Freshwater streams and rivers within Fiji and the wider Indo-Pacific are inhabited by the agile and often beautiful fishes from family Gobiidae. Pay tribute to this species, Fiji post issued a set of four stamps feature Sicyopterus lagocephalus, Stiphodon rutilaurens, Sicyopus zosterophorum , Stiphodon sp on April 5, 2007. The 20 c stamp represent Sicyopterus lagocephalus species. Sicyopterus lagocephalus is known from the Comoro Islands, Mascarene Islands, Sri Lanka and western of Indonesia in the Indian Ocean, and from Indonesia to the Society Islands and japan to Australia, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and now Fiji in the Pacific. Sicyopterus lagocephalus is almost always found in moderate flowing to very swift clear streams with boulder-strewn bottoms often also with smaller gravel, sand and minimum silt. It will be reach a maximum size of about 13 cm. This species appears the most tolerant to a range water qualities and is also widest ranging of Fijian Sicydiinae. Stiphodon rutilaurens is truly Melanesian species ranging from the northern slopes of New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and now eastward to Fiji. This species found in clear streams on all of the high islands. Stiphodon rutilaurens is relatively small and tends to stick to the gravel feeding primarily on algae and reaching a maximum size of about 3 cm. Sicyopus zosterophorum is most commonly found in fast moving, high gradient streams with rocky and boulder substrate. This species is native from Nias island, Indonesia, off the west coast of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean to southern Japan, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. This species reaches a maximum size of about 5 cm. Stiphodon sp. is a beautiful new species of goby discovered in Fiji by biologists from Wetlands International-Oceania and University of the South Pacific in 2003. This species reaches a maximum size of around 4 cm. It has been collected on all largest islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and Kadayu.
Explore Jorge Angulo M’s 37 photos on Flickr!
Explore Jorge Angulo M’s 37 photos on Flickr!
New Zealand 1955 Scott 302 2p deep green & brown; Engraved "Maori Mailman"; Centennial of New Zealand 1st Postage Stamps Beyond the Classic Blues During the six plus year existence of BigBlue1840-1940, the stamp scope has been limited to the first 100 years of stamp production and issues. And for good reason, much of the excitement of WW collecting lies there. But there are practical and economic reasons for the blog to explore beyond the classic blues. I have accumulated ~ 48,000 stamps for the 1840-1940 period, extended to 1952 for the British Commonwealth. That is ~ 58% of all the Scott major number stamps issued during this era. The low hanging, and much of the middle hanging fruit, has been picked. Obtaining feeder collections and albums no longer yields, for the most part, enough new stamps to justify the purchase. Sure, want lists are still productive. But, the cost is going up, and serendipity is going down. Meanwhile I have, without exaggeration, left tens of thousands of stamps in feeder collections and albums, whose only clear fault is that they were issued after 1941 (1953 for the British Commonwealth). The solution is obvious. But would I be happy venturing beyond the classic blues? Lets take a look... France 1961 Scott 1009 45c violet blue, red brown, & green Engraved; "Sully-sur-Loire Chateau" The first, and most pleasant revelation is the French community. Many stamps are still engraved even into the 1990s (as far as I looked). The subjects are relevant, there is a luminous beauty, and they are designed with that typical French elan. Libya 1941 Scott 99 50c purple; Photogravure "Two Peoples, One War"; Hitler and Mussolini The problem for an 1840-1940 World Wide collector is that WWII is left out, one of the most seminal events of the 20th century. Here, Libya celebrates the union of Hitler and Mussolini. Do I really have to comment? Netherlands 1946 Scott B159 1 1/2c + 3 1/2c black; Engraved "Fortuna"; Surtax for Victims of WW II The aftermath of WW II is equally as important. This exquisite engraved stamp from the Netherlands, a semi-postal, provides funds for those that suffered. German Democratic Republic 1946 Scott 16N2 4pf black "Fir Trees" Typography; Soviet Zone Occupation -Thuringia Occupied lands after WW II had their own stamps, provided directly or indirectly by the occupied power. This poorly produced typographic stamp perhaps portents the economic and political fate of Erfurt and the Thuringia region. Hungary 1946 Scott 779 80ez apple green; Photogravure Denomination in Black; Issue of the Republic Not all stamps were gorgeous prior to 1940. Even so, there certainly was a rise in "little nothings" issued, especially during the 1940s, when countries affected by WW II were still very poor. But that does tell its own important story, doesn't it? In fact, regarding the CV, the stamp era between 1941 and the mid-1960s had and still have, generally and broadly speaking, the least value. And because stamp collecting was still quite popular then, many stamps were deliberately saved, guaranteeing that the CV will remain low. But that is good news for those that collect as a hobby, rather than a wealth portfolio. One can collect the ~25 years after the classical era and truly get enormous and financial guilt free enjoyment out of it. Falkland Islands Dependencies 1954 Scott 1L23 2 1/2p black and yellow-ocher "Penola"; Engraved One of the reasons I am interested in collecting British Commonwealth after 1952 is I am attracted to the later 1950s and early 1960s QEII issues, especially those that don't just copy the George VI pictorials. They are still very classical in appearance. And the drumbeat of independence from colonial powers was building - finally! Jamaica 1962 Scott 181 2p multicolored, Photogravure "Zouare Bugler and Map of Jamaica"; Independent State The Yvert & Tellier has produced a WW catalogue that is called "Les Semi-Modernes: Les timbres du Monde de 1941-1960". One of the reasons for the 1960 cut-off date is because many of the French colonies became independent around 1960. The British colonies, many of them, won greater independence throughout the 1960s. The Dutch, the Belgians, and finally the Portuguese gave up their direct control of colonies. This process took into the 1970s. Not all the separations were happy for all parties at the time (India, Indonesia). But this is a huge story for the WW collector, with the stamps reflecting the new political realities. Israel 1954 Scott 84 60p dark blue, magenta, & olive; Lithography "Marigold and Ruins of Yehiam" Memorial Day and 6th Anniversary of Proclamation of State of Israel There was birth of new nations, some reflecting years of yearning and conflict. Perhaps the most dramatic was the rise of an independent Jewish state - Israel. Iceland 1956 Scott 296 5k dark green, Engraved "Gullfoss" The art of the engraved stamp did not go away in the post-classic period, although it became diminished in volume and importance by the rise of multi-color photogravure and lithographic printed stamps. Yet the engraved stamps produced in the post-classic period are often exquisite, produced by some of the most talented engravers of any era. I've visited the iconic Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland. The stamp captures in hyper-reality what I saw and felt. Spain 1966 Scott 1362 10p bright blue & greenish blue, Engraved "Courtyard of St. Gregorio Valladolid" The secret of an engraved stamp is the closer one looks at the image, the more amazing the stamp becomes. How did all those little detailed engraved lines produce such a three-dimensional stunning result? Turkey 1957 Scott 1258 50c pink, violet, red, & yellow, Lithography 400th Death Anniversary of Fuzuli, Poet Multi-color lithography printing came into its own during the post-classical era. When it is done well (design, color combination), it does produce a remarkable image. True, my heart is drawn foremost to engraved specimens. But who is to deny that this is an absolutely lovely stamp? And consider how