Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Depicted is an 1895 South Australia stamp. Nothing to write home about, until you take a closer look.
The sun crest above the shield has eyes, and seems to be peeking above a horizon consisting of a chain. But closer examination using a USB microscope reveals the "chain" to be a chain of eels devouring themselves.
Oftentimes tiny details are used in a stamp design as a security against forgery. Not sure that is the intent here or not. The symbolism of the eels is, I presume, tied to that of the day devouring itself in the form of the sun rising and falling -- circling round the globe. Time.
I love to find these hidden details in a stamp. (And note that there are eyebrows to go along with the eyes.) Would enjoy seeing other examples of this if anyone wants to share. Or further explication of the eel symbology. I'm not 100 percent sure they even are eels, but they sure look eelish.
Cheers, Eric
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Q/ Why eels and not, say, snakes?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros
"The ouroboros or oroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail."
Q/ Are eels more common in/around Australia?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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Oh my... the left eye is winking at me lol
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Well you learn something everyday, we do have eels in Australia - just looked it up.
I would have thought they would be snakes unless you can see details that I can not. We have plenty of snakes. Our common brown snake is the most poisonous in world, but we have plenty of other types too.
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Yes, I am more inclined that it is a snake(s), a version of the Ouroboros (from a Greek word meaning "Tail Devouring Snake"). Thanks to ikey Pikey (from the Saskatchewan "I who discern snakes from eels") for the observation.
To be certain we would have to inquire of Maximilian Tannenberg, the designer of the stamp, what his intentions were. Max designed a number of Australian colonies stamps -- story for another day.
Are there other stamps with tail devouring snakes?
E
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"... Are there other stamps with tail devouring snakes? ..."
Dunno, but one place to start is the 1090-snake checklist at
http://www.americantopicalassn.org/checklists.shtml
When you master the subject, be sure to publish your own list!
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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1948 U.S. stamp celebrating the centennial of Ft. Bliss. In the triangular border appears to be a succession of men, horses, wagons, and finally cannons. This is extremely difficult to see without magnification.
I was a bit surprised to see a rocket ship on a 1948 stamp. But then again the concept wasn't new, especially if you count fireworks/skyrockets. And the V1 and V2 at the end of World War II certainly got everyone (especially those in England) tuned in to the technology.
The American Topical Association lists 780 stamps with rockets. I could have posted this in the Topical section I suppose, but I was more interested in keeping to the theme of "too small to see with the naked eye."
Cheers,
Eric
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Fort Bliss is just south of White Sands; both have a long history in the missile business.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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Ningpo,
Kudos on your Ouroboros stamp! And a fitting image as I turn to the television to watch the final instalment of Game of Thrones.
Ouroboros: Symbol of wholeness or infinity.
e
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moving from snakes and eels to rockets....
the references to V1s and V2s is good, but don't forget the Me 263, a rocket-propelled fighter used towards the end of the war. Other rocket-driven fighters were in development, but never flown in anger.
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Ningo,
your dragon has fleas
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11:26:23am
" but don't forget the Me 263"
Small correction, it was the Me163 that was rocket powered. Probably a slip of the finger, or slight confusion with the jet powered Me262.
Here is the Me163:
Purpose: go up and knock down a bomber.
Flight time: about 15 minutes
Climb rate: 10,000 ft/min (32,000 ft. in under 3 minutes)
Number built: about 300
Effectiveness: not very, only credited with 9 Allied aircraft shot down.
Roy
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"The Messerschmitt Me 263 Scholle (plaice)[1] was a rocket-powered fighter aircraft developed from the Me 163 Komet towards the end of World War II. Three prototypes were built but never flown under their own power as the rapidly deteriorating military situation in Germany prevented the completion of the test program."
Clarification from Wiki (other sites describe the same scenario).
Cheers,
Eric
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Roy....I thought the same thing and actually typed out and posted the message but then I deleted it. I had always known the rocket propelled fighter of Germany's days of WW2 as the ME-163 Komet. I thought that I had caught David in a rare error. I Googled just to double check and it appears that the 163 was the precursor to the 263. David is correct; you gotta get up pretty early in the morning to catch that guy. 
EDIT: Ok, I guess I was right. 163 = rocket propelled, 263 = jet
About the Komet, the fuels were so unstable and dangerous more than one pilot was burned alive on the runway during takeoff.
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"EDIT: Ok, I guess I was right. 163 = rocket propelled, 263 = jet"
Actually, from all the information I have seen, the 263 was rocket powered like the 163, and is described as such. Two motor chambers - a primary and secondary, each using a different fuel. And self contained, not needing oxygen from the atmosphere -- therefore not a jet.
An odd and interesting plane indeed. (I got up pretty early this morning.)
Eric
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12:52:19pm
"Me263: Three prototypes were built but never flown under their own power "
In my mind, this hardly counts.
Roy
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twas a slip of the fingers.... i meant the 163; Roy is correct that the 263, based on the 163, never made it into production. good eyes everyone
Me 262 was indeed a jet-powered craft
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i should point out that what started the discussion of the rocket fighters was the fort bliss stamp. Fort Bliss is still operational, home now to the US 1st Armored Division.
But in the same way that rockets seem out of place in 1948, think how much more so in 1938 when prototypes were first shown, or 1942 when they were first flown. Think also that while we were seeing some jet fighters, many air forces were still using bi-planes in variety of roles.
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Speaking of Ft. Bliss, I was stationed at McGregor Range in '67-'68. Worked on Nike Hercules missiles and their launchers for about 9 months. The good ole' days!
Tad
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Depicted is an 1895 South Australia stamp. Nothing to write home about, until you take a closer look.
