Urban Architecture, Macedonia

 Been a while since I've posted some 'domestic' issues, so I shall use today's opportunity on the 'Buildings' theme for that :)

There is really a lot of interesting architecture in the Macedonian cities and villages and while most of the stamps issued feature the rural architecture, there is this 2003 issue dedicated to some urban (or city) architecture

Million of thanks goes to Stefani who helped me to pinpoint this particular building since my google searches were useless. 

It shows one of the houses in the Jankovec village which is in the vicinity of the town of Resen at the Prespa Lake. The village has a number of houses which due to their beauty and age have been placed under state protection and I believe the one featured on this stamp belongs to that group too.

Found it on google maps in the street view so here is a screenshot so that you can see how it looks in real life. I dont know if it has been under some reconstruction at the time this image was taken. It doesnt look the most representative with all that debris but it is what it is :)

 

The second stamp features a building in my hometown Skopje, and if Im not mistaken, this building (and a number of similar ones to it) can be found in one of the most famous streets in the city, which aside from the architecture, was also famous for the line of trees along the street that unfortunately were mercilessly cut down when the city decided to transform the street into a boulevard. The people opposed but of course, their voice is rarely heard since the Government always knows better. It is not the first nor the last of the beauties destroyed and it is really a pity that the focus is always put on building more, and cutting down the trees for that purpose - and then we wonder why summers are like living hell here...

Here is also a glimpse of it in real life :)

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So that would be my contribution for today. For more buildings from around the world, go and visit Sunday Stamps

The faults and errors of the Macedonian Post

When it comes to stamps and philately, errors and faults are kinda inevitable. They dont happen frequently (fortunately) and often dont even leave the printing plant.
But sometimes they do, and give reasons for mockery and humiliation as is this last incident of the Macedonian Post.

Namely, every year, Macedonia issues stamps of the "Macedonia in EU" series, and every time different EU capitals are presented.
The last lucky capital to find its place in that series was Zagreb, Croatia's capital. And everything would have been fine, except for one tiny yet huge error.

If you take a look at the map, with the Croatian flag, does it look like a map of Croatia? Ok, you might not know by heart how Croatia looks like but the people who have designed and approved this, surely should have known, right?
Well, obviously not. We are all aware that incompetent people are employed all over the administrative service, and the postal administration aint no exception. I wont talk about the generally poor designs in the last few years, as well as the ridiculous face values - it just shows the lack of real interest of the people behind it all to produce something eye-catching and appealing.
But when you make an error of this kind, you create the basis of something bigger, since  the territorial representation here is offensive.
So the Macedonian Government had to apologize not only to Croatia, but also Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. And yeah, fine, apology accepted, but the damage is done - and not just with the above mentioned countries cos of political reasons, but the world has also seen how lousy and incompetent you guys are - a real shame for the people who should be some kind of ambassadors of the country cos the stamps and philately are not just cute pieces of paper used for postage but they are also one country's representation in front of the rest of the world... and how have we represented ourselves here?

The stamps have been recalled, the people have been fired, but bittersweet taste shall remain, esp. since im not at all assured that the new employees would be any better....

The 100th Anniversary of the Titanic disaster

Letter T is very tempting for Trains lets say, but trying to be not so transparent and predictable, I will go with some Titanic stamps today, all issued in 2012, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of its sinking.

First is a cover from Canada, showing two of the four stamps that are part of the block showing the bow of the ship, as well as an international stamp, showing its side-view. These stamps were issued on 4th of April.

Even though many countries commemorated this anniversary on stamps, Canadians were among those personally involved with the world's most famous ocean disaster. In addition to a number of Canadians aboard, and the tireless efforts of the people of Halifax, it was a team of employees working at the Canadian Marconi company's wireless station on Cape Race, Newfoundland, who heard the early distress call.

Next we have the FDC issued by the BH post, on 29th of May.
No extra information regarding this stamp, but anyway, it is not like any extra info is necessary on this world-wide known tragedy.

then we have this FDC from Alderney, issued on 22 February, featuring 6 striking stamps. During its journey, Titanic had sailed past Alderney as well.
The story behind the six stamps is:

36p. - Leaving Southampton
47p. - Sailing past Alderney
48p. - The Grand Staircase
52p. - Orchestra plays the final rune
61p. - Captain Edward J. Smith
65p. - Lifeboats leave the ship

And just as it had caught me by surprise that I had never posted Titanic stamps before here, I was also surprised to see I have this FDC in my collection, issued by Macedonia Post on 17th April. The reason is cos I simply don't know why I would have bought this for myself, taking into account it is a bit pricey, and not as part of my collectibles. But I guess this was during the times I was just splurging on stamps (un)necessarily. Oh well :D

I have this gut feeling that I may be overlooking some other Titanic related FDCs or covers from my collection, but I guess these four will do for now.