far this stamp appears in color, design and format from the Turkish stamps of the classical era? Greece 1959 Scott 659 70l multicolored, Lithography "St. Basil" Another example of multicolored lithography from Greece. It would be much more work (perhaps cost prohibitive?) for an engraved specimen to have this many colors. I think of the many examples of lithography during the classical era that are crudely and poorly done. No one will accuse this stamp of that. El Salvador 1963 Scott C200 5c gray green, indigo, red, & buff; Photogravure "King Vulture"; Birds in Natural Colors Photogravure can be found during the classical era (Bavaria, later Italian sphere), but it came into its own with the ability to print multiple colors. I agree that this "King Vulture" does look like it was printed in natural colors. Also note the topic- Birds. The post classical era was the serious beginning of topical collecting. Nothing wrong with that as long as the topical theme has some relevance to the issuing country. Philippines 1967 Scott C94 70s multicolored; Photogravure "Eruption of Taal Volcano and Refugees"; Sept. 28, 1965 Natural and recent historical events are a pleasure to collect on stamps. Here is a lovely colorful photogravure specimen from the Philippines. Russia 1957 "Sputnik I Circling Globe"; Photogravure Nov. 5 Scott 1992 40k indigo/bluish; Dec. 28 Scott 1993 40k bright blue A discussion of stamp topics prominent in the post classical era would have to include the huge rise in Space stamps, in all their dimensions. I clearly remember as a child going out in the evening to see Sputnik pass by. Here is the original Russian stamp: so popular that another one had to be printed a few months later. Russia 1965 Scott 3023 20k black, blue, red on Aluminum Foil, Lithographed "Globe with trajectories, Satellite, and Astronauts" ; National Cosmonaut's Day By 1965, when this Russian stamp on Aluminum Foil! was printed, space race related stamps were very popular, and served patriotic and propaganda purposes, as well, during the cold war. Nepal 1964 Scott 178 10p red & ultramarine; Lithography "Nepalese Flag and Swords, Olympic Emblem" 18th Olympic Games, Tokyo, Oct. 10-25, 1964 Think about the design of early Nepal stamps, and then think about this "modern" design from Nepal - what a difference! There is no doubt that "modern" entails often a more abstract and possibly spare image. Also, another huge topical theme- the Olympics - is featured. Countries that are involved even a little ( and, yes, countries that are not even involved at all!) now invariably produce a multi-issue set. Sweden 1963 Scott 623 35o lilac rose, Engraved "Wheat Emblem and Stylized Hands" FAO "Freedom from Hunger" Campaign An abstract design, if done well, can be stunning and provocative. This Swedish stamp clearly qualifies. And note the engraver? Czeslaw Slania, from Poland, has over 1000 engraved stamps (1951-2005) to his credit. His work is of such quality and detail that, by itself, would fully justify collecting the post-classicial era! Guatemala 1964 Scott C302 5c deep blue; Engraved "President John F. Kennedy" Finally, we will end with a very nice engraved specimen from Guatemala honoring John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy was probably the first of the "modern" presidents, and his eloquent democratic views influenced the world. We can't come down too hard on any country that felt they were genuinely influenced by his life, and wished to honor him with a stamp issue. BUT, we can't ignore the fact, that, for many countries, the stamp issue was a money maker. And that opened the floodgates... The Trifecta: Princess Diana, Elvis, and Marilyn Monroe Sierra Leone 2006-07 Issues Scott Catalogue I call them "Elvis sightings". I have nothing against Elvis- I loved him as a kid. But when a country issues a stamp for Elvis, or Marilyn Monroe, or Lady Diana (as Sierra Leone does on one page of the Scott catalogue - all three!), and the country has essentially no direct reason to do so, well, I call a halt to collecting that country. Of course there are a myriad