Ceska Republic Christmas 1992

 

The Ceska Republic issued this stamp in 1992. It anguished in the Czechoslovakia book vor years before I image was conveying. There is a small set of similarly designed stamps I think though I have not set out to put them together. These are several interesting elements; I can't tell if it's a mouse of what sort of creature that is at the very bottom of the stamp.

Bhutan anniversary of Titian revised painting

 

Vanus and a certain organ player certainly do ger around! In addition to this painting, there is a similar work, on a slightly smaller scale. Differences in details abound, soon too many to enumerate. The present stamp is unusual in that it seems to an unlikely figure in the larger scope of the painting; but we thereby ger a nice, detailed look at the organ. There is still not enough information to know any details about the instrument. 

Art Work, 1997 Gambia

 

This set of stamps slipped past me to a while. I didn't realize if was around for a couple of years. The set us notable for the fact that two organ related stamps are part of the sets. The stamps are reproductions of paintings by various artists. "Angel playing the organ" and "The Graham children" both include representations of organs. Six of the stamps have fairly standard formats. The Hogarth stamp is slightly larger than usual.  My caroler has misidentified the two larger stamps. One is by Lepicie the by Hogarty. Cats feature on the two single-stamp panes. 

Guinea-Bissau, Mozart Memorial

 

Guinea-Bissau issued this stamp in honor of the birth of Amadeus Mozart in 2016, the 260th anniversary of his birth. The stamp pictures a musical salon scene with participants/listeners and perhaps a clergyperson in the rear of the scene.  In the background is an inset picture of Mozart which includes an image of a pipe organ. Another performer is playing an additional keyboard instrument, a piano or harpsichord perhaps. The stamp seems to show a fairly specific organ, though I cannot determine what instrument it may be. I would be happy to hear suggestions. 

Czech Republic: Natural beauties

 

 

The Czech Republic issued this pair of stamps in 1995 celebrating two large rock formations, under the category of "natural beauties" in that nation. Of course there is no organ present; the basalt formation shown on the 8k stamp looks somewhat like organ pipes. I have included the stamp in this pipe organ stamp inventory for completeness, as this stamp has appeared on "pipe organ" lists for some time. There are several basalt formations that mimic organ pipes. I think this is the only one that features on a postage stamp. The stamps were issued 3 May, 1995. My copies are in mint condition, purchased from County Stamp Center.

Paraguay: Titian

Paraguay issued a set of 8 stamps in 1976 honoring the "500th anniversary of the birth" of the artist Titian. However many set Titian's birth year later in the 15th century, 1488 or 1490. The artist's -death- is generally fixed at 1576, so this set might more accurately commemorate the 400th anniversary of the artist's death. Titian was the most important artist of the so-called Venetian school of artists during the Renaissance era. The 8 stamps (Scott 1708 a-g, and 1709) all feature nudes from various works by Titian. The high value stamp is a detail from "Venus and the Organist." At the extreme left edge one may discern organ pipes of a small portativ instrument. The lower-value 7 stamps are often collected as a connected strip; mine are singles. Titian had about him a workshop of artists all using the same visual style. Titian and his workshop painted several variations of Venus reclining with an instrumentalist visible, and sometimes other elements, notably a dog or cupid. All were from the mid-1500's. Below are two version of Venus reclining from Titian's workshop.

Germany: Reger

Germany issued this stamp honoring Max Reger on May 2, 1991, the 75th anniversary of the composer's death. The stamp (Scott 1645) includes an image of the composer and a collection of organ pipes in the rear. I blogged the stamp itself here. I have seen this first day cover in several places, so I know it's fairly common. The cachet features the same image of Reger, plus some organ pipes. The background in this case though is manuscript writing for organ. I have several works by Reger but I don't know them well-enough to identify the piece of music shown. The postmark also includes pipes and some music notation. It's a nice three-in-one combination of stamp, cancel, and cachet.

