Theme : Tintin (Kuifje) 08

It doesn't happy too often that I find a new item for my theme collection.
But today I found.

I wrote about Tintin stamps, issued by the Netherlands in my previous posts, http://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.be/2011/04/theme-tintin-kuifje-2.html

To celebrate two Dutch cities : Hattem and Urmond, who were commemorating their 700th anniversary in 1999 and 2000, the two Tintin stamps were placed on two individual covers and cancelled with a special cancel.

This cancellation is double special as the dates are Dec. 31, 1999 and Jan. 1, 2000.

two covers in special album

Let's have a closer look

1999 - cover :

cover Dec. 31, 1999

Special cancel city Hattem

Hattem is a city in the Dutch province : Gelderland; (central-east) and got it's city rights in 1299.
In 1999 they celebrated their 700th anniversary.

location of Hattem

2000 - cover :

The second cover, is cancelled in Urmond, on Jan. 1, 2000.

Cover Jan. 1, 2000

Special cancel village Urmond

There are no written documents that state that Urmond got city rights in 1300.
The oldest remains date from the 12th century, but the (now) village itself, claims to have the rights since 1300. Therefore, the cancel on Jan. 1, 2000 (also 700th anniversary).
Urmond is now part of the Dutch city 'Stein', in the province Limbourg.

Location of Urmond (city Stein)

Both covers are presented in a cardboard cover, holding the two covers.
On the front and back page of the cover, "Millennium Wissel" - Millennium Change is printed.
On one side with 1999 - 2000, on the other side 2000 - 1999.

printing on both sides of the cover