0-euro notes : 1 h. Belgium : Antwerp - 2

Walking down from the trainstation in Antwerp (Belgium) trough the main shoppingstreet, towards the market square with the cathedral (see : https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2020/07/0-euro-notes-1-f-belgium-antwerp.html), a hidden treasure can be found.

Like all mayor cities, Antwerp had a big event hall in the centre, to host meetings, concerts, ...
The 'stadsfeestzaal' (city party hall) was a monumental project to glorify the appearance of Antwerp at the end of the 19th century. It took about 8 years and 400,000 belgian francs (app. 10,000 euro nowadays), to complete the majestic hall.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in  1908

This pearl in the heart of Antwerp, was used as event hall, concert hall, .... throughout the years. In the last days of the 20th century, an urgent upgrade and renovation was mandatory.
Although the 'stadsfeestzaal' survived two world wars, renovation works turned out to be a greater trial, as the hall set fire in december 2000.

The inferno destroyed nearly the whole place, and only the exterior walls and the metal roof construction survived.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in 2001

But aren't the belgians the bravest of all the gauls....  The planned renovation works took longer than foreseen, and no expense was spared to return the hall into its former glory.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in 2006

The result of the restauration works, was shown to the people in 2007, when the renewed 'feestzaal' was inaugurated again. The sides on the ground floor were turned into fancy shops and the balcony on the first floor became a walkway to newly created shops.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in 2020

In 2021, a 0-euro note was issued to commemorate the 'stadsfeestzaal'. The amazing interior however, is not depiced, but we see the - original - entrance gate at the 'Meir-street'.

Entrance of the 'stadsfeestzaal' (Meir)

0-euro note 'Stadsfeestzaal'

0-euro note 'stadsfeestzaal' - detail

 
The note can be bought inside the hall.

The design of this note ( + common design on the back side) - has some new features, compared to the 'older' notes.

The 2021-note has 5 stars on the right hand side, and the watermark is visually printed in the left corner.
Additional text is added on both left and right side border 'Euro Souvenir'.
On the back side, the € - sign is slightly lighter printed, but the Belem tower, the Brandenburger Tower and the Colloseum, are printed more clearly.
A remarkable change is the statue of 'Manneke Pis' which turned from purple to olive brown.

some changes in the 2021 - design

0-euro notes : 1 h. Belgium : Antwerp

As a kid, I travelled to London with school, I remember in the old days, we visited the usual tourist  attractions, and near the entrance of most buildings, there was the possibility to buy a souvenir coin of that specific building.
Many years later, I still have those 'medals' and some of them shifted colour over the years.

Those items are not that fancy anymore, and in the end also heavy and big to collect.
The 0-euro notes remind me of that time.
I'm still a collector and the wide variety of 0-euro notes, and the availability of a catalogue, makes collecting fun again.

Today's topic is about Antwerp (or Antwerpen in dutch). A Belgian city in the flemish (dutch speaking area of Belgium). Antwerp is know as one of the largest harbour cities in Europe, it's diamond industry, and his rich history, especially in the 17th and 18th century.
It is the home city of Pieter Paul Rubens, the famous baroque painter.

The first 0 € note of today, represents the square 'Groenplaats' near the cathedral.
Although the note is titled 'Cathedral of Our Lady', the central image on the note, is the statue of P.P. Rubens.

0 euro note 'Cathedral of Antwerp'

Rubens was born in Siegen (Germany in 1577) and moved to Antwerp where he also died in 1640.
A bit odd is the date mentionned on the top of the note : 'anno 1518'.

Antwerp anno 1518 ?

The cathedral as depicted, was finished around 1521. In 1518 the square might have looked like depicted, but at that time, Rubens was not born yet. The date can refer to the cathedral at that time, but certainly not to the square view in 1518.

Rubens is world wide know for his paintings of religious scenes, but as well for his portraits.
He often depicted volumtious women, a sign of wealth and beauty at that time. Also famous, is his 'selfie', or auto-portrait, with wide hat.

Rubens auto-portrait, on various stamps.

The cathedral was ment to have two towers, but the plans of 1565 were never executed. A fire in 1533 and the costs for the renovation,  as wel as the rise of protestantism, which led to less income for the church, resulted that the secodnd tower never was built.

  

plans for a second tower 1565

Cathedral now

to be continued ...

Chile : 100 years of the Publication of Chile's fauna and flora by Claudio Gay 2.04

More plate flaws can be found on the stamps of the Claudio Gay's pictures.
The next one can be found in positions 81 and 86.