Austria: Nico Dostal

Austria issued a set of 2 stamps honoring composers of operettas in 1995. The 6 shilling stamp showed Franz von Suppe and a scene from "The Beautiful Galathea." The cover above shows Nico Dostal and a scene from his operetta, "The Hungarian Wedding." The stamp in this case is not the stamp-related item, but rather the postmark. It is a commemorative postmark dated April 26 1996,  about one hundred years after the death of composer Anton Bruckner. Better known for his non-organ compositions, Bruckner did produce a handful of organ works with which many organists are familiar. The postmark includes an image of the composer along with some representative pipes. While I have not investigated, I suspect there is no (strong) relation between Dostal and Bruckner, nor between Dostal and the pipe organ. Sergio Berti is the name of a stamp dealer in Italy with whom I have dealt some in the past, though this cover itself was a gift from Mark Jameson.

Alderney (UK): Christmas

Alderney issued this set of stamps in 2017 for Christmas. The stamps reference the carol, "The Holly and the Ivy," and illustrate the song. The stamps include a mix of outdoor and indoor scenes. The 73p stamp shows stylized organ pipes, similarly stylized keyboards, and music. The border of the stamp includes the relevant lyric, "...the playing of the merry organ.

France: Daumier painting

The date of this cover is 23 March 1967. The stamps are fairly common for the era, and the postmark is unremarkable. The cachet, however features a positif organ in a painting by Honore Daumier. The reverse of the cover has this to say about Daumier and the painting.

Honore Daumier est ne a marseille ie 26 fevrier 1803. Son pere etait vitrier mais, so croyant poete, il abandonne en 1814 sa boutique pour monter a Paris. Deux ans plus tard, il fait venir sa femme et son fils. A 13 ans honore travaille chez un huissier puis devient commis dans une librairie du Palais Royal. Mais il est instable et prefere le dessin. Il parcourt le sues de paris, frequente les artistes de l'epoque et s'enflamme pour les idees republicans. En 1830 Louis Philippe prend le pouvoir et Daumier commence ses dessins satiriques. Il fait un Gargantua representant Louis Philippe gave et distribuant autour de lui des profits et des decorations. Cela lui rapporte 300 francs d'amende et six moin de prison. En 1835 les lois deseptembre, severes pour la presse, l'obligent a suspendre ses dessins politiques et a produire quantite de lithos "sujets de moeurs," pour pouvoir vivre. En 1845 il s'installe dans l'ile Saint-Louise, se met a peindre et a sculpter. Puis, en 1865, a Montmartre, il continue a dessiner pour la presse mais, mal pae, vit peniblement. A 65 ans, il loue une maiconnette a Valmondoins, Menace de padre la vue, il se troupe dans une situation difficile. C'est grace a la generosite de ses amis qu'il peut demeurer dans son lieu de repli. (Corot avait achete la maison et lui en avait fait cadeau pour sa fete.) En 1877 le gouvernement lui accorde une pension de 100 frances par mois, portee a 200 frances l'annee suivante. Daumier neurt a valmondoi . Son corps est transfere au Pere Lachaise en avril. Le timbre reproduit une peinture datant de 1860 set se trouvant au Musee du Louvre. On connait de lui d'innombrables lithographies et peintures, dans de nombreux musees du monde.

Honore Daumier was born in Marseille on February 26, 1803. His father was a glazier but, being a poet, he left his shop in 1814 to go to Paris. Two years later, he brings his wife and son. A 13-year-old honore works at a bailiff and then becomes a clerk in a bookstore in the Royal Palace. But he is unstable and prefers drawing. He travels the sweats of Paris, frequents the artists of the time and ignites for the republican ideas. In 1830 Louis Philippe took power and Daumier began his satirical drawings. He makes a Gargantua representing Louis Philippe gave and distributing around him profits and decorations. That brings him a fine of 300 francs and six months of imprisonment. In 1835 the laws of September, severe for the press, forced him to suspend his political drawings and to produce a quantity of lithos "subjects of morals," to be able to live. In 1845 he moved to Ile Saint-Louise, began to paint and carve. Then, in 1865, in Montmartre, he continues to draw for the press but, badly, lives painfully. At the age of 65, he rents a scrap at Valmondoins, threatens his view, he finds himself in a difficult situation. It is thanks to the generosity of his friends that he can remain in his place of withdrawal. (Corot bought the house and gave it to him for his birthday.) In 1877 the government gave him a pension of 100 francs a month, raised to 200 francs the following year. Daumier neurt a valmondoi. His body is transferred to Pere Lachaise in April. The stamp reproduces a painting dating from 1860 set at the Louvre Museum. He is known for countless lithographs and paintings in many museums around the world.

