Long lasting series 02 - Tunesia 'Halfaouine'

For my second post on 'long lasting series', I stay in Tunesia.
Together with the 'El Djem' series (see post : El Djem ), another stamp was issued between 1926 and 1949. It depics the (Youssef) Saheb al Tabaâ mosque in Tunis.
But it is know as the mosque on Halfaouine Square.
This set of stamps and its overprints is less extended than the El Djem - set, but still good for 53 stamps in total. Qualified for the requirements of my 'long lasting series'.

Halfaouine Mosque Tunis

The first set was part of a larger set of stamps, issued between 1926 and 1928.
Where the 'El Djem' stamps represented the higher values, this Halfaouine mosque - stamp, were used for lower values.

Halfaouine mosque 1st series

The design has the monogram RF (République Française) on the right bottom corner.

In 1931, an almost identical set was issued, but the denomination is here in a square shaped box.
The text boxes left and right are white, and also the sky behind the minaret is white. 
Therefore the design is too different, and not included in this set.

The same design of 1926, was re-used in 1934, again in combination with the 'El Djem' stamps.
Again, the design was used for the lower valued stamps.
Between 1941 and 1945, two additional stamps were issued, but without the RF monogram.

design without RF monogram

In the emissions between 1945 and 1949, 19 stamps (with RF) were added, as part of a series with the 'El Djem' stamps.

Also 5 stamps were overprinted as precancels.
This type of precancel is also used on various French stamps.

The complete set including the precancels and the overprint consist of 51 stamps.

Good luck!

The 'album' can be found here : Halfaouine Mosque 

More to follow...

Long lasting series 01 - Tunesia 'El Djem'

In my post on 'long lasting series', I will try to post some information, as well as downloadable album pages, for series with identical stamps (with or without overprints) from the same countries.
Not every stamp that was issued in two or more face values will be considered as a 'long lasting serie'.
I will try to stick to some basic rules, to make it worthwhile collecting separately.

* stamps have to be issued in the catalogues (I prefer to use Michel catalog)
* stamps have to be from one country (and it dependencies) only
* a large serie that was only issued on one particular date is not a 'long lasting series'
* over the years a minimum of 50 stamps need to be issued
* identical design can mean really identical, but a minimal adjustment is allowed, such as
    - removing a detail (cfr. Tunesia without monogram RF)
    - overprints or surcharges
    - additional info such as 'airmail' / 'service' is allowed, if the main stamp design is not affected
    - small modifications in texts such as new spelling, signature change, ...

As soon as the design is clearly a 'new' design, it will not be added to the series.
Also series with Kings, Queens, Presidents, .... that are not identical designs, will not be taken into consideration.

Some types of stamps (definitives) are issued over a longer period of time.
Sometime, values were added in later years, values were reprinted in other colours, some got overprints over the years, ...

In regular year-collections, those stamps are often spread over multiple years, sometimes series got split up because the overprinted stamps are stored separately, and so on.
Only in topical collections, the stamps can be found together, but since the image is identical, often only one stamp is represented.

In addition to the previous, I made albums for those type of collections.
It's not a 'common design', as the stamp are not only identical, they also are only issued in one country, where common designs or joint-issues are issued by multiple countries.

The first album is dedicated to the El Djem in Tunesia, a city in the centre of Tunesia.

photo from : www.locationscout.net

Under the Roman Empire, an amphitheatre was built in the 3rd century of the Western calendar.
The site is under protection of UNESCO World Heritage, and is also know as the Grand Colloseum of Tunesia. The remains are as beautiful as it's famous (larger) brother in Rome.
Where the Rome Colloseum could host 50000 people, the amphitheatre of El Djem offered place for 35000 spectators.  
It has been used for the movie 'Gladiator' in 2000.

Tunesia's colloseum has been on many stamps, but the first large series started in 1926 and the last issue came to the public in 1949.
In total 62 different stamps were issued (stamps + stamps with overprints).

Two variations on the 'El Djem' issue

The first sets (53 stamps) are with the monogram RF (République Française) - the last set (9 stamps) have a star and crescent moon in replace.
From the first type, 35 stamps are issued with regular values, 18 stamps have an overprint.
The second type is not know with overprints.

Download the album here : Long lasting series : TN El Djem 

Good luck...

More to follow...

Theme : Zodiac signs 23 g

All zodiac stamps issued by Hong Kong postal services, between 2012 and 2023 are issued in the same style and can be considered as one complete set.
The 4 lower values, the $10 souvenir sheet and the silk paper $50 sheet each year, make a complete set of 48 stamps, 12 souvenir sheets and 12 silk miniature sheets.

And yet ... that was not enough.
After the first 4 years (2015), the second 4 years (2019) and the last 4 years (2023), from each set, one stamp was repeated in a block of 4. This time, with gold and silver prints. 

