The Titanic - Canada's Commemoratives

Issued on April 5th. 2012, the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic are among some of the best stamp designs Canada Post has used in years.

Sheet of 16 Domestic Rate Stamps

Russian Fishing Ships

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Issued on February 28, 1967 was a set of 5 stamps depicting various ships from the Soviet fishing fleet along with various type of sea life.  All are demoninated 6 ruble and are perforated 12 x 11½.  They stamps were printed by lithography.

This is one of my favourite sets of stamps.  I like the image of the various fishing vessels with a depiction of the fish that they fish for.

The top stamp depicts a trawler/factory ship.  On these ships the catch is processed on board.  The second stamp depicts a refrigeration ship.  Where the catch would be stored but processed to the extent that a factory ship is capable.  The thrird stamp in the set shows us a crab canning ship.  This type of ship is similar to the factory ship but is specific to processing and canning a crab catch.  The fourth ship is a trawler.  On these ships the catch is preserved but processed at either a factory on shore or transfered to a factory ship.  The last stamp in the set depicts a Black Sea seiner.  A seiner is a ship that uses a seine (a net with weights on one end floats an the other).

As of 2002 the Russian fishing fleet was composed of 2,500 fishing vessels, 366 transport and 46 factory ships with a length overall greater than 24 metres (78' 9").  As of 2005 there were an additional 2,491 fishing vessels smaller than this.  The fleet is quite old and not equipped to modern standards in terms of fishing and safety.  

Sources:
Scott 2009 Catalogue
Wikipedia

Tok Islands on North Korea

My previous blarticle on a set of North Korean stamps, raised an issue of finding genuinely used stamps from North Korea.  It got me thinking that I have a ton of CTO stuff but haven't seen much that has gone through the mail.  Then I came across the following sheet of 3 stamps with label.

Updated Album Pages, Page

I have updated my album pages, page with three new album pages.

Cuba's 7 New Wonders of the World issue
Belgium's Children Playing Set
Norway's Soccer Centenary Sheet of 6

Togo Goes Hunting

On May 25, 1975 the Republic of Togo issued a set of 4 stamps (2 regular, 2 airmail) depicting hunting scenesand are inscriped "CHASSE AU TOGO" (Hunting in Togo).

This set appeals to me, not because I am a hunter (I tried it once and that was enough), but the simplicity in design and what I feel is the clean look of the designs.   The only awkward design element is the lack of scale when you compare the animal sizes to the hunters.

The stamps were printed  by lithography and are perforated 13 x 13½.

The Battle of Trafalgar 200th Anniversary

One of the most defining naval actions in history, the Battle of Trafalgar asserted the Royal Navy's and Great Britain's dominance of the seas.  Fought on the 21st of October 1805, off Cape Trafalgar between the combined French and Spanish Fleets against Britain's Royal Navy.


Battle of Trafalgar Bicentennary Stamps Issued by Great Britain October 18. 2005



International Quiet Sun Year

The International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) was a cooperative international effort to study the effects of the sun during the quiet period of the 11 year solar activity cycle (Dec.  1964 – Dec.  1965).   The IQSY was organized by the International Council of Scientific Unions to study solar events that are easier to observe during periods of lower solar activity.  Observations were made using terrestrial observatories and various spacecraft. 



Set of 6 stamps issued by Togo for the IQSY