of other topics/themes/personalities where the same argument applies. Minkus Supreme Global Stamp Album: "Big Red" Big Red Big Red, the Minkus Global Supreme, is the album I use for my 1840-1940 extras, and for the post classic era 1941-1966+. (Do not confuse with the Minkus Global Master, sold in one volume.) I'm not going to say much here regarding how I came to that choice as the reasons are outlined in... Is the Minkus Supreme the "Goldilocks" Album for WW Collectors? Which Stamp Album is best for WW collectors? An Obsession: Healthy or Unhealthy? Every hobby has an obsession level that can become unhealthy for family relationships, if not properly managed. I worry about that, because stamp collecting, with all the good things about it, is mostly a solitary, somewhat anti-social activity. For the general WW collector, with the hundreds of thousands of stamps of potential interest, it is of particular concern. I've managed to keep an equilibrium collecting 1840-1940 for the most part. If collecting in addition the next 25-30 years becomes too much, I may need to bail. !! The WW collector is also faced with at least thinking about a cutoff date for their collection. Reality is there was a significant increase in overall new issues beginning in the 1960s and accelerating for the next decades. One can get some understanding of the scope of the increase by checking out these links... My own contribution as posted on The Stamp Forum... The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Stamp Output 1980-2012 An analysis on Stamp Community Family Forum.... Charting the Number of New Issues Released Minkus Supreme Global Stamp Album 1962 Advertisement The two volume 76,000 space Minkus Global Supreme was first released in 1954. Amos Advantage has brought back this very edition (Part I 1840-1952), and can now be ordered on thick white paper. Minkus Supreme Global Pages- Part I 1840-1952 And here it is! I have also obtained Part II 1953-1963, and Part III 1964-1966. The attraction for me is to recreate the seminal 1966 Minkus Global Supreme edition housed in three fat volumes, and holding 121,000+ spaces- "More than two-thirds of all stamps ever issued (probably hyperbole)". Scott International WW Album: Big Blues Of course an alternative are the "Big Blues" - Part I 1840-1940, Part II 1940+-1949+, Part III 1949+-1955, Part IV 1956-1959, Part V 1960-63, Part VA 1963-65, Part VI 1965-67 and so forth. Jamaica 1860-1911 in Big Red Part I 1840-1952 For Part I, I fill the 1840-1940 WW (-1952 British Commonwealth) with the extras from feeder albums. My "Deep Blue" (Steiner) pages hold the main classical era collection. Netherlands 1948-1952 in Big Red Part I 1840-1952 I enjoy having a place to put all those stamps of the 1941-1952 period into Part I from the feeder albums and collections. New Zealand 1959-62 in Big Red Part II 1953-1963 But why stop at 1952? The Part II 1953-1963 provides needed spaces. Russia 1957 Issues Big Red Part II 1953-1963 Note the tendency in the Minkus to put lots of stamps on a page. Here is featured the "40th Anniversary of the October Revolution" stamps for Russia. Russia 1957 Issues Big Blue Part IV 1956-59 In comparison, here is a Big Blue page for Russia circa 1957. Philippines 1966 Issues in Big Red Part III 1964-66 Finally the Part III 1964-1966 provides spaces for those years. And noted by the mid-1960s, there is the beginning of the "growth industry" of many issues from some countries. For instance, the fairly prolific (but legitimate) stamps from Russia for 1964-66 takes up 14 double sided pages. Then there are the "Trucial States" @ 39 double-sided pages! Finland 1942 Scott 342 3.50m violet blue, Engraved "17th Century Printer" 300th Anniversary of the printing of the 1st Bible in Finnish Out of the Blue If interest and time allows, I may add an occasional country blog post covering the 1941-1966+ years to the Big Blue lineup. Fun for me, and hopefully fun for you! (Sorry, I'm not planning a Minkus Global Supreme checklist at this time. ) Comments appreciated!
Explore Jorge Angulo M’s 37 photos on Flickr!
