Masks On Stamps

A masked creature.

Here are images of four stamps depicting masks worn at the traditional Hungarian carnival (Busho Walk) in Mohacs, designed by Hungarian artist Adam Cziglenyi, printed by lithography, and issued by Hungary on February 17, 1973, Scott Nos. 2211-14.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting the funerary mask on the mummy of Tutankhamun, an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, printed by photogravure, and issued by Egypt on March 9, 1947 to publicize the International Exposition of Contemporary Art, held in Cairo, Scott No. B12, plus a photo of the mask. Bonus topic: "Egyptian-themed stamps."

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Here are images of a couple of stamps from a set of nine depicting masks of various Ivory Coast tribes, and issued in 1960. These two examples, from the Bété and Gouro peoples, respectively, were designed by Georges François, and engraved by Gilbert Aufschneider, Scott Nos. 177 & 179.

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Greek mask and theater, designed by Croatian artist Petar Jakelic (1938- ), printed by lithography, and issued by Croatia on May 6, 1993 to commemorate the centenary of the Croatian National Theater, Split, Scott No. 156.

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Here are images of the eight stamps in a set depicting imaginative and colorful African tribal ceremonial masks and costumes, printed by lithography, and issued by Liberia on February 24, 1971, Scott Nos. 541-548.

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Bapende (Democratic Republic of the Congo)


Dogon (Mali)


Baoulé (Ivory Coast)


Dédougou (Burkina Faso)


Dan (Liberia and Ivory Coast)


Bamileke (Cameroon)


Bapende (mask and costume)


Bamileke (mask and costume)

Bundu mask and lion emblem, designed by W.G. Rumley, engraved and printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., and issued by Sierra Leone on April 27, 1961, Scott No. 210.

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Here is an image of a stamp depicting the Finnish National Theater in Helsinki, and traditional Greek masks for tragedy and comedy, printed by lithography, and issued by Finland on May 22, 1972 to commemorate the theater's centenary, Scott No. 514, Facit No. 706.

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CANADA 1992
Ice Hockey mask...

Here is an image of an airmail stamp depicting a warrior, a dance mask and the nose of an airplane, designed and engraved by Georges Bétemps, printed by the Institut de Gravure, and issued for use in Cameroun on February 10, 1947, Scott No. C28. BOO!

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Masks of the Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia :

Noh is a form of classical Japanese musical drama in which the main characters are usually masked. Sometimes a second actor may also wear a mask, particularly in the case of female roles. Some Noh masks portray nonhuman (divine, demonic, or animal) characters. Here are images of the three stamps in a set depicting masked Noh performers in various plays, and issued by Japan on September 20, 1972, Scott Nos. 1122-24. The first stamp in this set is engraved, the others are printed by photogravure.

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The Ghost in "Tamura"


Lady Rokujo in "Lady Hollyhock"


"Hagoromo" (Feather Robe)

Here is an image of an engraved airmail stamp depicting pre-Columbian ornaments and a mask, issued by Mexico on August 1, 1956 to publicize Mexico's archaeological heritage and to commemorate the centenary of Mexico's postage stamps, Scott No. C229.

- nethryk

France 2013 Theatrical Masks of the World