Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
09:56:38am
"Iconic Stamps of the World"
I choose to use the Merriam-Webster definition of "iconic" as:
widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence
Obviously, I won't be seeking out the "philatelic gems", or most expensive stamps that philatelists talk about. I am looking for stamps that represent the "best of ..." the country that is in reach of any serious collector and that nearly every collector will immediately recognize.
I'm looking for help in building the list, and would be interested in your contributions.
Here is my fledgling list (pictures to come later when I have more time. But if my list is is actually "iconic", you won't need them ... that's the whole idea.
USA: $1 Trans-mississippi (Cattle in a storm)
Cape of Good Hope: triangles
Canada: Bluenose, $1 Parliament
Great Britain: Penny black, KGV Seahorses, £1 PUC, QEII Castles, first hi-value engraved Machins
Austria: Birds airmails
Brazil: 1st Bulls-eyes issue
Australia: Coat of Arms high values, Navigators high values
British Colonies: Hi-value key plates EVII, KGV, KGVI
Many countries won't have even one set that qualifies as a "stand-out" item. Others will have several.
Your thoughts?
Roy
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I would say for the Netherlands the 1898 and 1913 10 guilders Wilhelmina stamps.
By the way what does PUC mean?
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I’m interested in the history of colonialism in general and have always thought putting together the “last stamp as a colony” and “first as independent” would be not just iconic but a great discussion-generator.
Dave.
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11:01:17am
"By the way what does PUC mean?"
Postal Union Congress
(1929)
Roy
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11:04:03am
"“last stamp as a colony” and “first as independent” would be not just iconic"
Might be an interesting collection in itself, but doesn't fit the definition of widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence.
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Not wishing to be contentious, but for me, neither the Australia Navigators nor Coat of Arms strike me as particularly iconic.
Nice stamps yes, but the Coat of Arms is not that visually distinct from some of the British South Africa Company Arms, on the other hand though, I see the Australian 'Roos as truly iconic.
Another possible addition to your list is the 1948 Silver Wedding omnibus high values.
And of course, for Rhodesia, I can think of nothing more iconic than the double heads.
Clive
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01:55:41pm
"I see the Australian 'Roos as truly iconic"
They crossed my mind, and they certainly qualify for the usual definition of "iconic" in the sense of symbolic or representative, no argument. But for me, they fall short in the "excellence" department. They're ok, but the execution just doesn't stand out.
"nor Coat of Arms strike me as particularly iconic"
But they're so pretty!
"1948 Silver Wedding omnibus high values.
And of course, for Rhodesia, I can think of nothing more iconic than the double heads."
Agreed on both counts!
Roy
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Two French Stamps come to mind:
The 1936 Airmail (France Scott C15) "Banknote" stamp, with its intricate design as well as unusual size comes first to mind. An expensive stamp, I must add, and one of my all time favorite.
"The stunning-looking 50 Fr. airmail stamp shown above (Y&T Aerienne #15, Sc. #C15) was issued on July 10, 1936. The stamp is engraved and perforated 12 1/2 x 13. The sheets were overprinted with a pale red network, giving them a "banknote" appearance.
The design features a Caudron Simoun monoplane, flying above a contemporary view of the City of Paris. These airmail stamps are not only popular with French philatelists, but also with thematic airmail collectors around the World. The stamps are readily available, but due to their popularity, they have become somewhat expensive.
"
The Caudron Simoun was designed in 1934 as a four seat touring plane. The aircraft, which had set long-distance flying records, was later used as a mail plane by Air Bleu (1935-1940) and as a reconnaissance and light transport plane by the French military.
The second is actually a series of stamps, and is possibly more controversial as "iconic", but they are stunning and mark a monumental departure for stamp designs: The series of oversized Paintings reproductions, which began in 1961 with a set of 4 stamps (France Scott 1014-1017). I still remember receiving a letter from France with the stamp affixed to the cover! A real surprise from what I was used too, and over time the series is a great museum walk of famous paintings.
