Nature Protection

 

Date of Issue : 4 September 2013

The Post of Czech Republic will issue 4 stamps and a miniature sheet on 4th September 2013 on nature Protection featuring Karlštejn National Nature Reserve. The stamps feature a variety of flora fauna found in this area. Another stamp will be issued tomorrow on 700 Years of the Town of Nový Jičín.

Subject of the stamps:

1. Dracocephalum austriacum and Chorthippus vagans - CZK 10
2. Oenanthe oenanthe - CZK 14
3. Polyommatus coridon, Colias crocea and Pulsatilla pratensis - CZK 18
4. Karlštejn castle and Rosa gallica

    

The Karlštejn National Nature Reserve (1,547 ha) was established in 1955. It covers the area between the town of Beroun and the villages of Vráž, Mořina, Karlštejn and Srbsko, within the Český kras (Bohemian Karst) Protected Landscape Area (128 km²) established later in 1972. The prevailing geological profile consists of limestone rocks with jagged karst canyons, ravines and numerous caves. The area was first populated as early as 40 thousand years ago. The thermophilic plants growing in the reserve are typical of the Mediterranean regions. Some local species, such as the pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), the Austrian dragonhead (Dracocephalum austriacum), and rare orchid species, are unique and cannot be found anywhere else in Bohemia. Local animals include numerous rare species, such as over 200 species of carabid beetles; two amphibians, the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and the less frequent Alpine newt (Triturus alpestris); and the endangered wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) as a representative of birds.

 

700 Years of the Town of Nový Jičín

 

Date of Issue : 4 September 2013

Nový Jičín is a district capital in the Moravian-Silesian region. It is located on the Jičínka river. In 1967, Nový Jičín was declared a town conservation area and in 2001, the Historical Town of the Year. Nový Jičín (the first written evidence of the attribute “Nový”, or “New” in English, dates back to 1397) was likely established between 1267 and 1278 below the castle Starý Jičín (“Starý” means “Old” in English) The square-shaped town square and the regular grid of streets show proof that the town was founded by Přemysl Ottokar II, King of Bohemia, as a greenfield project.

 

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Marine Fauna from Polynasia..

 

 

Here are new stamps from Polynasia, Hungary and Azerbaijan which cover the themes , Marine Fauna, Joint issue, culture and Tourism.

Polynasian Marine Fauna

Through this new series of postage stamps on French Polynesia’s “Marine fauna”, the Polynesian Post and Telecommunications Office celebrates the World Oceans Day 2013. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to the Ocean and to raise awareness of the preservation of these underwater marvels.

French Polynesian waters are famous for their abundant and diversified fauna. The magic of Polynesian turquoise lagoons unveils the wonders of the sea realm, full of small often colourful varieties that are fond of coral gardens. In these shallow waters, the clownfish lives in symbiosis with the anemone, surrounded by angelfishes, blue damselfishes, banner fishes or magnificent long snout butterfly fishes. Most of them seldom venture far from the coral reef which is like a shelter for them. In the same habitat, one can find “Tridacna maxima”, a widespread species of clams which is common in Polynesian waters, especially in the Tuamotu archipelago. Their size is usually around twenty centimeters and they can be found in a wide array of shimmering colours. One can also see the starfish, which can be recognised because of its five-pointed star-like shape. It generally feeds on motionless or slow-moving preys. Young turtles then fly across this gorgeous marine setting. In French Polynesia, five turtle species are present and are a matter for special attention.

Hungary – Azerbaijan Joint Issue

DAte of Issue : 15 June 2013

Magyar Posta and Azermarka are presenting the peacock motif often used in the applied folk art of both countries on a joint miniature sheet. Cross stitch embroidery from Transdanubia is featured on a light background on one of the stamps of the miniature sheet, and a detail from a horse blanket from the Caucasus is shown on the other.

The pillow cover made of light hessian embroidered in oblique cross stitch from 1891 is decorated with peacocks, floral patterns and stars. The original of the stamp design is an exceptionally beautiful example from the textile collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Similar motifs were very common in Transdanubia. Peacocks frequently featured in embroidery, mainly in home textiles. Embroidered articles such as pillows and ornamental covers played an important role in special events in family life such as births, marriages and deaths.

