instrument continued throughout his life. He attended Oglethorpe University near Milledgeville, Georgia, where he was a member of theSigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He graduated first in his class shortly before the outbreak of the American Civil War.

He fought in the Civil War, primarily in the tidewater region of Virginia, where he served in the Confederate signal corps. Later, he and his brother Clifford served as pilots aboard English blockade runners. On one of these voyages, his ship was boarded. Refusing to take the advice of the British officers on board to don one of their uniforms and pretend to be one of them, he was captured. He was incarcerated in a military prison at Point Lookout in Maryland, where he contracted tuberculosis (generally known as "consumption" at the time). He suffered greatly from this disease, then incurable and usually fatal, for the rest of his life.

The Grand Coulee Dam 15.5.1952

The stamp on this cover featuring the Grand Coulee Dam, commemorates 50 years of Federal assistance in the West managing the resources of local rivers and streams. The stamp was released at Grand Coulee, on 15.5.1952.

Grand Coulee Dam is the largest concrete dam and the greatest source of waterpower in the United States. Located on the Columbia River about 90 miles northwest of Spokane, Washington, the dam is 5,233 feet long, 500 feet high (about as high as a 46-story building), and contains about 12 million cubic yards of concrete. 

The dam was completed in 1942, after less than eight years of construction time. Grand Coulee Dam’s three power plants provide nearly 6.5 million kilowatts of electrical power. The dam forms Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, a reservoir 151 miles long. Since 1952, the dam has been part of a continuing irrigation project that provides water for over a million acres of farmland.

Thank you Merja.

Ciskei Nkone cattle

In South Africa, territories of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, and Ciskei (the so-called TBVC states) were declared independent in late 1970’s and early 1980’s. This declaration was however not recognized outside of South Africa. At the same time, South Africa began issuing stamps inscribed with the names of these areas.

Though these stamps were not officially recognized by most postal authorities, they were generally accepted on international mail. As such, they also appear in all major stamp catalogs with the stamps of South Africa.

When homeland system was terminated in 1994, each state had issued roughly 300 different stamps. AFAIK, there are no huge rarities with these stamps and they are somewhat easy to find (especially in mint condition), but they do offer collectors a chance to "complete" a country and have fantastic thematic issues. I have yet to see a complete genuine postally used collection of the homelands -- that would be a rarity!

The revenue stamps of the homelands are worth a lot more than the postage stamps.

Matabele cattle have been selected and bred by commercial farmers since 1946. The breed name 'Manguni' was used for some time. The breed society was formed in 1967, and two years later the name was changed to Nkone. The Matabele people use them for dairy and beef, while the commercial Nkone herds are selected only for beef (Felius, 1995). The original Matabele cattle were essentially Nguni by descent from the present-day South Africa. Subsequent migration and interbreeding led to infusion of some blood from neighbouring Sanga cattle, the breed is now genetically more heterogeneous than, and more distant from, other members of the Nguni group. There was reported to be a single pure Nkone herd based at the Matopos Research Station (Rege and Tawah, 1999). 

Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It covered an area of 2,970 square miles (7,700 km³), almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province, and possessed a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean. Under South Africa's policy of apartheid, land was set aside for black peoples in self-governing territories. Ciskei was designated as one of two homelands or "Bantustans" for Xhosa-speaking people. Ngqika (Rharhabe) Xhosa people were resettled in the Ciskei, and Gcaleka Xhosa were settled in the Transkei, the other Xhosa homeland.

Ciskei had a succession of capitals during its existence. Originally, Zwelitsha served as the capital with the view that Alice would become the long-term national capital. However, it was Bisho (now spelled Bhisho) that became the capital until Ciskei's reintegration into South Africa.

The name Ciskei means "on this side of the Kei River", and is in contrast to the neighbouring Bantustan of Transkei.

Thank you Maria for this nice FDC with the pretty stamps.

Olympic Games in 1972 - 127.8.1972

The four stamps on this cover celebrate the Olympic Games in 1972. The Upper two are for the Winter Olympic Games of 1972 which were held in Sapporo in Japan.  The lower two stamps are for theSummer Olympic Games of 1972, which were held in Munich which was then in West Germany. USPS released these stamps at Washinton on 17.8.1972.

Originating in Switzerland in the 1800s, bobsled racing has been included as part of the Olympic Games since 1924. Originally, tobogganers added runners to their sleds to increase speed, and they banked the course to add excitement. This issue salutes the 11th Olympic Winter Games.

The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich, which was then in West Germany. It was the second Summer Olympics to be held in Germany. The first had been in 1936, when the Nazi regime was still in power. The U.S. team’s Mark Spitz set a world record by winning seven gold medals in a single Olympics. Spitz’s record stood until 2008, when Michael Phelps, also representing the U.S., won eight gold medals.

Olga Korbut, a tiny gymnast from the Soviet Union, captured the hearts of millions around the world as she took three gold medals. And came to be known as the perfect ten girl.

