Topical Group Gives Smith Top Honor

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Dale E. Smith, immediate past president of the American Topical Association, has been selected for the ATA’s highest award, Distinguished Topical Philatelist. The award is presented each year to an individual who has provided outstanding service to philately, and especially topical philately — collecting stamps by subject.

Smith has served on the ATA board since 2011, becoming first vice president in 2012 and president in 2016. He is also membership secretary of the Gladstone Stamp Club, near Kansas City, and is active in the Midwest Philatelic Society, based in the city itself. He is a member of six ATA-affiliated study units and three ATA-affiliated chapters.

“Herbert Hoover said, ‘It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit,’” said ATA president Dawn Hamman. “That sums up Dale’s incredible contribution to ATA, philately and many other worthy causes in a nutshell. He operates under the radar. He does not seek recognition, and, in fact, gives it to others.”

During Smith’s tenure as ATA president, he invigorated fundraising and was able to secure the organization’s future with financial leadership and by adding to its reserves. He added key leaders to important positions in the group, and was part of the team that organized and implemented the moving of the ATA office from Illinois to South Carolina in 2019.

His wide-ranging interests: stamps on stamps, HIV/AIDS on stamps, pharmacy, winter scenes, Christmas seals, Pony Express and George Washington Carver. In 2002, Dale and his wife Andrea started their topical stamp dealership, Stamp Smith. The main focus of the business has always been topicals.

Smith’s leadership goes beyond philately. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Dale has served as president of its alumni association, and is currently on the dean’s advisory council and the LGBTQ Scholarship Foundation. He has served as president of 15 non-profit organizations over 45 years.

He was presented with the award at the Celebration Banquet of Great American Stamp Show 2021.

Great American Stamp Show 2021 Lives Up To Name

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Great American Stamp Show 2021 in Rosemont, Ill., near Chicago, August 11-15, was a very good show, especially considering the circumstances. With the threat of the continuing or even worsening coronavirus pandemic, many collectors decided to stay home.

Still, the American Philatelic Society, the organizer, had 2,500 registrations for GASS. That is several hundred more than APS StampShow 2019 in Omaha. APS StampShow was the predecessor to GASS. The APS would have expected 3,500 to 4,500 for a show in the Chicago area.

The photo shows some of those lined up to enter the show as soon as it opened on Thursday. About half of those attending the show wore masks. Many wore masks sometimes but not all the time. [You can click on the photo for a larger version.]

However, there are no reports of any of those who attended the show contracting the coronavirus as a result of going to Great American Stamp Show.

Whether the show would be held was uncertain until mid-May. Specific planning and arrangements normally begin at least a year in advance, with the show location booked as much as five years ahead. (2024 is already set for Hartford, Conn., for example, and the APS is looking at locations for 2025.)

The 2020 edition was canceled completely, with a “virtual” show instead.

Great American Stamp Show is co-hosted by the APS, the American Topical Association (which was also a partner in APS StampShows 2018 and 2019), and the American First Day Cover Society. All three organizations participated in the 2020 Virtual Stamp Show, but this was the AFDCS’ first time folding its Americover show and convention into the overall national show.

The photo shows about half the AFDCS booth on the second day of the show, Friday, which is usually the quietest day of any four-day show.

“This was our first time as co-host of the big U.S. national show, and it exceeded our expectations,” said AFDCS president Lloyd de Vries. “We picked up more new members than at any recent show, either the GASS predecessor APS StampShow or our own Americover show. First day cover exhibits also earned seven large golds at GASS!”

As part of their agreements with the APS to co-host the show, both the ATA’s National Topical Stamp Show and Americover had their own exhibit competitions. The ATA booth, like the APS and AFDCS booths at the front of the hall, is shown below.

However, “dealer participation for the show was well below what we could expect for a Chicago-area show,” APS executive director Scott English told The Virtual Stamp Club.

Having three stamp societies as co-hosts presented some challenges, such as scheduling the membership meeting for each at different times. Americover had been a three-day show, with the same basic schedule for years: the banquet on Friday night and general membership meetings in two parts, on Saturday and Sunday mornings. At GASS 2021, the AFDCS President’s Banquet was on Thursday night and a single membership meeting Friday morning. A few members missed them.