"The French Art Series (also known under the name Musée imaginaire - Imaginary Museum) started in 1961 with a set of four stamps, reproducing the works of Braque, Matisse, Cezanne and R. de la Fresnaye. Using a big format (36.85 x 48 mm) and characterized by an excellent typographic quality (printed for the first time in such a big format in TD6 = taille-douce six couleurs), this series gave the start of a new era in the domain of the reproduction of art on stamps. In over 35 years of existence, all areas were covered, from cavern paintings in Lascaux (SG 1786) and Egyptian Art (SG 2111) to the contemporary artists, who created works to be reproduced on the postage stamps. Now let the stamps speak for themselves and let's enjoy their perfection"
rrr...
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Here is the PUC £1 stamp Roy refers to above, just wish it was mine, though I do have a used copy.
.
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"I’m interested in the history of colonialism in general and have always thought putting together the “last stamp as a colony” and “first as independent” would be not just iconic but a great discussion-generator."
The first stamp of a country (postal entity) and often each significant postal is the focus of the First Issues Collectors Club at www.firstissues.org.
http://www.firstissues.org/index.php
The website has a catalog with over 780 entities and has images of the first issues for each postal administration (colony, occupation, independence, etc). The listings often covers one catalog since not every catalog recognizes or lists these in the same way.
The album (book) "A Stamp for Every Country Stamp Album" by John Knudsen is an example with defined spaces for over 780 stamps. You can purchase a printed version (simplfied, comprehensive). The album was created in AlbumEasy and the source file for this album is on AlbumEasy's website.
Note the FICC 781 entities does not match the 780 spaces.
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Canada OX3
It is gorgeous at least, perhaps also iconic. I don't see them come up for sale that often but they are not that expensive.
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To me this Mexico Scott# 721 is iconic. It is very reasonably priced.
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I think this Greenland Scott# 35 is also iconic.
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The Sudan camel postage stamps are rather iconic, like this Scott# 18
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Though there are several issues around the world, Mahatma Gandhi(Bapuji) stamps of India would be easily identifiable.
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
05 Mar 2022
09:56:38am
I am playing with the idea of building a display collection to be entitled
"Iconic Stamps of the World"
I choose to use the Merriam-Webster definition of "iconic" as:
widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence
Obviously, I won't be seeking out the "philatelic gems", or most expensive stamps that philatelists talk about. I am looking for stamps that represent the "best of ..." the country that is in reach of any serious collector and that nearly every collector will immediately recognize.
I'm looking for help in building the list, and would be interested in your contributions.
Here is my fledgling list (pictures to come later when I have more time. But if my list is is actually "iconic", you won't need them ... that's the whole idea.
USA: $1 Trans-mississippi (Cattle in a storm)
Cape of Good Hope: triangles
Canada: Bluenose, $1 Parliament
Great Britain: Penny black, KGV Seahorses, £1 PUC, QEII Castles, first hi-value engraved Machins
Austria: Birds airmails
Brazil: 1st Bulls-eyes issue
Australia: Coat of Arms high values, Navigators high values
British Colonies: Hi-value key plates EVII, KGV, KGVI
Many countries won't have even one set that qualifies as a "stand-out" item. Others will have several.
Your thoughts?
Roy
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Approvals
re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
I would say for the Netherlands the 1898 and 1913 10 guilders Wilhelmina stamps.
By the way what does PUC mean?
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10:14:59am
re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
I’m interested in the history of colonialism in general and have always thought putting together the “last stamp as a colony” and “first as independent” would be not just iconic but a great discussion-generator.
Dave.
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this post
BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
05 Mar 2022
11:01:17am
re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
"By the way what does PUC mean?"
Postal Union Congress
(1929)
Roy
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
05 Mar 2022
11:04:03am
re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
"“last stamp as a colony” and “first as independent” would be not just iconic"
Might be an interesting collection in itself, but doesn't fit the definition of widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence.
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
Not wishing to be contentious, but for me, neither the Australia Navigators nor Coat of Arms strike me as particularly iconic.
Nice stamps yes, but the Coat of Arms is not that visually distinct from some of the British South Africa Company Arms, on the other hand though, I see the Australian 'Roos as truly iconic.
Another possible addition to your list is the 1948 Silver Wedding omnibus high values.
