Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is one of the most collected topic in thematic philately and has many followers all over the world. Postal authorities used to issue stamps featuring olympic sports, tradition and landmarks of the host city. This year, Beijing will host the Summer Olympic Games and we can observe many countries releasing stamps related to this topic. We will summarize here a couple of them.

With the issuance of a single 42c commemorative stamp, the U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of honoring the spirit of athleticism and international unity inspired by the Olympic Games. Designed by Clarence Lee, this stamp features a drawing by artist Katie Doka of a gymnast surrounded by ribbon–like design elements. In the upper right corner of the stamp, the denomination is surrounded by a graphic element that resembles the ink mark created by a Chinese “chop,” a carved wooden stamp often used for signatures or seals. The five Olympic rings appear in the lower left corner.¹

The Australia's single 50c commemorative stamp features the mythical Chinese dragon which was a symbol of imperial power in China. Dragons can be seen on Chinese buildings and art, and the symbolic dragon plays an important role in cultural festivals and celebrations. The people of China often refer to themselves as “descendants of the dragon” and the Dragon is used around the world as a symbol of Chinese culture.²

Argentinean postal authority issued last March a set of 4 stamps featuring ciclismo de montaña (mountain biking), taekwondo (taekwondo), básquetbol (basketball) and salto con garrocha (pole vaulting).³

The passing of the Olympic flame is a ceremonious ritual for spreading the Olympic spirit of global friendship and peace. As the co-host city for the Equestrian Events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Hong Kong is honoured to participate in this important tradition. To mark the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong on 2 May 2008, Hongkong Post issues this souvenir cover in celebration of this spectacular event. The Torch Relay takes the theme "Journey of Harmony" to embody the Olympic ideal. The stamps was issed the 19th June.⁴

Many other countries issued sets related to Beijing 2008 such us Brazil, España, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, and Siwss Post among others.

Notes
1. Jul 4, 2007, http://www.usps.com/
2. Jul 4, 2007, http://www.auspost.com.au/philatelic/stamps/intro.asp
3. Jul 4, 2007, http://www.correoargentino.com.ar/filatelia/2008.php
4. Jul 4, 2007, http://www.shopthrupost.hk

100 Greatest American Stamps by Donald Sundman and Janet Klug

The book is an excellent result of two important contributions. First a selected group of experts, dealers and philatelists who did an extraordinary selection of the 100 Greatest American Stamps, including rarities as well as common commemoratives issues, from the 1918 inverted Jenny and the unique 1868 1 cent Z grill to the 1993 29 cent Elvis Presley stamp.
Second, it was written by a very talented and well known expert, Donald Sundman and Janet Klug. Donald is the current President of the Mystic Stamp Company and Janet was President of the American Philatelic Foundation. As if all this wasn't enough said, the book is forwarded by William H. Gross one of the most important American collectors who “became the second person (after Robert Zoellner in the 1990s) to form a complete collection of 19th century United States postage stamps.”¹

"In this beautifully illustrated book, the authors take you on a personal guided tour of America's greatest stamps. 100 Greatest American Stamps is not just a price guide or a fancy picture book. It's a time machine that takes you to a hundred-plus different points in American history."²

ISBN: 0794822487
Binding: Hardback
Dimensions (inches): 12.50 (H) x 10.00 (W) x 0.75 (D)
Publisher: Whitman Pub Llc
Date of Publication: 2007
Pages: 144

Find it in your nearest library.

Notes
1. Jun 30, 2007, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Gross
2. Jun 30, 2007, http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=81&ProductID=0794822487

PRAGA 2008 World Stamp Exhibition ~ 12th to 14th September 2008

The holding of international and world stamp exhibitions with the name PRAGA and sponsored by the FIP has a long tradition in the capital of first Czechoslovakia and then the Czech Republic. It began with the international exhibition PRAGA 1938, since when 70 years have passed, and continued after 1945 with the philatelic exhibitions PRAGA 1950, PRAGA 1955 and most recently PRAGA 1998.

The world exhibition PRAGA 2008 is being held in honor of the 90th anniversary of the issuing of the first Czechoslovak stamps in 1918, the 90th anniversary of the Postal Museum in Prague and the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Czech Republic.

Czechoslovak and Czech stamp making uses stamps and stationery to present the natural beauty of the Czech Republic, its history and rich cultural heritage and its relations with European countries and the world. Among collectors and philatelists, Czech stamps are rated among the best with respect to artwork, engraving and printing. The Czechs are constantly maintaining and fostering their high international standards. For that reason, the stamps and stationery with pre-printed postage stamps sent around the world by the Czech Post are always among the most sought-after items.

The presenters of the world exhibition PRAGA 2008 are, as they have been traditionally, the Czech Post and the Union of Czech Philatelists, together with the 11th annual international trade fair Collector.

PRAGA 2008 is inviting philatelists and exhibitors from around the world to participate in the following FIP competition classes:

• Traditional philately
• Postal history
• Philatelic literature
• Experimental class for one-frame exhibits
• Aerophilately

More information could be found in the exhibition's website.

WIPA 2008 ~ Vienna, 18th to 21st September 2008

From 18^th to 21^st September 2008 for the sixth time since 1881, Vienna will be the centre of the world of stamps. WIPA stands for great philatelic successes. In the year 2000 more than 60.000 interested visitors, amateurs and professionals visited the exhibition. 600 exhibitors (postal administrations, stamp dealers and associations) from all over the world presented their “treasures” and fascinated the visitors. In 2008 world famous specialities will again attract philatelists and those who want to become it. We are looking forward to your visit.

WIPA08, a world exhibition with 12 competition classes, offers exhibitors from all over the world an interesting forum for the presentation of their stamps. There will also be several special showings, an honorary court and a world-class rarity cabinet.

The WIPA08 is themed “The future of philately”, dedicating the event’s program to the future perspective of collecting stamps. In order to also attract visitors who are not collectors (yet), there will be a separate area with unique specialities and world rarities. In addition, a multilateral exhibition of Germany, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria will be shown simultaniously.

The Exhibition in numbers:

• 430 exhibitors (from all over the world)
• 472 objects
• 2.435 frames

More information could be found in the exhibition's website.