Maritime Topics On Stamps: 2003 November / December Stamps

Jamaica, three connected stamps 'Maritime History', under sail and with the power of an engine.

Polynesie Francaise, a set with four stamps 'Papeete d'antan', Papeete long time ago. There is one stamp with the fullrigger 'Astrée' in the harbour of Papeete in 1869.

Spain, a single stamp, 'Campeonatos del Mundo de vela Olimpica, ISAF 2003 Cadiz', commemorating the World Championship of Olympic class of sail in Cadiz 2003, organised by ISAF (International Sailing Federation).

Wallis et Futuna, a single stamp with the circumnavigator Alain Gerbault and his 'Firecrest'. On the right side of the stamp we can read that Gerbault was the founder of football at Wallis and that he had made this play popular at the port of Pareo. Have a look to the stamp page about the circumnavigators.

Cuba, a set with five stamps 'Multimodalismo'. Among them this stamp about loading / discharging of a container vessel.

Argentina, one stamp and a souvenir sheet '1903 - 2003 Rescate Expedicion Cientifica Sueca'. This means the rescue of the Swedish expedition, which was busy on the barque 'Antarctic' under the command of Dr. Otto Nordenskjöld (left on the sheet). On the left stamp and right on the sheet the rescue ship ARA 'Uruguay' with her captain Julian Irizar is depicted. On top of the sheet the wintering of the Sweden on Paulet Island is illusrated. A detailed internet page about the expedition and the rescue You find under: http://www.south-pole.com/p0000091.htm

Eire, four stamps and one souvenir sheet 'Irish Mariners'. There are from left Commodore John Barry (this stamp is also the only one on the souvenir sheet), Admiral William Brown, Captain Robert Halpin and Captain Richard Roberts. More information about these men You find under: http://www.irishstamps.ie/

Estonia, two stamps, issued together with the Ukraina with the same topics. The stamps commemorate the great trade way which is glorified in chronicles 'Way from Varangians to Greeks'. At the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th century the way began at Stockholm, passed Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland to the Neva, the Ladoga and Ilmen Lake, then over land and some rivers to the Dnieper and to the Black Sea and Constantinople. You find details under: http://www.post.ee/eestipostmark/ve_2003_281_09.asp?id=101

United Arab Emirates, one set with four stamps 'Dubai 2003', among them this local craft.

Monaco, a small sheet with four stamps honouring Saint Devote. Here the maritime topic: In a boat Devote reached the coast of Monaco. Have a look to the stamp page about fire, as in this legend a boat was set on fire.

Argentina, a double stamp, 'Puente Nuestra Senora del Rosario', the bridge at Rosario with passing ships beneath her.

Sweden, a set with four stamps in a booklet 'Ostindiefararen', East India sailors. The ship 'Götheborg' is depicted, during building, under sails and the figurehead. In the booklet there is also an old chart about the target harbour Canton. The Swedish East-India Company was busy from 1731 to 1813. In June a reproduction of the ship was launched at Göteborg. 2004 she will start her virgin voyage to China. You find some information in English language under: http://www.collectorstarget.com/eastindiaman.html

Estonia, two single stamps. We see left the antarctic discoverer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, right Admiral Adam Johann von Krusenstern. Krusenstern was the leader of the first Russian circumnaviagtion with the ships 'Neva' and 'Nadezhda' from 1803 to 1806. Details about the stamp and the voyage You find under: http://www.post.ee/eestipostmark/ve_2003_276_08.asp?id=101   Bellinghausen was busy as cartograph at Krusenstern's voyage round the world. During 1819 to 1821 on another circumnavigation he was aboard the 'Vostok'. This ship is depicted on the stamp. On this voyage they came close to the Antarctic and discovered many islands. Details about the stamp and Bellinghausen You find under: http://www.post.ee/eestipostmark/ve_2003_280_09.asp?id=101

Mocambique, two souvenir sheets 'O Mundo do Mar', world of the seas. On the first sheet there are six stamps with famous maritime paintings. On the second souvenir sheet there is only one stamp with the same topic of the fullrigger right corner at the bottom of the first sheet.

Nederlandse Antillen, a sheet with 12 stamps about historic ships. From top left to bottom right there are depicted: an Egyptian boat, Odysseus and the Sirenes, a Greek dromon, a fusta, a Venitian cog, the 'Earl of Pembroke', the ship of Toetankhamon, an Egyptian river boat, a painting of Vergil's Aeneas, a Greek merchant vessel, the 'Mora' of the carpet of Bayeux and the 'Savannah' of 1819.

Micronesia and Palau, both a set of four stamps to the century of the death of the American painter James McNeill Whistler (1834 - 1903). He lived at London and at Paris, where he had his own academy. To the left a painting of the port of Valparaiso 1866. On the right painting, named 'Wapping', we see people in a harbour bar, 1861.

France, a souvenir sheet with 10 stamps 'La France A Voir', what do You can see in France. Among them this lighthouse Pointe du Raz.

Guine-Bissau, a souvenir sheet with four stamps 'Os Farois', our lighthouses. Top left: Heceta Head G4486, top right: New London Ledge J0730, bottom left: Sand Island, Lake Superior, bottom right: Brant Point Massachusetts (Source: Stan Butcher).