Odd stamps : 06 l Stamps on cotton / silk

Stamps on silk are always something special.
For my next item this is surely true.
Liechtenstein, the mini state between Switzerland and Austria has a long tradition among (European) stamp collectors, as they emit high quality stamps.

The sheet of 2013, was emitted to commemorate the renovated 'city palace' of the Liechtenstein princely familly in Vienna, Austria. Together with the 'garden palace', it is owned by the princely family for over 300 years.

Liechtenstein City Palace - Vienna Austria

After it was fully renovated, both palaces are open to the public.
The overwhelming baroque style of the building, and the neo-rococo interiors are reflected in the sheetlet, issued by the Liechtenstein post.
The sheet is composed of 3 stamps, but the design runs throughout the sheetlet.
Only the 3 stamps are in full colour, with gold overprint, the board outside the stamps are in pink.

sheet of 3 embossed stamps on silk

reverse side of the sheetlet - embossed printing

On the back side of the stamps, we see and feel the embossed printing.
The silk structure makes it feels as if one was touching the wallpaper in the grand rooms of the palace.

Interior detail Liechtenstein palace - Vienna

detail stamp

the decoration continues in the border

Truly a wonderful sheet to have in your collection. And an invitation to visit the palace in Vienna.
The sheet was issued for the reopening to the public of the city palace, and can be visited twice a month on Fridays (€ 25),  or even rented! 
One hall (or should I say 'saloon' or 'parlour' can be rented from € 5500 on...)
I'll stick to the sheetlet, and dream away...

more to follow

Odd stamps : 06 k Stamps on cotton / silk

For the next post on stamps on silk, we go to Portugal.

In this sheetlet, printed on cotton, Portugal is commemorating its textile industry.

full sheet  - printed on cottom

On the stamp, we see 3 parts.
First is the cotton plant (algodão in Portuguese).

stamp on cotton

Secondly we see a picture made in the late 19th -  early 20th century, where women are working in textile industry, next to the large bobbins of cotton.

ladies working in textile factory

On the right we see the goddess Minerva, goddess of Industry (commerce), weaving and crafts.
Although Minerva is more often depicted with a shield, the wheel also refers to commerce.

more to follow...

Currency Today : Sweden 3

On this third post on the current Swedish banknotes, I am presenting the second highest denomination, the 500 crowns note (€ 50)

This set is dedicated to Swedish artist. On this 500 crowns note, we find Birgit Nilsson (1918-2005).

Birgit Nilsson (M.i.&a.) was a Swedish opera singer, who was born and died on the southern province of Skåne Iän, as depicted on the map on the reverse side of the note.

500 Swedish crowns (€ 50)

Skåne Iän

The M.i.&a. behind her name stands for the Medal 'ingenio et arti' (medal of science and art).In 1973, she was honoured by the Danish Queen Margrethe II - as a 'Thank you for the music'.

Medal "Ingenio et arti"

Since 2009, an opera award baring her name, is given to artists with meritorious achievements in the opera scene.

500 Swedish crowns - reverse

On the reverse side, we see a famous brigde, the Øresundsbroen (DK), Öresundsbron (SE) - or the Oresundbrigde (EN). This bridge connects the Swedish city of Malmö with the Danish city of Copenhagen. The bridge was built between 1995 and 1999.

If you ever visit Sweden or Denmark, this remarkable landmark, is a must to cross between the two countries, and 'mamma mia', what a view.

Oresund Bridge beween Sweden and Denmark

Currently I don't have the 1000 Swedish crowns - note in my collection, but if anyone would ask me who's willing to accept one, 'I do, I do, I do'.

Currency Today : Sweden 2

In this second part on Sweden's banknotes, I will present you the 100 and 200 crowns.

On the 100 crowns' note, a mysterious, dreamy face appears. "Angel Eyes" maybe?
We recognise Greta Garbo (1905-1990). Garbo was born in Stockholm and was known as a movie star in the 20's and 30's of the 20th century. Among her roles was that of "dancing Queen" Mata Hari, and the also mysterious Queen Christina (of Sweden).
After the second World War, she lived a more hidden life, as she appeared to be unsociable and/ or shy. She refused a marriage with the famous actor Nils Asther, and there were rumours about her sexuality.
Although she appeared in over 30 movies, she stayed almost 50 years out of the spotlights, until she died in New York in 1990.