The Games were overshadowed by an act of terrorism known as the “Munich Massacre.” On September 5, eight Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village and took 11 Israeli athletes, coaches and officials hostage. All of the Israelis were killed, along with five of the terrorists.

Thank you Merja.

Cape Hatteras 5.4.1972

Cape Hatteras National Seashore preserves the portion of the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island, stretching over 70 miles (110 km). Included within this section of barrier islands along N.C. 12, but outside the National Seashore boundaries, are Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and several communities, such as Rodanthe, Buxton, and Ocracoke. Cape Hatteras is a fascinating combination of natural and cultural resources, and provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities.

Once dubbed the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" for its treacherous currents, shoals, and storms, Cape Hatteras has a wealth of history relating to shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the US Lifesaving Service. The islands also provide a variety of habitats and are a valuable wintering area for migrating waterfowl. The park's fishing and surfing are considered the best on the East Coast.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore was established by Congress on August 11, 1937. On June 29, 1940, the name of the park was changed by the U.S. Congress to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area.

This issue was unique in that it combined four stamps in a block that contained one overall design. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is pictured. That area contains some of the earliest sites of English colonial settlement. Located along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the shores are home to thousands of waterfowl and have become the final stop for sections of ships that have been wrecked on the shoals.

The stamps were released on 5.4.1971 at Cape Hatteras, NC.

Thank you Merja for this lovely FDC.

Battle of Brooklyn 10.12.1951

This violet coloured 3¢ Battle of Brooklyn US stamp issued on 10.12.1951 at Broklyn, NY, commemorated the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. The stamp pictures U.S. General George Washington evacuating his troops near the Fulton Ferry House.

The Battle of Brooklyn (also known as the Battle of Long Island) marked the first fighting between the Continental and British armies of the Revolutionary War. It was also the largest battle of the war. British General William Howe commanded an army of 32,000 backed by the powerful British fleet. In August of 1776, the British force attacked General George Washington and his army of 20,000. Washington’s troops lacked the military training of the British soldiers, and the General had no navy. It’s estimated the Americans suffered about 2,000 casualties, while British losses were less than 400.

Although the Americans lost the Battle of Brooklyn, they showed the determination that eventually won the war. In one notable instance, a Maryland regiment of 400 men fiercely attacked a well-defended British outpost. All but nine died. However, their valiant efforts bought General Washington the time to gather his remaining troops for a retreat across the East River. British soldiers occupied Brooklyn until 1783.

Thank you Merja.

Tobacco or health, choose health World's 1st No Tobacco Day on 7th April 1988

The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7th April 1988 to be a "a world no-smoking day." In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day.

Cyprus issued this cover and the slogan to deliver the message "Tobacco or Health, Choose Health".

Thank you Merja for this cover with the important message.

10th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty

Norway issued this stamp on the First Day Cover issued in Oslo on 23.6.1971 commemorating the 10^th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty. The picture on the stamp is that of Roald Engelbert Gravning Amundsen (16 July 1872 - 18 June 1928) who was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the Antarctic expedition (1910-12) to discover the South Pole in December 1911, and he was the first expedition leader to undisputedly reach the North Pole in 1926. Amundsen is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage (1903-06).  I am giving a small brief in the succeeding paragraphs to emphasise the importance being given to Antarctica by some nations.

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only continent without a native human population. For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude. The treaty, entering into force in 1961 and currently having 50 signatory nations, sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activity on that continent. The treaty was the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War. The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquarters have been located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since September 2004.

Queen Maud Land is a c. 2.7 million-square-kilometre (1 million sq mi) region of Antarctica claimed as a dependent territory by Norway. The territory lies between 20° west and 45° east, between the British Antarctic Territory to the west and the Australian Antarctic Territory to the east. The latitudinal limits of the territory are not officially defined. Positioned in East Antarctica, the territory comprises one-sixth of the total area of Antarctica. The claim is named for theNorwegian queen Maud of Wales (1869–1938).

Norwegian Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen was the first person known to have set foot in the territory, in 1930. On 14 January 1939, the territory was claimed by Norway. From 1939 until 1945, Germany claimed New Swabia, which consisted of part of Queen Maud Land. On 23 June 1961, Queen Maud Land became part of the Antarctic Treaty System, making it a demilitarised zone. It is one of two Antarctic claims made by Norway, the other being Peter I Island. They are administrated by the Polar Affairs Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security in Oslo.

Most of the territory is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, and a tall ice wall stretches throughout its coast. In some areas further within the ice sheet, mountain ranges breach through the ice, allowing for birds to breed and the growth of a limited flora. The region is divided into the Princess Martha Coast, Princess Astrid Coast, Princess Ragnhild Coast, Prince Harald Coast and Prince Olav Coast. The waters off the coast are called the King Haakon VII Sea.

There is no permanent population, although there are 12 active research stations housing a maximum average of 40 scientists, the numbers fluctuating depending on the season. Six are occupied year-round, while the remainder are seasonal summer stations. The main aerodromes for intercontinental flights, corresponding with Cape Town, South Africa, are Troll Airfield, near the Norwegian Troll research station, and a runway at the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.

