NORDEN 1977 - Air and Water 2.2.1977

Thank you Merja.

1967 - EUROPA CEPT - Cogwheels - Iceland

The stamp on this First Day Cover dated 2.5.1967 depicts Cogwheels. The EUROPA CEPT Wheel has 22 teeth, one tooth for each 1967 members of CEPT. Designer was Oscar Bonnevalle a Belgian.  

Thank you Maria for this nice FDC.

Iceland - Wild Flowers

Merja sent me these two covers with the nice stamps on them. Iceland has many varieties of wild flowers. Four of these are shown on this cover at right dated 15.7.1964, and two on the cover at left dated 17.1.1968 They are :

50a on both covers. The mountain avens is a common plant in heathers and gravely/sandy soils. It can be found almost everywhere on Iceland. It is model plant for paleobotany. Presently the species occurs in the subarctic regions and on the high mountains of central Europe and the Scottish/Welsh mountains etc.. From pollen research it is known to have been widespread through the lowlands of Europe during the glacial periods. The flowers are quite conspicuous but so are the maturing fruits with the spirally, hairy tufts of the maturing fruit (see photo of maturing fruits)
It is a member of the rose family 

1.00kr. The meadow buttercup grows both in lowlands in drier meadows and meadows and pastures as well as in the highlands in snow beds. The photo was shot in spring showing early flowers. Later the flowers grow on upright stems. The other similar common buttercup is the creeping buttercup (R. repens) differs in having compound leaves where as the meadow buttercup has hand-shaped deeply incised but entire leaves. Other buttercups which are common on Iceland have small leaves and grow generally on damp/wet places.
It is a member of the buttercup family

1.50kr. Bogbean is a beautiful perennial plant with trefoil leaves and spikes of pink and white fringed flowers. It grows mainly in bogs and marshes in cold water. Early Native American Indians boiled the root and stems for spitting blood and other internal problems. Colonists used the leaves as a cathartic and a remedy for constipation, fevers, rheumatism, scurvy, scabies, and dropsy. They also used it to treat skin diseases, jaundice, and intestinal worms.

2.00kr. The white clover is a common species of grasslands, roadsides, home gardens etc. The flowers are generally white but occasionally they may have a reddish color. It is a member of the Pea family. 

2.50 kr. Vicia cracca (tufted vetch, cow vetch, bird vetch, boreal vetch), is a species of vetch native to Europe and Asia. It occurs on other continents as an introduced species, including North America, where it is a common weed. It often occurs in disturbed habitats, including old-fields and roadside ditches.

The plant is fast-growing and flowers prolifically, sending out one-sided racemes of cascading pea-flower shaped purple to violet flowers from the leaf axil during its late spring to late summer flowering period. The flowers drop off and tiny bright green seed pods start to form. Cow Vetch is very similar to Hairy Vetch (V. villosa), but is distinguished from the latter by its smooth stem.

1969 EUROPA - Iceland 28.4.1969

'EUROPA' & 'CEPT' inset on 2 sides of an architectural type Colonnade. Designed by Italians Luigi Gashara & Giorgio Belli.

Thank you Maria for this FDC.

Food for All

On 21.3.1963 two stamps were issued by Iceland dedicated to the global campaign against hunger. The stamps show fishermen working in their boats. Fish is the most important food item in Iceland.

The stamps on this first day cover were issued to highlight this effort to alleviate the curse of hunger around the world. Iceland was one of the few other countries to issue stamps for this cause. 

Thank you Maria.

COD WAR - 50 MILES FISHING LIMIT 1972-73 - Unilateral Decision by Iceland

The Icelandic position was similar in all three conflicts. The major point was that Iceland depends on its fishing industry more than any other state in the world. Iceland has few natural resources, no timber, no fuel, little agricultural potential, and no mineral deposits. Its economy is uniquely dependent on fishing for survival and for exports, to fund the imports needed for the other parts of the economy. "Fish and fish products of one form or another...have on average accounted for 89.71 per cent of Iceland's total export in each year during the period 1881-1976." Iceland argued, therefore, that it had an overwhelming need to ensure the survival of the fish stocks in its area. Iceland became convinced that it had to act unilaterally. Due to the failure of the international arena regarding the Icelandic herring, Iceland acted on its own to protect the cod.

On February 15^th 1972 the Parliament of Iceland passed a bill to extend the fishing limits to 50 miles.
August 17^th The International Tribunal in The Hague pronounced that the Icelanders did not have sovereignty over the areas between 12 and 50 miles.  The Icelandic government protested and decided to take no notice of this decree.
September 1^st the regulation on the extension of the fishing limit took effect.  British ship owners asked in vain for battleship protection.  Three West German tow vessels were sent to Iceland to prevent the apprehension of German trawlers within the limit.
September 5^th the secret weapon of the coast guard, the trawl clippers, created havoc, when the trawler “Peter Scott” was relieved of its fishing gear.  The crew threw coal, iron bolts and a fire axe at the coast guard vessel “Aegir”.  Altogether 82 trawls were cut during the dispute.