Don't see the stamps you are looking for in my Etsy shop? Check out my website of vintage postage stamps for mailing or collecting at www.treasurefoxstamps.com where you will find more stamps that I sell that are not available in my Etsy shop. Use the link to browse through my inventory of other exciting and beautiful postage stamps at treasurefoxstamps.com. *********************************************************** Pack of 5 Vintage Unused US Postage stamps of the: 3 cent Abraham Lincoln regular issue stamp. Issued February 3, 1927 Scott catalog #: 635 The 3¢ denomination pictures Abraham Lincoln. Considered one of our nation’s greatest Presidents, Lincoln has been honored many ways. One of the harder to find stamps with Abraham Lincoln on it, it has always been a favorite of collectors. 10 Mint unused postage stamps with original gum as issued by the Post Office. These stamps are genuine and valid to use as postage for current mailing. Be sure to use enough total postage to meet the current postage rate for mailing a letter if you want to use them for mailing. Also good to use for scrapbooking or displaying in a small picture frame. It's a miniature work of art. If you would like me to put a custom order together that includes this stamp please convo me with your questions or request a custom order. I have a large inventory of Vintage US Postage stamp for you to buy from.
New Zealand 1955 Scott 302 2p deep green & brown; Engraved "Maori Mailman"; Centennial of New Zealand 1st Postage Stamps Beyond the Classic Blues During the six plus year existence of BigBlue1840-1940, the stamp scope has been limited to the first 100 years of stamp production and issues. And for good reason, much of the excitement of WW collecting lies there. But there are practical and economic reasons for the blog to explore beyond the classic blues. I have accumulated ~ 48,000 stamps for the 1840-1940 period, extended to 1952 for the British Commonwealth. That is ~ 58% of all the Scott major number stamps issued during this era. The low hanging, and much of the middle hanging fruit, has been picked. Obtaining feeder collections and albums no longer yields, for the most part, enough new stamps to justify the purchase. Sure, want lists are still productive. But, the cost is going up, and serendipity is going down. Meanwhile I have, without exaggeration, left tens of thousands of stamps in feeder collections and albums, whose only clear fault is that they were issued after 1941 (1953 for the British Commonwealth). The solution is obvious. But would I be happy venturing beyond the classic blues? Lets take a look... France 1961 Scott 1009 45c violet blue, red brown, & green Engraved; "Sully-sur-Loire Chateau" The first, and most pleasant revelation is the French community. Many stamps are still engraved even into the 1990s (as far as I looked). The subjects are relevant, there is a luminous beauty, and they are designed with that typical French elan. Libya 1941 Scott 99 50c purple; Photogravure "Two Peoples, One War"; Hitler and Mussolini The problem for an 1840-1940 World Wide collector is that WWII is left out, one of the most seminal events of the 20th century. Here, Libya celebrates the union of Hitler and Mussolini. Do I really have to comment? Netherlands 1946 Scott B159 1 1/2c + 3 1/2c black; Engraved "Fortuna"; Surtax for Victims of WW II The aftermath of WW II is equally as important. This exquisite engraved stamp from the Netherlands, a semi-postal, provides funds for those that suffered. German Democratic Republic 1946 Scott 16N2 4pf black "Fir Trees" Typography; Soviet Zone Occupation -Thuringia Occupied lands after WW II had their own stamps, provided directly or indirectly by the occupied power. This poorly produced typographic stamp perhaps portents the economic and political fate of Erfurt and the Thuringia region. Hungary 1946 Scott 779 80ez apple green; Photogravure Denomination in Black; Issue of the Republic Not all stamps were gorgeous prior to 1940. Even so, there certainly was a rise in "little nothings" issued, especially during the 1940s, when countries affected by WW II were still very poor. But that does tell its own important story, doesn't it? In fact, regarding the CV, the stamp era between 1941 and the mid-1960s had and still have, generally and broadly speaking, the least value. And because stamp collecting was still quite