The right border frame is broken and a coloured spot covers the ornaments.

plate flaw pos 81-86 detail

The depicted flower, the Loxodon Chilensis, is also described as the Chaptalia exscapa, a subgroup of the sunflower or composite family.

Loxodon Chilensis

to be continued...

Chile : 100 years of the Publication of Chile's fauna and flora by Claudio Gay 2.03

Another plate flaw on the 2.60 pesos issue of the Chilean stamps after Claudio Gay's designs, can be found on the 5th and 10th stamp. The 55th and 60th stamps on the full sheet, don't have these plate flaws.

plate flaw on position 5 and 10

The left border of the frame with the central image, is split, due to a white spot next to the frame.
The 'normal' version (other values and 2.60 position 55 and 60) don't have this error.

plate flaw 5 / 10 detail

The depicted plants are part of a very complex group of plants, the Epilobium or willowherbs.
In various reference works, a subgroup is marked as an own group. They are more commonly known as  Boisduvailias or spike-primroses.
The plants are often used as herbal supplement in treatments for prostate, bladder and hormone disorders.

to be continued...

Chile : 100 years of the Publication of Chile's fauna and flora by Claudio Gay 2.02

The Columba Araucana or Patagioenas Araucana, more commonly known as the Chilean Pigeon, is depicted on position 3, 8, 53 and 58 of each of the 3 sets of 25 stamps.

For the 2.60 Pesos - value, there is a plate flow on position 3 and 8:

couple of pigeons with plate flaw pos 3 and 8

The frame in position 3 and 8 has been retouched above the subtext 'Santiago'.
There is an oddity on and above the T of Santiago.
Also the ornaments in the border frame are 'damaged'.

deformed T in Santiago and damaged frame

detail of plate flaw

The depicted birds on the stamps, are Chilean pigeons. This bird is quite common in Chile.

Chilean Pigeon

to be continued...

Chile : 100 years of the Publication of Chile's fauna and flora by Claudio Gay 2.01

Errors on the 2.60 pesos issue of the Claudio Gay's stamps.
Also on the second set of 25 stamps (Mi nrs : 387-411) there are numerous plate flaws to discover.

Position 2 and 7:

2 of the 4 stamps depicting the Araucaria Imbricata: (positions 2, 7, 52 and 57).
The tree in the picture really exists in the National Park of Tolhuaca (central Chile).

Araucaria Imbricata at the Tolhuaca National Park

The error on positions 2 and 7 can be found in the right bottom corner, where the frame next to the 2.60 is incomplete.

error found on position 2 and 7

to be continued...

Chile : 100 years of the Publication of Chile's fauna and flora by Claudio Gay 1.01

The first issue consists of 25 stamps of 60 centavos.
On each full sheet, a similar stamp is repeated 4 times.

The stamp below can be found on position 15, 30, 65 and 70.

error position 15 and 30

Two of the positions i.e. 15 and 30 have a small error. The error does not occur on position 65 or 70.

On position 15 and 30 the frame below the Cts is broken (there's a colour spot in the frame).

The bird depicted is the Caracara Vulgaris or the Crested Caracara. 

By Andreas Trepte - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43914003

This bird of prey is quite common in central and south America, and was already described by the pre-Columbian Aztec population.
Moreover it is still the bird depicted in the coat of arms of Mexico.

Coat of Arms - Mexico

 

to be continued...

Chile : 100 years of the Publication of Chile's fauna and flora by Claudio Gay - Intro

In December 1948, Chile issued 3 series of 25 stamps, dedicated to the work of Claudio Gay, who published his work 100 years earlier.

Each set consists of 25 stamps with local fauna and flora.
The 25 stamps are issued with a face value of 60 centavos, and then repeated with a 2.60 pesos-value, as well as a 3 pesos-value for air mail.

Michel nrs 362-368 (60 centavos)

One full sheet contains 4 sets of 25 stamps. So there are 100 stamps issued on each sheet.

full sheet of 3 pesos (Mi nrs 412-436)

Counting from left to right and from bottom to top, stamp 1, 6, 51 and 56 are the same.
Also 2, 7, 52 and 57, and so on.

similar stamps on position 1, 6, 51 and 56

Luckily for us - collectors - there are some plate errors that occur on several positions on the sheets.
There are errors on the 60 centavos issue (Mi : 362-386), the 2.60 pesos issue (Mi : 387-411) and the 3 pesos (airmail) issue (Mi : 412-436)

In the following posts, I will show and explain some of the known plate flaws and their positions.

To be continued ...