Thank you Maria for this interesting FDC.

Geranium sylvaticum and Taraxacum Vulgare

These two pretty stamps were issued by Iceland on 29.11.1960 in order to highlight two of the many flowers that grow in that small but wonderful country. This FDC was given to me by Maria.

Wild geraniums, Geranium sylvaticum, known as wood cranesbill, growing in the Pingvellir National Park. They were used long ago for their medicinal properties to treat inflammation and arthritis. Geranium sylvaticum, is a medicinal herb that grows wild all around Iceland. It can be found in the undergrowth of birch forests, on hillsides shielded from winds, in gullies and ravines. Its fruit contains five seeds which are neatly tucked into a five-fold structure. When mature it expands fervently and flings away the seeds, leaving a beautiful pentagon of blossom behind. Wood cranesbill has long been used in Iceland for its medicinal properties. The entire herb was used and traditionally it was believed to be beneficial for treating inflammation, gastrointestinal sores and arthritis.

Taraxacum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to Eurasia and North and South America, and two species, are found as weeds worldwide. Both species are edible in their entirety. The common name dandelion (from French dent-de-lion, meaning "lion's tooth") referring to the coarsely toothed leaves, is given to members of the genus, and like other members of the Asteraceae family, they have very small flowers collected together into a composite flower head. Each single flower in a head is called a floret. Many Taraxacum species produce seeds asexually by apomixis, where the seeds are produced without pollination, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant. Dandelion leaves and buds have been a part of traditional Sephardic, Chinese, and Korean cuisine. In Crete, Greece, the leaves of a variety called Mari (Μαρί), Mariaki (Μαριάκι) or Koproradiko (Κοπροράδικο) are eaten by locals, either raw or boiled, in salads. Historically, dandelion was prized for a variety of medicinal properties, and it contains a wide number of pharmacologically active compounds. Dandelion is used as a herbal remedy in Europe, North America and China. It has been used in herbal medicine to treat infections, bile and liver problems, and as a diuretic.

1986 EUROPA CEPT - Iceland - Preservation of Nature

In accordance with the Europa theme for 1986 "Preservation of Nature", Iceland issued these two lovely stamps shown on the FDC, very kindly given to me by my friend Merja.

Skaftafell is a preservation area in Öræfi, southeast Iceland. It used to be a manor farm and a national park, but has been a part of Vatnajökull National Park since its establishment in 2008. Skaftafell National Park was a national park, situated between Kirkjubæjarklaustur, typically referred to as Klaustur, and Höfn in the south of Iceland. On 7 June 2008, it became a part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park. It was founded on September 15, 1967, and enlarged twice afterwards. Today, the park measures about 4807 km2 (2884 mi²), making it Iceland's second largest national park. It is home to the valley Morsárdalur, the mountain Kristínartindar and the glacierSkaftafellsjökull (a spur of the Vatnajökull ice cap).

The landscape is very similar to some of the Alps, but it has been formed in thousands of years by different influences of fire (volcanic eruptions of Öræfajökull) and water (the glaciers Skeiðarájökull and Skaftafellsjökull), the rivers Skeiðará, Morsá und Skaftafellsá. Volcanic eruptions under the ice-cap can give rise to jökulhlaups (glacial floods) which swell the Skeiðará river massively. The sandy wasteland between the glacier and the sea caused by jökulhlaups is called the Sandur. The last jökulhlaup occurred in 1996. Svartifoss waterfall is one of Skaftafell's best known attractions, mainly for the basalt column walls that flank it.

Skaftafell is renowned in Iceland for its agreeable climate and the sunny days in summer, uncommon in the south of Iceland. There is a natural birch wood, Bæjarstaðarskógur, as well as many species of birds and arctic foxes.

 Jökulsárgljúfur National Park is a national park situated in the north of Iceland around the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. It lies to the north of the Dettifoss waterfall. On 7 June 2008, it became a part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park. The area is of interest because of its chaotic canyon and volcanic mountains. Eight thousand years ago, a volcano erupted directly underneath the river and glacial ice. This caused explosions and chaotic flooding.

The center of the park was Hljóðaklettar (rock of echoes). Rauðhólar (red mountain) is of interest because of its special colouring. Another sight is the canyon of Ásbyrgi to the north of the park which is formed like a horseshoe.

1983 EUROPA - Inventions - Iceland 5.5.1983

The theme for EUROPA CEPT stamps in 1983 was "Inventions”. Iceland chose the inventions made in that country for using geothermal energy, for these two impressive stamps.