100 Swedish crowns - Greta Garbo

back side 100 Swedish crowns

The reverse side of the banknote, gives us a view on Stockholm and indicated is the city hall.

Stockholm

city hall of Stockholm

The 200 Swedish crowns (about € 20), depicts the filmmaker Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007).
Berman directed about 40 movies, dealing mainly with the heavyness of life, regligion, and other existential questions. 'When all is said and done, ..."
He considered film making as the 7th art, away from pleasure for pleasure alone, films were supposed to deal with the meaning of life, and people finally facing their 'Waterloo'.

200 Swedish crowns (€ 20)

On the reverse side, we don't see Bergman's birthplace Uppsala, but the island where he died in 2007.  Fårö is the smaller island located on the north east of the island Gotland. Bergmans called the island his 'home' - not too difficult if you know the place has only about 600 people.

reverse side 200 Swedis crowns - Fårö

Gotland with Fårö in the north

Fårö (Gotland - Sweden)

More to follow

Currency Today : Sweden 1

For the next set of banknotes, we go up north, to Sweden.

We know Sweden has a long tradition of great performers and great designers - as you all think of Hugo Hasslo and Anders Beckman...  or was it ABBA and Ikea®?
OK, i promise not to mention ABBA nor Ikea® in this article.

So let's go to the Money, Money, Money.

When it comes to banknotes, both skills are integrated.
Swedish banknotes are portraiting Sweden's finest artists and performers, and have a very pleasant design.

There are currently 6 bankotes in circulation in Sweden : 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Kronor (crowns).

A closer look :

20 Swedish crowns (€ 2)

On the front side, we see the warm and gentle face of Astrid Lindgren (1907 - 2002).

Lindgren was born in Smaland (not the childrens' corner in that furniture shop! in the province of Götaland (indicated in purple on the reverse side of the note). And although she created many characters in her books, one in particular became world famous : Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshate Mackrelmint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking (or Pippi Longstocking as we say).

In the detail we see Pippi and and extract from the book's text. Underneath we find microtext behind the 3 crowns : 'sveriges bank' / 'bank of Sweden'.
On the back side of the note, a map of Sweden and a nature scene of Götaland.

reverse side of 20 Swedish crowns

For the 50 crowns note, Evert A. Taube (1890-1976) is depicted. Taube was a Swedish singer-songwriter. The banknotes is a 'thank you for the music' for sure.

50 Swedish crown (€ 5)

On the reverse side of the note, we see Göteborg indicated. Taube's birthplace.

reverse side 50 Swedish crowns

As it is close to the sea, we see a boat on the front side, and a pictogram of a boat on the back side.

security mark 50 crowns

Higher denominations, will follow in my next article.

Odd stamps : 03g 3D stamps (moving)

The Star Wars Saga is like a never ending story.
So far 8 episodes have been made so far (2018).

The story starts with episode 3... It was released in May 1977 already.
A time where space exploration was still more or less 'science fiction'. In the late 70's there was still hope, so 'a new hope' was warmly welcomed.
In May 1980, the empire strikes back, with a second movie, part 4 in the saga.
3 years later, again in May, the Jedi returns with episode 5.
Then the fans have to wait till ... May 1999 when a prequel (episode 1) comes to the theaters.

This 'first' episode was not a phantom menace to all movies that were made in 1999. With over one billion USD in revenue, it whipped out all other movies that year.
In 2002 (guess what ... in May) the clones attacked us again with a fifth movie. This movie was the second of the prequel series.
In ... May 2005, the prequel was completed with a 6th (of sith) revenge.

In 2015, the forces awakened again, and a third trilogy started, this time ... in December.
This movie had over 2 billion USD in revenues!
Two years later,George Lucas found a last Jedi to make the 2nd movie of the sequel-trilogy.
The movie came out in December as well...
Now it's waiting till (December) 2019 (?) for the ninth movie, to complete the trilogy-trilogy.

Many postal services took their part in the huge commercial succes of George Lucas' movies.
For this blog, I limit myself to 'odd' stamps on this topic.

Spain 3D sheet - Star Wars

Spain issued a 3D sheet, with 6 'stamps' depicting characters from the movie,
but only one out of the six stamps is actuallly a stamp.

