Brazil : 00 Early issues - Intro 2

The third famous series and the fourth ones are similar.

The 'italic' design was 'straightened' and therefore this set is known as the 'verticals' (verticais).
Another name for this 1850 issue, is the 'cat-eye' series; after oxes and goats (or snakes), this is a more gentle name.

As there are numerous forgeries, I took some examples of the stamps, found on internet.

real 'verticais'

fake 'verticais' ?

fake 'verticais' ?

The last set in this 'intro' are similar to the third set, but more colourful.
No wonder they are called the 'coloridos'.

a real 'colorido'

Again here, lots of forgeries are found.
Original stamps have a clear design, no blurry lines, but an expert eye is needed to find the real stamps among the 'better' forgeries.

fake 'coloridos'

fake or disputed 'verticais' and fake 'coloridos'

Brazil : 00 Early issues - Intro 1

It's easy to make a blog with stamps you find all around the internet.That's why I'm only posting stamps that are in my collection.
However, in this topic of Brazilian stamps, I can't skipp the 'most famous' of them all. I.e. the first series of stamps.
Secondly, there are so many forgeries among those stamps, that you almost need to be an expert to distinguish right from wrong.

The shown stamps are not mine, and were taken from the internet.
It's a small summary of the first sets, and some 'fine' examples of the fake items that are sold, or might be in your possession.

Brazil was the second country that issued stamps.
The black penny was issued in 1840, the first Brazilian stamp in 1843!

The design of the first brazilian issue, was inspired by banknotes issued by the Imperial Bank of Brazil before. Long time was assumed that the stamps were printed in London, as the notes were also printed by Perkins, Bacon & Company. However, in 1841 Brazilian customs authorities had confiscated an engraving printing press and that this press was used by the Brazilian Mint. By the end of December 1842, all necessary equipment was bought to allow the Mint to start producing their own stamps in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil 1843 - real 'bull's eye' stamps - internet picture

The typical round shaped design of the first stamps gave this issue the world know name of the 'bullseye' stamps (olhos de boi).
They were printed until 1844 and therefore relatively long in use. Genuine ones however are very expensive and only few collectors have 'real' copies.

In 1890 an 1891, a lilac reprint was made.

Brazil bull's eye reprint  - real - internet picture

The second issue is called the 'goat eye' (or also 'snake eye'), but because of the itallic printint of the numbers, brazilians prefer to call them "inclinados".

I have some 'inclinados' in my collection but probably all fake.
Real stamps are clearly printed, lines are complete, and not blurry.
Some forgeries are such bad copies that they are easy to recognise. Other are way more difficult to distinguish.

internet picture - real brazilian 'inclinado'

internet picture - real brazilian 'inclinado'

internet picture - real brazilian 'inclinado'

internet picture - fake 'inclinado'

internet picture - fake 'inclinado'

internet picture - fake 'inclinados'

internet picture - fake 'inclinados'

internet picture - fake 'inclinado'

Theme : Esperanto 09

Centennials are always good for stamp collectors.
As there is always a country that dedicates a set of stamps to a special event.

Suriname honoured Zamenhof and the Esperanto movement with a set of 3 tasteful stamps, at the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Esperanto.
Since Suriname used to be part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, until its independence in 1975, Dutch is spoken in this Central American Republic.

Therefore you can read "100 jaar Esperanto" (100 years of Esperanto) on the first stamp.

On the 60 cent stamp, the green star, "la verda stelo" is shown.
This is the symbol of Esperanto, as long with the mirrored E "ЄЭ" on the 3rd stamp, which is a more recent design.

The 110 cent stamp shows a world map with two white doves holding a flag, symbolising world peace.

The Suriname stamps have suffered a lot, since they were one of the first Esperanto stamps I bought, long time a go. They have survived exhibitions in high school, when I presented my hobby to my school friends.

100 years of Esperanto by Suriname

Thai coins : 01 d - 10 baht commemorative coins

More of Thailands 10 baht coins

Y # 371

In February 2000, at the occasion of the National Economic and Social Development Board, a commemorative coin was emitted. Showing at the front side, King Rama IX; at the back 3 seated figures.
BE 2543

Y 371 front

Y 371 back

Y # 373

Also in February, but in 2001, the Department of Land celebrated its centennial with a commemorative coin.
At the front, King Rama V and King Rama IX, at the back the Department's seal.

Y 373 front

Y 373 back

Y # 381

Another centennial was celebrated and commemorated in 2002 (BE 2545). The Irrigation Department, celebrated also its 100th anniversary. Both kings are on the front side, on the back is the Department logo.

Y 381 front

Y 381 back

Y # 382

60 years can be celebrated too, this coin commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Department of Internal Trade. King Rama IX is depicted on the front side, the Department logo is shown on the back side.
Year of issue is 2002 (BE 2545)

Y 382 front

Y 382 back

... to be continued ...

Thai coins : 01 c - 10 baht commemorative coins

Thai coins and the bimetallic 10 baht coins, are such a nice topic to collect.
In this item, I'll continue the list of coins.

Y # 352

In March 1998 (BE 2541) King Rama III was honoured with the title 'great'.
This was commemorated with a special 10 baht coin.
On the face side of the coin, King Rama III  is depicted, on the back the royal arm of the king are shown.

