The Crowned Heads Of Europe

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of Prince Louis II of Monaco (1870-1949), designed and engraved by Achille Ouvré (1872-1951) after a portrait by French photographer André Taponier (1869-1930), and issued by Monaco in April, 1937 as the high value in a set of five similar stamps benefiting social welfare funds, Scott No. B23, plus an image of another photo of Prince Louis II in uniform.

- nethryk

Matija Gubec (c. 1548-1573) was a Croatian revolutionary leader whose peasant army was decisively defeated by a baronal army at the Battle of Stubicko Polje (February 9, 1573). Gubec was captured during the battle and publicly tortured by various methods, including being forced to wear a red-hot iron crown, before his execution. Here is an image of a stamp commemorating the 400th anniversary of the gruesome death of Matija Gubec, printed by typography (letterpress), and issued by Yugoslavia on March 1, 1940 as one of a set of five stamps benefiting postal employees in Zagreb, Hrvatska (Croatia), Scott No. B109, plus YouTube link to a short video (in Croatian) featuring a partial reenactment of Matija Gubec's ordeal. Viewer discretion advised!

- nethryk

Queen Elisabeth has now become the longest reigning monarch in British history. The photo was taken today at celebrations in Scotland (she smiled a lot, although not in this Getty image).

Philip II, called Philip Augustus (1165-1223), was a Capetian King of France who reigned from 1180 to 1223. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of the king, designed by French artist Louis-Charles Muller (1902-1957), engraved by Pierre Munier (1889-1962), and issued by France on June 11, 1955, Scott No. B294, Y&T No. 1027, plus an image of a 19th century portrait of Philip Augustus by French painter Louis Félix Amiel (1802-1864).

- nethryk

Here are images of the four similar airmail stamps in a set depicting Queen Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504), printed by photogravure (Courvoisier, S.A.), and issued by Venezuela on October 12, 1951 to commemorate the 5th centenary of the Queen's birth, Scott Nos. C330-C333.

- nethryk

Saint Louis IX (1214-1270) was a Capetian King of France who reigned from 1226 until his death during the Eighth Crusade. A devout Roman Catholic renowned for his charity to the poor, Louis IX is the only canonized king of France. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of Saint Louis, designed by French artist Paul-Pierre Lemagny (1905-1997), engraved by Charles-Paul Dufresne (1885-1956), and issued by France on July 10, 1954, Scott No. B285, Y&T No. 989, plus an image of a detail from a statue of Saint Louis IX. Note: The King's birth year is erroneously indicated as 1215 on this stamp.

- nethryk

Here are images of the two stamps in a set depicting father and son Polish royals, designed by Polish artist Stefan Malecki (1924-2012), combined engraved and photogravure, and issued by Poland on December 4, 1987, Scott Nos. 2838 & 2839, plus images of the painted portraits which were models for the designs of these stamps.

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Boleslaw I the Brave (967-1025), Duke of Poland from 992 to 1025, and the first King of Poland in 1025, engraved by Jan M. Kopecki.


Mieszko II Lambert (990-1034), King of Poland from 1025 to 1031, and Duke from 1032 until his death, engraved by Wanda (Morycinska) Zajdel.

Pope Sylvester II (born Gerbert d'Aurillac, c. 946-1003) was the first French pope (999-1003), and a prolific scholar and teacher who promoted the study of Arab and Greco-Roman arithmetic, mathematics, and astronomy. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of the learned pope, designed by André Spitz (1883-1977) after original artwork by French sculptor and medallist David D'Angers (1788-1856), engraved by Charles Mazelin (1882-1964), and issued by France on June 1, 1964, Scott No. B384, Y&T No. 1421, plus an image of a book illustration depicting Pope Sylvester II.

- nethryk

Kulin (1163-1204), the Ban of Bosnia from 1180 to 1204, was one of Bosnia's most influential and notable historic rulers. Here is an image of a stamp commemorating Ban Kulin, designed by Italian graphic artist Manlio Napoli, printed by lithography, and issued by Bosnia & Herzegovina on March 1, 2013, plus an image of a bust of Ban Kulin which was probably a model for this stamp's design.

- nethryk

Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos (1405-1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor, from 1449 to his death in battle at the fall of Constantinople. Following his death, he became a legendary figure in Greek folklore as the "Marble Emperor" who would awaken and recover the Empire and Constantinople from the Ottomans. Here is an image of a stamp designed after a lithograph portrait of the emperor by Greek artist Dionysios Tsokos (c.1814-1862), printed by lithography, and issued by Greece on April 27, 1968, Scott No. 923, plus an image of the original portrait.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting Ermesinde (1186-1247), Countess of Luxembourg (reigned 1196-1247), printed by photogravure, and issued by Luxembourg on December 8, 1932 as one of a set of five similar stamps benefiting child welfare societies, Scott No. B50, plus an image of a stained glass window portrait of Countess Ermesinde.

- nethryk

Happy Birthday to Isabella I the Catholic (1451-1504), Queen of Castille! Here are images of the five airmail stamps in a set commemorating the 5th centenary of Queen Isabella's birth and celebrating her financial support for Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage that led to the opening of the New World, engraved and printed by Thomas De La Rue & Co., Ltd., and issued by Nicaragua on June 25, 1952, Scott Nos. C316-C320.

- nethryk

Portrait of Queen Isabella I.


Map of the Americas.


Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria.


Columbus's fleet.


Portrait of Queen Isabella.

The Queen Elisabeth Competition is a prestigious international competition for young musicians held annually in Brussels, Belgium. The competition is named after Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of the Belgians (1876-1965), who was a patron of the arts. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting Queen Elisabeth playing a violin, printed by photogravure, and issued by Belgium on May 1, 1976 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the competition, Scott No. B941.

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Baudouin of Belgium who ruled from 1951 to 1993.

Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Alfonso XIII (1886-1941), King of Spain from 1886 until 1931, engraved by Antonio Manso Fernández (1934- ) (vignette), and Jesús Terriza de Coca (1929- ) (lettering and background), and issued by Spain on November 22, 1978, Scott No. 2131, Edifil No. 2503, plus an image of a formal photographic portrait of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.

- nethryk