Traditional Hairdos And Headdresses On Stamps

Namibia is famous for its well designed stamps. The following set, shows different headdresses of the ethnic groups of the country is an example of fine and well designed stamps. It is a set of 12 stamps designed by Mary Jane Volkmann and issued on two sheets on March 20, 2002.

On the back of the stamps there are descriptions. In the first printing, the descriptions were printed reversed. This mistake was corrected and few weeks later the sheets were reissued with correct description printing (although the "mistake" allows correct orientation when you put the two sides together).

Here are the first six stamps. I scanned the back and put the description together with the stamps:

...and the rest six:

One of the best in my folklore collection is this set of 12 stamps show traditional headdresses of Papua New Guinea ethnic groups issued on two parts on January 12, 1977 and March 29, 1978:

Wow, LaoPhil - sooooo elaborate head decorations from Papua New Guinea. Amazing.

Some Europeans did (or still do?) - and it is pity that these stamps are not in colours.

Swiss
25 August 1977 / Regional Folk Customs: 20c. Silvesterkläuse Herisau, 30c. Röllelibutzen Alstätten

Many thanks, Tomoko, for the great Swiss engraved stamps!

Hairdos and head ornaments among the Sakalava ethnic group of Madagascar, designed by Jules Douy and issued for use in French Madagascar in 1947:

Dance costumes with special head decorations, issued by Burkina Faso (upper Volta) on August 20, 1991:

A woman wearing a typical Polynesian hat, painting by the Polynesian artist P.E. Victor, issued by French Polynesia on December 3, 1993:

Amazing men's head dress from Burkina Faso, Eli - I am adding a few modern version from the same country, maybe from different tribe of people..?

Burkina Faso
1985 / Dodo Carnival

Art Nouveau head-dress

Germany
16 February 1977 / German Art Nouveau / design: P. Steiner

Samoan chief with a special hat, issued for use in Western Samoa on September 2, 1940:

Togo
20 October 1957 / design & engrave: G. Bétemps

Chief Mangbetu with a special headdress, issued for use in Belgian Congo in 1931:

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), France issued to its colonies and territories one stamp with same design each. The stamp shows people from different French territories in their traditional hats. The stamps designed and engraved by Raoul Serres and issued on July 4, 1949.

Here is the stamp issued for French Indochina. It shows men from North Africa, Center Africa and South America and women from Vietnam and Polynesia:

Kaue, traditional head decorations, issued for use in Gilbert Islands on September 25, 1978 for the Christmas: