CPS Resource CentreEstonia: Struve’s Geodetic Arc Souvenir Sheet
Estonia 2011-05-06 Mini-sheet
Estonian Post has also issued a joined two stamp souvenir sheet marking Struve’s Geodetic Arc on May 6, 2011. The sheet, shown below depicts contains two 0.58 eur stamps. The upper stamp shows an image of Struve, the lower stamp shows the Tartu Observatory. A map of the complete triangulation route is shown in the background. Tabs exist on each side of the two stamps, and the top and bottom. Historical surveying instruments are shown in the side tabs. The background map is shown on both the top and bottom tabs. Corner tabs display the Estonian Post logo mark. The original arc consisted of 258 main triangles and 265 main station points. Thirty-four of the original station points today survive, and three of them are situated in Estonia, one in the Tartu Observatory and two in Simuna in the West-Viru County. Since 2005 the Struve Geodetic Arc is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Latvia: Struve’s Geodetic Arc Souvenir Sheet
Latvia 2011-05-05 Mini-sheet
Latvian Post will issue a souvenir sheet commem-orating Struve’s Geodetic Arc. The May 5, 2011 issue, shown below, contains two single stamps, a 35 and 55 lat denomin-ations. A marker monument is shown in the 35 lat stamp. The center background of the sheet shows a theodolite possibly used for the measurements, and on the left of the sheet is an observation tower. What appears to be a photograph of Struve along with a similar survey instrument is shown on the 55 lat stamp. There are two measurement points in Latvia.
Norway: Amundsen South Pole Centennial Issue Contains Route Map
Norway 2011-04
In April 2011, Norway Post issued a two stamp set commemorating the centennial of Roald Amundsen’s discovery of the South Pole, on December 14, 1911. The second stamp, 17.00 nok, shows Amundsen’s ship the Fram, along with a group of sled dogs. In the background of the stamp, a map of the polar route is slightly visible. The first stamp, 14.00 nok, in the set, shows a portrait of Amundsen, and a photograph of the team at the South Pole. Images of Amundsen’s journal are depicted in the background on the first stamp. There is no map on the first stamp. [ the date of issue is unclear from the Norway Post web site. –web admin ]
Netherlands Antilles: New Countries - New Map Stamps
A final declaration agreement between the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands went into force on October 10, 2010, completing the process of constitutional reform in the Antilles. Curaçao and St Maarten have become autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba will become special municipalities of the Netherlands. The change in autonomy has also been documented in the October 25th, 2010 edition of Linn’s Stamp News, page 2.
Netherlands Antillies : Curaçao, Saint Maarten 2010-10-10
Mark Honig, the Society’s Vice President, who hails from the Netherlands, has sent these images of new stamps issued to mark the new autonomy. Three stamps were issued on October 10,2010, in denominations of 111c and 164c. All three stamps depict maps. The map of Curaçao shows the urban areas of the island in yellow. The map of St. Maarten shows both the French (north) and Dutch (south) zones of the island. Both capitals are shown in red. The final stamp shows the remaining non-autonomous Netherlands Antilles, after the declaration. On January 1, 2011, Curaçao and St. Maarten will begin to use a new currency, probably on a 1 to 1 parity with the present Netherlands Antilles Guilder. We can assume these stamps will change at that time, as these denominations will be incorrect. The small Caribbean Netherlands islands of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius will use the US dollar from Jan 1, 2011. [thanks to Mark for the heads-up and fact checking! — web admin]
Europa 2010 Issues 1: Guernsey
Children’s story books are the theme of the 2010 Europa issues. This year it appears that maps are contained in the stamps of two issuing countries. Originally issued in 1956, the Europa issues are currently issued by each postal authority under the guidance of PostEurop. The first issue that contains a map is this colorful issue from Guernsey Post. The May 4, 2010 issue consists of three adhesive stamps and a Souvenir sheet. The map design is shown in the background of the souvenir sheet. A large part of the map design is contained on the 50 pence stamp. A very small section is also depicted in the upper right corner of the 45 pence stamp. The best view of the map is shown below in on the £2.95 souvenir sheet.
Guernsey 2010-05-04 mini-sheet
To support this year’s Europa theme, Guernsey Post created their own fictional children’s character named Penny the Postie. Designer Keith Robinson, who also designed Guernsey Post’s Alderney Sherlock Holmes stamps, has written and illustrated The Adventures of Penny the Postie, a locally set story that sees Penny embark on an amazing journey. “Having come across a strange old postbox, she soon finds herself on a desert island helping a pirate outwit the mean Captain Bullybones who has stolen his ship. But will Penny be able to get home to Guernsey?”
