World's first postage stamp made of Rubber

       World's first postage stamp made of Rubber

On 28th September 2018, Spain issued the World's first postage stamp made of rubber to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Cosme García Sáez, a Spanish inventor.  Cosme García Sáez was born in Logroño in 1818.  The stamp depicts Garcia and 2 of his inventions, a submersible and a seal impression which depicts the year when it was adopted by the postal service.

A submarine is a fully self-sufficient craft, capable of independent cruising with its own power supply and air renewal system, whereas a submersible is a remotely operated vehicle usually supported by a nearby surface vessel.

He offered several improvements to the post, where he built sealing machines in post offices.  It is a machine for all kinds of ink stamps to date letters and other forms. I was adopted by the Spanish Postal Service in 1857, for more than twenty years. The inventor himself was in charge of instructing on its handling.

Odd World - Spain

My Spanish collection of Odd and Unusual stamps/MSs

Interactive fold

1992 500th Anniversary of Discovery of America

Shiny coating MS

The odd shape and shiny coating

Leather Stamp

Transparent Stamp

Embossed

Odd Shaped stamps

Net affixed

Embossed and Gold Foil and Odd shape

Embossed

Thermochromic

The black Pawn Stamp, 2018 Spain

When exposed to heat it changes its colour to white.  But unfortunately the thermochromic specialty was unable to keep up with the Indian weather conditions and so it reached home as white pawn itself.

Rubber Stamp

3D Lenticular
23rd May, 2017 Star Wars

2018 Star Wars

Issued in 13th March 2018

Silhouette

 Europa Bridges - 2018

Back side of the stamp

Wood MS

The Great Navigators, Issued in 10th November 2017

Wood MS

Silver Foil and Odd shape 

Bell-shaped stamps

Leaf-shaped + Eucalyptus scented stamp

7th November 2018,  The Grandpa tree

Like a Postcard stamps 

 

Reverse side

Cold Foil MS

Touch and Feel

Below Penguin stamp features a Thermography printing system whose ink is iridescent that causes a feeling of filaments of ice around the inside border of the stamp.

Burnt Effect - Odd Shape

75th Anniversary of burning of Santander - 2016

Cold Foil Stamp - Spain

To commemorate 35th Anniversary of the Constitutional court, Spain Post has issued a single stamp Miniature sheet on 23rd July 2015.  The uniqueness of this Miniature sheet is the cold foil printing technique. I have many hot foil stamps, but this is first one for cold foil.  (It seems recently Liechtenstein issued three cold foil stamps under 'Princely treasure' theme - I don't have them yet).

Brief look at Cold foil and Hot foil techniques:

In cold foil technique, gum is applied to the area where foil has to be placed and then the foil is pressed with the help of UV light.  Then colour is applied on the paper and foil through ordinary printing. Since the technique is very simple, the cost is less. Cold foil technique is preferred when large area needs foiling or when precision is needed. 

Whereas in Hot foil technique the design block (mould-like) has to be made and the foil is pressed on the paper with the help of this block. The colour is restricted to the colour of the foils available. Embossing can be done along with foil pressing.  It is not recommended for tiny area.  The block making and special printing make this technique costly.

Scented Stamp - Spain

On 16th March,2016 On the Occasion of Easter (Semana Santa), Correos (Spain post) has released 4 stamps under the topic "Traditions and Customs".  Yolanda, who always send some interesting thing from Spain surprised me by using one of these stamps on the cute little Cat picture post card.  The uniqueness of this stamp is, it is incorporated with the smell of incense.  In her earlier mail she used the other scented stamp from this 4 stamp series.  Two more to go to complete this series.  Thanks Yolanda, My Spain's "Odd and Unique" stamps collection is growing with your surprises.

Earlier she sent me the "Charming Villages" and "Burnt effect on Stamp".

Charming Villages - Spain 2016 stamps

This year 2016, Correos Post issued a set of 4 stamps under the theme "Charming Villages".

The stamps are self- adhesive, but the mind-blowing feature of these stamps are that the reverse side of the stamps pretend to look like a mini-postcard :) .

The 4 stamps depict Albarracin, La Alberca, Alcala del Jucar, Santillana del Mar respectively. 

Thanks Yolanda for the wonderful stamps. In addition to that, it is so nice of you for using a scented stamp and an elongated stamp on cover. The stamps have found their place near the other "gift" you sent earlier. You can view it at:

  http://philateli.blogspot.in/2016/04/burnt-effect-on-stamp-spain.html

Reverse side of the stamp:

Front view of the stamp:

Burnt Effect on Stamp: Spain

For the 75th Anniversary of the burning of Santander (a city in Spain) in Feb-1941, Spain Post, Correos issued a stamp on Feb 15th, 2016. It has an interesting burnt effect on one side and depicts the old and new cities side-by-side. 

Interestingly, it seems Santander fell prey to flames once earlier as well - in 1893 - when a ship loaded with dynamite blew up and fire destroyed much of the city. See the newspaper report here!

Thanks Yolanda for the unique stamp :)

12th August: World Elephant Day

African elephants and Asian elephants are two predominant elephant varieties of the world.  Asian elephants are smaller than their cousin African ones and their ears are also smaller in size.  Once there were as many elephants as human beings. But now they are few in numbers.

We human beings have wiped out their habitat and also poach them for their skin, meat and mainly for its ivory tusks.  Elephants tusks are costlier than gold in street markets especially in China and India.

Even though some religions worshiping elephants, these friendly animals are used for pleasure rides, carrying logs and begging on the roads.

To protect these poor creatures 12th August is celebrated as the World Elephant Day. This day was founded in the year 2011 by Canadian film maker, Patricia Sims and Michael Clarke. They named it Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. This day was then first celebrated in the year 2012. Since that day on, World Elephant Day is celebrated annually every year and is now supported by over 65 wild life organizations.

Large Ears are clearly visible in this South African stamp, issued in 1954

 

Two stamp issues by India in 2011

Zambian Stamp circa 1979 titled 'Kasaba Bay' of Lake Tanganyika

Colonial Spanish Stamps - 1950

IUCN and SSC formed a special group for the conversion of Asian Elephants, called the Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG).  It is a global network of specialists concerned with the study, monitoring, management, and conservation of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in its 13 Range States across Asia.