Category: Stamps

Austria 2014 Ceramic Stamp

This stamp was issued by Austria in 2014 and it is the first official porcelain (ceramic) stamp in the world. The stamp is made of fine porcelain and was created in cooperation with the porcelain manufacturer Augarten in Vienna.  It was not printed but made in an elaborate, specially developed process. The white ceramic base was fired for 24 hours at 960 degrees, then glazed and cured at higher temperatures.  Only then was the “Viennese Rose” design, the country name and the denomination added.  It was then baked at 820 degrees in a further operation to ensure the color fastness. Thank…

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Stamps: Bhutanese playable records

One of the most unusual set of stamps ever issued is this set from Bhutan. It was issued in 1973 and each of the seven stamps is a plastic record that can be played on a phonograph. Each record contains folk songs and folk tales. The stamp denominations are: 9 Ngultrums (Yellow Stamp) 8 Ngultrums (White Stamp) 7 Ngultrums (Black Stamp) 3 Ngulturms (Purple Stamp) 1.25 Ngultrums (Blue Stamp) 10 Chetrums (Red Stamp) 25 Chetrums (Green Stamp) A complete unused set sells for between US$400 and US$600 on Ebay. Record stamps that have been postally used and cancelled on envelopes…

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Stamps: Canada’s War Issue 1942 – 1943

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Canada’s War Issue 1942 – 1943 On July 1 1942, a new series of definitive stamps was issued showing Canada’s contribution to the war effort of the Allied Nations. The Post Office Department issued stamps portraying King George as head of the Armed Forces in naval, military and air force uniforms. Subjects depicting Canada’s munitions, war supplies, shipbuilding, agriculture, her importance as a great air-training centre, and as a source of food were chosen for the pictorial stamps. The low value definitives with George VI in military uniforms were in use until 1949, while the War Issue pictorials were replaced by…

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