Due to the special geological location of Iceland, the high concentration of volcanoes in the area is often an advantage in the generation of geothermal energy, the heating and production of electricity. During winter, pavements near these areas (such as Reykjavik and Akureyri) are heated up. This causes heat to come to the surface.

Five major geothermal power plants exist in Iceland, which produce approximately 26.2% (2010) of the nation's energy. In addition, geothermal heating meets the heating and hot water requirements of approximately 87% of all buildings in Iceland. Apart from geothermal energy, 73.8% of the nation’s electricity is generated by hydro power, and 0.1% from fossil fuels.

Consumption of primary geothermal energy in 2004 was 79.7petajoules (PJ), approximately 53.4% of the total national consumption of primary energy, 149.1 PJ. The corresponding share for hydro power was 17.2%,petroleum was 26.3%, and coal was 3%. Plans are underway to turn Iceland into a 100% fossil-fuel-free nation in the near future. For example, Iceland's abundant geothermal energy has enabled renewable energy initiatives, such as Carbon Recycling International’s carbon dioxide to methanol fuel process.  

Thank you Dear Maria for this very interesting FDC.

Stephan G. Stephansson

This FDC given to me by Maria and postmarked on 1.8.1975 commemorates Stephan G. Stephansson (October 3, 1853 – August 10, 1927), who  was a Western Icelander, poet, and farmer. His original name was Stefán Guðmundur Guðmundsson.

He was born in Skagafjorour, Iceland but emigrated to Wisconsin, USA in 1873, at age 19. In 1889 he moved to Markerville, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada. He did not see Icel­­and again until 1917, when he was 64 years old.

Stephan was self-educated and worked hard all his life. He wrote after work, and, being an insomniac, he often wrote till dawn. He was under the influence of the American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson and they shared the same beliefs in many matters, including, but not limited to, equal rights for men and women. Stephan wrote only in Icelandic and had great influence in his former home country.

His poems were published in a six volume book called "Andvökur" (Sleepless Nights).

His letters and essays were published in four volumes, and even if nothing of his poetry had survived, those would have been enough to single him out as one of Iceland's foremost men of letters.

His homestead near Markerville is an Alberta Provincial Historic Site. It has been restored and is open to the public from May 15 until August 31.

Iceland - 100th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union

Iceland also issued these stamps and first day cover to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union. Details about the UPU are in my post dated 3rd June 2013, where I have shown the Canadian FDC celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the UPI,

1100 Years of Iceland's history

In geological terms, Iceland is a young island. It started to form about 20 million years ago from a series of volcanic eruptions on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Iceland hotspot is likely partly responsible for the island's creation and continued existence.

Iceland remained, for a long time, one of the world's last larger islands uninhabited by humans (the others being New Zealand and Madagascar). It has been suggested that the land called Thule by the Greek merchant Pytheas (4th century BC) was actually Iceland, although it seems highly unlikely considering Pytheas' description of it as an agricultural country with plenty of milk, honey, and fruit (possibly the Faroe or Shetland islands). The exact date that humans first reached the island is uncertain. Ancient Roman coins dating to the 3rd century have been found in Iceland, but it is unknown whether they were brought there at that time, or came later with Viking settlers, having circulated as currency already for centuries.

There is some literary evidence that monks and Papar from a Hiberno-Scottish mission may have settled in Iceland before the arrival of the Norse. The 12th-century scholar Ari Þorgilsson wrote in his book, that small bells, corresponding to those used by Irish monks, were found by the settlers. No such artifacts have been discovered by archeologist's, however. Some Icelanders claimed descent from a king in south-east Ireland) at the time of the creation.

According to Landnámabók, Iceland was first discovered by Naddoddr, one of the first settlers in the Faroe Islands, who was sailing from Norway to the Faroe Islands, but lost his way and drifted to the east coast of Iceland. Naddoddr named the country Snæland (Snowland). Swedish sailor Garðar Svavarsson also accidentally drifted to the coast of Iceland. He discovered that the country was an island and named it Garðarshólmi (literally Garðar's Islet) and stayed for the winter at Húsavík. The first Scandinavian who deliberately sailed to Garðarshólmi (Iceland) was Flóki Vilgerðarson, also known as Hrafna-Flóki (Raven-Flóki). Flóki settled for one winter at Barðaströnd. It was a very cold winter, and when he spotted some drift ice in the fjords he gave the island its current name, Ísland (Iceland).

The eleven stamps on these three covers kindly given to me by Maria commemorate 1100 years of Iceland’s existence. Namely from the year 874 to 1974. 

1970 - Year of Conservation

1970 was declared as the Year of Conservation. 

And at its Conference in Strasbourg, 9 - I2 February I970, many decisions were taken to protect the environment and conservation of natural resources. Most European countries decided to commemorate the event with the issue of commemorative postage stamps. This cover has two stamps the Iceland issued. Thank you Maria for this nice FDC.