popular then, many stamps were deliberately saved, guaranteeing that the CV will remain low. But that is good news for those that collect as a hobby, rather than a wealth portfolio. One can collect the ~25 years after the classical era and truly get enormous and financial guilt free enjoyment out of it. Falkland Islands Dependencies 1954 Scott 1L23 2 1/2p black and yellow-ocher "Penola"; Engraved One of the reasons I am interested in collecting British Commonwealth after 1952 is I am attracted to the later 1950s and early 1960s QEII issues, especially those that don't just copy the George VI pictorials. They are still very classical in appearance. And the drumbeat of independence from colonial powers was building - finally! Jamaica 1962 Scott 181 2p multicolored, Photogravure "Zouare Bugler and Map of Jamaica"; Independent State The Yvert & Tellier has produced a WW catalogue that is called "Les Semi-Modernes: Les timbres du Monde de 1941-1960". One of the reasons for the 1960 cut-off date is because many of the French colonies became independent around 1960. The British colonies, many of them, won greater independence throughout the 1960s. The Dutch, the Belgians, and finally the Portuguese gave up their direct control of colonies. This process took into the 1970s. Not all the separations were happy for all parties at the time (India, Indonesia). But this is a huge story for the WW collector, with the stamps reflecting the new political realities. Israel 1954 Scott 84 60p dark blue, magenta, & olive; Lithography "Marigold and Ruins of Yehiam" Memorial Day and 6th Anniversary of Proclamation of State of Israel There was birth of new nations, some reflecting years of yearning and conflict. Perhaps the most dramatic was the rise of an independent Jewish state - Israel. Iceland 1956 Scott 296 5k dark green, Engraved "Gullfoss" The art of the engraved stamp did not go away in the post-classic period, although it became diminished in volume and importance by the rise of multi-color photogravure and lithographic printed stamps. Yet the engraved stamps produced in the post-classic period are often exquisite, produced by some of the most talented engravers of any era. I've visited the iconic Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland. The stamp captures in hyper-reality what I saw and felt. Spain 1966 Scott 1362 10p bright blue & greenish blue, Engraved "Courtyard of St. Gregorio Valladolid" The secret of an engraved stamp is the closer one looks at the image, the more amazing the stamp becomes. How did all those little detailed engraved lines produce such a three-dimensional stunning result? Turkey 1957 Scott 1258 50c pink, violet, red, & yellow, Lithography 400th Death Anniversary of Fuzuli, Poet Multi-color lithography printing came into its own during the post-classical era. When it is done well (design, color combination), it does produce a remarkable image. True, my heart is drawn foremost to engraved specimens. But who is to deny that this is an absolutely lovely stamp? And consider how far this stamp appears in color, design and format from the Turkish stamps of the classical era? Greece 1959 Scott 659 70l multicolored, Lithography "St. Basil" Another example of multicolored lithography from Greece. It would be much more work (perhaps cost prohibitive?) for an engraved specimen to have this many colors. I think of the many examples of lithography during the classical era that are crudely and poorly done. No one will accuse this stamp of that. El Salvador 1963 Scott C200 5c gray green, indigo, red, & buff; Photogravure "King Vulture"; Birds in Natural Colors Photogravure can be found during the classical era (Bavaria, later Italian sphere), but it came into its own with the ability to print multiple colors. I agree that this "King Vulture" does look like it was printed in natural colors. Also note the topic- Birds. The post classical era was the serious beginning of topical collecting. Nothing wrong with that as long as the topical theme has some relevance to the issuing country. Philippines 1967 Scott C94 70s multicolored; Photogravure "Eruption of Taal Volcano and Refugees"; Sept. 28, 1965 Natural and recent historical events are a pleasure to collect on stamps. Here is a lovely colorful photogravure specimen from the Philippines. Russia 1957 "Sputnik I Circling Globe"; Photogravure Nov. 5 Scott 1992 40k