Also missing was the AFDCS’ usual pre-show tour of local attractions. Between the short lead-time and COVID-19 restrictions, it couldn’t be scheduled.

The show’s organizers vow to work out all the glitches before the next Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento, Calif., August 25-28, 2022. There should also be some new features.

“Our most critical goal for Sacramento is creating virtual access to those who cannot attend the show in person,” said English (left). The APS hopes to have some events live-streamed, and some of the exhibits displayed online. “Our Content Team will be piloting technology at the upcoming UNEXPO in Bellefonte to make sure we can execute the virtual experiences on a large scale.”

When first scheduled several years ago, the 2021 show was supposed to run at the same time as the American Numismatic Association’s “Money Show.” The latter was also held in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, and did overlap GASS in part. The philatelic organizers learned that “coin shows and stamp shows can operate in the same venue with excellent results,” said English. “Dealers shared that many ANA members visited their booths and even made purchases. I am hoping we can work with the ANA to hold a similar event in 2025. Stay tuned.”

NOJEX/ASDA 2021 Show Canceled

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The following announcement is from NOJEX and the American Stamp Dealers Association:

As a result of the continuing spread of the COVID-Delta variant, and its impact on indoor events in the NJ-NY Metro Area, it will not be feasible to hold our Show which had been scheduled at the Hilton Meadowlands Hotel in East Rutherford, NJ on October 15-17, 2021. The hotel has informed us that all such events in its ballrooms have been cancelled through the end of this year by other organizations.

We regret that it was necessary to cancel the show, and offer our sincere apologies to the collectors, societies, judges, dealers and exhibitors who were looking forward to participating. We all hope for better times when we return October 14-16, 2022.

Stamp Writers Group Invites Web Writers

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[press release]
APS Writers Unit 30 To Invite Online Content Providers

Writers Unit 30, the American Philatelic Society affiliate that has represented stamp collecting writers, editors and publishers for more than 50 years, is now encouraging membership for online content providers: The people who write and edit websites, blogs and social media.

Most philatelic writing these days is on the Web. Often, the same material is published in print, on a website and in social media at the same time.

“Writing is writing, whether it is for print, broadcast or the internet,” said WU30 president Lloyd A. de Vries. “The styles may change, but the purpose is the same: To communicate, inform, and exchange ideas. We think including internet content producers in WU30 will be mutually beneficial.”

The APS Writers Unit publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Philatelic Communicator; supports literature competitions; and maintains a “Hall of Fame” for outstanding stamp collecting writers, both in the past and those active today. In addition, new programs are being planned. WU30 was founded in 1967, and meets annually at APS StampShow’s successor, Great American Stamp Show.

TPC issues often include articles on writing itself, layout, opportunities and news.

“30” is the traditional mark that was placed at the end of newspaper copy to indicate to editors and typesetters that it was finished. Not coincidentally, the Writers Unit is Affiliate #30 of the APS.

Membership is open to all who write, publish or edit in philately, from periodical columns to research books, and now, explicitly, to those who write for digital media. Membership is $15 a year anywhere in the world for .pdf copies of The Philatelic Communicator, delivered via email. Membership with a printed journal is $20.

To join, or for more information, visit the WU30 website at www.wu30.org or write WU30 at PO Box 411571, Saint Louis, MO 63141-3571.

Hotchner: A Buck Here, A Buck There

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by John M. Hotchner
Click on stamp illustrations for larger versions

Quick – What is the first U.S. postage stamp to have a face value of a dollar or more? What was the first U.S. postage stamp to have a face value of over $10? Are there any U.S. Air Mail stamps with a value of more than a dollar, prior to the 2012 $1.05 Scenic American Landscape issue (“Amish Horse & Buggy on Road, Lancaster, Country, Pennsylvania”)? The answers will be found later on in this column.

