Sunday Stamps II - 150

1954, Madagascar

This is a Uratelornis chimaera, or a long-tailed ground-roller that is only found in a small section of south-western Madagascar only 30-60 km wide and 200 km long. They were considered threatened in 1988 and have been vulnerable since 1994. The forests where it lives are not protected by the Malagasy government and there is widespread slash and burn agriculture as well as logging. This bird has the longest tail of the ground rollers at up to 12" of the bird's 19" length. It has a plump body and short wings and rarely flies, but it apparently can run very fast. Also, the female loses her magnificent tail feathers when nesting.

for the letter M - Madagascar

Sunday Stamps II - 149

2014, Latvia, Lighthouses
designer: Arta Ozola Jaunaraja

This octagonal lighthouse on the Gulf of Riga was built in 1930. It has been painted white with an orange vertical stripe and orange roof. The harbour at Ainazi was bombed by the Germans during the war which meant the loss of the areas fishing industry - and the need for a lighthouse. The village and harbour was rebuilt by the Soviets and the lighthouse restored.

for the letter L - Latvia, Lighthouse

lighthouses

received 2014

Eight very different lighthouses on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina.

Baldhead Island, first lit in 1794, current lighthouse lit in 1817, automated in 1985
Cape Lookout, first lit in 1812, current lighthouse lit in 1859, automated in 1950
Cape Hatteras, first lit in 1803, current lighthouse lit in 1870, automated in 1950
Currituck Reach, lit in 1875, automated in 1939
Ocracoke, first lit in 1798, current lighthouse lit in 1823, automated in 1955
Bodie Island, first lit in 1847, current lighthouse lit in 1872, automated in 1940
Oak Island, first lit in 1849, current lighthouse lit in 1958, automated in 1958
Prices Creek, lit in 1849, never automated

for Postcards for the Weekend - lighthouses

Sunday Stamps II - 148

2000,  Denmark,  commemorative,

Showing the front page of the newspaper Kristeligt Dagsblad (Christian Daily Newspaper) from 5th of May, 1945 commemorating the liberation of Denmark. The man in the photo is Kong Christian X. This stamp was part of the Twentieth Century series issued for the Millennium. The Kristeligt Dagsblad was originally an evangelical newspaper when it was established in 1896, publishing articles on morality and religious and cultural topics, and no sports. King Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 - 1947, and symbolized Denmark's resistance to the German occupiers during WWII. Occupation began in 1940 and after a speech in 1943 against the occupation forces he was imprisoned until the end of the war. He was known as the Riding King as he was often seen riding on horseback through the streets of Copenhagen to show he had not abandoned his claim to sovereignty.  Here you can see a video of him with his horse and his family.

for the letter K - King (Kong, in Danish), Kristeligt, København

Morse Country

received 2014
M Peck

Marian Fielding Peck was a painter who produced over 60 maps of Great Britain for Salmon Postcards until her death in 1974. Oxford is the "sweet city of the dreaming spires".

for Postcards for the Weekend

Sunday Stamps II - 147

1964, Jamaica

Jamaica is the fourth largest island country in the Caribbean. It was claimed for Spain in 1494 by Christopher Columbus, though the Awarak people had been living there since about 4000-1000 BC. The British claimed it for themselves in 1655. Independence was granted in 1962 and their new flag was adopted. It is the only country flag that does not feature any red, white, or blue. The gold saltire represents the natural wealth, and beauty of sunshine. The green triangles are for natural resources and hope; the black triangles for strength and creativity of the people.The original interpretation was that there are hardships (black) but the land is lush (green) and the sun shineth (gold). Jamaica was also the first British colonial territory to establish a postal service, in 1688.

for the letter J - Jamaica

Sunday Stamps II - 146

1947, India International Postage
12 annas

One of three stamps issued by the newly independent Dominion of India. It wouldn't be until December that they were finally released, and the stock of old King George VI stamps would continue to be overprinted until they were finally used up and replaced in 1949. The stamp shows a Douglas DC4 Skymaster flying over the date of independence with the value of 12 annas on the bottom left and Jai Hind (Victory to India) in Devanagari script on the upper left. 

for the letter I - India, Independence, International