Introduction
Organized by country, and then by theme, each page we offer is a visual gallery with a certain theme. We hope you enjoy the images.
The First Belgium Airmail Stamp
The small single engine mono-plane ascends over the city of Oostende (or Ostende in French.). A gentle bank to the left, and the airmail flight is in progress. This is a wonderful example of a first national Airmail stamp. Combining the plane in flight with the view of the good city from the air. Quite an effective design.
Czechoslovakia: Transport Over Prague, 1946-47
This is an excellent engraved design. The 4 engine transport departs Prague with mail and passengers destined for New York City.
While the image takes some liberties, the plane at such a low altitude, it shows the best: a powerful transport aircraft over a a scene from the Czech capital of Prague. The bridge is the Chares Bridge.
As an aside, the 24 Kcs stamp has been cancelled in New York. Perhaps the air letter arrived uncancelled from Czechoslovakia?
Mythical Symbols on French
Airmail Stamps
Part of the appeal of French airmail stamps comes from a combination of their symbolism and the qualities of their engraving.
Common to all these designs are the dominant mythical images. The ever-present transport plane in flight is subjugated to the background, and details of it are limited.
As a contrast, consider the US airmail stamp of the same era.
Many technical details of the aircraft are clear, and it not only dominates the design, it rather is the design. It is, however an effective design, with high standards of engraving.
Your comments on this page are welcome!
Jet Planes
This stamp illustrates the Mystere IV a pair of which are in a steep climb to high altitude. This fine engraved airmail stamp relies on the image of the French military aircraft to communicate power in the air.
This stamp issued on June 12, 1965 shows a commercial/business aircraft in level flight. The engraved image of the Mystere 20 is central to the design.
Flights Over Landmarks: Series of 1958
Lundy: Air Transportation
Is this a country?
Are these stamps?
Lundy is a small island off the south-west coast of England. At times, stamps have been issued, but their postal status is questionable.
The designs are clear, air transport related, and even topically related to The Isle of Lundy in the case of the 2 Puffin stamp.
The designs are interesting in any case.
Romania: The Solar System
The topic of this Airmail stamp series is an Astronomical topic: the Solar System.
The Sun and Mercury
Venus, Earth, Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
It is interesting that even though each stamp clearly depicts an astronomical topic, all but the Sun/Mercury stamp also illustrate clouds, which makes sense for air mail. This is an attractive, and educational set of postage stamps.