There are a surprising number of U.S. dollar-value issues. If we include booklet panes and se-tenant blocks and strips that total to more than a dollar, the list is quite long. So, let’s ignore those for the present. The dollar-value single stamps are a significant challenge by themselves.

Believe it or not, there were 28 different dollar value stamps issued through the end of the Third Bureau Issue (the so-called “Washington-Franklins”). They are not all face-different. There are 16 different major designs, including the same design with different values. The rest are minor design variations, or varieties of watermark, perforation gauge or color.

In mint condition, a complete collection is well beyond the resources of most collectors. It is certainly beyond mine! But owning even a few is a thrill! And many of them are quite reasonable in used condition. Beginning with the 1922 Fourth Bureau Issue, even the mint examples are reasonable, and almost all used copies are not much more expensive than a movie rental, and usually less than their face value.

Let’s skip around a bit and look at some of the dollar stamps of the United States: First, the answer to the first question above. Surprisingly, the first dollar values were issued on January 1, 1893, 46 years after the first U.S. stamps. They were the $1, $2, $3, $4, and $5 commemorative stamps issued to publicize the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, to be held from May 1 to October 30, 1893; a total of $15.

Beautiful as these stamps were, and they remain popular today, there was considerable public outcry about the length of the set. Remember, back then, a dollar was a prized amount of money. For example, in 1893, a laborer earned about $9.50 for a 60-hour work week! And even though a dollar went a lot further — $1 from 1893 would be equivalent to $29.67 in 2021 dollars — I am certain that the average collector would have had plenty of other uses for $15 in 1893! But it would have been a decent investment for someone on behalf of their great- great- grandchildren, as the Scott Catalogue value for a mint set of the dollar values is now $8,150; $29,300 if never hinged!

A 1901 penny postal card from a dealer in California [above] advertised to buy used Columbians. Note that he is offering 90 cents for each $5 stamp that he accepts. Today, a used $5 Columbian catalogues $1,200!

Moving along, one of my favorite designs from the early years of dollar stamps is the 1894 gem picturing Oliver Hazard Perry; a figure I’d bet precious few college seniors could place in historical context today – if they ever heard of him at all!

There are four versions: Unwatermarked Types I and II, and double-line watermarked Types I and II. [The watermarked versions of this stamp, both Types, were also overprinted for use in Guam and the Philippines.]

The difference between the Types is found in the circles at the lower right and left corners surrounding the $1 denomination. On Type I stamps, the circle is broken where it meets the curved line below “One Dollar.” On Type II stamps the circle is complete. 75% of the stamps produced were Type I; the remainder Type II. It follows that the catalogue values are twice as high for Type II as Type I.

Colors play an important part in the story of the $2 1918 Franklin. The first issued was the $2 “orange red and black” (as listed in Scott, #523), on August 19, 1918. Max G. Johl, in his monumental The United States Postage Stamps of the 20th Century, tells us that the official descriptions prior to release of the stamp, and afterward as well, said that the colors were red and black. Clearly what came off the presses is not red, so the Scott listing of orange-red and black is correct.

But on November 1, 1920, a new printing was released, and these are without question red [which Scott calls “carmine”] and black. They have been given a separate Scott listing, #547. A total issued for both is 791,000, and fewer than 10% of those are #523.

Jumping ahead to the 1938 Presidential issue, there are several color variations of the $1, caused by the fact that production methods and ink composition elements changed during the production period which extended from 1938 to 1956. Over 340.4 million were released. In addition, all the Prexie dollar values (as well as the $5 Fourth Bureau Issue; issued in 1923) were bicolors printed in two passes.

There are no known inverts, but there are plentiful color misregistrations. On the example shown on the left, Wilson’s portrait and other black printing is shifted to the right.

The first Air Mail dollar values are the so-called “Zeppelins” of 1930. Of the three stamps in the set, two (Sc. C14 and C15) are dollar values: a $1.30 and a $2.60. The former was intended to pay the postage on letters dispatched by steamer to Friedrichshafen and then via the Graf Zeppelin to Seville, Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro. The $1.30 also covered the entire trip, with the addition of Rio to Lakehurst, New Jersey. The $2.60 paid the rate for the entire trip on letters all the way to Lakehurst.