And of course, for Rhodesia, I can think of nothing more iconic than the double heads.
Clive
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
05 Mar 2022
01:55:41pm
re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
"I see the Australian 'Roos as truly iconic"
They crossed my mind, and they certainly qualify for the usual definition of "iconic" in the sense of symbolic or representative, no argument. But for me, they fall short in the "excellence" department. They're ok, but the execution just doesn't stand out.
"nor Coat of Arms strike me as particularly iconic"
But they're so pretty!
"1948 Silver Wedding omnibus high values.
And of course, for Rhodesia, I can think of nothing more iconic than the double heads."
Agreed on both counts!
Roy
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this post
Approvals
re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
Two French Stamps come to mind:
The 1936 Airmail (France Scott C15) "Banknote" stamp, with its intricate design as well as unusual size comes first to mind. An expensive stamp, I must add, and one of my all time favorite.
"The stunning-looking 50 Fr. airmail stamp shown above (Y&T Aerienne #15, Sc. #C15) was issued on July 10, 1936. The stamp is engraved and perforated 12 1/2 x 13. The sheets were overprinted with a pale red network, giving them a "banknote" appearance.
The design features a Caudron Simoun monoplane, flying above a contemporary view of the City of Paris. These airmail stamps are not only popular with French philatelists, but also with thematic airmail collectors around the World. The stamps are readily available, but due to their popularity, they have become somewhat expensive.
"
The Caudron Simoun was designed in 1934 as a four seat touring plane. The aircraft, which had set long-distance flying records, was later used as a mail plane by Air Bleu (1935-1940) and as a reconnaissance and light transport plane by the French military.
The second is actually a series of stamps, and is possibly more controversial as "iconic", but they are stunning and mark a monumental departure for stamp designs: The series of oversized Paintings reproductions, which began in 1961 with a set of 4 stamps (France Scott 1014-1017). I still remember receiving a letter from France with the stamp affixed to the cover! A real surprise from what I was used too, and over time the series is a great museum walk of famous paintings.
"The French Art Series (also known under the name Musée imaginaire - Imaginary Museum) started in 1961 with a set of four stamps, reproducing the works of Braque, Matisse, Cezanne and R. de la Fresnaye. Using a big format (36.85 x 48 mm) and characterized by an excellent typographic quality (printed for the first time in such a big format in TD6 = taille-douce six couleurs), this series gave the start of a new era in the domain of the reproduction of art on stamps. In over 35 years of existence, all areas were covered, from cavern paintings in Lascaux (SG 1786) and Egyptian Art (SG 2111) to the contemporary artists, who created works to be reproduced on the postage stamps. Now let the stamps speak for themselves and let's enjoy their perfection"
rrr...
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
Here is the PUC £1 stamp Roy refers to above, just wish it was mine, though I do have a used copy.
.
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
"I’m interested in the history of colonialism in general and have always thought putting together the “last stamp as a colony” and “first as independent” would be not just iconic but a great discussion-generator."
The first stamp of a country (postal entity) and often each significant postal is the focus of the First Issues Collectors Club at www.firstissues.org.
http://www.firstissues.org/index.php
The website has a catalog with over 780 entities and has images of the first issues for each postal administration (colony, occupation, independence, etc). The listings often covers one catalog since not every catalog recognizes or lists these in the same way.
The album (book) "A Stamp for Every Country Stamp Album" by John Knudsen is an example with defined spaces for over 780 stamps. You can purchase a printed version (simplfied, comprehensive). The album was created in AlbumEasy and the source file for this album is on AlbumEasy's website.
Note the FICC 781 entities does not match the 780 spaces.
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
Canada OX3
It is gorgeous at least, perhaps also iconic. I don't see them come up for sale that often but they are not that expensive.
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
To me this Mexico Scott# 721 is iconic. It is very reasonably priced.
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
I think this Greenland Scott# 35 is also iconic.
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
The Sudan camel postage stamps are rather iconic, like this Scott# 18
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re: Iconic stamps of the world - help me build a list
Though there are several issues around the world, Mahatma Gandhi(Bapuji) stamps of India would be easily identifiable.
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