Most sources indicate Daumier painted "The organ player of Barbary" around 1864-1865. The painting is now in the possession of the Musee Petit-Palais in Paris, France. 

The "arms of Auch" stamp (Scott 1142) was issued in 1966. The Marianne type stamp (Scott 653) was issued in 1951. So it would seem the date of the cover is not related to the issuance of either stamp. Above the cachet the the FDC indication along with "No. 586 Historique FDC. And overprinted atop that is the single word, "Imprime." A circular red mark at the bottom of the cover reiterates that same information with what may be the printer's insignia; it's not quite legible to me. The date of the postmark seems to correlate to neither the painter's birth nor death dates. So the "why" of this cover remains a bit of a mystery to me. My cover was a gift from Mark Jameson who for several years has been associated with the Berkshire Organ Club, which explains that notation on the reverse. It would seem that at some point it passed through the hands of the Empire Philatelic shop in Paris.

Italy: Palestrina

In 1975 Italy issued a single stamp to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the birth of the musician Pierluigi da Palestrina. Scott 1195 describes him as a "composer of sacred music." Indeed he was. His influence of musical art cannot be overestimated. The stamp shows the composer with a book of music, and his dates (died 1594). the postmark is text plus a posthorn. The cachet on my cover shows a portrait of the composer along with a representation of an organ: two keyboards (with many, many notes!) and a row of pipes. Palestrina's career carried him around Italy with stints at the Vatican in Rome. He is known for his sacred choral and instrumental works more than his secular pieces, but all of it demonstrates his mastery of polyphony and counterpoint.

Romania: Fall Music Festival

This cover shows a fairly common, regular issue stamp from Romania. However, the postmark is remarkable. Cluj-Napoca is apparently a fairly important city in the Transylvania part of Romania. They had in 1996 a fall music festival, which is the point of reference for the postmark. The festival began in 1965. It is known for the shear number of music events, and the span of musical eras represented, from early music to contemporary. Apparently, at least in 1996, Bach and the pipe organ featured to some degree. The 2017 edition of the festival was the 51st, and it now ranks as the largest such event in Romania. I have not been able to find mention of a specific organ used for festival concerts, so I cannot determine if the pipes shown in the postmark are from a specific instrument, or are rather an artistic representation. My cover was a gift from Mark Jameson. The stamp on the cover is a very common specimen from the large "hotels, lodges, and resorts" set begun in 1991. The present, violet-colored stamp (Scott 3667) shows the Lebada Hotel in Crisan, a town known for its tourism.

Poland: Koszalin Music Festival

Koszalin is a town in central Pomerania. It along with seven other towns hosts an international organ festival each year. Concerts of organ music, various chamber ensembles, and choral music make up the event each summer. The 52nd series was held in 2018. This card was issued to mark the event in 1972. The postcard stamp image shows a sailboat, definitely not organ-related. But the postmark includes a row of organ pipes. The card appears to have been issued in 1971, and cancelled to promote the music festival the following summer. Address details make up the obverse; my copy is in mint condition, so it's blank on the reverse. This was a gift from Mark Jameson.

Poland: Kamien Pomorski Music Festival

This postcard shows the Pomeranian Dukes Castle in Szczecin, Poland. Below is some of the text on the card the a translation.

ochrona zabytkow
baszta siedmiu peaszczy XIII w.
zamek ksiazat pomorskich

protection of monuments
Szczecin: bastion of seven coats 13th cent.
Pomeranian Dukes' Castle

The castle dates from the 13th century.

What makes the card interesting to me is the commemorative postmark, celebrating the beginning of the International Organ and Chamber Music Festival in Kamien Pomorski. The medallion in the center of the postmark shows organ pipes in the UR corner. The postmark is dated 17 June 1977. So the card was issued (as part of a series highlighting the need to protect national monuments) to mark the Duke's Castle in Szczecin, and the music festival in nearby Kamien added a fancy postmark to celebrate the music festival in 1977. Text running in the middle of the card would indicate the card was issued by Polish Post that same year, 1977 (a print run of one-million copies, perhaps?). The reverse of this card has a couple of pencil markings made by the dealer selling it, but otherwise the card is blank. It was a gift from Mark Jameson.

