The Comoros is a sovereign archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel off the eastern coast of Africa between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar.

Three main islands and numerous islets in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagascar make up the Comoros Islands.

They issued these stamps on November 25, 1976 for the 25th Anniversary of U.N. Postal Services and feature the Concorde, airship Graf Zeppelin and U.N. ICAO stamp.

First, the lithographed, perforated stamp.

And finally, the lithographed, imperforate.

Read about the exotic Comoros by clicking either stamp.

Liberia is on the west coast of Africa between the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone.

It's capital, Monrovia.

The first stamps issued in 1860.

From my collection, Scott #747 was issued June 4, 1976, the 100th anniversary of the first telephone, and features the Universal Postal Union emblem, the Wright Brothers plane, the Concorde supersonic jet and Graf Zeppelin D-LZ129.

D-LZ129

Alexander Graham bell made his first telephone call on March 10, 1876.

Liberia is a friend that wants the world to always remember that historic day, in addition to our planet's other great achievements.

Nicaragua is a republic in Central America located between Honduras and Costa Rica.

Nice topical stamps come from this scenic country.

Here's a souvenir sheet issued October 31, 1977 commemorating the 75th anniversay of the Zeppelin.

Scott #C925 illustrates the Zeppelin with lead lines extended.

Again, looks like LZ127.

On December 22, 1976, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics issued this stamp.

Scott #4536 20kopec features the Russian icebreaker, "Krassin".

 And a Zeppelin in the upper left hand corner.

The Zeppelin looks like LZ127

The "Krassin" is one from a set of five different icebreakers.

A retrospective history of the Zeppelin was portrayed on the People's Republic of Congo stamps, issued August 5, 1977.

This very beautiful country has produced many topical stamps for collectors to assist it's economy, it's medical, and it's agricultural services.

Here is Scott #408, “Schwaben” LZ 10, 1911

Scott #409, Viktoria Luise LZ11, named after the Kaiser's daughter, 1913

Scott #410, LZ120

Scott #411, LZ127

Scott #412, "Graf Zeppelin"

Souvenir Sheet LZ127

The principal food crops of the People's Republic of Congo, produced primarily for family consumption, are manioc, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, millet, corn, rice, plantains, and various vegetables.

The Federation of Mali is in West Africa.

It was founded on January 17, 1959, consisted of the Republic of Senegal and the French Sudan, and broke up in June of 1960. Capital Damar and Bamako.

In my series on modern Zeppelin issues, let's look at these engraved stamps, issued May 30, 1977.

Scott #305 Zeppelin 120 fr No. 1, 1900

130fr, Graf Zeppelin, 1924 Scott #306

350fr Hindenburg aflame at Lakehurst, NJ, May 6, 1937, Scott #307

500fr, Ferdinand von Zeppelin and Graf Zeppelin, Scott #308

Transkei, in the South African language Xhosa, means "the area beyond the river (kei).

This beautiful country is in the southeastern region of South Africa, part of the Eastern Cape province, it's capital Umtata, now Mthatha.

Kaiser Daliwonga Mathanzima (15 June 1915 – 15 June 2003) was the nephew of Nelson Mandela.

Stamps were issued February 20, 1979, the day of his inauguration as President, to honor him.

This strip of five was produced from plate numbers 288 and 289. They are Scott #56.

This strip of five was produced from plate numbers 290 and 291. Scott Catalog #57.

K.D. was great man who cared for, and believed in, the welfare of his people.

Issued the year before K.D.'s inauguration, on Novemebr 30, 1978 stamps were issued recognizing the need for the care of the physically challenged.

Leg Brace on a child, Scott #41

A man in a wheelchair, Scott #42

Nurse examining child, Scott #43

These are the stamps of a peace-loving, beautiful nation.

Troyes is the capital of Aube in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river.

This mint block of four stamps, from my collection, is a 16th century stained glass window in the Church of Sainte Madeleine, Troyes. 

Issued in 1967, Scott Catalog #1175 is Saint Eloi, the Goldsmith, at Work.

