100th anniversary of the Pony Express

U.S. 1960 4¢ Pony Express Centennial commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Pony Express. Now a famous chapter in the lore of the Old West, the Pony Express was a high-speed (for the time) mail service from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. These two covers were released simultaneously from these two cities with a lot of fanfare. The Pony Express

used relays of men and horses to deliver mail in less than half the time required by other delivery methods. The Express operated for a year and a half – until the opening of the transcontinental telegraph made it unnecessary. Despite its fame, the Pony Express was a financial failure. An estimated 400 horses were used during the company’s operation. Riders typically rode stretches of 80 to 100 miles at a time, changing horses about every 10 miles at stations along the route.

The Pony Express was a mail service delivered messages, newspapers, mail, even small packages across the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada by horseback, using a series of relay stations. During its 18 months of operation, it reduced the time for messages to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to about 10 days. From April 3, 1860, to October 1861, it became the West's most direct means of east–west communication before the telegraph was established and was vital for tying the new state of California with the rest of the country. The Pony Express was a mail-delivery system of the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express Company of 1859, which in 1860 became the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. This firm was founded by William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell all of whom were notable in the freighting business.

Thank you Merja for this important piece of postal history.

CYPRUS PHILATELIC SOCIETY 5.12.1984

The Cyprus Philatelic Society was founded οn 5th December 1959 by 35 members. Its aim, as stated at the time it achieved the first general assembly, was to find α permanent home, to form a philatelic library, to promote Philately, to help its members in educational philatelic learning and research.

Today the Cyprus Philatelic Society counts more than 1279 members from Cyprus and abroad being the only society in Cyprus of its kind. Two hundred fifty six, out of 1279, are junior members. It is the leading society in its field and has an international stature. Its common utility status is based on the society's contribution to the continuous educational learning. It is α founder-member of the European Philatelic Federation (FEPA) and since 1987 full member of the International Philatelic Federation (F.LP.).

The Cyprus Philatelic society develops α rich philatelic activity in Cyprus and abroad and focuses mainly on the promotion of philatelic study and research achieving the cultural development of its members.

Its non-profit character is based on its principles and its contribution to the continuous process of philatelic education, as the only Learned Institution of Philately in Cyprus.

Thank you Dear Merja for this nice FDC.

The Government Printing Works

The Government Printing Works building in South Africa captures a lot of cultural significance within its walls. The setting and its records need to be guarded for future generations. This red brick building is more than a century old and although the interior spaces are a bit neglected the structure still stands firm. It is worth  admiring the quality and detailing that was applied in 19th century architecture and with what precision the building was constructed.  The Government Printing Works is older than 60 years and is therefore protected by the National Heritage Resources Act.

According to an article by Colonel S.A. Myburgh (1955:192-199) titled “The most modern printing works in South Africa”, the Government Printing Works was commissioned by the late President Paul Kruger. President Kruger felt that, due to the increasing demand for printing as well as stationery, the Republic of South Africa needed its own State Printing Works. This would benefit the economy and in turn would provide the Government with much needed confidentiality, which was not the case at the time with the awarding of contracts to private printing firms. This would also improve the printing industry in South Africa. The Government Printing Works were not only used for ordinary printing and stationery, but also for printing stamps.

The Government Printing Works ran smoothly until it was forced to shut down due to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899. During this time all forms of Government printing took place on a train that travelled between Pretoria and Delagoa Bay. As the War drew to an end, the Printing Works were re-opened, but this time with an entirely new staff under the leadership of Mr. P.C. Falconer.

The picture of the stamps shown on the cover, were printed at this press. 

Thank you Maria.

White House Conference on Aging

The White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) is a once-a-decade conference sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States which makes policy.

recommendations to the president and Congress regarding the aged. The first of its kind, the goals of the conference are to promote the dignity, health and economic security of older Americans. It has been claimed that it is perhaps the best-known White House conference. The Conference is held once a decade, with the most recent conference held in 2005, in preparation for the retirement of the baby boomer generation.

In 1950, President Harry S Truman ordered the Federal Security Agency to hold a national conference on aging. The purpose was to assess the policy challenges posed by a changing populace, particularly in light of numerous changes in federal entitlement programs (such as Social Security) that had been enacted during the previous 20 years. Social Security's goal was to assist those in need of financial assistance such as the poor, elderly, physically disabled or mentally ill.

