Folklore

Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten ("The Town Musicians of Bremen") is a German folktale recorded by the Brothers Grimm. In the story a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster leave their farm homes and travel together, eventually foiling a robbery and living happily ever after in an abandoned cottage. Here is an image of a stamp depicting a scene from the folktale in which the animals scare the robbers away by standing on each other and making a din, designed by German artist Elisabeth von Janota-Bzowski (1912-2012), printed by lithography, and issued by Germany on January 13, 1982, Scott No. 1368, Michel No. 1120, plus a photo of a bronze statue by German sculptor Gerhard Marcks (1889-1981) depicting the Bremen Town Musicians erected in 1953 in Bremen, Germany. Note that the donkey's front hooves have become shiny, as touching them is said to make wishes come true.

- nethryk

Here are images of the four stamps in a set depicting steps in the Abakwetha, the traditional Xhosa manhood initiation ceremony, designed by A.H. Barrett, printed by lithography, and issued by Transkei (South Africa) on January 30, 1979, Scott Nos. 52-55.

Chi Cha Youth


Abakwetha in Seclusion


Umtshilo Dance


Leaving the Sutu

In the folklore of northern France and Belgium, giants are larger-than-life figures representing fictional or real persons. In traditions dating back to medieval times, these giants are brought out onto the streets for annual festivals. Here is an image of a stamp depicting two of these Giants of the North and festival celebrants, designed and engraved by Jean Delpech, and issued by France on February 16, 1980, Scott No. 1695, Y&T No. 2076, plus an image of a photo of the same giants in Douai, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. The names of these two giants and the dates of their emergence are: Gayant (1530) and Marie Cagenon (1531).

- nethryk

Singapore 2014 The Attack of the Swordfish or How Bukit Merah came to be.

Once upon a time, the local fisher folk were beset by a school of fierce swordfish and people were killed. The villagers seek the help of their ruler, who was helpless, until a bright boy suggested using the trunks of banana trees to build a barricade upon which the swordfish launched themselves and were trapped. The villagers feted the boy, and the ruler became fearful of such unusual intelligence. The ruler ordered the boy to be executed. The boy was killed atop a hill, he bled profusely and his blood stained the hill. Today this place is called Bukit Merah, or Redhill, and this is a real place in Singapore.

Singapore 2014 Sang Nila Utama or How Singapore got her name.

Prince Sang Nila Utama was hunting on the east coast of Sumatra when he sighted the white sands of the distant island of Tumasek. He decided to cross the sea to explore the island. Midway to the island he met with a heavy storm, to save his boat he ordered his men to throw everything overboard; finally he had to even throw his heavy crown into the sea, whereby the storm immediately subsided. Upon reaching the shore of Tumasek, he sighted a regal animal he had never seen before; his advisor told him the animal could be a singa (lion in Sanskrit). The prince was sufficiently impressed by his sighting and decided to settle on the island, renaming it Singapura or Lion City.

In Inuit mythology, Sedna is the vengeful goddess of the sea and marine animals. She is often represented as having a fish tail, much like a mermaid. Here is an image of a stamp depicting a soapstone sculpture of Sedna carved by Inuit artist Kiawak Ashoona (1933- ), printed by lithography, and issued by Canada on September 25, 1980, Scott No. 866.

- nethryk

The legend of Die schwarze Frau von Hardegg ("The Dark Woman of Hardegg Castle"), designed by Austrian graphic artist Adolf "Adi" Tuma (1956- ), combined engraved by Werner Pfeiler and photogravure, and issued by Austria on February 19, 1999, Scott No. 1775. The story behind the stamp (in German): http://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oes...rzefrau.html

- nethryk

In Maori mythology, Pania of the Reef was a beautiful maiden who lived in the sea. In secret, Pania married Karitoki, the son of a Maori chief, but she explained to him that as a creature of the ocean, she could not survive if she did not return to the sea each morning. When Karitoki treacherously placed a morsel of cooked food into Pania's mouth as she slept in an attempt to force her to stay with him on land, she fled back to the sea and he never saw her again. When people now look deep into the water over the reef, some say they can see Pania with arms outstretched, as if reaching for her former lover. Here is an image of a stamp designed after a statue of Pania of the Reef, printed by photogravure (Harrison & Sons, Ltd.), and issued by New Zealand on November 3, 1958 as one of three stamps in a set commemorating the Hawkes Bay Centennial, Scott No. 323, plus a photo of the 1.5 meter bronze statue, which was unveiled on June 10, 1954 at the Marine Parade, Napier.

- nethryk

Here are images of the two stamps in a fairy tales set, designed by Brazilian artist Jô Oliviera (1944- ), printed by lithography, and issued by Brazil on November 21, 1986 to publicize the LUBRAPEX 86 Philatelic Exhibition, Scott Nos. 2087 & 2088.

- nethryk

"The Romance of the Mysterious Peacock"


"The History of the the Empress of Porcina"

Here is an image of a stamp depicting Monkey King from Chinese folklore, printed by lithography, and issued by Nevis on February 16, 2004, Scott No. 1375.

- nethryk

Germany began re-issuing semipostal stamps last year with lovely pictures of Grimms' fairytales. The earlier sets appeared some years ago on this thread. The new ones are designed by Astrid Grahl and Lutz Menze. Hänsel und Gretel date from early 2014.

This is the German Grimms' fairytale set for 2015, issued in February. Sleeping Beauty; by the same artists as the Hänsel and Gretel set above. (Note that the postal rate has changed.)

Here are images of the two stamps in a set commemorating Czech national festivals and holidays, designed by Czech artist Josef Liesler (1912-2005), combined engraved by Josef Hercik and lithography, and issued by Czech Republic on May 5, 1998 as EUROPA stamps, Scott Nos. 3046 & 3047.

- nethryk

The Ride of the Kings


Wearing masks for Carnival

The Heavenly Maiden was a very popular design for several Ryukyu stamps from 1951 through 1961. The legend says a heavenly maiden came down to earth to bathe in a river. A farmer named Okuma saw her and hid her celestial robe from her. When she couldn't find her robe to return to heaven she began crying. Okuma appeared and consoled her then invited her back to his home. She lived with him and they had a son and daughter. Years later the daughter found the robe and gave it to her mother and the heavenly maiden returned to the heavens. The maiden would occasionally fly low to console her grieving children. King Satto is believed to be the son of the Heavenly Maiden.





The second image also depicts the God of Wind on the 19c and 27c stamps.

nethryk - For details of stamps issued by the Czech Republic, such as those posted on 03/16/2015 09:30 am (info on the printing process), see http://filatelie.ceskaposta.cz/en/f...ade-id20307/ and http://filatelie.ceskaposta.cz/en/f...ade-id20309/

Thank you for your fine images.