In 2015, 4 additional stamps were issued, Dragon, Snake, Horse and Ram. 
Each stamp with a face value of $10, depicting one stamp out of the lower values issued each year.
Each animal is overprinted with gold/silver foil.

Hong Kong 2015 - 4 zodiac signs

4 years later, in 2019, a second block of 4 stamps was added, now depicting one of each stamps issued between 2016 and 2019 : Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Again, each stamp with a face value of $10, and gold/silver foil overprints.

Hong Kong 2019 - 4 additional zodiac signs

In 2023, when the set was completed, another special block of 4 was added, with the remaining 4 signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger and Rabbit.
Similar to the other stamps, the face value is $10 each and the designs are signs from the previous 4 years, but with gold/silver foil overprint.

2023 Hong Kong final 4 zodiac signs

A special thank to my friend-collector Eric, from Hong Kong, who helped me completing this great set. 

to be continued...

 

Theme : Zodiac signs 23 f

The last two years in the same theme are 2022 and 2023.
Previous years : Older posts : 2012-2013 , 2014-2015 , 2016-2017 , 2018-2019 and 2020-2021.

The 'Year of the Tiger' was celebrated in 2022. 4 new stamps were added to the set.

Hong Kong 2022 - Year of the Tiger

Also a souvenir sheet of $10:

Hong Kong 2022 - $10 souvenir sheet

And the on silk paper printed $50:

Hong Kong $50 souvenir sheet on silk

Also years of the Tiger : 2034 - 2022 - 2010 - 1998 - 1986 - 1974 - 1962 - 1950

To conclude the lunar circle, in 2023 a last set in the same style, was issued for the 'Year of the Rabbit.
In 2023, the price of the individual stamps went up again: new values are : $2.20 - $4 - $ 5.40 and $ 5.50.

Hong Kong 2023 - Year of the Rabbit

The souvenir sheet remained at $10.

Hong Kong 2023 - $10 souvenir sheet

 And also the, on silk printed $50, remained the same price.

Hong Kong $50 silk sheet - 2023

The other 'rabbit' years : 2035 - 2023 - 2011 - 1999 - 1987 - 1975 - 1963 - 1951

After his series, a new lunar circle started, with other kind of designs.

to be continued...

Theme : Zodiac signs 23 e

In 2020 and 2021, the 9th and 10th set of zodiac stamps were issued in Hong Kong.

2020 was the year of the Rat:
As before, a set of 4 stamps were issued:

Hong Kong 2020 - Year of the Rat

Followed by a souvenirsheet of $10:

Hong Kong 2020 - Year of the Rat souvenir sheet

And of course, the miniature sheet, printed on silk paper:

Hong Kong 2020 silk sheet of $50

The other 'rat' years are : 2032 - 2020 - 2008 - 1996 - 1984 - 1972 - 1960 - 1948

In 2021 we celebrated the year of the Ox.
Again 4 regular stamps were issued:

Hong Kong 2021 - year of the Ox

Also followed by a souvenir sheet of $10:

Hong Kong 2021 - souvenir sheet $10

Concluding with the mandatory $50 sheet on silk paper:

Hong Kong 2021 - $ 50 silk souvenir sheet

More 'ox' years : 2033 - 2021 - 2009 - 1997 - 1985 - 1973 - 1961 - 1949

Older posts : 2012-2013 , 2014-2015 , 2016-2017 and 2018-2019 .

to be continued ... 

Theme : Zodiac signs 23 d

The 7th emission of the zodiac signs, issued by the postal services of Hong Kong, is from 2018.
See also : 2012-2013 , 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 .

2018 is the year of the Dog.
Meanwhile, the stamps of $1.70 - $2.90 - $3.70 and $5, became $2 - $3.70 - $4.90 and $5.
The price of the souvernir sheet remained $10 as the previous years.

$10 souvenir sheet - 2018 year of the Dog

Also the silk souvenir sheet remained $50.

Other 'dog' years : 2030 - 2018 - 2006 - 1994 - 1982 - 1970 - 1958 - 1946
 

The 8th set, the year of the Pig, was emitted in 2019:

2019 Hong Kong - Year of the Pig

2019 Hong Kong - $10 souvenir sheet

In German, there is an expression : 'Schwein haben' (litt: to have 'pig') - which means 'to be lucky'.
Also in Belgian Dutch (Flemish) there is an expression called 'a zwientje' (litt: a little pig). It has the same meaning : being lucky, here especially in games that involve dices (lucky throw), but it can be used in other - mainly game related occasions.

The set is completed with a silk printed $50 souvenir sheet.

2019 - Hong Kong $50 'Year of the Pig'

Other 'pig' years : 2031 - 2019 - 2007 - 1995 - 1983 - 1971 - 1959 - 1947

to be continued...