The 4,000 attendees at the 1971 conference (which this first day of issue cover honours) recommended more than 193 actions, some of which led directly to the founding of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Federal Council on Aging.

Thank you Merja for this special embossed stamped cover.

Multi- stamp issue on 7.4.1960

These four stamps you see on the special cover, were part of a multi- stamp issue on 7.4.1960. The details of the topics on which these were issued are given below :

(50c) World Refugee Year. Many refugees remained in camps almost fifteen years after the end of the Second World War. This was seen as disgraceful by those who had suffered greatly during the war and those who were concerned about their situation. It was at this point that the United Nations launched a program to resolve the refugee problem once and for all. 1959-1960 was announced as World Refugee Year. The aim of this project was to 'clear the camps'. It achieved some significant results, especially in Europe. By the end of 1960, for the first time since before the war, all the refugee camps in Europe were closed.

(10c) 50 Years of Fight against cancer. A stamp printed in Switzerland from the "Fight against cancer" issue shows inscription in 3 languages.

(20c) 500 Years of University of Basel. Back before our calendar began, Basel had already been occupied by the Celts. In 30 B.C. the city's strategically favourable position led the Romans to station its military forces on the hill now occupied by the cathedral.

One key event in the development of the city was the founding of the University in the year 1460. Many of Europe's greatest minds came to Basel, which became a veritable centre of humanism and book printing.

(75c) Swissair 1960. Swissair, S.A./AG (Schweizerische Luftverkehr) was the national airline of Switzerland. It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero (To the Stars), in 1931. For most of its 71 years, Swissair was one of the major international airlines and known as the "Flying Bank" due to the financial stability of the airline, causing it to be regarded as a Swiss national symbol and icon. The airline thrived into the 1980s, when it was one of the "big four" Western European airlines. It was headquartered at Zurich Airport and in Kloten.

Thank you Maria for this lovely FDC.

1985 Table Tennis World Championships

In 1985 Sweden was host to the World TT Championships again. The tournament was held at Göteborg from 28^th March to the 7^th April. The event was till then the biggest sports competition ever held in Sweden, if you consider the number of participating countries. The previous four occasions when Sweden hosted these championships the tournaments were held in Stockholm.

Gothenburg (Swedish: Göteborg) is the second largest city in Sweden and the fifth largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 532,247, with 549,839 in the urban area and about one million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. Gothenburg is classified as a global city by GaWC, with a ranking of Gamma−. The city was ranked as the 12th most inventive city in the world by Forbes (2013).

Gothenburg was founded by royal charter in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. At the mouth of the Göta älv, the Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic countries.

Disabled Children in Transkei

Here is another set of stamps issued by Transkei on 30.11.1978 to highlight the problems of disabled children.

Thank you Maria.

1974 Europa CEPT - Cyprus 29.4.1974

Europa stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations/ enterprises under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.  EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world. Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe’s desire for closer integration and cooperation and in 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps. Over the years, EUROPA stamp has gained more interest within the Postal community as well as with philatelist, and reflects the engagement from the members in diligently participating in the competition.

From 1974, the designs freely reflect a common theme. Of note is the CEPT logo indicating it is a Europa CEPT stamp issue. The success of Europa issues among collectors prompted many postal administrations of small countries or territories dependent of European countries (the Channel Islands for instance) to join the issuing countries in the 70s. The number of participants reaches 35 in the 80s. Turkey has participated continuously since 1960, and communist Yugoslavia from 1969. The collapse of the communist bloc brings new issuers as of 1990 to reach 57 countries in the late 90s. A common theme of Sculptures was the theme for 1974.

These three stamps of Cyprus show the famous statue placed at the entrance to the European Parliament building.  The stamps were issued on 29.4.1974. The postmark shows the CEPT trademark logo.