 Cathedral organ, Kamien Pomorski

Italy: Music Year 1985

In 1985 all member nations of the European Union were encouraged to issue stamps honoring the "music year." Many did, including Italy with this pair of stamps (Scott 1640-1641) featuring composers and tenors. The 500-lira stamp shows Pertile and Martinelli; the 600-lira stamp shows Bellini and Bach. The background of both includes a representation of what may be imaged as organ pipes. The 600-lira stamps honors "composers." Bellini is best known for his operas, though there is an organ sonata listed in his oeuvre. Bellini 's father and grandfather were both organists and music teachers. The 500-lira stamp honors "tenors."  Aureliano Pertile was a famous tenor who lived in the later 1800's through the 1950's. Giovanni Martinelli was another vocalist who lived during the same time frame. All the persons represented have a birth or death year which is a multiple of -85.

Monaco: Salle Garnier

Monaco issued a set of six stamps in 1979 celebrating the 100th anniversary of their opera house, the Salle Garnier. Five of the stamps show scenes from various operas produced in the theater. The sixth (Scott 1172) shows a painting which is above the stage. The painting shows various musical instruments and players. Among them is an organ and organist. It wasn't until I was examining the image on the card that I looked more closely at the stamps and discovered the organ tie-in on this particular stamp. What a find! This is a first day of issue card. The image printed on the card replicates the painting: the organists and pipes are quite clear. With the postcard and stamp images in mind, one can just barely discern the details in the photos below. I couldn't find any images that showed the instruments, let alone the organ, any more clearly.

France: music boxes

 

France issued a mini-sheet of six stamps in 2015 featuring elaborate music boxes. Among the very creative and fanciful devices is one that looks like a pipe organ and includes a clock. While the design may represent a specific instrument, I suspect it is a generic representation to suit the creator's artistic desires. My copy of this stamp sheet was a gift from Mark Jameson. I have tagged this as "5 ATA" as it may be considered an artistic form of an organ, but I suspect it is essentially non-organic. Each of the music boxes shown on the sheetlet are marvelous works of art and clever machines to boot!

Gambia: Goofy 60th (Disney)

Many small nations have produced "wallpaper" stamps to generate income (sales of collectible topical stamps to dealers and collectors). Gambia is among those nations, and "Disney" is one of the most highly regarded of topics. This stamp (Scott 1295) is a prime example. I am fairly certain it exists only to generate income for the Gambian postal authority. The stamp is part of a set of eight issued around the time of the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the "Goofy" character in Disney films. Each of the eight stamps includes this cartoon dog's image in a scene from various films. The current stamp is from "Mickey's Amateurs" from 1937. Goofy appears at about 5:50 into the 8:40 film, pulling a menagerie of instruments, including a collection of pipes. Goofy's is the last of a series of musical acts offered by various familiar characters.

Sweden: Christmas 1980

Sweden issued this stamp for Christmas on 18 November 1980. It shows a form of artistic representation of an angel blowing a horn.Scott 1339 was issued as a booklet stamp, not the more common coil format.

For years I have heard that this stamp's design is based on case decoration on a specific pipe organ in Sweden. At this point I don't remember who has said such, or where I might have read it. I have never found any confirmation of this however. I would love to know the details behind the stamp's design. I think I will try to determine who designed the stamp and see if it's possible to contact them. I am willing to concede that the decoration may not be organ-related at all.

Religious Music Festival (Spain)

This stamp commemorates a religious music festival in Cuenca, Spain. It seems the event has been going on for more than 50 years. I say "seems" because while their website is full of event information, there is very little information about the history of the event or who sponsors it. Being in Spain, I would assume it spring out of the Catholic hierarchy, but I really cant' tell. The event began in 1962; this stamp was issued in 1986, so perhaps it was a 25th anniversary commemoration. The stamp shows a stylized organ facade, and indeed, there are a few instruments to be found in the photo gallery of the website. The facade does not seem to depict a specific instrument. Scott 2472 was issued March 26, 1986, with a denomination of 17 pesetas.