Theme : Zodiac signs 23 c

The story of the zodiac stamps of  Hong Kong, continued in 2016, with the Year of the Monkey.
for previous posts : see Hong Kong 2012-2013 and Hong Kong 2014-2015

The set starts again with 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet of $10.

set of 4 'Year of the Monkey' 2016

 

2016 - $10 souvenir sheet

The same design returns again in the $50 - on silk printed souvenir sheet.

2016 - $50 souvenir sheet

Other 'monkey' years : 2028 - 2016 - 2004 - 1992 - 1980 - 1968 - 1956 - 1944

2017 was the year of the Rooster, also here, a 4 set of lower values was issued, and a $10 stamp in a souvenir sheet.

For the silk souvenirsheet of $50, the same design was selected.

The other 'rooster' years are : 2029 - 2017 - 2005 - 1993 - 1981 - 1969 - 1957 - 1945

to be continued...

Theme : Zodiac signs 23 b

In 2014, the series of zodiac signs of Hong Kong, continued with 4 new stamps, in the style of 2012 and 2013.
2014 was the year of the Horse.

Hong Kong - 2014 zodiac stamps

The $10 stamp was only emitted in a sheet

Year of the Horse - Hong Kong 2014

And, similar to the previous emissions, also a $50 sheet/stamp was emitted on silk paper.

Hong Kong $50 silk Year of the Horse 2014

Other 'horse' years : 2026 - 2014 - 2002 - 1990 - 1978 - 1966 - 1954 - 1942

The 2015 set, depicts the Year of the Ram.
Again, the basic set is 4 stamps:

2015 Year of the Ram - Hong Kong

A $10 stamp was also emitted in a sheet.

Hong Kong $10 sheet - 2015

And again, the set was completed with a $50 stamp, emitted and printed on a silk sheet.

Hong Kong $50 - Year of the Ram 2015

Other 'ram' years : 2027 - 2015 - 2003 - 1991 - 1979 - 1967 - 1955 - 1943

to be continued...

Theme : Zodiac signs 23 a

The following set of zodiac stamps is from Hong Kong.
Collectors had to be patient, as the series started in 2012 and ended in 2023.
Each year, a set of 4 stamps were emitted. The first set (2012) depicts the 'Year of the Dragon'.
Other 'dragon' years : 2024 - 2012 - 2000 - 1988 - 1976 - 1964 - 1952 - 1940

Hong Kong 2012 - Year of the Dragon

In addition to the set of 4 stamps, also a block with a $10 stamp was added:

$10 block year of the Dragon 2012

Top of the bill, is an additional silk sheet with a $50 stamp.

$50 Year of the Dragon - Hong Kong 2012

In 2013, the year of the 'Snake' was celebrated. 4 stamps in the same style were emitted.

Hong Kong 2013 - Year of the Snake

Also an additional value of $10 was emitted in a sheet.

And also an on silk printed $50 stamp.

$50 Year of the Snake - Hong Kong 2013

Other 'snake' years : 2025 - 2013 - 2001 - 1989 - 1977 - 1965 - 1953 - 1941

to be continued ...

Theme : Zodiac signs 22

When speaking of stamps on zodiac signs, Asian countries often depict the animals from the Chinese zodiac. 
Japan issued several series on star constellations.
The first series of 'constellations' was issued between 2011 and 2013.
A sets of 10 regular sized stamps was issued in 2011, one in 2012 and two in 2013.
The first two are printed in silver on a dark or light blue background, the last two are in gold print, over a light or dark blue background.

In the first sets, both western as chinese zodiac signs are depicted, as well as other star constellations (Swan, Crown, ...)

Japan Constellation stamps 2011-13

Each of the above stamps have a face value of 80 yen. 

In 2014 (till 2016), a set of smaller stamps on zodiac signs were issued, at a face value of 82 yen each. Each sheet has 3 identical stamps and a additional stamp (moon, star, planet, ...)
Here, only the western zodiac signs are in focus.

above 2011-13 stamps
below 2014-16 stamps

The chin座ese character for 'seat/position' is : 座 (Zuò) - it is also know in japanese language ( 座  : Za)
and has the same meaning.

All 12 western zodiac signs
issued between 2014 and 2016

Zodiac signs in chinese, japanese hiragana and english

Aquarius  : Mi zu ga ne za : 水瓶座
Pisces : U o za : うお座
Aries : O hi tsu ji za : 牡羊座
Taurus : O ushi za : おうし座
Gemini : Fu ta go za : 双子座
Cancer : Ka ni za : 蟹座
Leo : Shi shi za : 獅子座
Virgo : O to me za : 乙女座
Libra :  Te n bi n za : 天秤座
Scorpio : Sa zo ri za : 蠍座
Sagittarius : I te za : 射手座
Capricorn : Ya gi za : 山羊座

ふたご座 - futa go za (Gemini)

to be continued ...