Spain salute King Alfonso I

Spain celebrate the 900th anniversary of the coronation of King Alfonso I with the issue of a new stamp on 12th November. The stamp features Jose Bueno’s 7ft sculpture of the Aragonese king which can be found in the Buenavista park in Zaragoza.

Alfonso I was crowned King of Aragon and Navarre in 1104, succeeding his brother Pedro I. He became a great soldier and was known as the Battler, he would then would go onto become regarded as one of the most important Aragonese Monarchs following the kingdom’s territorial expansion during his reign.

King Alfonso I died in 1134 after he was seriously injured during the siege of Fraga which he fought against his stepson Alfonso VII of Castile, bequeathing his kingdom to the Knights Templars and the Hospitallers. This caused uproar among the nobility who insisted that successors to the throne had to originate from the same lineage as the deceased monarch. Alfonso’s brother Ramiro II the Monk, was therefore installed as King of Aragon and Garcia Ramirez the Restorer, as King of Navarre.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 29, 2004

Fiji unveil new issue: Coconut Crab preservation promoted

Post Fiji have released a new stamp in order to raise awareness over the conservation of the coconut crab.

The world’s largest land crab, which can grow upto 35cm in length and 4kg in weight, has been threatened by the demise of the coconut industry and increased tourism in Fiji.

Post Fiji public relations officer Merelita Isimeli said "The crab is locally extinct in many populated areas in Fiji but is common on uninhabited islands and needs protection and conservation."

The $5 stamp was issued on 20th October and is aimed firmly at emphasising the need for the preservation of a creature many urban dwellers have never even seen.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 26, 2004

Broadway legend Moss Hart commemorated on U.S. postage stamp

Award-winning dramatist and director Moss Hart was honored today when the U.S. Postal Service issued a new commemorative postage stamp recognizing his life and accomplishments.

The stamp design features a painting by Tim O'Brien, based on a photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt showing Hart in Times Square. The first-day-of-issue ceremony took place at the Rosenthal Pavilion of the Kimmel Center, New York University, New York, just one day after the 100th anniversary of Hart's birth.

A gifted playwright, Hart wrote a series of sparkling comedies in the 1930s with the noted playwright and director George S. Kaufman. Also a brilliant director, Hart staged one of the most dazzling musicals of his era, My Fair Lady.

USPS.COM
October 25, 2004

Decorate with festive Holiday Ornaments U.S. postage stamps

Happy memories of lights, tinsel and other favorite Christmas-tree decorations are warmly evoked in the upcoming Holiday Ornaments commemorative postage stamps. Each of the four stamps features a richly colored painted glass Santa ornament. The stamps will be issued on Nov. 16.

The ornaments pictured on the stamps were made in Lauscha, Germany, in 1999.

Christmas trees and decorations began as a German tradition and, originally, the decorations were edible treats such as fruits, nuts and cookies. In the mid-19th century, glassblowers in Lauscha began creating colorful molded glass ornaments. Their designs included bells, trumpets, stars, angels and Santas, as well as glass versions of the familiar food decorations. During Queen Victoria's reign, trees with glass ornaments became popular in England, and by the 1890s the glass ornament tradition had spread to the United States.

USPS.COM
October 22, 2004

Kwanzaa featured on this year's holiday U.S. Postage Stamp

The festive mood of Kwanzaa was captured on Sat. Oct. 16 when the new 37-cent First-Class Kwanzaa stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service at the DuSable Museum of African American History, Chicago.

The new self-adhesive stamp is available in a pane of 20 and is a new and different design from the first Kwanzaa stamp that was issued in 1997. Art director Derry Noyes and stamp artist Daniel Minter strove to create a design that appropriately balances formality with a celebratory, festive mood. The seven days of Kwanzaa, and the seven principles they signify, are represented by seven figures in colorful robes.

Kwanzaa is a non-religious African American holiday that takes place over seven days, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. It draws on African traditions and takes its name from the Swahili phrase for "first fruits." Its origins are in harvest celebrations that occurred in ancient and modern times in various places across the African continent.