Short of the 24¢ Jenny invert, the Zeppelin set is the key for Air Mail issues, and gives a collector bragging rights when showing off his or her U.S. collection.

In the modern era, dollar value stamps became ubiquitous with the inauguration of Priority and Express Mail. The first high-value U.S. stamp above $5 was the first Express Mail stamp of 1983; a $9.35 jumbo. The first stamp over $10, was issued just two years later when the Express Mail rate was boosted to $10.75. In fact, the Express Mail and Priority Mail rates have changed so rapidly that over 40 face-different stamps have been issued for these services. For a collector of mint U.S. stamps, this represents an expenditure of about $375 as a contribution to the USPS bottom line. Of course, used examples of these large, beautiful stamps cost much less; the challenge being to find examples in good condition with light cancels.

Covers with dollar values are interesting and collectible. In general, they are not scarce, with the exception of solo usages where a dollar-value stamp covers basic postage and additional services; the cost of which tote up to the face value of the stamp.

On-cover usage is often listed in the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, and there can be some nice surprises. For example, the $5 Alexander Hamilton of the Liberty series of 1954 (Sc. 1053) has a used value in Scott of $6.75. It is a fairly scarce stamp in used, well-centered condition with a light cancel.

But find this stamp on the following covers, and you may have a real bonanza:

  • On registered bank tag: $25.00
  • On air parcel-post tag: $75.00
  • On commercial cover: $1,800
  • Single franking on registered cover: $7,000

An unusual usage of the Americana Series $5 (Scott #1612) pays the major part of charges for Air Mail, Special Delivery and Registry (with a return receipt) service from Miami, Florida to Guatemala City, Guatemala. Scott does not yet list a special premium for usages of this stamp, but I am certain that will come, as they are anything but common.

We have hardly scratched the surface of dollar-stamp collecting, but I hope you catch a little of my enthusiasm. It is a worthy challenge as a specialty, and yet, one that at least in the modern era, need not cost an arm and two legs!

Scott Catalogue U.S. Update (September 2021)

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5615 (55¢) Western Wear – Cowboy hat
5616 (55¢) Western Wear – Belt buckle
5617 (55¢) Western Wear – Cowboy boot with spur
5618 (55¢) Western Wear – Western shirt
a. Block of 4, #5615-5618
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5615-5618

5619 (95¢) Ursula K. Le Guin

5620 (55¢) Raven Story
a. Imperforate

DC Superheroes (UK 2021)

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Read VSC’s notes after the lengthy press release for more information. “Epic” may refer more to the efforts of stamp collectors who try to collect one of each!

[press release] [you can click on any image for a larger version]
Royal Mail Reveals Epic Stamp Images of the New DC Collection
Featuring Batman, His Allies, DC Super-Villains and a Special Justice League Stamp Miniature Sheet

Issue Date: 17 September

  • The 12 stamps in the main set feature: Batman; Batwoman; Robin; Batgirl; Alfred; Nightwing; The Joker; Harley Quinn; The Penguin; Poison Ivy; Catwoman; and The Riddler
  • A further six stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, celebrate the Justice League – the World’s Greatest Super Heroes joining forces to protect the planet, featuring: Batman; Green Lantern and The Flash; Wonder Woman; Superman; Cyborg and Aquaman; Supergirl and Shazam!
  • All 18 stamps have been illustrated exclusively for the stamp issue by British, comic book artist, Jim Cheung and award-winning colourist, Laura Martin
  • DC have thrilled generations of readers and given birth to some of the best-known Super Heroes and Super-Villains in the world
  • The full set of 18 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £16.20. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/dccollection and go on general sale from 17 September

Royal Mail, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, has revealed stunning images of 18 stamps that celebrate DC and the Super Heroes & Super-Villains genre that it helped create.

