Philately: 2024

Tuesday 5 November 2024

United Nations - Flight Collection

United Nations - Flight Collection

150 Years of UPU Collection, 2024

Hong Kong

India

Malaysia

Tuesday 24 September 2024

Macau - Flights collection

Macau - Flights collection

1999 The 75th Anniversary of Sarmento de Beires and Brito Pais's first Portugal-Macau Flight

Overprinted for Amizade Luso-Chinese Festival
(Macao return to China)

Airplanes: Breguet XIV Bn2 - "Patria"

Normal / without overprint

Sunday 22 September 2024

The First Aerial Journey from Portugal to Macau

In 1920, Brito Pais and Sarmento Beires tried an unsuccessful flight attempt from Amadora, Lisbon to Madeira Island onboard an airplane Breguet XIV A2, named “Cavaleiro Negro”. Despite the scarce means of navigation both navigators managed to reach Madeira, which failed to land due to dense fog. On their way back after 8 hours of flight time, they alight at the Atlantic Ocean for lack of fuel and were rescued at about 500 km from Lisbon.

On 1922, Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral conducted the First Aerial Cross of the South Atlantic, flying from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. The Portuguese Aeronautics rejoiced auspicious days that time, with its aviation pioneers trying consecutively to reach more distant places along intercontinental flights.

On 1923, Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral were contemplating to perform an Around the World Flight. However, Sacadura died in 1924, while piloting an airplane acquired for the circumnavigation voyage.

Later on 1924 the pilots Brito Pais and Sarmento Beires idealized the conducting of an aerial flight from Lisbon to Macau as an aspiration for a future Portuguese Around the World Flight attempt: on 7 April 1924, those pilots departed from Vila Nova de Milfontes in a Breguet XIV Bn2 airplane, starting their Journey to Macau. During a flight stage on 7 May an engine failure forced them to crash the airplane at India; on 30 May, both pilots managed to continue the Voyage in a De Havilland DH9 aircraft before being forced to end their attempt in 20 June in flying over Macau. A typhoon hindered their efforts to land and the airplane was crash landed in Chinese Territory about 800 meters from the Hong Kong Border. On 25 June 1924, they were shuttled back to Macau by boat. Brito Pais, Sarmento Beires and Manuel Gouveia returned to Portugal, via North America, visiting several Portugueses nuclei at China, Japan, United States and England. They went to Portugal on 9 September, after having flown a total of 16,760 km in 117:41 h facing often extremely adverse atmospheric conditions, sandstorms and inaccurate navigation maps.

Friday 13 September 2024

František Běhounek - Polar explorer

František Běhounek - Polar explorer

The central motif of the stamp is a portrait of the polar explorer František Běhounek at a relatively young age. The second distinctive motif is an airship symbolizing Běhounek’s two expeditions to the North Pole.

The first trip was made in 1926 on the Norge airship with Roald Amundsen, and the second in 1928 with Umberto Nobile in the airship Italia. To the left of the portrait is a tent used for partial protection by the polar explorers. Ice cliffs fill the background of the stamp.

The artist was greatly inspired by the book The Polar Survivors and the film The Red Tent. František Běhounek was a versatile personality – a scientist, professor of physics, traveller, and writer.

The asteroid 3278 Běhounek is named after him.

Courtesy: Czech Post

Thursday 5 September 2024

Crabs

Crab Stamps in my collection

Ryukyus 1968

PNG 1998
Surcharge 25t on 65t

Thailand 1994

Friday 30 August 2024

Liechtenstein - Flights Collection

"Graf Zeppelin" LZ 127 - First Zeppelin Flight to Liechtenstein

First Airmail - St.Gallen to Schaan, 1930

Monday 26 August 2024

Micronesia - Flights collection

Micronesia - Flights collection
2003 The 100th Anniversary of the Powered Flight

T-Chad - Flights Collection

Israel - Flights collection

1998 Aircraft of War of Independence

Bhutan - Flights collection

Wednesday 24 July 2024

La baguette Scratch-and-Sniff stamp

La baguette

The baguette is not just a staple of our daily lives; it is the emblem of our gastronomy and the crown jewel of French culture.

St. Honoré, the patron saint of bakers, is also revered by confectioners, pastry chefs, flour sellers, and candlemakers. Honoré passed away on January 16th and his feast day is May 16th, 600 AD, a date that is celebrated by bakers in France as St. Honoré’s Day.

In honor of St. Honoré’s Day in 2024, La Poste, the French postal service, issued a unique stamp featuring the iconic baguette. This stamp is particularly special because it is a scratch-and-sniff stamp. The ink used contains microcapsules that release the fragrance of a freshly baked baguette when rubbed by the customer.

In 2022, the French baguette was granted UNESCO heritage status, a testament to its cultural significance and enduring legacy.

I am fortunate to possess this special stamp - both on the cover and in mint condition.

Saturday 1 June 2024

Saar Basin (Saargebiet)

From 1920 to 1934, the Saar Basin region, known as Saargebiet, experienced a period of transition and resilience. During this time, Saargebiet was governed by a Governing Commission appointed by the League of Nations, which consisted of representatives from various countries. Saargebiet also established its own postal administration.

The first stamps of the Saar were contemporary German stamps overprinted with "Sarre" (the French name) and a heavy solid bar striking out the "DEUTSCHES REICH" at the bottom of the stamp. This overprint was applied to 17 denominations, ranging from 2 pfennig to 1 mark, and first went on sale on January 30, 1920.

The stamps of Bavaria were similarly overprinted with "Sarre" and came into use on March 1, 1920.

More German overprints were issued on March 26, 1920, with the overprint "SAARGEBIET".

In early 1921, the Saar's first definitive series was issued. Saargebiet continued to issue stamps until 1934.

Tuesday 28 May 2024

Republic of Kalmykia

Republic of Kalmykia - Regional issue stamp

Kalmykia, a republic in southwestern Russia, is known for its unique cultural heritage, being the only region in Europe where Buddhism is the predominant religion.

Its postage stamps often reflect its rich cultural and historical identity, featuring themes such as traditional Kalmyk art, prominent historical figures, and Buddhist motifs. These stamps serve not only as functional postage stamps but also as a means to celebrate and promote the region's distinct cultural legacy.

Below Kalmykia flower stamps are part CTO set, issued in 1997.