Dart Vader on a 3D stamp Spain

The other 5 look similar but have no country name, nore a value.
The labels depict : A storm trooper - Chewbacca - R2-D2 - Yoda and C-3PO

 

It's not the best issue Spain made so far, and it's not a superb 3D-sheet either, but I guess it's a must have for all die hard fans ... but that's another movie.

Odd stamps : 03f 3D stamps (moving)

At the occasion of the 2010 Fifa World cup, the republic of Slovakia issued a sheet with two identical lenticular stamps.
On the stamp, a football (soccer) player is kicking a ball toward the goal on the opposite site of the field.
In the last 'image' the ball is out of sight, but the player cheers, as if he scored.

Slovakia - Lenticular stamp 2010

 The 2010 World Cup was held in South Africa.
Slovakia survived two rounds, but got kicked out before reaching the quarter finals, by the Netherlands. The Netherlands became second in the end.

Slovakia 3D - 2010

Slovakia 3D - 2010

On the back side of the sheet, all 32 participating countries are mentionned, each in it's own group.

For the record .... Spain won the world cup in 2010 -  Germany became third.

Odd stamps : 10 c Stamps on/in wood or cork

It has been a while, but this is my second post on wooden stamps. (third one on wood/cork)
So far they are still rare.
Switzerland issued a stamp on wood in 2014. It's an auto-adhesive stamp, protected by a peel-off foil.

5 swiss francs - 2014 - wooden stamp

The stamp is half a milimeter thick, what allows it still to be placed on a letter for acutal use.
Unfortunately few will have been put in circulation,
The issued stamp of 5 Swiss francs, is 5 times more expensive that the stamps for regular letters.
Probably it can be found as CTO.
Catalogue Michel rates it equal for mint or postally used.

More to come :-)

Theme : 1st issues : 08b Colombia (Dept. Bolivar)

Between 1863 and 1904, the 9 states and the 3 territories have issued their own stamps. From 1904 on, all stamps are issued under 'Colombia'.

State of Bolívar - Colombia

For the state Bolívar (North Colombia), Michel mentions 73 issues.
Here the first issue of 1863 is truely a very special issue.

Colombia - state Bolívar 1863

The green version is nr. 1 - nr 2 is a 10 cents red and nr 3 is a 1 peso red.
When we have a closer look underneath the coat of arms, we see 6 stars. This indicates the cheapest (?) version of the stamp. The same stamp with 5 stars only, quadruples the catalogue value!

6 stars under the CoA - Michel 1 I

The stamp of 10 cents, measures 6 x 8 mm only and exist even cut into 2 on letters (used as 5 cents).
This makes this stamp... the smallest stamp in the world (known 2017).

Certificate of authenticity - 1974

With a catalogue value of € 750, this stamp of less then 1 cm² ... is, compared to its size, more valuable than gold.

Theme : 1st issues : 08a Colombia (Dept. Bolivar)

For the next 1 issue, a short overview of the history of Central/South America between 1819 and 1863.
The country, currently known as Colombia, was Spanish posession in 1819.
Simón Bolívar, who had concurred the remaining Spanish rulers, united the republic of Venezuela and the viceroyalty Nueva Granada (part of the kingdom of Peru) with the current Colombia, Ecuador, parts of Panama. Bolívar named it República de Colombia (later named Grand-Colombia to destinguish from the current county Colombia).

Territory of Grand-Colombia (1819)

The union only lasted till 1830, and due to internal disagreements, and Ecuador and Venezuela left the group. What remained, was named New-Granada, consisting in Colombia, Panama, parts of Venezuela, Ecuador, and even Brazil, Peru and Costa Rica.

Flag of New-Granada (1819-1830)

At the end of this era, one, then two more, later 5 more, and finally one last independent state was created
This republic, New Granada, dissolved into the Confederation Granadine, in 1858.
The States were :
Panama (1855), Antioquia and Santander (1856) - Bolívar, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca and Magdalena (1857) and Tolima (1861) - used to be in the Cundinamarca state before.

Situation in 1858

From 1863 on, we speak of the United States of Colombia (including 9 'states' and 3 territories: Caquetá Territory, San Martin Territory and Nevada and Motilones Territory.

At this point of time, the first stamps were being issued in the area....
And that will be for my next entry :-)