Created in the 16th century, this is the actual stained glass, a bit blurry and hazy, from the photographic exposure.

This colorful engraved stamp's perforations are 13x12mm.

Now 50 years old, it is still common, and beautiful. 

The Republic of South Maluku, also known as the Republic of the South Moluccas, was founded as a self-proclaimed republic in the Maluku Islands on April 25, 1960.

It's north of Australia in the Indonesian archipelago consisting of over 15,000 islands.

It was an exiled government, it's stamps considerd bogus and never recognized by postal authorities.

The stamp catalogs of the world do not recognize the stamps of Maluku Selatan as valid for postage, nor as postage stamps, as they were privately issued by the exiled leaders with hopes of recognition by the Universal Postal Union.

The stamps were believed to have been sold by the exiled government in the Netherlands.

The purpose of the issues was to announce the archipelago and flag of the Republic of South Moluccas, address the concern of this exile government, and gather world-wide support from organizations such as the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the United Nations (UN).

General Douglas MacArthur was honored in an attempt to obtain his recognition and defense.

It's believed that these stamps, from a decades-old album page in my collection, were issued in 1952.

At one time, the Maluku Islands were the only place in the world that grew clove and nutmeg.

Becoming scarce, they're the stamps of a nation still in exile this very day.

Grace Kelly will be much loved by this country of ours and the nations of the world forever.

She retired from acting in the United States at the age of 26 to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Grace became the Princess of Monaco.

Princess Grace was devoted to the promotion of human welfare and to social reforms.

She joined the world-wide effort to fund research for multiple sclerosis.

I want to share images of my first day cover from Princess Grace with you.

On June 6, 1962 in Monaco, the Sun, Flowers and Hope Chest stamp was issued to publicize the work of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of New York.

The first day of issue cancellation, Jour d'Emission, is to the left of the Monacan circular date stamp tied to Scott catalog #506.

The cachet features the microscope of research circling the world and one who requires care.

Princess Grace included this letter.

On September 13, 1982, Princess Grace had a stroke while driving and lost control of her car.

She died September 14, 1982. I will always remember that very sad day.

A bank draft from Bainbridge, New York.

Revenue Stamped Paper was used to collect taxes on documents.

Scott #RN- X7. First National Bank 1899.

Black & red, gray safety engraved on beige.

Printed by Benj. D. Benson & Son, Stationers, 49 John St., N.Y.

Payable at Chase National Bank, New York with the New York state seal.

Type X imprints were printed by 28 companies licensed by the government. They appear most often on checks, drafts, bills of exchange and certificates of deposit, as well as on time drafts, promissory notes, money orders, telegrams, cablegrams, parlor car tickets and express receipts for cans of milk.

A used, very fine example of revenue stamped paper from my collection.

Finland issued this stamp 61 years ago. It was issued to publicize the Finlandia Philatelic Exhibition held in Helsinki from July 7 through July 15, 1956.

Finnish stamps were first issued in 1856 under the Russian Empire. The Russian Coat of Arms illustration appeared on the first stamps.

Scott #341.

Censored mail came and went during the first world war.

Before the mail could cross the lines in 1918 a censor had to proof read it before it was placed in the outgoing mail bag.

The American Red Cross played a vital role in winning the 1st World War.

And the Christmas Stamps of 1918 encouraged warring nations to start saving lives rather than destroy them with military campaigns.

The American Red Cross letters of December 12, 1918 and January 2, 1919 remind us of the tragedy of war.

The Statue of Liberty bears the torch and shield with the salutations "Christmas Greetings", "Happy New Year" 1918.

Here are some scarce examples from my collection:

I'm not exactly certain, but I think the M.R.E.S. in the circular date stamp may be an abbreviation for "Medical Rescue and Emergency Services.

January 2, 1919

And finally, the censor's stamp of approval before the mail goes out.

Here's some advanced stamp collecting for you.

Mongolia and the Space Program in 1963.

The greatest dog that ever flew in a rocket, Laika, was memorialized on these great examples from the beginning of the space race.