Y # 352 front

Y # 352 back

Y # 354
100 years after the founding of the Army Medical Department, the anniversary was celebrated with a coin.
Both kings, Rama V and Rama IX are on the front side of the coin, at the back, we see the emblem of the Army Medical Department.
This coin has no date, but the coin was issued in 2000 (BE 2543).

Y # 354 front

Y # 354 back

Y # 358

Not only centenials are celebratede in Thailand.
The next coin is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Ministry of Commerce.
The royal portrait of King Rama IX is on the front, and on the back we see the Ministry logo.
A very nice design with a square and circle which made me thing ok certain Nepalese coins.
This coin was emitted in 2000 (BE 2543)

Y # 358 front

Y # 358 back

Y # 361

Living in Thailand means living long and healthy.
Prove is next coin, which shows the King's mother at the occasion of her 100th anniversary.
Of course the front side shows the King's mother, an emblem on the back side.

Y # 361 front

Y # 361 back

Theme : Esperanto 08

When talking about Esperanto, we're talking about a language.

Call it 'constructed' or 'artificial', speaking Esperanto, doesn't give me the feeling there's much artificial about it. It's a tool to make people understand eachother in a world with so many languages.

According the Bible (First or Old Testament) in the beginning there was only one language. (which wasn't Esperanto I suppose).
But menkind became presumptuous, and tempted God by building an enormous tower according to the Book of Genesis,  in the plain of Shinar. Pretending that speaking in one language, one voice, would make them invincible.

"And so God scattered them upon the face of the Earth, and confused their languages, and they left off building the city, which was called Babel "because God there confounded the language of all the Earth."(Genesis 11:5-8)"

Also in the Qur'an there is a story with similarities to the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, though set in the Egypt of Moses. In Suras 28:38 and 40:36-37, Pharaoh asks Haman to build him a stone, or clay tower so that he can mount up to heaven and confront the God of Moses.

This image inspired Pieter Bruegel the Elder, the flemish renaissance painter in 1563 to make a painting of the so called 'tower of Babel'.

The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1563).

The painting of Breugel, was in 1982 the idea for a stamp dedicated to the theme of Esperanto.
As the tower symolises the confusion of tongues, and Esperanto offers a solution for this confusion, the tower of Babel appears in this belgian stamp, having a green star (the symbol of Esperanto) on top of the tower as a comet flying into the scenery.

Belgium - Esperanto 1982

A very nice stamp, and a very nice tribute to Dr. Zamenhof.

Theme : Volkswagen Beetle - 14

For non-europan followers of this blog, Åland [Oland] might not be known.
Even many Europeans are not familiar with the Åland Islands.

In fact it's a part of Finland, but the inhabitants of Åland Åll speak swedish.

The flag of the islands is more similar to the swedish then to the finnish flag.

BecÅse of it's particular pÅsition, right in the middle between the two countries, it has Ålways been an important economic and strategic group of islands in the Baltic Sea.

Within Finland, it has autonomy, such as an own parliament, and Åland issues its own stamps.

flag of Åland

Åland on the map

This small group of islands however have pleased me with a very nice booklet of 'old vehicles', including ( Åf cÅrse) with a VÅlkswagen Beetle.

4 old cars are depicted. The VÅlkswagen Beetle is a 1964 version.

booklet - outside

booklet - inside

the single Åland stamp - first class

Åland licence plate on the car

FÅr this one time, you will have to excuse me the jÅke with the "Å"

Theme : Volkswagen Beetle - 13

In 2001, the smal country of Luxemburg, made me happy.
Luxemburg always makes me happy, but this time, it was for a special reason.
A small booklet with 12 auto-adhesive stamps was issued, dedicated to the Postal Services of Luxemburg.
Depicted were two cars that were used by the postal services.
One was the Citroën 2CV, the other one the Volkswagen Beetle.

Being in the middle of two big countries in Europe (France and Germany). A set of stamps with the most famous cars of both countries, wasn't a bad idea at all.

Altough there are 2CV collectors, I will focus on the Volkswagen Beetle, as it 's my topic.

VW Beetle, used as postal vehicle in Luxemburg

On the booklet there are 6 stamps with the Citroën 2CV and 6 with a Volkswagen Beetle.
The Citroën has a facevalue of 0,07 €; the Volkswagen 0,45 €

inside the booklet

outside the booklet

I was lucky to be in Luxemburg at the time of issue.
This made it possible to find (and buy) two additional first day covers.

First day cover with two different stamps

First day cover with two 'beetle stamps'

First day cancel

Microstates : 14 Isö (bogus)

Ever heard of Isö?
If you're thinking of an item in Ikea, then I can tell you, you're not really that mistaken.
According to Wikipedia, it's a "local issued stamp from (Eastern) Sweden.
So far the link with Ikea.

In fact it has nothing to do with Sweden at all.
The CTO cancels on the Isö labels do mention 'Sverige' (Swedish for 'Sweden'). However there's no value in öre or krone.

The labels are purely fantasy and show pictures of marine life, historic events or people (hardly recognisable) and places (here London).
Except for the fish maybe, no link with Sweden.

Isö - topic UK (London)

Isö - topic fish

Try to recognise the 'famous' people...

Iso - topic WWII historic events

Those cinderellas are easily found in thematic collections. Wildlife, animals, historic events and so on.
Don't be misled, they are as fake as the Swedish words in Ikea.
But at least Ikea is real :-)