The myth of Europa has inspired writers, historians, painters and European politicians throughout the centuries; they gave her name to a continent and created several pieces of art depicting the love making of Zeus and Europe. But let us first recall the most common version of this ancient legend. According to Greek mythology, the Phoenician maiden named ‘Europa’ was one of the many objects of affection of Olympian chief god Zeus. At first sight of Europa, the god was infatuated by her striking beauty and grace. Not being one to ignore his desires, Zeus immediately comes up with a cunning plan. In order to avoid the anger of his jealous wife Hera, and to get his way with the girl, Zeus metamorphosed in a beautiful white bull. While the young maiden was gathering flowers, she saw the bull, and – fascinated by its handsome flanks and gentle behavior - caressed him and got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity to abduct Europa and swim to the island of Crete. He there revealed his true identity, raped and impregnated her. Europa gave birth to Minos, who would become king of Crete. The myth of Europa and the Bull seems to do this in terms of Europe: it is a significant and sexy image of Europe reinventing itself as the European Union.  

Then she became less shy, he gave his breast to her caressing hands
and let her garland even his horns with new-plucked flowers. The princess, 
innocent on whom she sat, climbed to his back; slowly the god stepped out
into the shallows of the beach and … took to sea, 
swimming against full tide, the girl his captured prize; she fearful, 
turned to shoreward, set one hand on his broad back, the other held
one horn, her dress behind her fluttered in the wind.

But from this story of a divine-king defying morality and taking whatever he wants when he wants, Europe gets its name. Naming is very important in Scripture: it’s a symbol of dominion. He who rules, names. This is why after giving Adam dominion over the earth, God brought him all of the animals for him to name. Adam also named his wife. He who has dominion, names. This does not mean that he who names has dominion.

Thank you Merja.

1960 World Refugee Year

The United States  1960 4¢ World Refugee Year stamp was issued on 7.4.1960 at Washington, DC. Along with USA many other nations  joined in issuing stamps to symbolize their participation in the United Nations’ World Refugee Year. TheU.N. proclaimed International Refugee Year from July 1, 1959, until June 30, 1960. 

The stamps were issued to bring attention to the hardships of millions of people who were still displaced over a decade after the end of World War II. The stamp design shows a family heading from darkness toward a bright doorway, symbolizing escape from oppression into a new life.

In 1958 – 13 years after World War II ended – there were still displaced people living in refugee camps. An idea started in the United Kingdom and was rapidly picked up by the United Nations and many other nations – individual countries helping refugees. Through the efforts of the participating nations, tens of thousands of people returned home.

Thank you Merja for this nice FDC with a wonderful theme.

Heroes of Medicine

The four stamps on this first day cover were issued at Umtata in Transkei on 2.9.1985 to honour famous personalities associated with the world of Medicine.

(12c)  Andreas Vesalius (31 December 1514 – 15 October 1564) was a Brabantian (in modern-day Belgium) anatomist, physician, and author of one of the most influential books on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body). Vesalius is often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy. He was professor at the University of Padua and later became Imperial physician at the court of Emperor Charles V.

Andreas Vesalius is the Latinized form of the Dutch Andries van Wezel, a common practice among European scholars in his time. His name is also given as Andrea Vesalius, Andrea Vesalio, Andreas Vesal, André Vesalio and Andre Vesalepo.

(25c)  Marcello Malpighi (March 10, 1628 – November 29, 1694) was an Italian physician and biologist regarded as the father of microscopical anatomy and histology. Malpighi gave his the Malpighian corpuscles and Malpighian pyramids of the kidneys and the Malpighian tubule system of insects. The splenic lymphoid nodules are often called the "Malpighian bodies of the spleen" or Malpighian corpuscles.

(30c) François Magendie (6 October 1783 – 7 October 1855) was a French physiologist, considered a pioneer of experimental physiology. He is known for describing the foramen of Magendie. There is also a Magendie sign, a downward and inward rotation of the eye due to a lesion in the cerebellum. Magendie was a faculty at the College of France, holding the Chair of Medicine from 1830 to 1855 (he was succeeded by Claude Bernard, who worked previously as his assistant).

His most important contribution to science was also his most disputed. Contemporaneous to Sir Charles Bell, Magendie conducted a number of experiments on the nervous system, in particular verifying the differentiation between sensory and motor nerves in the spinal cord, the so-called Bell-Magendie law. This led to an intense rivalry, with the British claiming that Bell published his discoveries first and that Magendie stole his experiments. The intensity of this scientific rivalry perhaps can only be compared to that between Isaac Newton and Robert Hooke.

