Prince of Orange

 King William III was the last male Monarch of the Netherlands until this year(2013) with the accession of King Willem-Alexander. 1867 was the year this stamp was issued. #10 in my book it values at $24.00 used in my book if it is in better condition than this one is. Still, a nice stamp from my mixture from Elmer.
 I received a postcard today from Germany, a Unesco site card I'll share next week after the sender I got it from gets my reply card. I'm not comfortable showing it off until the swap is complete. I was remiss in sending a card to her promptly and was surprised to receive the card from Germany in only a few short days.

JimmyB

When in Rome

 Another addition to my Roman States stamps was found in my mix from Elmer. I'm going to look at the latest Linn's weekly, I'm already thinking of what I may find in my next mixture purchase, though I dare say, I'm tempted to give Elmer business once again. This is either #5 or 5a in the group from 1852. The difference is not noticeable to me as one the catalogue describes as "lemon" and the other as "yellow". Seriously, how does one distinguish between the color lemon and the color yellow? Either way they have the same value in my book (2003) of $45.

JimmyB

Not White Paper

 These are circa 1923 issues from Liberia. My catalogue lists them as being on white paper in the heading of the column and numbers them 222-224. A note at the end tells me they exist in white,buff or brownish paper and to check the Specialized Classic catalogue and that the values... 0.60, 1.00, and 1.00 are for the common variety, but gives me no clue as to what the common variety is!! These look like brownish paper to me. I'm hoping someone's got a Specialized Classic catalogue and can clue me in on whether these are worth a nickel more than the common variety(or if these are the common variety). The 3 scenes depicted on these stamps are Grebos(a native African tribe) making dumboy(which is a type of doughlike food made by pounding yams or such and boiling them), a pineapple(and I always thought that Hawaii was the only place they grew) and a couple fellas carrying an ivory tusk.

Update......Bill Seymour from the Facebook group "Collecting Stamps" gave me this response..... My 2007 Classic Specialized shows the high values (30c through $5) available in white, buff or brownish paper. They have a footnote that the 30c to 75c carry a 10% premium over the white paper. The $1 shows white paper only in mint, at $30.00 vs, $4.50 for buff or brown. The $2 value shows a slight premium for buff or brown ($5.75/$0.60 vs $5.00/$0.55). The $5 value is again $30.00 for white vs. $12.00 for buff or brown and only shown mint in white.

JimmyB

Four Season's

 I've got no knowledge of Japan stamps at all, Elmer's mix included this complete set of 4 Japan Prefecture issues(Kyoto). Apparently(from a note in my catalogue) Prefecture stamps are only sold in the political subdivision(47 subdivisions) in which they are issued. I'm curious as to the reason behind this and if it isn't a ploy to sell more stamps to collectors or if funds from the sale help out the districts post offices. No clue on my part. These are a nice set pleasing to the eye depicting 4 distinct seasons. This set issued in October of 2000, is numbered Z437-440 in my book.

Update...Tomoaki Hakuto from the Facebook group collecting stamps writes me..... There is a district post office which summarized some prefectures. 
A plan and a sale are made in the area of jurisdiction. 
The quality of the stamp fell.
It plans and manufactures at the request of an area post office now. 
It can purchase now in the whole country.

JimmyB

What a Long Ass Name!!!!!

 Pedro de Alcantara Joao Carlos Leopoldo Salvador Bibiano Francisco Xavier de Paula Leocadio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga, beyond having an extremely large name to fill, was the last Emperor of Brazil and the consensus is, the greatest Brazilian that ever lived. Reigning for 58 years beginning at the age of 5 after his fathers abdication and flight to Europe, he was a strong crusader of human rights and was overthrown against the will of the vast majority of Brazilians in a Coup d'etat. Kind of sucks the way great men are screwed by politics and greed.

 This was released from 1877-1878 and Pedro's bio is well written HERE.

 Another stamp I got from Elmer in my last mixture.

JimmyB

Crap!! Cancellations Disappear!!

 Germany's numbered 29-35 in my book. I'm pleased to find them in Elmer's mixture, but it would have been sweet, sweet, sweet to stumble on these without cancellations. Mint the set is over $3,000! Used, not so much so. Still it's a nice set considering it was part of the $20 bag I got from him. These are 1875-1890 releases. I think the 3 pfennige must have been sitting in someones drawer awhile before they used it. I'm happy again.

JimmyB

Interesting Footnote on this

 On Sept 29, 1930 this was part of  a 15 stamp series paying tribute to Christopher Columbus which was privately produced and presented to the Spanish Postal Authority which placed them on sale and allowed them to be used for 3 days and keeping the revenue from the sales. I'd certainly be interested in gleaning more info on this set. # 429 in my catalogue of the set #418-432.

JimmyB