Arches, Columns & Gates On Stamps

El Ángel de la Independencia ("The Angel of Independence") is a victory column located on a roundabout over Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Mexico City. Atop the column is a 6.7 metres (22 ft) bronze statue, covered with gold, of Nike, the Greek goddess of Victory, sculpted by French/Italian sculptor Enrique Alciati. The column was dedicated on September 16, 1910 to celebrate the centenary of the Mexican Revolution. Here is an image of a stamp depicting El Ángel, printed by phototgravure, and issued by Mexico on September 15, 1960 to commemorate the bicentenary of the Revolution, Scott No. 911, SG No. 952, plus a photo of the column.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a stamp depicting the gateway of the Prince's Palace, designed and engraved by Henry Cheffer, and issued by Monaco on February 21, 1939, Scott No. 162, SG No. 185, plus a photo of the gate. Note the representation of the coat of arms of the House of Grimaldi atop the gate.

- nethryk

Arches created by the columns of a bridge.


Sweden Scott 1486 Common design CEPT 25 years

Another from Monaco, arches on the Bridge of Suicides (St. Dévote Viaduct).
Sadly this stamp has seen better days.



A cheerier arch from Mexico. 1970 airmail showing UN General Assembly Floor Plan.



Colourful, no?

Well it is colourful but it is also another example of poor
photogravure printing.

Is that supposed to be the rainbow flag?

Don't think it's supposed to represent the rainbow flag that we think of today. 1970 predates that symbol by quite a number of years. I think it's just a late 1960s stylized representation of the floor plan of the UN General Assembly. The stamp was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the UN.

James, I was just being

I wonder, is there any LGBT pride flag on a stamp
out there?

Oh, you are a
I couldn't tell, you kept such a straight face!

Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of French veterinarian and biologist Gaston Ramon (1886-1963) and a depiction of the gate to the National Veterinary School of Alfort, designed and engraved by Claude Haley, and issued by France on May 27, 1967 to commemorate the bicentenary of the founding of the school, Scott No. 1183, Y&T No. 1527, plus photos of Ramon and the gate.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a stamp depicting the memorial granite obelisk (16 m high, erected in 1863) at Skamlingsbanken, southern Jutland, semi-postal stamp designed by Viggo Bang, engraved by Bent Jacobsen, and issued by Denmark on March 16, 1953 to benefit cultural work of the Border Union, Scott No. B21, Facit No. 366, plus a photo of the obelisk.

- nethyrk

Phantom arch: In 1935, Filipino sculptor Guillermo Estrella Tolentino (1890-1976) was selected to design a Commonwealth Triumphal Arch to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Tolentino promptly prepared a maquette (scale model) for the proposed arch, but World War II intervened and it was never built. Here is an image of a stamp depicting the nonexistent arch, engraved and printed by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and issued for use in Philippines on November 15, 1939 as one of three similar stamps in a set, Scott No. 453.

- nethryk

Quiriguá is an ancient Maya archaeological site in the department of Izabal in south-eastern Guatemala. Here is an image of a stamp depicting a Maya stela at the site, engraved and printed by Waterlow & Sons, Ltd., and issued by Guatemala on September 1, 1921, Scott No. 172.

- nethryk

Germany 2013, reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate from Babylon at the Berlin Pergamon Museum.

Scott USA 2071 issued 12 January 1984.

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting the Porta del Popolo (The People's Gate) in Rome's Piazza del Popolo, designed by E. Cavalletti, engraved by Alberto Repettati, and issued by Italy on March 1, 1928, Scott No. B33, plus a photo of the gate. Historical note: The Porta del Populo was the northern gate in the Aurelian Walls, and in ancient Rome the gate was known as the Porta Flaminia.

- nethryk