(50c)  William Stewart Halsted (September 23, 1852 – September 7, 1922) was an American surgeon who emphasized strict aseptic technique during surgical procedures, was an early champion of newly discovered anesthetics, and introduced several new operations, including the radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Along with William Osler (Professor of Medicine), Howard Atwood Kelly (Professor of Gynecology) and William H. Welch (Professor of Pathology), Halsted was one of the "Big Four" founding professors at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Throughout his professional life, he was addicted to cocaine and later also to morphine, which were not illegal during his time.

Thank your Maria.

Jan Ernst Abraham Volschenk

Jan Ernst Abraham Volschenk (20 August 1853 Riversdale - 22 January 1936 Riversdale), was a South African painter, noted for his majestic landscapes of the Langeberg Range in the Western Cape Province.

Born of Dutch parents on the farm Melkhoutskraal, Volschenk started painting when still a child and was largely self-taught. James Reitz, the Government Land Surveyor, saw some of his drawings and suggested that his brother Gysbert, a Riversdale lawyer, take an interest. He eventually joined the firm of Reitz & Versfeld as a bookkeeper. At 51 years of age he gave up his office job and devoted all his time to his oils and canvases. His home district around Riversdale and the Langeberg, was his inspiration and subject matter, and he became a master of the subtle colours and tones of the Karoo mountains.

Volschenk's keen powers of observation spilled over into natural history - he amassed a collection of more than 4 000 beetle specimens.

When 45 years old, Volschenk married another Riversdale resident, Helen Smalberger, and they produced a family of nine daughters. Of these, Vera, the eldest, followed in her father's footsteps and painted in the same genre.

Thank you Maria for this lovely South African FDC, with the pretty stamps depicting paintings by Volschenk.

Salem Poor 25.3.1975

U.S. 1975 10¢ Salem Poor Contributors to the Cause Series stamp was issued at Cambridge, Massachusetts on 25.3.1975. It was the second stamp in the Contributors to the Cause Series and honours Salem Poor.

Poor was a celebrated African-American soldier who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Fourteen officers signed a commendation citing him for bravery. Salem Poor (1747–1802) was an African-American slave who purchased his freedom, became a soldier, and rose to fame as a war hero during the American Revolutionary War.

Poor was born in 1747 into slavery on a farm in Andover, Massachusetts owned by John Poor and his son John Poor Jr. He bought his freedom on July 10, 1769 from John Poor Jr. for £27, a year's salary for an average working man at the time.

In May 1775, Poor enlisted in the militia, serving under Captain Benjamin Ames in Colonel James Frye's regiment, opposing the British troops occupying besieged Boston. He is best remembered today for his actions during the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, where he is credited with mortally wounding British Lieutenant Colonel James Abercrombie.

Poor's valor and gallantry at the Battle of Bunker Hill prompted 14 officers, including Colonel William Prescott, to cite him for heroism and petition the General Court of Massachusetts with the following statement:

“The Reward due to so great and Distinguished a Character. The Subscribers beg leave to Report to your Honourable. House (Which We do in justice to the Character of so Brave a man) that under Our Own observation, we declare that A Negro Man Called Salem Poor of Col. Fryes Regiment, Capt. Ames. Company in the late Battle of Charleston, behaved like an Experienced Officer, as Well as an Excellent Soldier, to Set forth Particulars of his Conduct would be Tedious, We Would Only beg leave to say in the Person of this Negro Centres a Brave & gallant Soldier”.

On July 10, 1775, George Washington ended the recruitment of African Americans. On November 12, he issued orders prohibiting all black men from serving in the Continental Army. (Despite the ban on recruitment, those who had already been serving for some time were allowed to stay until this point.) On hearing of this, Lord Dunmore, who at the time was Governor of Virginia, offered freedom to all slaves willing to serve with the British. Washington, sensing the disaster that would almost surely result, immediately changed his position, at once ordering all recruiters to enlist any black men who wanted to fight. Poor immediately re-enlisted in the militia and fought with the Patriot forces until March 20, 1780, when he was apparently discharged. He is known to have retreated to the winter camp at Valley Forge and fought in the Battle of White Plains.

Thank you Merja for this fine cover.

Thomas Masaryk

This U.S. 1960 4¢ Thomas Masaryk Champions of Liberty stamp was part of the Champions of Liberty Series, and was issued in honor of Czech patriot Thomas Masaryk. The stamp was issued in Washington, DC on 7.3.1960.