The main set of 12 stamps pay tribute to the world-famous Batman, his allies and foes through the ages. Featured on the main stamps in the set are:

  • Batman
  • Batwoman
  • Robin
  • Batgirl
  • Alfred
  • Nightwing
  • The Joker
  • Harley Quinn
  • The Penguin
  • Poison Ivy
  • Catwoman
  • The Riddler

A further six stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, celebrate the Justice League – the World’s Greatest Super Heroes joining forces to protect the planet:

  • Batman;
  • Green Lantern and The Flash;
  • Wonder Woman;
  • Superman;
  • Cyborg and Aquaman;
  • Supergir and Shazam!

All 18 stamps have been specially commissioned for Royal Mail and illustrated by British comic book artist, Jim Cheung and colourist Laura Martin.

Matt Parkes, Director Stamps & Collectibles, Royal Mail, said: “Generations have grown up, spellbound by the adventures and the personalities of these Super Heroes and Super-Villains. These illustrations detail each character with such vivid imagery that they look ready to leap out of the stamp!”

STAMP-BY-STAMP: MAIN SET

Gotham City Allies!
Since his first appearance, Batman has built up a formidable array of ‘family’ and allies as he fights crime in the troubled streets of Gotham City. Some – such as Catwoman and Jason Todd – tread a delicate path between heroic acts and villainy. Others – such as Robin and Batgirl – have gone on to become fully fledged members of the Batman Family, fighting both alone and alongside the Dark Knight against the city’s crazed Super-Villains

Batman
Bruce Wayne swore vengeance when his parents were gunned down in front of him. He spent his teenage years training to be a master of martial arts and the World’s Greatest Detective. On his return to Gotham City, he takes on the role of Batman to strike fear into the hearts of criminals and create a more just world.

Batwoman
Kate Kane becomes Batwoman after the Dark Knight saves her life. Thanks to rigorous training, she uses her abilities to protect the innocent from crime and corruption.

Robin
Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown have all been Robin, but the latest is the Dark Knight’s own son – Damian Wayne. Trained in secret by his mother, Talia al Ghul, to be an assassin, Damian eventually connects with his father who takes him under his protective wing and puts his deadly skills to better use.

Batgirl
Barbara Gordon is a computer mastermind and a martial arts expert. She combines these skills to fight crime as Batgirl and keep Gotham City safe.

Alfred
Alfred Pennyworth has been the man Batman trusts most in the world. He provides medical, technological and emotional support to the Dark Knight, constantly looking after his welfare and helping him reach his full potential.

Nightwing
Dick Grayson was the first Robin. After outgrowing the role, he took on the mantle of Nightwing, bringing justice to the streets of Blüdhaven.

Gotham City Foes!
Gotham City’s mean streets have given birth to a number of crazed Super-Villains. Some, such as Poison Ivy, fight for their own causes, while others seek fortune and infamy. Many, such as The Joker, are simply looking to bring ruin to those around them. Others, like Harley Quinn and Catwoman, have occasionally helped Batman and his allies. But all have had moments when they’ve brought fear and terror to Gotham City… even though it may not have taken long for Batman to thwart their evildoings.

The Joker
The Joker is Batman’s complete opposite. He is a ruthless criminal whose maddening plans have brought death and destruction to Gotham City while hurting those closest to the Dark Knight. The Joker’s origins are shrouded in mystery, but he has developed an obsession with Batman as the two are locked in a never-ending duel.

Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn once had an obsessive love affair with The Joker. Now she’s gone solo and has even become something of an anti-hero – albeit in her own chaotic way.

The Penguin
Operating from his nightclub, the Iceberg Lounge, and obsessed with birds, Oswald Cobblepot is better known as The Penguin and controls much of Gotham City’s criminal underworld.

Poison Ivy
Botanist Pamela Isley gained the power to control flora and became an eco-terrorist, fighting to save her beloved plant life from humankind’s destruction.

Catwoman
Selina Kyle is the criminal who stole Batman’s heart. She is one of the best jewel thieves in the world but also protects those close to her with a feline ferocity.

The Riddler
Edward Nygma is better known as The Riddler, a criminal genius obsessed with puzzles. He loves leaving clues to his crimes – clues usually only someone as smart as he can solve.

