Banned Stamps

Hello All,

Every now and then I get to thinking (and that in itself can be dangerous), but I was talking about banned books in the USA and other countries the other day with a friend. My mind wandered to other things that could be banned as well like stamps.

With stamps representing different topics and causes, I wondered if a country had ever banned a stamp? Banned for reasons such as images that were too sacrilegious, people that had been exhiled from their countries, but maybe other countries had commemorated....etc. Is this even possible and how would a country do this?

Okay, this may be a little out there, but like I said, I can be dangerous when I think.

Donna

Yes...I did see a thread on Stampsboards about this. There was a stamp from West Germany that was defaced by DDR if it was part of incoming mail. Anything dealing with Evita Peron was banned from Argentina after the Peron's removal including stampsn until the 1970's. The nudie stamps from 1930's Spain (you know the ones) were not accepted by the U.S. I'm sure there were others. The conclusion of the thread was that stamps were sometimes censored as opposed to outright banned in most cases. I have censored my own stamp use in the past - I didn't use the Porky Pig stamp on mail to Israel and other Middle Eastern nations out of respect for other cultures.
Will

yes we have a few from india that are selling like hot cakes

Mmmmm. Hot cakes.

And of course there was the 1968 Chinese 'The Whole Country is Red' stamp, which, unfortunately for all those concerned, didn't show Taiwan as red, and was promptly withdrawn after being on sale in Canton for two days.

I remember about 25-30 years ago linn's(I think) Had an article about some mail being refused by Israel because they were franked with stamps that showed Israel bleeding. I think they were Egyptian.
Many countries have refused the US Non-Denominated stamps as well.

I don't know that this is exactly what you had in mind, but Newfoundland's postmaster, Charles Connell, in a fit of hubris, had his portrait placed on the 5-cent issue of a new series of stamps from 1860. There was a general outcry, and the stamp was not allowed to be issued. Scott lists it as Newfoundland #5. I don't have one to scan.

So, banned? Or just unissued (of which there are many, many examples)?

HHHMMMM, seems as if this wasn't all that "out there" as I had originally thought. All of it was really pretty informative. Stamp trivia for a Sunday afternoon.

Battlestamps-I guess the stamps from Spain would have been the Goya painting. My grandmother had that set. I remember thinking, "Huh, nice colors.", but I guess that was just a females perspective. So, if those stamps were banned in the U.S. I would say that it was marked, (hold on everyone)..."Return to Sender....Undressed Unknown"

SG456 of Israel was also withdrawn
as it had the hebrew word for Jehovah in the centre of the star of David.
It attracts a low CV in Gibbons, so I would assume this withdrawal was relaxed.
(I do not post the image in case it offends)

Nice one, Donna! Thanks for the nice pic, Rod. The difference in sensibilities between the US and Europe have always fascinated me.

The Goya's are art and shouldn't be banned anywhere!

The most recent "banning" has been on eBay with their policy on Third Reich/Nazi memorabilia when it was extended to include stamp collecting related material. It has been interesting to watch the action.

Here's just one news item: http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news...orabilia.htm

rod why was that stamp witht he lady banned?

Possibly those of a prudish or modest disposition, Spock.
Personally, I try not to criticise, we all have our differing standards, and times and values change.

I have posted this before, but on second reading, I am not sure
I believe this is the real story.
I am a big fan of Goya and I think there is possibly a CDRom
around on the artist, that would explain this in a better light.
There is gossip that perhaps the Duchess and Goya were having an affair.




The Duchess of Alba in a more demure setting, by the Basque painter Zuloaga :
excuse my very poor example.

nice as my cic maybe I should ask you to lead my wife finding effort?