Stamps-wise, being a Yugoslav-kid, letter Y is always like an easy solution for me. The difficult part is what in particular to choose from the wide range of Yugoslavian stamps I have :)) (these could also fit in well with the letter J edition though...)
Sailing ships as the means of navigation on the seas were very important in olden times when only the power of winds could be used as a propulsion. Various types of sailing shipsfor commercial and war purposes navigated on the Adriatic Sea. In the old historiography, the Phoenicians were considered as the first seamen. However, later it was proved that the Egyptians had built their ships before them. The Greeks with their ships conquered the isles on the Adriatic coast and founded their colonies. The notion of a war ship at that time was the famous Greek trireme. The Illyrians, especially the Liburnians, who were good ship builders, took part in the maritime commerce on the Adriatic Sea. Their "Liburna is well known in the maritime history. Later the Romans took over the shipbuilding and navigation skills from the Greeks and the Illyrians and then the Roman galley appeared. In the 7th century, the Slavs gradually took possession of the Adriatic coast. The Croatian ships were the only ones which could resist to the Venetian and the Byzantine naval force. In the naval history, Dubrovnik appears in the 8th century and becomes an important military martime and commercial centre with a navy and mercantile shipping, while the shipbuilding also develops at Boka Kotorska where the famous navy of Boka had originated. In the 15th century, Dubrovnik reaches the climax of its naval power. The navas of Dubrovnik - merchant ships on long lines are well known. At the Mediterranean Sea, the French, English, and Dutch ships appear more and more frequently, and they "expel" the ships of Dubrovnik back to the Adriatic Sea. The era of the sailing ships ends with the 19th century, when the steam-ships, modern and more economical, take over the reign of the seas.
This set of six stamps and one souvenir sheet was issued on 10 June 1989.
1. A classic Greek Sailing Ship
2. A Roman Sailing Ship
3. A Crusade Sailing Ship, 13th century
4. Nava of Dubrovnik, 16th century
5. French Sailing Ship, 17th century
6. Sailing Ship, 18th century
s/s - an engraving of Dubrovnik - various sailing ships in the harbour of Dubrovnik and various symbols of Dubrovnik and its surroundings
so that would be the short story of the Yugoslavian sailing ships.
For more stamps related to letter Y, head over to
Sunday Stamps.