The Russian Orbital Rocket is rendered in a way that reflects the events of that time as no other illustration can.

Behold !

And the block of four.

And the cancellation.

The Scott Catalog 2009 listing for Scott #319.

The world knows of the beauty, and the horrors, of Afghanistan.

A nation where war appears to be incessant.

Afghanistan was listed in 2002 as one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be born a woman. Half a million die annually in childbirth. 

On December 10th, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at the Palais De Chaillot, Paris.

It represents the first global expression of the rights to which all human beings are entitled.

Afghanistan commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration with two new stamps and first day of issue covers in a ceremony held in Kaboul, Afghanistan on December 10, 1958.

Here they are, from my collection:

The circular dated handstamp, which ties Scott #466, the 50p lilac rose Globe and Torch, to the cover, originated in Kaboul.

The cachet represents more today than ever.

The second cover includes the second stamp issued by the Afghanistan Postal Authority.

Scott #467 100p maroon, Globe and Torch, also tied to the Kaboul first day of issue circular dated handstamp.

The Kaboul cancel on the 100p.

Afghanistan will become a beautiful, peaceful nation once more if her citizens and leaders will remember this day.

Czechoslovakia originally issued this gallant souvenir sheet, designed by Professor Karl Seizinger, known as the Bratislava Philatelic Exhibition Issue, on October 24, 1937 without the coat of arms at the top or the inscription about the New York World's Fair at the bottom.

The coat of arms and inscription about the World's Fair were both printed specifically for the fair.

These resplendent stamps show a view of Poprad Lake (50h) and the tomb of General Milan Stefanik 1939, (1k).

This issue was overprinted with the Czechoslovak View of Cathedral of arms and “Czecho-Slovak Participation New Opening of the Slovakian Parliament. New York World’s Fair 1940, Czecho-Slovak Pavilion” and privately produced to finance Czechoslovakian participation in the exhibition.

The 1938, June 24 overprint exists in black, green, red, blue, gold, deep green and silver.

The overprinted souvenir sheet, Scott #239, is scarce today.

Today, let's all remember one of the best friends I've ever had.

John "Bad Dog" McCormack

"Bad Dog" died on March 10, 2011 and was buried on this day, March 14th, in Memphis.

I miss you, pal, and always will !

 David & Bad Dog

The Universal Postal Union, the U.P.U., was established in 1874.

It's headquarters in Bern, Switzerland.

A specialized agency of the United Nations, it sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to create growth in mail, parcel and finance improving the quality of service for customers throughout the world.

The beautiful island of Barbuda honored the U.P.U. with a souvenir sheet for stamp collectors in 1974, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Universal Postal Union.

Featured on this great collectible are Scott #'s 167, a ship's letter from Barbuda, #168, the first Barbuda postage stamps, and #169, mail transportation by air.

The souvenir sheet includes a fine illustration of the aircraft and the ship.

And the flag of the Universal Postal Union.

Barbuda is an island paradise in the eastern Caribbean.

It is north of Antigua in the middle of the Leeward Islands.

Grenada is a beautiful island country in the Lesser Antilles to the northeast of Venezuela in the Carribean Sea.

For the bicentennial year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 1976, Grenada honored the United States with a set of souvenir sheets for stamp collectors in 1975.

Issued May 6, 1975, Scott #'s C29, C30 and C31- Hancock, Franklin and Adams.

Another souvenir sheet was released with Marquis de Lafayette, a $1 denomination.

Thanks Grenada, for being our friends.

The USS Hobson (DD-464/DMS-26), was a Gleaves-class destroyer.

From my collection, here is the historic cover and cachet commemorating the day of the Hobson's launch from the United States Navy Yard in Charleston, South Carolina, September 8, 1941.

The stamp, Scott #805, the one and a half cent Martha Washington issue of 1938, is tied to the official Navy Yard Station seven bar horizontal machine cancellation. 

The cachet is a fine illustrated representation of this deadly war machine.

The circular date stamp tied to the cachet represents the actual day of the launch, September 8, 1941.