The stamp of 3kr depicts the Saxifraga oppositifolia, the purple saxifrage or purple mountain saxifrage, is a species of edible plant that is very common all over the high Arctic and also some high mountainous areas further south, including northern Britain, the Alps and the Rocky Mountains. It is even known to grow on Kaffeklubben Island in north Greenland, at 83°40'N, the most northerly plant locality in the world.

It is a low-growing, densely or loosely matted plant growing to 3–5 cm high, with somewhat woody branches of creeping or trailing habit close to the surface. The leaves are small, rounded, scale-like, opposite in 4 rows, with ciliated margins. The flowers are solitary on short stalks, petals purple or lilac, much longer than the calyx lobes. It is one of the very first spring flowers, continuing to flower during the whole summer in localities where the snow melts later. The flowers grow to about 0.5 inches in diametre.

It grows in all kinds of cold temperate to arctic habitats, from sea level up to 1000 m, in many places colouring the landscape. It is a popular plant in alpine gardens, though difficult to grow in warm climates.

The 15kr stamp shows Laki or Lakagígar (Craters of Laki) is a volcanic fissure in the south of Iceland, not far from the canyon of Eldgia and the small village Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Lakagígar is the correct name, as Laki mountain itself did not erupt, but fissures opened up on each side of it. Lakagígar is part of a volcanic system centered on the Grímsvötn volcano and including the Þórðarhyrna volcano. It lies between the glaciers of Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull, in an area of fissures that run in a south-west to north-east direction.

The system erupted over an eight-month period between 1783 and 1784 from the Laki fissure and the adjoining Grímsvötn volcano, pouring out an estimated 14 km³ (3.4 cu mi) of basalt lava and clouds of poisonous hydroflouric acid and sulphur dioxide compounds that killed over 50% of Iceland's livestock population, leading to a famine that killed approximately 25% of the island's human population.

The Laki eruption and its aftermath caused a drop in global temperatures, as sulfur dioxide was spewed into the Northern Hemisphere. This caused crop failures in Europe and may have caused droughts in India. The eruption has been estimated to have killed over six million people globally, making the eruption the deadliest in historical times.

"Flight" by Ásgrímur Jónsson

Iceland 1971, the painting "Flight" depicted on this 10kr stamp on the FDC is a  painting by Ásgrímur Jónsson (1876 – 1958). The painting is not a picture of a particular place, but does refer to a folktale. In the register of the National Gallery of Iceland, on the artwork gift of Ásgrímur Jónsson to the National Gallery, this painting "Flight" is classified in the group of "Folklore", not in Asgrimur Jónsson "Landscape" paintings.“

The mountain in the picture of the painting "Flight" looks like Mt. Búrfell in Thjorsardalur. The waterfall looks in a number of ways like the Tröllkonuhlaup waterfall. Presumably Asgrimur Jónsson took the Tröllkonuhlaup - waterfall and Mt. Burfell into consideration when painting his picture as he knew this area very well.

The stamp shown is to highlight the plight of Displaced People (Flottafolk), is also depicted on the cover,

Ásgrímur Jónsson (March 4, 1876 - April 5, 1958) was an Icelandic painter, and one of the first in the country to make art a professional living. He studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen between 1900-1903 and traveled widely after graduation. The subjects of his pictures are mostly the landscapes of his home country, particularly mountains. His painting style is similar to the French impressionists like Corot. Some of his pictures also illustrate Icelandic sagas and folk tales. He was also noted for his murals in various churches in Iceland. A number of his works are on display in the National Gallery of Iceland. Jónsson influenced many artists in Iceland.

Thank you Maria for this thought provoking FDC.

Þórarinn B. Þorláksson

Þórarinn Benedikt Þorláksson (February 14, 1867 – July 10, 1924) was one of Iceland's first contemporary painters, the first Icelander to exhibit paintings in Iceland, and recipient of the first public grant that country made to a painter.

Þorláksson, together with a small number of other artists including his contemporary Ásgrímur Jónsson, confronted and portrayed the landscape of their country on its terms and through Icelandic eyes, rather than through the conventions—and the light—of Western European artistic tradition. In this respect the work of Þorláksson and Jónsson played a role similar to that of the Heidelberg School in Australia (slightly earlier) and the Group of Seven, Emily Carr and Tom Thomson in Canada (a little later).

Thank you Maria for this nice cover, with a stamp showing one of the pretty paintings by this great artist.

1963 EUROPA16.9.1963

A stylised cross design composed of 4 3-sided U shapes with CEPT inlaid. Designed by Arne Holm of Norway. This is how Iceland commemorated the European CEPT stamp year 1963. Thank you Maria.

1962 EUROPA

The pretty stamps on this cover depict a stylised tree with 19 leaves. 1 leaf for each 1962 member of CEPT. Designer was Lex Weyer from Luxembourg. Thank you Maria.

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.

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.