indigo/bluish; Dec. 28 Scott 1993 40k bright blue A discussion of stamp topics prominent in the post classical era would have to include the huge rise in Space stamps, in all their dimensions. I clearly remember as a child going out in the evening to see Sputnik pass by. Here is the original Russian stamp: so popular that another one had to be printed a few months later. Russia 1965 Scott 3023 20k black, blue, red on Aluminum Foil, Lithographed "Globe with trajectories, Satellite, and Astronauts" ; National Cosmonaut's Day By 1965, when this Russian stamp on Aluminum Foil! was printed, space race related stamps were very popular, and served patriotic and propaganda purposes, as well, during the cold war. Nepal 1964 Scott 178 10p red & ultramarine; Lithography "Nepalese Flag and Swords, Olympic Emblem" 18th Olympic Games, Tokyo, Oct. 10-25, 1964 Think about the design of early Nepal stamps, and then think about this "modern" design from Nepal - what a difference! There is no doubt that "modern" entails often a more abstract and possibly spare image. Also, another huge topical theme- the Olympics - is featured. Countries that are involved even a little ( and, yes, countries that are not even involved at all!) now invariably produce a multi-issue set. Sweden 1963 Scott 623 35o lilac rose, Engraved "Wheat Emblem and Stylized Hands" FAO "Freedom from Hunger" Campaign An abstract design, if done well, can be stunning and provocative. This Swedish stamp clearly qualifies. And note the engraver? Czeslaw Slania, from Poland, has over 1000 engraved stamps (1951-2005) to his credit. His work is of such quality and detail that, by itself, would fully justify collecting the post-classicial era! Guatemala 1964 Scott C302 5c deep blue; Engraved "President John F. Kennedy" Finally, we will end with a very nice engraved specimen from Guatemala honoring John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy was probably the first of the "modern" presidents, and his eloquent democratic views influenced the world. We can't come down too hard on any country that felt they were genuinely influenced by his life, and wished to honor him with a stamp issue. BUT, we can't ignore the fact, that, for many countries, the stamp issue was a money maker. And that opened the floodgates... The Trifecta: Princess Diana, Elvis, and Marilyn Monroe Sierra Leone 2006-07 Issues Scott Catalogue I call them "Elvis sightings". I have nothing against Elvis- I loved him as a kid. But when a country issues a stamp for Elvis, or Marilyn Monroe, or Lady Diana (as Sierra Leone does on one page of the Scott catalogue - all three!), and the country has essentially no direct reason to do so, well, I call a halt to collecting that country. Of course there are a myriad of other topics/themes/personalities where the same argument applies. Minkus Supreme Global Stamp Album: "Big Red" Big Red Big Red, the Minkus Global Supreme, is the album I use for my 1840-1940 extras, and for the post classic era 1941-1966+. (Do not confuse with the Minkus Global Master, sold in one volume.) I'm not going to say much here regarding how I came to that choice as the reasons are outlined in... Is the Minkus Supreme the "Goldilocks" Album for WW Collectors? Which Stamp Album is best for WW collectors? An Obsession: Healthy or Unhealthy? Every hobby has an obsession level that can become unhealthy for family relationships, if not properly managed. I worry about that, because stamp collecting, with all the good things about it, is mostly a solitary, somewhat anti-social activity. For the general WW collector, with the hundreds of thousands of stamps of potential interest, it is of particular concern. I've managed to keep an equilibrium collecting 1840-1940 for the most part. If collecting in addition the next 25-30 years becomes too much, I may need to bail. !! The WW collector is also faced with at least thinking about a cutoff date for their collection. Reality is there was a significant increase in overall new issues beginning in the 1960s and accelerating for the next decades. One can get some understanding of the scope of the increase by checking out these links... My own contribution as posted on The Stamp Forum... The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Stamp Output 1980-2012 An analysis on Stamp Community Family Forum.... Charting the Number of New Issues Released Minkus Supreme