The sun crest above the shield has eyes, and seems to be peeking above a horizon consisting of a chain. But closer examination using a USB microscope reveals the "chain" to be a chain of eels devouring themselves.
Oftentimes tiny details are used in a stamp design as a security against forgery. Not sure that is the intent here or not. The symbolism of the eels is, I presume, tied to that of the day devouring itself in the form of the sun rising and falling -- circling round the globe. Time.
I love to find these hidden details in a stamp. (And note that there are eyebrows to go along with the eyes.) Would enjoy seeing other examples of this if anyone wants to share. Or further explication of the eel symbology. I'm not 100 percent sure they even are eels, but they sure look eelish.
Cheers, Eric
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Q/ Why eels and not, say, snakes?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros
"The ouroboros or oroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail."
Q/ Are eels more common in/around Australia?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Oh my... the left eye is winking at me lol
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Well you learn something everyday, we do have eels in Australia - just looked it up.
I would have thought they would be snakes unless you can see details that I can not. We have plenty of snakes. Our common brown snake is the most poisonous in world, but we have plenty of other types too.
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Yes, I am more inclined that it is a snake(s), a version of the Ouroboros (from a Greek word meaning "Tail Devouring Snake"). Thanks to ikey Pikey (from the Saskatchewan "I who discern snakes from eels") for the observation.
To be certain we would have to inquire of Maximilian Tannenberg, the designer of the stamp, what his intentions were. Max designed a number of Australian colonies stamps -- story for another day.
Are there other stamps with tail devouring snakes?
E
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
"... Are there other stamps with tail devouring snakes? ..."
Dunno, but one place to start is the 1090-snake checklist at
http://www.americantopicalassn.org/checklists.shtml
When you master the subject, be sure to publish your own list!
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
1948 U.S. stamp celebrating the centennial of Ft. Bliss. In the triangular border appears to be a succession of men, horses, wagons, and finally cannons. This is extremely difficult to see without magnification.
I was a bit surprised to see a rocket ship on a 1948 stamp. But then again the concept wasn't new, especially if you count fireworks/skyrockets. And the V1 and V2 at the end of World War II certainly got everyone (especially those in England) tuned in to the technology.
The American Topical Association lists 780 stamps with rockets. I could have posted this in the Topical section I suppose, but I was more interested in keeping to the theme of "too small to see with the naked eye."
Cheers,
Eric
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Fort Bliss is just south of White Sands; both have a long history in the missile business.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Ningpo,
Kudos on your Ouroboros stamp! And a fitting image as I turn to the television to watch the final instalment of Game of Thrones.
Ouroboros: Symbol of wholeness or infinity.
e
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
moving from snakes and eels to rockets....
the references to V1s and V2s is good, but don't forget the Me 263, a rocket-propelled fighter used towards the end of the war. Other rocket-driven fighters were in development, but never flown in anger.
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Ningo,
your dragon has fleas
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27 Jun 2016
11:26:23am
re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
" but don't forget the Me 263"
Small correction, it was the Me163 that was rocket powered. Probably a slip of the finger, or slight confusion with the jet powered Me262.
Here is the Me163:
Purpose: go up and knock down a bomber.
Flight time: about 15 minutes
Climb rate: 10,000 ft/min (32,000 ft. in under 3 minutes)
Number built: about 300
Effectiveness: not very, only credited with 9 Allied aircraft shot down.
Roy
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
"The Messerschmitt Me 263 Scholle (plaice)[1] was a rocket-powered fighter aircraft developed from the Me 163 Komet towards the end of World War II. Three prototypes were built but never flown under their own power as the rapidly deteriorating military situation in Germany prevented the completion of the test program."
Clarification from Wiki (other sites describe the same scenario).
Cheers,
Eric
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12:07:33pm
re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Roy....I thought the same thing and actually typed out and posted the message but then I deleted it. I had always known the rocket propelled fighter of Germany's days of WW2 as the ME-163 Komet. I thought that I had caught David in a rare error. I Googled just to double check and it appears that the 163 was the precursor to the 263. David is correct; you gotta get up pretty early in the morning to catch that guy.
EDIT: Ok, I guess I was right. 163 = rocket propelled, 263 = jet
About the Komet, the fuels were so unstable and dangerous more than one pilot was burned alive on the runway during takeoff.
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
"EDIT: Ok, I guess I was right. 163 = rocket propelled, 263 = jet"
Actually, from all the information I have seen, the 263 was rocket powered like the 163, and is described as such. Two motor chambers - a primary and secondary, each using a different fuel. And self contained, not needing oxygen from the atmosphere -- therefore not a jet.
An odd and interesting plane indeed. (I got up pretty early this morning.)
Eric
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27 Jun 2016
12:52:19pm
re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
"Me263: Three prototypes were built but never flown under their own power "
In my mind, this hardly counts.
Roy
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
twas a slip of the fingers.... i meant the 163; Roy is correct that the 263, based on the 163, never made it into production. good eyes everyone
Me 262 was indeed a jet-powered craft
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
i should point out that what started the discussion of the rocket fighters was the fort bliss stamp. Fort Bliss is still operational, home now to the US 1st Armored Division.
But in the same way that rockets seem out of place in 1948, think how much more so in 1938 when prototypes were first shown, or 1942 when they were first flown. Think also that while we were seeing some jet fighters, many air forces were still using bi-planes in variety of roles.
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re: Hidden World in a Stamp (Eels?)
Speaking of Ft. Bliss, I was stationed at McGregor Range in '67-'68. Worked on Nike Hercules missiles and their launchers for about 9 months. The good ole' days!
Tad
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