Thematic : Umbrellas On Stamps.

Espamer '77

Levin Kipnis (1894–1990) was an Israeli children's author and poet who wrote mainly in Hebrew and Yiddish. He won the Israel prize in 1978. His work was translated into several other languages. The story of Father's big umbrella is featured on the stamp. One child helps many others get to school safe and dry under Father's big umbrella.

Claude Monet was honored in a colorful souvenir sheet issued by the Republic of Central Africa, 2011. 'The Lady with the Umbrella' is probably one of his most well-known umbrella paintings. But it isn't the only one with this motive. This particular one may be of Madame Monet and their son. National Gallery of Art, Washington. (The background painting is the 'View over Boridighera'.)

(Nice painting for today, which is International Women's Day!)

This painting is also known as 'Woman with a Parasol', Maldives 2017.

The same motive, but the Lady is turned to the right. Again Central African Republic (or an agency representing that country).

A couple out for a Sunday drive in their fancy Tatra car. They both have umbrellas, hers even has a fringe. From the 1988 Czechoslovakian set of classic automobiles. It must have been a bumpy ride - it doesn't look as if they have a road.

Claude Monet did paint a gentleman with an umbrella. A stroll in a shady lane on a sunny day. Victor Jacquemont (1801–1832) was a French botanist and geologist known for his travels in India. The painting must have been done before he left for India because he died there of cholera.

Commonwealth Day, formerly Empire Day, is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, that's today. Note the big C surrounding the globe. After celebrating, take the afternoon off at the beach. I hope those big beach umbrellas made of natural materials will continue to be made, they can be easily repaired and if a storm takes them away they don't pollute the environment.

Natural materials are also used in Senegal for making beach umbrellas. Stamp promoting tourism, 1988.

A view of Varadero Beach on the north coast of Cuba was chosen by Cuba and China for their joint issue in 2000. China had a consulate in Havana while Cuba was still a colony of Spain in 1879 and has been doing brisk business with Cuba for decades.

Sainte-Adresse is a small town on the French coast of Normandy. Claude Monet spent the summer of 1867 there and painted friends and family on the garden terrace overlooking the sea. The painting can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Stamp 1980.

You are building a wonderful thematic Kris...boggling stuff.

Some more of the connection between Cuba and China: An umbrella in a painting on a Chinese porcelain platter. 1975

A lovely lady with an umbrella decorating the Burmese stamp of 1946. King George the VI and the map of the country are also there. Beautiful umbrellas are still handcrafted out of light and colorful materials.

Hi Rod, Glad you enjoy the umbrellas! K.

King George VI also had to check on other parts of the Empire: in the Bahamas, on Paradise Beach there were bathers under umbrellas. Queen Elisabeth took over the Empire and then the Bahamas became independent members of the Commonwealth. Stamps, 1948, 1954, 1963.