vintage and contemporary postcards and stamps from around the world


28 January 2018

Sunday Stamps II - 163

1981, Ciskei

Under Apartheid, Ciskei was designated as one of the 'homelands' for the Xhosa speaking people of South Africa. The Maxronyx capensis, or Cape longclaw, is found in coastal and mountain grasslands of Southern Africa and can often be found standing on top of stones or clumps of grass. This stamp shows a male with his bright orange throat and yellow underparts.

for the letter Y - yellow


21 January 2018

Sunday Stamps II - 162

1968, Australia, Olympics

112 countries participated in 18 sports at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City from October 12-27, 1968. This stamp features the Mexican flag on the right and an Aztec calendar stone on the left. As an extra X, the first Aztec calendar was called the Xiuhpohualli, the counting of years (18 months of 20 days, plus 5 'unlucky' days when disasters may happen). There is also a second calendar on the stone for the days - each week had 13 days. It was carved from solidified lava in the 15th C, but somehow was lost for 300 years, later found buried in the central square of Mexico City.

for the letter X - Mexico, Xiuhpohualli

20 January 2018

Wacker Drive

1920s
Chicago

Wacker Drive runs along the south side of the main branch (and east side of the south branch) of the Chicago River in the downtown area of Chicago called the Loop. It's a double decker road with the upper level for local traffic and the lower level for through traffic and service trucks. It was named for businessman and city planner Charles Whacker.

14 January 2018

Sunday Stamps II - 161


1996, Canada

For International Stamp Week, this set of stamps on the 30th anniversary of Disney's first appearance of Winnie the Pooh was issued. 



Walt Disney acquired the rights in 1961 and Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree came out in 1966 (voiced by Sterling Holloway). 




Originally from White River in northern Ontario, Winnie was named after Lt Colebourne's hometown of Winnipeg.









for the letter W - 
Winnie-the-Pooh, White River, Walt Disney

12 January 2018

Pieck

Anton Pieck, 1895-1987

Anton Pieck was an illustrator and painter known for his nostalgic fairy tale depictions of city and winter scenes in Holland.

07 January 2018

Sunday Stamps II - 160

1984, Viet Nam

Hon Am, an UNESCO site at Ha Long Bay

for the letter V - Viet Nam