Thomas Masaryk in English (7 March 1850 – 14 September 1937), was an Austrian-Czech politician, sociologist and philosopher, who as an eager advocate of Czechoslovak independence during World War I became the founder and first President of Czechoslovakia. He originally wished to reform the Austro-Hungarian monarchy into a democratic federal state, but during the First World War he began to favour the abolition of the monarchy and, with the help of the Allied Powers, eventually succeeded. During World War I, he organized groups of Czech revolutionaries, and provided valuable intelligence to the Allies. 

Masaryk gained support for his cause from U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, and called for Czechoslovakian independence in a speech on the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. After the Austria-Hungary Empire was dissolved following World War I, Masaryk was named head of the Provisional Government. He was elected first President of the Czechoslovak Republic in November 1918.

Thank you Merja.

Port St. Johns

Port St. Johns (or Port Saint Johns) in Transkei, is a town of about 5000 people on the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River, 220 kilometres (140 mi) northeast of East London and 70 kilometres (40 mi) east of Mthatha.

This town is thought to have been named after a Portuguese ship (the São João), which was actually wrecked at Port Edward. Later seafarers mistakenly identified the mouth of the Umzimvubu River as the site of this wreck.

The town was established in the 1880s by the British, after negotiations with local Pondo chiefs for rights to the banks of the river and adjacent territories. The river mouth was used as a port, however this activity was abandoned in the 1940s due to siltation, which caused the river to become too shallow for vessels.

These stamps and the special cover were issued to commemorate the establishment of Port St. Johns by the British. The stamps were released on 6.2.1986 at Port St. Johns.

The 12c stamp depicts a street scene during the early days of this port. The 20c stamp shows a picture of the coaster “Umzimvubu”. The 25c stamp depicts wagons off-loading at the jetty. And, finally the 30c stamp gives a lovely view of the town as it looked like at the end of the 1800’s.

Thank you Maria for this lovely FDC.

Transkei Health Services

These three stamps on this FDC describe the acute problem of blindness afflicting Transkei and other regions of South Africa in the areas where ethnic native Africans lived. How far the then apartheid Governments in the various semi independent states actually cared about health care of the natives is very questionable.

Thank you Maria for this FDC. 

The Battle of Lexington and Concord 19.4.1975

The US 1975 10¢ Lexington-Concord stamp was issued on 19.4.1975 at Lexington, MA to commemorate The Battle of Lexington and Concord. The stamp portrays a painting titled “Lexington & Concord” by Henry Sandham.

The battles of Lexington and Concord were fought in the state of Massachusetts in April 1775. They were the first military engagements of the American Revolution. Due to unrest in the American colonies, British General Thomas Gage received orders to use force against the defiant colonials. Consequently, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith led a British column from Boston to seize the gunpowder of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress at Concord. On the morning of April 19, 1775, Smith’s redcoats scattered a company of local militiamen at Lexington. Several militiamen were killed by unauthorized fire.

When Lieutenant Smith arrived at Concord he was only able to find a partial store of the gunpowder – Paul Revere and his associates had brought news of his mission to the local militia. As the British marched back to Boston, they were assaulted by Massachusetts militiamen, who inflicted 273 casualties.

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. 

Thank you Merja.

Ernst Reuter

U.S. 1959 8¢ Ernst Reuter stamp shown on this cover is part of the “Champions of Liberty” series. This stamp shows Ernst Reuter, themayor of West Berlin during the early years of the Cold War. This stamp was released on 29.9.1959 at Washington, DC.

After World War II, the German capital of Berlin was split into East and West Berlin – the East run by the Soviet Union and the West by the U.S., Great Britain, and France. Reuter became West Berlin’s mayor at this time. As the Soviets tried to block access to West Berlin, Reuter became the spokesman for the West Berlin citizens, appealing to the world before a crowd of 300,000 to not abandon Berlin. In response, the Allies coordinated the “Berlin Airlift,” a massive effort of over 200,000 flights to provide supplies.

Reuter continued his efforts to unify West Berlin, which had a population of over 2 million people. He helped for the “Free University of Berlin,” since the University of Berlin was in Communist-held territory. Reuter served as mayor until his death in 1953. His funeral was attended by more than a million people.