D F Griffin served as the official illustrator/cachet maker for the Navy and the Hobson launch.

Sadly, on April 26 1952, in the North Atlantic, the USS Hobson collided with the USS WASP.

The WASP surface radar failed and the aircraft carrier slammed into the Hudson and ripped it in half.

The Hobson sunk and 176 of her crew were lost with the ship.  

There are seven varieties of the stamps below.

They were printed by the National Bank Note Compnay, the American Bank Note Company and the Continental Bank Note Company between 1870 and 1881.

The difference between a philatelist and a stamp collector is this:

The philatelist can tell you which stamp is worth five dollars and which stamp is worth fifty thousand dollars.

A stamp collector cannot.

A stamp collector is a person who collects stamps.

A philatelist studies stamps, the history of stamps, the design of stamps and all things concerned with stamps and their production.

1. Printing of stamps

2. Variations of stamps, for example: Air Mail, special delivery, postage due, revenue, commemorative, definitive, etc.

3. Formats of stamps such as: Sheets of stamps, coils, imperforate stamps, plate blocks, miniature sheets

4. First Day Covers

5. Topical stamps such as birds on stamps, space stamps, floral stamps etc.

6. Errors on stamps, Inverted stamps

7. Postal marks and cancellations

8. Pre-cancels on stamps

9. Counterfeiting of stamps, forgeries and fakes designed to fool collectors

10. Design of Stamps

11. History of Stamps

12. Expertising

That's the difference between a stamp collector and a philatelist,

L. N. Williams, in his fantastic book Fundamentals of Philately, defines a philatelist as:

    "one of a class interested in every facet of the production, issue, and use of stamps."

That's me.

Charles H. Mekeel, born in St.Louis, Missouri, was one of America’s greatest stamp dealers and editors.

He became a dealer in 1877 and continued for the rest of his life. His editing began in 1881 with The Stamp Collectors’ Bureau (later called The Collectors’ Bureau).

His most famous publication was Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News, begun in January 1891 through 1897.

He sold it to his brother Isaac in 1897 and it remained one of the nation’s leading weekly stamp publication well into the twentieth century.

Along with his photo, I've included one his business envelopes from my collection.

Charles Haviland MeKeel

The cover was sent to W.F. Hardy, Jr., the son of the very prominent Missouri painter William Franklin Hardy, Sr.

W.F. Hardy, Sr. was a landscape painter and painted many subject canvasses which he presented to institutions and organizations.  

Here is one of Mr.Hardy's paintings.

Landscape painting by William Franklin Hardy, Senior  (1854-1935)

The cover reverse side has a nice Clayton, Missouri "received" circular date stamp, arriving the same day it was sent.

The carmine two cent Washington stamp, Scott #332, is tied to the June 30, 1911 Pine Lawn machine cancel, Doane Type  4Aa  4-Bar  cancel, 14mm  
from the top to the bottom of the bars, and circular date stamp.

Charles H. MeKeel was admitted to the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1972.

This airmail cover is scarce.

It ties the 2 cent King George the Fifth, Scott #196, and the 1933 Canadian surcharged overprint, Scott #C2 now #C4, to a nice February 11, 1933 London, Ontario circular date stamp.

This sought-after airmail cover arrived the same day at it's destination, Detroit. Michigan, evidenced by the red Detroit circular date stamp.

From my collection, the official "First Day Of Issue" New York World's Fair, issued April 1, 1939.

The stamp is perf. 10.5x11, Scott #853 design A312, 3c deep purple addressed to the Rainbow Cover Service in Edmond, Oklahoma.

The circular date stamp and machine cancellation indicate that this futuristic first day cover laft New York City on April the 1st, 1939 at 9 AM in the morning.

The Trylon and Perisphere cachet, symbols of the World's Fair, are great signs of amazing things to come.

The Trylon, a 700-foot-tall spire, was connected to the Perisphere – a sphere with a diameter of 180 feet. These images, issued on U.S. Scott #853 on April 1, 1939, were open to the public at the Grand Opening held April 30. 