Global Stamp Album 1962 Advertisement The two volume 76,000 space Minkus Global Supreme was first released in 1954. Amos Advantage has brought back this very edition (Part I 1840-1952), and can now be ordered on thick white paper. Minkus Supreme Global Pages- Part I 1840-1952 And here it is! I have also obtained Part II 1953-1963, and Part III 1964-1966. The attraction for me is to recreate the seminal 1966 Minkus Global Supreme edition housed in three fat volumes, and holding 121,000+ spaces- "More than two-thirds of all stamps ever issued (probably hyperbole)". Scott International WW Album: Big Blues Of course an alternative are the "Big Blues" - Part I 1840-1940, Part II 1940+-1949+, Part III 1949+-1955, Part IV 1956-1959, Part V 1960-63, Part VA 1963-65, Part VI 1965-67 and so forth. Jamaica 1860-1911 in Big Red Part I 1840-1952 For Part I, I fill the 1840-1940 WW (-1952 British Commonwealth) with the extras from feeder albums. My "Deep Blue" (Steiner) pages hold the main classical era collection. Netherlands 1948-1952 in Big Red Part I 1840-1952 I enjoy having a place to put all those stamps of the 1941-1952 period into Part I from the feeder albums and collections. New Zealand 1959-62 in Big Red Part II 1953-1963 But why stop at 1952? The Part II 1953-1963 provides needed spaces. Russia 1957 Issues Big Red Part II 1953-1963 Note the tendency in the Minkus to put lots of stamps on a page. Here is featured the "40th Anniversary of the October Revolution" stamps for Russia. Russia 1957 Issues Big Blue Part IV 1956-59 In comparison, here is a Big Blue page for Russia circa 1957. Philippines 1966 Issues in Big Red Part III 1964-66 Finally the Part III 1964-1966 provides spaces for those years. And noted by the mid-1960s, there is the beginning of the "growth industry" of many issues from some countries. For instance, the fairly prolific (but legitimate) stamps from Russia for 1964-66 takes up 14 double sided pages. Then there are the "Trucial States" @ 39 double-sided pages! Finland 1942 Scott 342 3.50m violet blue, Engraved "17th Century Printer" 300th Anniversary of the printing of the 1st Bible in Finnish Out of the Blue If interest and time allows, I may add an occasional country blog post covering the 1941-1966+ years to the Big Blue lineup. Fun for me, and hopefully fun for you! (Sorry, I'm not planning a Minkus Global Supreme checklist at this time. ) Comments appreciated!
Five 6c FrankliniaIssued: August 23, 1969Scott Catalog #13795 Mint, unused postage stamps with original gum as issued by the Post Office. These stamps are genuine and valid to use as postage for current mailing. Be sure to use enough total postage to meet the current postal rate for the item you are mailing. Also good to use for scrapbooking or displaying in a small picture frame. It's a miniature work of art. About this stamp:Discovered in the wild along Georgia's Altamaha River in 1765 by botanists John and William Bartram, this beautiful landscape tree is considered extinct in the wild. The Bartrams named the plant in honor of their friend Benjamin Franklin. All Franklinias today are descended from those propagated by the Bartrams in their Philadelphia garden.
🥇 🏆 Polish stamps may cost up to 55,000 USD. See the full TOP-10 rating of most rare and most expensive stamps of Poland on FindYourStampsValue.com
Transport yourself back in time with our exquisite collection of vintage stamps from early Norway, spanning from the inception of postage stamps to the early 20th century. Each stamp is a precious relic of Norway's postal history, reflecting the nation's cultural, social, and political landscape during this pivotal period. Carefully curated for their rarity and quality, these stamps are not only visually stunning but also carry a rich historical significance. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a novice enthusiast, these nice used stamps offer a unique opportunity to own a piece of Norway's philatelic heritage. Set1:OskarI £50King Oskar I, 1799-1859 1856Set2:COA_1 £100Coat of Arms - Value Before "SKILL" 1863Set3:COA_2 £751867 -1868 Coat of Arms - Value Before & After "SKILL"Set4:posthorn_1 £50Posthorn - Value in "SKILLING" 1872Set5:OskarII £50King Oskar II, 1829-1907 1878Set6:posthorn_2 £100Set7:posthorn_3 £150Set8:HakonVII £150Håkon VII 1907Set9:Idependence £10The 100th Anniversary of the declaration of independence of Norway 1914
