Folklore

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Juraj Jánošík (1688-1713) was a famous Slovak highwayman who features as the main character in many Slovak and Polish legends, novels, poems and films. Here is an image of a stamp depicting the legendary robber, designed by Slovak artist Martin Benka (1888-1971), combined engraved by Jan Mrácek and photogravure, and issued by Czechoslovakia on March 25, 1963, Scott No. 1160, plus an image of a wood engraving of Juraj Jánošík by Polish artist Wladyslaw Skoczylas (1883-1934), upon which the inscription reads "The name of Jánošík will never perish," and a YouTube link to a short animated film starring a cartoon version of Jánošík.

- nethryk

Happy Birthday to Leonardo Mota (1891-1948), a Brazilian writer, teacher, lawyer, government official, journalist and historian who is called the "Prince of Brazilian Folklore." Here is an image of a stamp depicting a Folklore Festival, designed by Darlan Rosa, printed by lithography, and issued by Brazil on August 22, 1991 to commemorate Mota's birth centenary, Scott No. 2325, plus a photograph of Leonardo Mota (standing) behind a couple of popular folk music performers.

- nethryk

Storytelling, printed by lithography, and issued by Republic of China (Taiwan) as one of four stamps in a set depicting "country life," Scott No. 2953.

- nethryk

Bash Chelik is a Serbian folktale about an imprisoned manlike monster who grants a young prince three extra lives in exchange for giving him three glasses of water. After drinking the water, Bash Chelik suddenly gains massive strength, breaks the chains that bind him, opens his wings, and flies away with the prince's wife. Bash Chelik cannot be killed by ordinary means because his life is in a bird that is in a heart of a fox in a forest on a high mountain, but the princess discovers this secret. With help from the Lords of Dragons and his own brothers, the young prince eventually slays Bash Chelik and rescues his wife. Here are images of the two stamps in a set illustrating the Bash Chelik folktale, designed by Serbian artist Radomir Bojanic (1951- ), printed by photogravure (Courvoisier, S.A.), and issued by Yugoslavia on May 30, 1997, Scott Nos. 2377 & 2378.

- nethryk

Shackled Bash Chelik, the King and various creatures


The Young Prince fighting Bash Chelik

Here are images of the three airmail stamps in a set illustrating stories from Arabian Nights, designed by French artist Pierrette Lambert (1928- ), printed by photogravure (Delrieu), and issued by Mali on April 5, 1971, Scott Nos. C119-C121.

- nethryk

Scheherazade and Shahryar, One Thousand Nights and a Night


Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves


Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

Here are images of the four stamps in a set depicting scenes from Chinese fables, printed by lithography, and issued by Republic of China (Taiwan) on September 6, 2001, Scott Nos. 3374-77.

- nethryk

Now Three, Now Four


Selling the All-Penetrating Sword and the Unyielding Shield


The Farmer who Waited for the Rabbit by the Tree


The Old Fool Who Moved the Mountains

I want the Aladdin set. What year is that from and how much is it worth?

Here are images of the three stamps depicting subjects from Italian folklore, designed by several Italian artists, printed by photogravure, and issued by Italy on December 1, 1974 fro Stamp Day, Scott Nos. 1170-72.

- nethryk

Pulcinella (Punch), a classical character which originated in the commedia dell'arte of the 17th century, designed by L. Bocchini.


Carnival masqueraders, designed by G. Faccincani.


Pantaloon, a Venetian character in commedia dell'arte represented as a foolish old man wearing pantaloons, designed by A. Burdino.

Here are images of a booklet pane and of the six stamps within it depicting fairy tale illustrations by Finnish artist Rudolf Koivu (1890-1946), designed by Pirkko Vahtero (1936- ), printed by lithography, and issued by Finland on August 29, 1990 to commemorate Rudolf Koivu's birth centenary, Scott Nos. 825a, and 820-25, Facit Nos. 1115-20.

- nethryk



"Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," from The Thousand and One Nights


"Story of the Great Musician," by Raul Roine (1907-1960).


"The Story of the Giants, the Witches, and the Daughter of the Sun," by Rudolf Koivu.