The Perisphere housed the “world of tomorrow” model city that could be seen by visitors on a moving walkway.

Lots of stamps were printed, but not many first day covers like this one.

Quantity Stamps Issued: 101,699,550
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press

Angra is an administrative district located in the Azores islands, situated about one-third of the distance between Europe and North America. It served as a key destination for explorers and travelers during the golden age of sailing ships.

The official name is Angra do Heroísmo, "Angra the Heroic" in honor of it's citizen's successful defense of the island in 1829.

The Scott catalog lists only the two series of stamps from 1892 through 1905, both series of issued stamps bearing the likeness of King Carlos of Portugal.

Here are few of the early stamps from my collection:

Scott #'s 1, 2, 3 & 4 issued in 1892

 Issued in 1893, Scott #'s 7 (1892) & 10 (1893)

You're beautiful when you're Angra :-)

Charles Lindbergh made his way to St.Louis, Missouri June 18, 1927 for the first day of issue ceremonies celebrating a new airmal stamp commemorating his historic flight from New York to Paris May 20-21, 1927.

From my collection, covers, flown by Lindy, with the Lindbergh stamp, Scott# C10, official ceremony cachets, and circular date stamps, both Saint Louis and Chicago (on reverse).

Once again, the wavy Chicago wavy machine cancellation is of the Columbia Postal Supply Company of Silver Creek, New York.

Note the cover was flown from Saint Louis and delivered in Chicago the same day, nine hours from the first midnight cancel in St.Louis to the 9pm arrival circular date cancellation in Chicago.

Whose cancellation machine is it ?

The answer would be the Columbia Postal Supply Company of Silver Creek, New York !

Don't cry if you missed it.

Here's the U.S.S. Patterson, a deadly killing machine on the water, in 1939.

Looks like wartime.

From its incorporation to the Russian Empire in 1806, to its briefly obtained independence in 1918, which it lost to the Soviet Union in 1920, Azerbaijan re-acquired independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Here are a few of the earliest stamps of Azerbaijan.

They were included in a small packet mixture envelope, perhaps sent as an approval to a collector in the early part of the 20th century.

Represented top row above, issued in 1919, from left to right, are Scott #'s62 & 79.

Bottom row, left to right, issued in 1922, are Scott #'s21 & 29.

Mud Island is a Memphis gateway to great entertainment on the Mighty Mississippi.

It officially opened on Juy 3rd, 1982. I was there.

Here's a philatelic souvenir.

A pair of stamps, Scott #'s1319 "Great River Road", featuring maps of the Mississippi River, are nicely cancelled with a Memphis first day of issue circular date stamp with the river running through it.

The stamps were issued in 1966 to publicize the 5,600 mile Great River Road, which is an undivided highway through the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Ontario, Canada.

The 10 cent, Scott #1592, "People's Right to Petition for Redress" stamp is attached, to the cover to the right of the river pair, and cancelled by the river cancellation running through it.

It was a fine day in Memphis !

I had dreams about Mud Island when I was a little boy, perhaps from the stories by Mark Twain and other great writers.

Elvis would be thrilled if he could see the great new complex opening today for all of his fans at Graceland.

Elvis Presley's Memphis.

In honor of this great day, here's the famous first day cover that you could only get if you were at Graceland the day of the stamp ceremony, January 8th, 1993, the official "I Was There" cover.

There were only 5000 printed by Graceland.

Authorized by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., the United States Postal Service and printed by The River Group, they're now very rare.

I'm very proud to have the "I Was There" first day cover in my collection.

Congratulations Priscilla Presley, Jack Soden, George Klein,  Joel Weinshanker, and all of my friends at Graceland !

To my friends throughout the world, please come to Memphis and visit Graceland.

Elvis, you'll be in our hearts forever !

These beautiful stamps were issued by the British Post Office, the Royal Mail, on June 30, 1976.

They mark the Centenary of the Royal National Rose Society, founded December 7, 1876.

The Queen, HM Elizabeth, is the Society patron.