Thank you Pia for this nice FDC.

100th anniversary of the opening of the Museum of Natural History 6.5.1970

These four lovely1970 6¢ Natural History Set of 4 multicoloured stamps were Issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Museum of Natural History. Its founders included Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., the father of the 26th U.S. President and industrialist J.P. Morgan. 

This museum - the largest of its kind in the entire world - had grown to occupy 18 buildings by 1970. By 2010, the museum had grown to 25 innerconnected buildings housing permanent exhibit halls, research laboratories, and a library. Over 32 million specimens are now contained in the museum. The 2006 film, Night at the Museum, was set at the museum. The stamps were released at New York, NY on 6.5.1970.

Thank you Merja for this wonderful FDC.

Boy Scouts of America 30.6.1950

Were you ever a scout or a girl guide? I was a scout when in school. And I still remember those wonderful days, especially the ones at the camps and the lovely campfires, and the the barbeques! Well then, heres something for you guys.

This 1950 3¢ sepia coloured Boy Scouts Issue by USPS. It is the first U.S. stamp honouring the Boy Scouts of America. It was issued at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on the opening day (30.6.1950) of the 1950 Boy Scout Jamboree at that location. The stamp features three Scouts of varying ages (and Scouting levels). The Statue of Liberty is shown in the background, reflecting the 1950 Scout theme “Strengthening the Army of Liberty.”

The Scouts camped in the same area as George Washington’s Colonial Army had during the famous 1777-78 winter at Valley Forge. President Harry S Truman spoke at the Jamboree, as did Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower.  

The story goes that in 1909, an American William Boyce got lost on the foggy streets of London. A boy came to Boyce’s aid, guiding him to his destination. When Boyce offered a tip, the boy said, “I am a Scout. I won’t take anything for doing a good turn.” Boyce was so impressed with British Scouting that he brought the idea home to the U.S., founding the Boy Scouts of America in 1910.

What began as a single “good turn” on a foggy London night has evolved into a national organization whose members do good deeds. During World War I, Scouts sold $147 million in Liberty Bonds. 

Today, Scouting continues to provide an educational program for boys, taught through fun and adventure.  With overnight camping, many physical activities, and volunteer work, Boy Scouts gain self-confidence plus learn teamwork and responsibility. The results are impressive – one of every three West Point cadets was a Boy Scout. And, of the 435 members of the 2010 U.S. Congress, 211 participated in Scouting.

The Boy Scouts of America kicked off their 100th anniversary with “A Year of Celebration.” The campaign challenges Boy Scouts to serve as leaders, learn new skills, and participate in community service projects in 2010. Altogether, over 2.7 million U.S. Scouts will step up to the challenge.

Thank you Merja.

Kataklysmos - 'The Water Festival' 20.5.1988

This lovely stamp on the beautiful cover with the palm tree slogan was issued in Cyprus on 20.5.1988 to celebrate the Kataklysmos Fair at Larnaca.

Kataklysmos, or the Flood Festival, takes place in Cyprus every year in June, 50 days after Orthodox Easter. The event takes place on the day that is known also as the day of the Holy Spirit, because it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. In Cyprus, however, the celebrations are connected also to the ancient ceremonies organized in honour of Aphrodite and Adonis.

Water is the main focus of the festival. All coastal cities organize concerts, games and other events near the waterfront. Be ready to get wet if you are at Kataklysmos in June!

Larnaca organizes the biggest Festival of Flood in Cyprus and celebrates Kataklysmos for several days. On the sea front promenade you will find open-air fair with plenty of kiosks selling toys and traditional food. Popular Greek and Cypriot singers and dance troupes perform in Larnaca. There are competitions in the water as well as a contest for chatista, or rhyming songs in the Cypriot dialect.

Larnaca also celebrates Pentecost at the same time. Originally a pagan Cyprus festival to celebrate Aphrodite, it has evolved into a Christian celebration of the Flood.

The festival takes place on the Sunday of Pentecost so the dates change each year. All seaside towns mark the event, although in some towns it is bigger than others. Larnaca usually puts on the biggest show, while in Ayia Napa or Limassol for example, the festivities can last for several days.

Tourists usually arrive early and enjoy the beach first. The event starts when a priest throws a cross into the sea. The diver who retrieves it is given a blessing.

From there the fun begins – prepare to get very, very wet as there are plenty of water fights! Throwing water onto one another here is symbolic of purifying the soul, but it is also a great way to keep cool and most importantly, it’s a lot of fun!

A lot of the celebrations focus on water with swimming competitions, banana boat rides and boat and canoe races taking place but there are also many land based activities to enjoy.

Music and dancing take place in both the streets and in on stages and locals take pleasure in teaching tourists the traditional folk dances of Cyprus.

Local poets hold readings and there are also fairs. This is a celebration that you cannot see anywhere else in the world, so if you really want to see the real Cyprus, this is a festival not to be missed!

Thank you Merja for this wonderful FDC.