MINIATURE SHEET

Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is an Amazonian warrior beyond compare – the only thing that rivals her super-strength is her compassion and belief in others.

Superman
The last survivor of Krypton, Superman protects his adopted home of Earth as he battles for truth, justice and hope – shining a light on what the world can be.

Batman
Bruce Wayne assumed the identity of Batman to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. He is Gotham City’s protector and the World’s Greatest Detective.

Aquaman
Aquaman is the half-human, half-Atlantean King of the Seven Seas. He accepts his destiny to protect both the surface world and its underwater realms from global threats.

Cyborg
When teenager Victor Stone is injured in a tragic accident, his father rebuilds him as a Cyborg – part human, part machine and all Super Hero.

Green Lantern
Jessica Cruz overcomes anxiety and fear to join the Green Lantern Corps. She uses her power ring to protect Earth and the universe as a part of this courageous intergalactic peacekeeping force.

The Flash
The Flash is the Fastest Man Alive after a freak lightning strike connected Barry Allen to the mysterious Speed Force and opened up the possibilities of the Multiverse for all.

Supergirl
The powerful Kara Zor-El arrived on Earth as a teenager long after her cousin grew up to become Superman, but she quickly realises she can be her own positive force for justice in her new home.

Shazam!
An ancient wizard bestowed teenager, Billy Batson, with magic superpowers, and now he can transform into Earth’s Mightiest Mortal by uttering one word: SHAZAM!

The full set of 18 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £16.20. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order from today (1 September) at www.royalmail.com/dccollection and go on general sale from 17 September 2021.

Here are the first-day postmarks, two for the “main set” and two for the minisheet:VSC’s Notes:
There are many more philatelic products available: Framed prints, unserviced envelopes, postcard sets, medal covers, medals by themselves, gold-plated covers, “souvenirs” (FDCs without addresses), press sheets and a prestige booklet. There are two booklets, each with two DC stamps and 4 of Her Majesty:and…and a prestige booklet that includes a pane only available in that product and on a first-day cover, but not separately.We calculate that to buy one of everything will cost nearly 1,000 pounds — £995.41 to be exact. That’s US$1,370.44 or €1,159.76! Or as they say in comic books, !!!!

Stamp Images we couldn’t fit in above:

Finally, here are links to VSC material on other comic book superheroes stamps:

Experience Nature: Haarzuilens (Netherlands 2020)

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[press release]
Cultural landscape Haarzuilens on stamps

Date of Issue: 16 August

West of the city of Utrecht is the Haarzuilens estate, with the fairytale castle De Haar in the middle. The lands around the castle are owned by Natuurmonumenten [Natural Monuments]. The latest PostNL stamps from the Experience nature series feature the flora and fauna of this cultural landscape. The issue about the Haarzuilens estate is the last in the series Experience nature from 2021. Earlier this year, stamps were published about the Dwingelderveld heathland in Drenthe, the De Onlanden marsh landscape near the city of Groningen and the Duin en Kruidberg dune area in North Holland.

Reintroduction of old crops
Landgoed Haarzuilens is a versatile cultural landscape, with flower-filled meadows, extensive fields, forests, farms, orchards, vegetable gardens, ditches, a duck decoy and even an apartment building for swallows. Natuurmonumenten brings the cultural history to life here by reintroducing old crops such as buckwheat, oats, alfalfa, rye and flax.

Character determines choice
All kinds of residents of the Haarzuilens estate make their appearance on the stamps. The character of the area, with fields, meadows, water and forests, is reflected in the selection of the flora and fauna depicted. From the pollard willows on the banks of the ditches, the frogs in the water and the insects that buzz around them. The buzzard and nuthatch make their appearance, as does the hare, the symbol of nature on the Haarzuilens estate.

Autumn is coming
The stamp sheetlet about Haarzuilens is a design by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. The atmosphere of the stamps refers to the arrival of autumn, with dark yellow, grey-green and blue-purple colours. The chosen photos were also taken in the autumn, when the chestnuts fall to the ground, the beech forest is steaming and the wings of the maple flutter down.