USPS.COM
October 19, 2004

Olympic winners honored

A new issue celebrating Taiwanese athletes who won medals at the Athens Olympics is to be released on 22nd October.

Female Taekwondo contestant Chen "Lioness’ Roar" Shih-hsin won the first-ever Olympic gold for Taiwan whilst male Taekwondo contestant Chu "Shadowless Feet" Mu-yen won the nation’s second Olympic gold. His teammate Huang Chih-hsiung won a silver medal and in archery, Taiwan won a men’s team silver and a women’s team bronze.

Four stamps will be issued, along with a first day cover and a special commemorative folder.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 18, 2004

Isle of Man Christmas stamps: Holiday issue due in November

Isle of Man Post are set to release their Christmas issue with the theme consisting of Robins – "Winter’s Friends".

Five stamps (25p, 28p, 40p, 47p and 68p), a sheet, presentation pack and first day cover will all be made available on the 9th November.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 17, 2004

Hanukkah Postage Stamp issued today by U.S. Postal Service

A new 37-cent Hanukkah stamp was issued today by the U.S. Postal Service at the Postage Stamp Mega Show in New York City. Art director Ethel Kessler combined two elements in the design of the stamp: the type in the background spelling out Hanukkah, designed by Greg Berger, and a photograph of a dreidel (a four-sided top), made by Elise Moore. The dreidel is from the collection of Rabbi Lennard and Dr. Linda Thal, who purchased it in Jerusalem.

Hanukkah is a joyous yearly festival spanning eight days and nights that is celebrated by Jews around the world. The holiday commemorates the successful Jewish revolt led by Judah Maccabee against the oppressive government of Antiochus IV in 165 B.C.

USPS.COM
October 15, 2004

Reagan to get stamp of approval

Ronald Reagan's image will appear on a commemorative postage stamp to be issued early next year.

The stamp honoring the nation's 40th president will be unveiled Nov. 9 at Reagan's library in Simi Valley, where he was buried in June.

The Postal Service traditionally doesn't honor prominent Americans with a stamp until at least 10 years after their deaths.

U.S. presidents are the exception - they may be honored with a stamp after the first birth anniversary following their death.

The first-day-of-issue stamp dedication ceremony will take place Feb. 9 at the library.

OMAHA.COM
October 12, 2004

Danish birds of prey: new issue due in November

Danish Post are set to release a new issue on 5th November featuring birds of prey. The issue consists of four stamps, a sheet and booklet.

Four species of bird are depicted on the stamps designed by Carl Christian Tofte:

DKK 4.50: Eurasian Kestrel
DKK 5.50: Sparrow Hawk
DKK 6.00: Common Buzzard
DKK 7.00: Marsh Harrier

Booklet DKK 4.50 x10: Eurasian Kestrel.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 09, 2004

Award-winning dramatist and director Moss Hart honored with US Postage Stamp

A witty and charming personality who embodied the glamour of Broadway, award-winning dramatist and director Moss Hart will be honored by the U.S. Postal Service with a new commemorative postage stamp to be issued Oct. 25.

A gifted playwright, Hart wrote a series of sparkling comedies in the 1930s with the noted playwright and director George S. Kaufman. Also a brilliant director, Hart staged one of the most dazzling musicals of his era, My Fair Lady.

The stamp art shows a painting by Tim O'Brien, based on a photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt showing Hart in Times Square.

USPS.COM
October 05, 2004

Holidays series continues: Greenland make Europa contribution

This year's Europa 2004 "Holidays" series of releases will continue on 18th October with Greenland taking their turn to issue a new stamp.

The DKK 6.50 stamp features two Eskimos rubbing noses and the words "Greetings from Greenland". John Rasmussen has designed the stamp and a first day cover will also be available.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 04, 2004

Malaysia unveil new release: Marine Life series set to continue

Malaysia Post issue the sixth instalment in their Marine Life series on 9th October.

The issue consists of three stamps, a sheet, first day cover, presentation pack and miniature sheet.

The designs for the stamps are as follows:

30 sen – Humpback Whale
50 sen – Octopus
RM1.00 – Bottlenose Dolphin

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
October 01, 2004