For more T-related stamps, simply visit the Sunday Stamps blog.

It is an M day!

Good afternoon folks, it is a Sunday and a day for new post here at myphilatelicpassion.blogspot.ba. First of all want to say thx to Ana for letting me use her blog and (ab)use her faithful followers.

It is an M day and I would like to introduce you to my unusual stamps collecting topic. There are a lot of people collecting stamps on topics like birds, cats, dogs, art, religion, lighthouses, Olympics etc. You could try to guess and say I collect motors and would be still wrong.

They say stamps are like small ambassadors of their countries but there is one thing older and even more ambassador of one’s country.  As the song says Money, money, money must be funny and for me if money is on stamp it is double funny 😀

Collecting coins and banknotes often goes hand in a hand with collecting stamps and I have been collecting both for quite a while when I came upon idea of collecting this particular topic. Will give it a try display few items and who knows maybe someone finds it interesting enough to start collection of their own.

 

This is oldest stamp in my “Money on stamps” collection Cyprus ¾ Cypriot piastre stamp issued on February 1^st 1928. This stamp is lowest face value and part of set of 10 stamps. Usually I go for mint stamps but average sale value of this set is bit on a high side so for now I have to put up with this nice used example 😁

As mentioned stamp is a part of 10 stamps set issued to commemorate 50 years of British rule of Cyprus, recess printed on watermarked paper, perforation 12. It depicts silver Coin of Amathus. Amathus was one of ancient royal cities of Cyprus and coin has a head of roaring lion, which was city emblem, both sides (it was common practice for this type of coins)

Now something bit more modern and to pay my respects for blog owner 😉 

On April 26^th 2012 Macedonia issued stamp to commemorate 20 years of monetary independence. Stamp has a face value of 50 Macedonian denars and features 1 denar coin and an ancient Byzantine M type coin (picture is not sharp enough to try to attribute it properly and showing only avers so it will remain partial mystery).   

Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia on 8 September 1991, shortly after, on 26th April 1992 the national bank was established and the denar was declared as official currency, few days after first issue of emergency banknotes was put into circulation (these were more like money coupons), in 1993 Macedonia issued first permanent banknotes.

We are all pretty aware of money importance in our daily life, and while it is true you can’t buy happiness but one can’t deny influence money has on every single person living in modern society. 

Changes in monetary system of any country are kind of very important events but forming of monetary union among multiple countries is epic event with tremendous impact on every country involved. 

Everyone would agree that forming European Monetary Union and common Euro currency was event of century. All countries involved recognized importance and many of them issued stamps commemorating Euro currency.

One of my favorite sets was definitive stamps set issued by Vatican in 2004 consisting of whooping 15 stamps. Each of stamps features one European Monetary Union country flag in background and Euro coin design from corresponding country.

Those stamps remind me of UN series issue that has been issued for a quite few years now, so called flags and coins series. It would be too much to display all of it here but just two pics to show off 😃

Even some non EU countries issued stamps featuring Euro currency, like my country (Bosnia and Herzegovina). 

Speaking of my country I decided to share two more issues also money related ofc.

First, there is this set of three definitive stamps issued in  2002 featuring coins of Bosnian medieval rulers king Tvrtko (0.20 face value), Stjepan Tomaš (0.30 face value) and Stjepan Tomašević (0.50 face value), Stjepan Tomašević was also last sovereign ruler of Bosnia before Otoman empire invaded and occupied country in 1463.

And for the end MS issued by Bosnia And Herzegovina but this time Croat Administration (yes, we have three different and independent postal administrations, each one with its own territory and stamps of each are valid for postage only at corresponding post offices)

MS consists of four stamps with two different designs (two stamps of each design), I personally like design of stamps and a fact they are embossed gives them some luxury appearance, and a price of 20 Bosnian marks for a MS is quite luxury if I can notice (equivalent of 10 euro)😒

Stamps feature ancient Daorson coins. Daorson was a capitol of Daorsi tribe. Daorsi were Hellenised  Illyrian tribe. They adopted Greek language and a lot of their culture. They were quite influential tribe in area of river Neretva valley, possessed their own money (as shown on stamps) and quite powerful navy for that period. They left lot of archeological traces throughout Neretva  valley.

So that was all for today, bet you are exhausted now and I’ll let you go and enjoy rest of this Sunday. Maybe I’ll write sometimes again if Ana finds this was up to her strict standards.

And not to forget for some more interesting M-posts, well you know the drill, click on the following link - Sunday Stamps
 
Sincarely,
 
Danijel