Layout in balance
In the distribution of the plants and animals on the stamp sheetlet, Janse has striven for an overall picture that is as beautiful and balanced as possible. This was done, according to the designer, “by combining detail and total shots, by different viewing directions of the animals and by also making diagonal connections. For example, between the two insects on the stamp sheetlet: the speed skater at the top right and the four-spot at the bottom left.”

Availability
The stamp sheetlet Experience nature – Haarzuilens estate has 10 different stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from August 16, 2021 at all PostNL sales points, the Bruna stores and via the website [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from Collect Club’s customer service on 088 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.

one of the 2 FDCs (“eerstedagenenvelop”) for this issue

[In de Nederlandse taal]
Cultuurlandschap Haarzuilens op postzegels

Uitgiftedatum: 16 August

Ten westen van de stad Utrecht ligt landgoed Haarzuilens, met in het midden het sprookjesachtige kasteel De Haar. De landerijen rondom het kasteel zijn eigendom van Natuurmonumenten. Op de nieuwste postzegels van PostNL uit de serie Beleef de natuur is de hoofdrol weggelegd voor de flora en fauna van dit cultuurlandschap.

De uitgifte over landgoed Haarzuilens is de laatste uit de serie Beleef de natuur van 2021. Eerder dit jaar verschenen postzegels over het heidegebied Dwingelderveld in Drenthe, het moeraslandschap De Onlanden bij de stad Groningen en het duingebied Duin en Kruidberg in Noord-Holland.

Herintroductie oude gewassen
Landgoed Haarzuilens is een veelzijdig cultuurlandschap, met bloemrijke weides, uitgestrekte akkers, bossen, boerderijen, boomgaarden, moestuinen, slootjes, een eendenkooi en zelfs een flatgebouw voor zwaluwen. Natuurmonumenten brengt hier de cultuurhistorie tot leven door de herintroductie van oude gewassen als boekweit, haver, luzerne, rogge en vlas.

Karakter bepaalt keuze
Op de postzegels maken allerlei bewoners van landgoed Haarzuilens hun opwachting. Het karakter van het gebied, met akkers, weiden, water en bossen, keert terug in de selectie van de afgebeelde flora en fauna. Van de knotwilgen aan de oever van de sloten, de kikkers in het water en de insecten die eromheen zoemen. De buizerd en boomklever maken hun opwachting, net zoals de haas, hét symbool van de natuur van landgoed Haarzuilens.

Het najaar is aanstaande
Het postzegelvel over Haarzuilens is een ontwerp van grafisch ontwerper Frank Janse uit Gouda. De sfeer van de postzegels verwijst naar de komst van het najaar, met donkergele, grijsgroene en blauwpaarse kleuren. Ook de gekozen foto’s zijn in de herfst gemaakt, als de kastanjes op de grond vallen, het beukenbos dampt en de vleugeltjes van de esdoorn naar beneden dwarrelen.

Indeling in balans
Bij de verdeling van de planten en dieren op het postzegelvel heeft Janse een zo mooi en gebalanceerd mogelijk totaalbeeld nagestreefd. Dat is gebeurd, aldus de ontwerper, “door combinaties van detail- en totaalopnames, door verschillende kijkrichtingen van de dieren en door ook diagonale verbanden te leggen. Bijvoorbeeld tussen de twee insecten op het postzegelvel: de schaatsenrijder rechtsboven en de viervlek linksonder.”

Verkrijgbaarheid
Het postzegelvel Beleef de natuur – landgoed Haarzuilens telt 10 verschillende postzegels met de waardeaanduiding Nederland 1, bedoeld voor post tot en met 20 gram met een bestemming binnen Nederland. De postzegels zijn vanaf 16 augustus 2021 verkrijgbaar bij alle verkooppunten van PostNL, de Bruna-winkels en via de website. De postzegels zijn ook telefonisch te bestellen bij de klantenservice van Collect Club op telefoonnummer 088 – 868 99 00. De geldigheidstermijn is onbepaald.

one of the 2 FDCs (“eerstedagenenvelop”) for this issue