Black And White Stamps

On December 14, 1965 the DDR issued this 20 (pf) stamp in remembrance of Otto Grotewohl (1894-1964) who served as its first Prime Minister. Grotewohl was a representative in the Reichstag in the 1920's and 30's, until the Nazi takeover.

Here is the 10 aur value (Facit #268) from Iceland's June 17, 1944 set of six identically-designed stamps showing a portrait of Jon Sigurdsson. This is Iceland's first stamp issue as an independent republic.

From wikipedia, "Jon Sigurdsson (1811-1879) was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement...His birthday, June 17, was chosen as Iceland's National Holiday to recognize his efforts toward Icelandic independence."

The main Post Office building in Georgetown is the subject of the 1c value of British Guiana's 1954 QEII pictorial definitive series. The building is still in use today.

From ohbeautifulguyana.files.wordpress.com, "The new 1952 Georgetown and Telecoms Office building - considered state-of-the-art at the time, the 90 room furnished structure was constructed of steel and reinforced concrete with two elevators and a 7-foot in diameter chiming-clock dial. The building today also houses a section of the Guyana Revenue Authority, while some floors are rented to businesses."

Here are are two black and white U.S. stamps from 1964-5, when the 1st class domestic letter rate was 5c. Stamp on left is the Sam Houston (1793-1863) commemorative (Sc #1242, Jan. 10, 1964). Houston is the most prominent figure in Texas's fight for independence from Mexico. Stamp on right the Winston Churchill (1874-1965) commemorative (Sc #1264, May 31, 1965). Churchill was the Prime Minister of the U.K. throughout WWII (1940-5) and again from 1951-5.

On February 10, 1959 France issued a set of three "Tourism" stamps, including this 10 fr value (Sc #907) depicting the Elysee Palace in Paris.

This .25 dinar (Mi #31) "ascending Serbia" overprint stamp was issued on September 1, 1941 by the German occupiers as a part of the fifteen value, second definitive series.

Cancellation is KOVIN, April 10, 1942. Kovin is 42 km ESE of Belgrade.

And, here are two 4c black and white US commemoratives. First one (Sc #1130) was issued on June 8, 1959 and recognizes the centenary of the discovery of the Comstock Lode at Virginia City, Nevada. Second stamp (Sc #1149) was issued on April 7, 1960 and commemorates the UN's World Refugee Year.

Over a 2 month period in 1992 Estonia issued its "Estonian Arms" 10 senti coil stamp in 3 different colors. On August 29, it was issued as brown stamp. Then, on September 25 it appeared as a dark olive green stamp. On its third issuance on October 31, it was released as a black stamp (Sc #225).

Here is the 20 (pf) value (Mi #110) from Berlin's August 17, 1953 two-stamp set commemorating the June 17, 1953 East German workers' strike.

On November 7, 1958 Luxembourg issued a two-stamp set to commemorate the centenary of the Council of State. The 2 fr value of the set depicts Ignace de la Fontaine (1787-1871) who served as the first Council chairperson from 1857 to 1868.

This 40 pf stamp (Mi #100) of Berlin is the high value of the 1952-3 "Men from the History of Berlin" set of ten. Stamp was issued on May 2, 1953 and it depicts Wilhelm Freiherr von Humboldt.

From wikipedia, "Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Karl Ferdinand von Humboldt (1767-1835) was a Prussian philosopher, linguist, government functionary, diplomat and founder of Humboldt University of Berlin, which was named after him in 1949 (and also after his brother Alexander von Humboldt, a naturalist)."

There are two black values among Hungary's photogravure-printed "Portraits and Relics" definitive series of 1943-5. The one filler value (Sc #601) depicts Prince Arpad (ca. 850-907), the sacred ruler, or "kende" of the Magyar tribes, and the 18 filler stamp (Sc #610) shows the Virgin Mary, Patroness of Hungary. The 1 f stamp is a "cool" black, while the 18 f stamp is a "warm" black.

Here is the 1/2 centavo value (Sc #110) from Mozambique Company's 1918-31 definitive series.
This series features 36 stamps in two-color, recess printing and 1 stamp (this one) in black recess printing.

On May 24, 1975 the Republic of South Africa issued this 4c stamp (Sc #442) honoring statesman and military leader Jan Christiaan Smuts (1870-1950).

Miners are depicted on these two black and white Czechoslovakian stamps from the 1950s. The March 15, 1954, 1.60 koruna value (Sc #654) on the left is from the Professions definitive series. The 10 haler stamp (Sc #732) on the right is from the Second Five-Year Plan set of five issued on February 20, 1956.