CPS Resource CentreRevision 6 of the Maps on Stamps Checklist will be available by the end of October 2013. It will include approximately 600 new issues plus the addition of many older issues that had been overlooked and numerous corrections, additions of catalog numbers and other updates. It is expected that the printed version will be about 800 pages. The cost for a hardcopy version of the Checklist will be established after it is complete. At that time all members will be notified through the journal and on the web site. Contact Checklist Editor David Wolfersberger for more information.
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 Belgium 2013-06-24 Fellow map stamp collector Julien writes from Europe to inform us of a very interesting and hidden map on the June 26, 2013 issue from Belgium Post which marks the 100th anniversary of the Belgium Royal Meteorological Institute and their forecasting of the weather. The souvenir sheet shown below contains five stamps. Along the top edge of the sheet are a series of weather condition icons. The foreground of the sheet is covered by a large grassy hill, and in upper center is a single stamp which depicts the institute’s headquarters located in Uccle. On the right side of the sheet is a researcher with a weather balloon and standing near an instrument station. Arranged along the bottom of the sheet are four evenly sized rectangle stamps depicting a tree with green foliage. Around the trees, in the background of each stamp, are weather conditions marking each of the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Julien tells us that the hidden map can be found in the shape of the trees represent the outline of Belgium, rotated slightly counter-clockwise. However, there is another interesting point about this sheet. When you press your finger on each of the trees, or when the temperature is more than 77F (25C) the foliage of the trees will be transformed to a seasonal color and each tree will have a series of small images representing a common daily forecasts for each season visible in the leaves. This is shown in the image below. [ Thanks Julien for alerting us to this very important cartophilatelic issue! We know of one other map sheet from Iceland (sc1162) issued in 2009 for the International Polar Year which has a similar heat triggered coating, does anyone know of any others? — web admin ]  Detail of Belgium 2013-06-24 with temperature above 77F (25C)
Cartophilatelic Society president Mark Honig informs us of finding some previously unknown map stamps. First up is the 170fr August 26, 1991 issue from New Caledonia for the French Institute of Scientific Research (sc651). A number of research themes are depicted on this very colorful stamp. In the center is a stereo or dissecting microscope and on the stage of the microscope is a map of New Caledonia. Definitely a hidden map! The next newly discovered map stamp also comes from New Caledonia. The 130fr airmail issue of July 20, 1996 marks the Indonesian Centenary (scC275). The stamp depicts a man and woman dressed in traditional Indonesian attire. Behind the couple is a tree. In the branches and leaves of the tree, the islands of the Indonesian Archipelago can be seen. A very interesting and uniquely designed map stamp. From the South Pacific we move to North Asia. Here, the first newly discovered map stamp is from the June 1, 2000 “Stampin’ the Future” children’s stamp design issue (sc3031). The 60f denomination stamp features an image of a young girl in front of a computer screen which depicts a map of China and Taiwan and a “bridge being constructed” across the South China Sea between China and Taiwan. The next discovery is from South Korea (sc1516), with the 80w October 8, 1988 issue marking the 22nd Congress of The International Iron and Steel Institute, that we assume was held in Seoul about that time. This thematic stamp depicts a large foundry ladle in a steel mill pouring out molten metal. A world map with a very interesting looking projection is shown on the side of the ladle. For our final discovery we move to the Netherlands and a personal note from Mark regarding the next newly discovered map stamp. Mark writes, when I was browsing ebay for map stamps I noticed this stamp with what looks like a small map. I immediately knew I must have this stamp because it is a stamp from my own country. I pulled my album and I scanned for the stamp. This stamp has been issued, as part of a set of 4, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the liberation for the Netherlands from nazi-Germany in 1945. The detail shown in the map is part of a newspaper, “The Flying Dutchman,” air-dropped by the Allied Air Forces, and shows the Russian front advancing from Tarnopol to Cherzon. After a bit of searching I found the map was shown on the cover of the March 16, 1944 issue. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that this stamp has been in my album for 28 years without me noticing it as a map stamp. The stamp (and set) are not expensive. The stamp has also been issued as a coil stamp. These coil stamps can be recognized by the cut perforations along the top and bottom. Mint coils have a number on the back of every 5th stamp. Perhaps now is the time to check your own collections for more hidden map stamps, you never know what may be hiding there. Please let us know what you find!
Did you know you can receive an email message automatically whenever new content is updated to the web site? Signing up for this service is easy. Below the menu bar, in the upper right hand corner of the web page, are two small icons, one for “By RSS” and the other for “By Email.” When you press the “By Email” letter icon, a new screen will appear with a dialog box for you to enter your email address and then complete a security “captcha” test, by correctly entering the distorted characters that are shown in the image. After you complete the “captcha” test the system will send you a confirmation email. You need to respond to that email by clicking the link contained in the email. When you do that, the system will then send you an email when new content is added. Please contact us if there are any problems in using this function.  Iceland 2013-09-12 On September 12, 2013 Iceland Post issued a new stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of the emergence of the volcanic island Surtsey. The stamp does not outwardly show a denomination, but the face value of a single stamp is ISK 565 (approx USD 4.70) appears to be valid for domestic service up to 1500 grams. The stamp is issued in sheets of ten, with two rows containing five stamps. Having a fascinating history, Surtsey island emerged from the ocean on November 14, 1963 in a volcanic eruption that continued until June 1967. At its largest the area of the island was about three sq.km., however it has been eroded by ocean waves and is now only about half of its initial size. A diverse amount of vegetation can be found on the island which now resembles its neighboring islands. The island is a model site for biocolonisation research. The island is rich in bird life with fulmars, black guillemot, gulls, puffins and other bird species. In 2008, Surtsey island was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On September 22, 2013, the USPS is planning to issue a souvenir sheet with a re-designed Jenny Invert to commorate the opening of the Smithsonian’sNational Postal Museum opening of the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery — the world’s largest stamp gallery. This souvenir sheet features a new version of the most famous error in the history of U.S. stamps: the Inverted Jenny, a 1918 misprint that mistakenly showed a biplane flying upside down. Reprinted with a $2 denomination to make them easily distinguishable from the 24-cent originals, the Inverted Jennys on this sheet commemorate the many ways a single stamp can turn a moment in history upside down. The original engraved dies to produce the 1918 Inverted Jenny are being used in the design to produce the new stamps. In current press-release images, “the right side of the souvenir sheet shows a map of the northeastern United States that focuses on the route of the first regularly scheduled Air Mail service in May 1918. A compass rose, a common element on maps and nautical charts, appears in the lower right corner.” |
The CartoPhilatelic Society is proudly affiliated with the American Philatelic Society and the American Topical Association. Visit there web sites and learn about their activities.
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