The Azeri peacock motif originates from a horse blanket made at the end of the 19^th century. The wool blanket from the Museum of Applied Arts was woven in two pieces and sewn together. The blanket covered a horse’s body and two long straps were tied at the front of the animal’s breast. Horizontal lines of peacocks with other birds and the “S” motif representing life-giving water are a common pattern of south Caucasian woven horse blankets. A richly patterned blanket increased the value of the horse and indicated the owner’s wealth. The horses carrying the bride’s dowry at a wedding were covered with these highly decorative blankets.

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Joint Issue of Slovakia and Korea

 

 

Slovak post Pofis and Korean post have jointly issued a set of two stamps dedicated to the 20^th anniversary of countries’ diplomatic relations and depicting national dance and chant traditions of both countries – Lucnica art ensemble (Slovakia) and Pansori epic chant (Korea).

 

The Lucnica art ensemble is a representative of this cultural heritage. With its activity, artistic craftsmanship and fantasy, inspired by folk tradition, it creates dance and music scenic images with professional art charge while at the same time maintaining the originality of own national culture. During the ensemble’s 65 years of history (first public appearances are dated as far as 1948) more than 2.500 young people, mostly university students, have become its members. Lucnica with its top-class art, beauty, youth and hot temperament has dazzled audience both at home and abroad. A dancing young Slovak couple dressed in a ceremonial folk costume from the Central Slovakia area of Podpolanie represents a motif of the stamp. It is a hand-embroidered folk costume, made by a special technique, so-called “crooked needle”. The folk costumes come from the dance “Zapocinka”.

Pansori is a Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a vocalist and a drummer. This popular tradition, characterized by expressive singing, stylized speech, a repertory of narratives and gesture, embraces both elite and folk culture. During performances lasting up to eight hours, a male or female singer, accompanied by a single drum, improvises on texts that combine rural and erudite literary expressions. The term Pansori is derived from the Korean words pan, meaning “a place where many people gather”, and sori meaning “song”. Pansori originated in south-west Korea in the seventeenth century, probably as a new expression of the narrative songs of shamans.

Since November 7, 2003 Pansori is a part of the world cultural heritage UNESCO as “Masterpiece of the Oral Tradition and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

New stamps on Nature Reserve from Czech Republic

Karlstejn  National Nature Reserve

This is the largest protected karst area in Bohemia. It stretches across an area of almost 16 km on the left bank of the Berounka River from Karlštejn and Mořina to Šanův kout and the valley of the Kačák rivulet near Sedlec. Rocky ravines and the Berounka canyon alternate here with rounded and rocky knolls or places of old karst plains.

Remains of fauna from the former sea have been preserved in the limestone and shale, particularly the well-known trilobites. The karst processes have created a complex of caves. The travertine caves at Saint John Under the Cliff are particularly unusual – although not open to the public, they are archelogically valuable. The reserve also contains abandoned quarries which provide a home to many protected or endangered species of plants and animals. The region belongs among one of the most attractive districts of the surroundings of Prague as well as all of Bohemia.

   

New stamps on Karlstejn  National Nature Reserve will be issued on September 4th in the Czech Republic with above cancellations.

Courtesy : Mr.Slavomil Strnad,Semily, Czech Republic and Wolfgang Beyer, Vice Chairman of the German Philatelic Collector Group ARGE Zoologie.

email : Wolfgang.beyer1@aol.de   Orders from philatelists for this issue are welcome.

Modern Pictorial meter cancellation from Germany

Modern METER featuring a scene of Evolution based on Darwin’s theory .The METER is  from the Zoological Garden of the german town Rostock.

Courtesy : Mrs.Margitta Drohla, Rostock,Germany and Wolfgang Beyer, German Collector Group ARGE ZOOLOGIE. email : Wolfgang.beyer1@aol.de 

My recent cover

Courtesy : Wolfgang Beyer - Germany

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