Speedboats (And Other Small Watercraft)

On January 14, 1939 the Gilbert and Ellice Islands issued a pictorial definitive set of 12 stamps featuring an inset profile portrait of KGVI. Two stamps from this set, the 1 1/2d (Sc #42) and 5d (Sc #46) values show "Paopao" (outrigger canoes) from the Islands.

Here is the 5 rupee value (Sc #148) from Seychelles's KGVI pictorial definitive series of 1938-41. Stamp is inscribed 'fishing pirogue'.

From wikipedia, "A pirogue, also called piragua or piraga, is any of various small boats, particularly dugouts and native canoes. The word is French and is derived from Spanish 'piragua', which comes from the Carib word 'piraua'."

A kayaker is depicted on this September 4, 1992 stamp (Sc #2139) of Japan. Stamp commemorates the 47th National Athletic Meeting which was held in Yamagata. The competition was called the Safflower National Athletics Championships because the safflower (shown in upper left corner of stamp) flourishes in Yamagata prefecture.

Ruanda-Urundi issued this 25c + 25c semi-postal stamp (Sc #B1) in 1925. Scott catalog calls the boat "Congo canoe". It appears to be a dugout, flat bottom canoe, or pirogue.

A couple of old covers from my collection...for the topic.

Linus

On January 19, 1994 New Zealand issued a set of six stamps promoting tourism in the country. The $1.00 value (SG #1780), shown here, depicts vacationers in a jet boat on one of New Zealand's fast-moving rivers.

From en.wikipedia.org, "A jet boat is a boat propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft. Unlike a powerboat or motorboat that uses an external propeller in the water below or behind the boat, a jet boat draws the water from under the boat through an intake and into a pump-jet inside the boat, before expelling it through a nozzle at the stern."

Madeira (Portugal)
EUROPA – Transportation and Communication
April 21, 1988
The stamp depicts a local fishing boat.

In 1987 French Polynesia issued this 4 f stamp (Sc #441) showing the island of Raiatea as a part of its "Polynesian Landscapes" series. Stamp depicts islanders crossing the water in a boat propelled by a small outboard motor.

From wikipedia, "Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. A traditional name for the island is Havai'i, homeland of the Maori people."

Here is Norway's Set of two "Boats of Northern Norway" stamps (Facit #s 926-7) of October 7, 1983.

On May 21 Norway initiated its Classics of Norwegian Painting series with the issuance of a two-stamp set. The one kroner low value (Facit #714) of this set features a collaborative work between Adolph Tidemand (1814 - 1876) and Hans Gude (1825 - 1903), two Romantic Nationalist painters. Gude is most noted for his skies and landscapes.

About Tidemand, wikipedia says, "Among hist best paintings is Brudeferd Hardanger (The Bridal Procession on Hardanger Fjord, 1848) painted in collaboration with Hans Gude."

As you can see, the printers/designers took liberties with the artists' palette. In fairness, if they had attempted to use the true colors, the stamp may have lacked the contrast to present a clear image.

This "Nordic Tourism" two-stamp set (Facit #s 1169-70) was issued by Norway on April 23, 1993. The 4.00 kroner value depicts canoeing, and the 4.50 kroner stamp shows white-water canoeing.

This early, 8c pictorial definitive stamp (SG #313) of New Zealand features the image of a Maori war canoe in the bottom loop of the large "8". This is the 1902 watermarked variety of the stamp.

From wikipedia, "Waka taua (in Maori waka means canoe and taua means army or war party) are large canoes manned by up to 80 paddlers and are up to 40 meters in length. Traditionally, the war canoe was highly tapu (sacred). No cooked food was allowed in the craft and the waka had to be entered over the gunwales."

On July 27, 1993 French Polynesia issued this 14 F value (Sc #624) as a part of a 3-stamp "Tourism" set. Stamp depicts a pirogue with outrigger and outboard motor used to move tourists over an inland waterway.

Here is the 1 1/4 markka value (Facit #218) from Finland's September 6, 1938 set of four stamps commemorating the 300th anniversary of the extension of the Swedish Postal Service to Finland. Stamp depicts an "ice-boat for post delivery, among others over the Aland Sea 18th century" (Facit).

A canoe is depicted on this low value .05 markka stamp from Finland's 1963-74 pictorial definitive series. Stamp shows "lake scenery from Keuru" (Facit).