Thematic : Umbrellas On Stamps.

A bathing siren has left her umbrella on the beach; depicted in a Tunesian stamp of 1959.

"Stiefbeen en Zoon" was a Dutch comedy series way back in the black-and-white days.

One stamp of the large Austrian definitive series of 1948-51 depicting ladies in their traditional costumes. This one from the Salzburg-Pinzgau region - she is carrying a folded umbrella. The photograph shows ladies in the Dienten region in their costumes.

19 pages of Umbrellas....who would have thought !

Charles Condor (1868-1909) is a well-known artist in Australia. His painting "A Holiday at Menton" was honored on a stamp in 1984. The lady reading appears to have forgotten her umbrella.

Another painting by Charles Condor, another lady reading at the beach (1989).

Yesterday was the international "Day for Cleaning up Beaches". There are so many views of beaches on this thread, they need constant care to look as good as this Spanish one (the Gaudi Cathedral of Barcelona in the background). Tourism stamp of 2004

Deauville, the fancy French seaside resort, celebrated its 150th birthday in 2010. The famous racetrack and the beautiful beach are symbolized in the motive. The big parasols are wrapped for the off season.

An ice cream vendor in Turkish Cyprus needs an ice cart and a bit of shade. 2017

Stamps of the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa is the main island) were issued for only a few years between WWII and 1972. A set of stamps from 1960 illustrates colorful traditional clothing, and an umbrella dance.

Ono no Michikaze (894–966) was a famous Japanese calligrapher. While taking a walk in the rain, he came upon a frog leaping upward, towards the leaf of a willow tree, in order to catch an insect. Yet, try as he might, the frog, time and again, came short of his goal. Still the frog leaped again and again, until it finally reached the leaf and caught a tasty treat. A tale of persistence. 2000

"My Dream of Peace"
Today is the UN International Day of Peace. The theme this year, "The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70", commemorates the signing of the declaration in 1948. 12 year old Lee Min Gi of South Korea did the amazing drawing for the stamp: a globe looking hopefully up to the nations represented in the umbrella, peace doves circling and rainbows listening. The Peace Bell at the UN in New York will be rung at 9AM.

August Macke (1887-1914) is one of the most well-known German impressionist painters. Cheerful colors and cheerful situations characterize most of his work (here ladies with umbrellas out window shopping), stamp of 1992. Macke was killed during the very early weeks of WWI.

An Emperor Penguin with his/her youngster on vacation. Both parents are probably on vacation because they share the very strenuous work of raising their young during the winter season in the Antarctic. And their winter season is just over. Informative sheet of 2007.

A traditional Maria Clara dress of the Philippines (this one a fairly new version). Note also the UPU emblem for 100 years of membership.