Maldive Isands: Bach anniversary

In 1985 the nation of Maldive Islands issued a set of 4 stamps plus a souvenir sheet (Scott 1106) of a single stamp in honor of the 300th anniversary of the birth of JS Bach. The stamps all include a portrait and either a piece of music or a musical instrument. The souvenir sheet is a portrait with the St Thomas Church, Leipzig in the selvage. Bach's connection with St Thomas is well-known. The organs contained therein are likewise well-known. The image in the selvage is an older engraving, before the very famous Bach statue was erected on the grounds. Thus the stamp is actually non-organic, but the connection is none-the-less strong.

Antigua: Bach anniversary

The island nation of Antigua (also Antigua and Barbuda)  issued this miniature sheet (Scott 2339) of a single stamp in 26 June 2000, presumably for the 250th anniversary of the death of JS Bach. The sheet  shows the Bach statue which is located outside the St Thomas Church in Leipzig Germany. The background is a music image denoted BMV 900. One assumes that should read "BWV" the generally used cataloging nomenclature for Bach works. It's a piano prelude and fugue. Bach was of course music director and teacher at the St Thomas church and school from 1723 until his death. The statue was erected in 1908, built by Carl Seffner. The composer is at the forefront of the statue but behind him is a representation of a pipe organ. It's not very clear on the stamp, but the image below makes it quite clear. Antigua was identified as part of the Leeward Islands for some time; it became a crown colony in 1956 and an Associated State in 1967. It gained independence in 1981 and took the name Antigua and Barbuda.