Phoenix Rising

 King George was just so awesome. The man really set the bar high for the world in the appearance of stamps, this issue(174 in my book) is absolutely no exception to that.  After Hong Kong was invaded by Japan, refugee/prisoner camps were set up and amongst the interred, Edward Wynne-Jones, Hong Kongs' Postmaster began designing this special Coat of Arms shown below the stamp image and commemorative stamp for after their liberation. Special consideration was given to the design and approved by George to allow this vs the omnibus peace and victory stamp in 1946. "Phoenix rising from the ashes of war" is just so aesthetically pleasing. I also greatly appreciate the bilingual aspect of the stamp. The banner on the left roughly says "China and Britain perpetually at peace" and the right side says "The phoenix revives: great good fortune".  The Latin "Resurgo" or "Arise" appears beneath the rising phoenix. The British lions are holding shields that bear the name of the colony. It's easy to not notice the two bat's hovering around George's head which to the Chinese symbolize god fortune and longevity.   It's just such a cool looking stamp wouldn't you agree?

JimmyB

Missing Just One

 This is one of my favorites as far as issues go. 1962's QE2 Hong Kong. I'm missing the $5 stamp and my catalogue describes 2 different types of each one. Ordinary and chalky paper. Now what in the world is mean't by that and how does one go about detrming if they have either one or the other? I notice that the right edge of her face has a shine to it as though from a light and don't know if this is an offset in the printing or just the natural glow of this hot chicka's beauty. I'm guessing it's a tad offset.

JimmyB

The St Louis Stamp expo

Good time at the show today, I'm 6 colonies from having all of the 44 colonies in the King George V and Windsor castle omnibus!!

A good web read on the set is http://www.philatel2.com/jubilee/

Bulbul

Tracy from work brought me another clipping this week. Call it a birdy week for me, stretched for time I was. Feeling thin. This is all the stamping I did this week.

Shame on me.




JimmyB

George V Hong Kong

My catalogue says this is one of either two stamps.

Blue and violet on blue paper or ultra and violet.

OK, I see the violet, now what's the difference between blue and ultra?

Oh how I wish I had a color guide. Guess I'm gonna have to eventually break down and get a color catalogue or just a card set of colors for Scott's catalogue, which is what I use.

I like finding old stamps valued $1 from the 1910-20's.

Plus I really like Hong Kong stamps anyways!!

Hong Kong

Ok, maybe I'll wait awhile to show the next set of postcards from yesterdays set.


$1 Dollar HK is really a nice find I made tonight. The George V below I can't find in my catalogue, but then I'm more intrigued by the seal on the stamp.

JimmyB

Year of the Rooster

This being the year of the dog, lets look back at a set from last years year of the Rooster. This is a colorful set from Hong Kong, China. 4 subspecies on the same number of denominations.

Notice the larger indents in the center of each side along the stamp perforations. This type of perforation has a special name which is eluding me. If you know what this name is please comment and let us know what that name is. Inquiring minds want to know.

These stamps lead me to mention Cees, who specializes in chicken stamps, I've placed a link to his new blog on my blogsite. He has several links on his blog that are also of interest.

The US is releasing a sheet of stamps this year containing a stamp from each year of the Chinese zodiak, having issued over the last 12 years every zodiac sign individually. All US collectors are sure to want to get this sheet, as I am sure many haven't gotten all the years for one reason or another.

JimmyB