"The Golden Bird, the Golden Horse, and the Princess," from the Brothers Grimm.


"Lamb Brother," by Rudolf Koivu.


"The Snow Queen," by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875).

Here are images of the six stamps in a set illustrating scenes from Romanian fairy tales collected and written by various 19th century authors, designed by Romanian artist Florin Ivanus, printed by photogravure, and issued by Romania on November 30, 1982, Scott Nos. 3094-99.

- nethryk

"Prâslea the Brave and the Golden Apples," by Petre Inspirescu (1830-1887).


"The Bear Hoaxed by Fox," by Ion Creanga (1837-1889).


"The Tear-Drop Prince," by Mihal Eminescu (1850-1889).


"The Little Bag with Two Coins Inside," by Ion Creanga.


"Ileana Simziana," by Petre Inspirescu.


"Danila Prepeleac," by Ion Creanga.

Here is an image of a stamp illustrating the Inuit legend of "The Bear of the Sea," designed by Greenlandic artist Jens Christian Rosing (1925-2008), engraved by Arne Kühlmann (1939- ), and issued by Greenland on May 5, 1997, Scott No. 323, Facit No. 305, plus a link to a website recounting the legend of "The Woman and Her Bear," which may refer to the same story: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-L...-Eskimo.html Bonus: Polar bear.

- nethryk

"Rosalie, the Cruel Lady of Forchtenstein Castle," designed by Austrian artist Adolf "Adi" Tuma (1956-), combined engraved by Werner Pfeiler (1941- ) and photogravure, and issued by Austria on March 31, 1997, Scott No. 1718, plus a link to a retelling of this ghost story: http://www.enricophil.it/tales/Euro...tenstein.htm

- nethryk

According to legend, a mermaid was swimming in the Vistula river when she stopped to rest on a riverbank near the Old Town of Warsaw, Poland, and decided to stay. Local fishermen noticed that something was creating waves, tangling nets, and releasing their fish. They planned to trap the offender, but fell in love with her upon hearing her singing. Later, a rich merchant trapped the mermaid and imprisoned her. Hearing her cries, the fishermen rescued her, and ever since, the mermaid, armed with a sword and a shield, has been ready to help protect the city and its residents. Here is an image of a bronze statue of Syrenka Warszawska ("Mermaid of Warsaw"), designed by E. John, engraved by Marian Romuald Polak, and issued by Poland on May 3, 1955, Scott No. 668, plus a photo of the monument statue (1939), sculpted by Polish artist Ludwika Nitschowa (1889-1989), and located by the Vistula River in Warsaw. Note: Nitschowa's model for this statue was Krystyna Krahelska (aka "Danuta," 1914-1944), a Polish poet, ethnographer, member of the Home Army, and a participant in the Warsaw Uprising.

- nethryk

According to local legend, the Devil himself danced with the wife of a clergyman on August 3, 1842 during a house party in Skarpans, Åland. Here is an image of a stamp depicting the Devil's dance, designed by Åland artist Juha Pykäläinen (1953- ), printed by lithography, and issued by Åland (Finland) on May 9, 1997 as a EUROPA stamp, Scott No. 135, Facit No. 128, plus an image of another illustration of this unholy event by Åland artist Tage Wilén (1941- ).

- nethryk

In Icelandic folklore, the real life Icelandic priest and scholar Sæmundur fróði ("Sæmundur the Learned," 1056–1133) is a larger-than-life character who repeatedly tricks the Devil into doing his bidding. In one famous story Sæmundur made a pact with the Devil that the Devil should bring him home to Iceland from Europe on the back of a seal. Sæmundur escaped a diabolical end when, on arrival, he hit the seal on the head with the Bible, killing it, and then stepped safely ashore. Here is an image of a stamp depicting a sculpture of Sæmundur fróði killing the diabolical seal with a Bible, by Icelandic sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982), printed by photogravure, and issued by Iceland on March 12, 1974, Scott No.470, Facit No. 531, plus a photo of the original work of art located in front of the main building of the University of Iceland.

- nethryk