Champions of Liberty. In 1957, the Post Office Department issued a stamp honoring Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay as a “Champion of Liberty.” Magsaysay’s stamp marked the beginning of a 10-stamp series honoring non-Americans who fought for freedom in their homelands. After Magsaysay’s single commemorative stamp was issued, the rest of the series had two stamps printed for each subject – one in a single color, and one with three colors. The pairs were also of different denominations. The series was issued from 1957 to 1961. It featured Ramon Magsaysay, Simón Bolívar, Lajos Kossuth, José de San Martín, Ernst Reuter, T.G. Masaryk, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Gustaf Mannerheim, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Transkei Electric Supply

As I had mentioned in an earlier post on this blog, The Transkei (meaning the area beyond [the river] Kei), was officially the Republic of Transkei (Xhosa: iRiphabliki yeTranskei), was in Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the south eastern 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.

These four stamps and the first day cover were issued by Transkei to commemorate the Transkei Rlectricity Supply Corporation, and were issued on 24.7.1986. The stamps show the Hydro-electric power stations in Transkei in 1986. 

A short brief on these stamps:

14c & 20c stamps show the Mthatha River or Umtata River located in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The river flows into the Indian Ocean in an estuary located at Coffee Bay. The Mthatha river flows in a southeastern direction and is approximately 250 km long with a catchment area of 2,600 km². It is named after Mthatha Town (Umtata). The hydro electric supply is from the Mthatha Dam an earth-fill type dam located on the Mthatha River. It was established in 1977 and serves mainly for municipal and industrial purposes. Its hazard potential has been ranked high.

25c stamp is about the Ncora Hydroelectric Power Station located at Eastern Cape. Ncora Dam is a gravity type dam located on the Tsomo River, near Tsomo, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1972 and serves mainly for irrigation purposes. The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high

30c stamp shows the Collywobbles Hydroelectric Power Station located at Eastern Cape.

Thank you Maria.

South African National Flag

It was only after the first post-Union Afrikaner government took office in 1925 that a bill was introduced in Parliament to introduce a national flag for the Union. This provoked violent controversy that lasted for three years, as the British thought that the Afrikaners wanted to remove the imperial symbols. The Natal Province even threatened to secede from the Union.

Finally, a compromise was reached that resulted in the adoption of a separate flag for the Union in late 1927 and the design was first hoisted on 31 May 1928. The design was based on the so-called Van Riebeeck flag or Prinsevlag ("Prince's Flag" in Afrikaans) that was originally the Dutch flag; it consisted of orange, white, and blue horizontal stripes. A version of this flag had been used as the flag of the Dutch East India Company at the Cape (with the VOC logo in the centre) from 1652 until 1795. The South African addition to the design was three smaller flags centred in the white stripe. The smaller flags were the Union Flag (mirrored) towards the hoist, the flag of the Orange Free State hanging vertically in the middle and the Transvaal Vierkleur towards the fly.

The three flags in the centre representing the former British colonies of Cape of Good Hope and Natal with the Union Jack on the left, followed by the flags of the former Afrikaner republics of Orange Free State and the South African Republic in Transvaal on the right.

Thank you Maria.

Paul L Dunbar 1.5.1975

U.S. 1975 10¢ Paul L. Dunbar stamp shows Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906), an American writer and poet. Dunbar was the son of an escaped slave.  His writing greatly contributed to a more sensitive understanding of African Americans.Much of his popular work in his lifetime used a Negro dialect, which helped him become one of the first nationally-accepted African-American writers. Much of his writing, however, does not use dialect; these traditional poems have become of greater interest to scholars.

Thank you Merja.

St. Lawrence Seaway

U.S. 1959 4¢ St. Lawrence Seaway is the first stamp to be issued jointly between the United States and another country. The Post Office Department collaborated with Canada to release a stamp for the St. Lawrence Seaway. TheU.S. stamp was issued in Massena, New York on 26.6.1959, while Canada’s stamp was issued in Ottawa.

Joint Issues issue stamps are stamps issued by two or more countries that each release a stamp with a similar design on the same day (or within a few days). Since the first joint issue in 1959, the U.S. has participated in 40 joint issues. America’s most common partners have been Canada and Sweden, with five joint issues each.

The St. Lawrence Seaway is a major commercial shipping route that links the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. The seaway extends from Montreal westward to the eastern shore of Lake Erie. It is formed by the St. Lawrence River, several lakes, and a system of canals and locks. In total, the seaway has about 65 miles of canals, plus 15 locks and three dams. Before the seaway was opened in 1959, cargo ships could not navigate many parts of this route, due to shallow or rough waters and changes in elevation.

Additionally, the seaway includes a hydroelectric dam that supplies power to parts of Ontario and New York. This dam created Lake St. Lawrence, which is more than 30 miles long. The hydroelectric project began producing power in 1958.

A joint project of the United States and Canada, construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway began in 1954 and was completed in 1959. Canada administers about 55 miles of canals and 13 locks. The U.S. runs 10 miles of canals and two locks. In New York and Ontario, entire communities had to be relocated because of the project, as these areas were flooded as part of Lake St. Lawrence reservoir.

Thank you Merja.

100th Centenary of National Museum of Singapore 12.10.1987

The National Museum of Singapore is a national museum in Singapore and the oldest museum in Singapore. Its history dates back to 1849 when it was started as a section of a library at Singapore Institution. After several relocations, the Museum was relocated to its permanent site at Stamford Road at the Museum Planning Area in 1887.

The Museum is one of the four national museums in the country, the other three being the two Asian Civilisations Museums at Empress Place Building and Old Tao Nan School, and the Singapore Art Museum. The museum focuses on exhibits related to the history of Singapore. The Museum was named the National Museum of Singapore in 1965. For a brief period between 1993 and March 2006, it was known as the Singapore History Museum, before reverting to its previous name. The Museum underwent a three-and-a-half-year restoration and reopened on December 2, 2006, with the Singapore History Gallery opening on December 8 of the same year.

The revamped National Museum was officially opened by former President of Singapore S R Nathan and Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang on 7 December 2006.

The three stamps displayed above the pencil drawing of the National Museum were issued on its 100^th Centenary on 12^th October, 1987. The 10 cent stamp shows the Majapahit gold bracelet; one of the rare archeological clues to Singapore’s ancient past.

Depicted on the 75 cents stamp is the Ming fluted kendi; an interesting blue-and-white water vessel with designs which are influenced by Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic art.

The Patani hulu pekakak keris; a keris with 17 waves and silver hilt and sheath is found on the $1 stamp. The Arabic inscription on the blade reads: “Sultan Abdul Jalil Sanat 1699 A.D. Thursday Morning 15 October”.

1975 International Woman’s Year 26.8.1975

The U.N. declared 1975 to be International Women’s Year in order to focus attention on the status of women in the world, to seek improvement in women’s human rights, and to encourage women’s political involvement.

The 1975 10¢ International Woman’s Year was issued on 26.8.1975 at Seneca Falls, NY to commemorate this important event.

Thank you Merja.

A stamp printed in Switzerland shows Regional Folk Customs with inscriptions "Escalade, Geneva", from the series "Folk Customs”.

L'Escalade, or Fête de l'Escalade (from escalade, the act of scaling defensive walls) is an annual festival held in December in Geneva, Switzerland, celebrating the defeat of the surprise attack by troops sent by Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy during the night of 11–12 December 1602. The celebrations and other commemorative activities are usually held on 12 December or the closest weekend.

For years, the duke coveted the wealth of the city-state, which was not a member of the Swiss Confederation. When Charles Emmanuel came to the throne of the House of Savoy in 1580, he longed to make Geneva his capital north of the Alps and crush Protestantism. Pope Clement VIII offered encouragement; in 1602 he appointed as Catholic bishop of Geneva Francis de Sales, an effective preacher who had recently been successful in re-Catholicizing the Chablais district of Savoy on the south side of Lake Geneva.

Although the armed conflict actually took place after midnight, in the early morning on December 12, celebrations and other commemorative activities are usually held on December 11 or the closest weekend. Celebrations include a large marmite(cauldron) made of chocolate and filled with marzipan vegetables and candies wrapped in the Geneva colours of red and gold. It is customary for the eldest and youngest in the room to smash the marmite, while reciting, "Ainsi périssent les ennemis de la République! " (Thus perish the enemies of the Republic), referring to how fictional character Mère Royaume poured boiling hot vegetable soup on soldiers climbing up the walls of the city.

Thank you Maria for this interesting FDC.