"Pass me a magnifying glass, would you?"
Stamp collecting and philately are very specialized areas and it is not the purpose of this article to conduct a definitive study of postage stamps, in terms of their rarity, financial value and so on.
Rather, this is an examination of some of the more unusual and curious postage stamp designs from around the world.
A Singapore souvenir set of $5 stamps from 2008 was covered in beads on a sheet shaped like a handbag:
Several countries around the world have produced scented stamps offering a variety of different aromas. The small Himalayan nation of Bhutan was probably the first nation to issue this type of stamp in 1973. These stamps were perfumed to smell like roses:
In celebration of the Year of the Pig in 2007, China really did issue a stamp bearing the aroma of sweet and sour pork (above, right). It is rumoured that the stamp’s adhesive actually tasted a little like the famous Chinese delicacy, but this is far from established fact.
Issued to raise awareness of the dangers of forest fires, these Brazilian stamps smell of burnt wood:
Also from Brazil, where most of the planet’s supply of coffee beans originates, this stamp is scented with the aroma of coffee, one of the country’s largest exports:
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Another country renowned for a product derived from beans is Switzerland, world famous for its chocolate. This stamp was sold in a foil-wrapped booklet, similar to most chocolate bars. However, the stamp merely smells like chocolate and apparently when licked tastes exactly like glue:
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In honor of the centenary of the Nobel Prizes in 2001, the United Kingdom issued this stamp with the scent of eucalyptus. When the stamp is scratched, eucalyptus aroma, hidden in tiny capsules in the stamp’s top layer, is released:
The stamp shown above right is giving off sandalwood scent; it comes from India.
Several countries have placed moving images on their stamps. This one from Austria includes forty eight images, which allow a three second “movie” to appear when the stamp is viewed from certain angles.
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The small Himalayan nation of Bhutan is famous for its stamps, including the first ever stamp made of steel:
These embossed stamps, depicting famous world leaders, are printed on plastic:
These stamps issued in 1973 by Bhutan are also real phonograph records. They contain traditional folk songs and an oral history of the kingdom, in both English and Bhutanese, and really can be played on a record player:
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More recently, Bhutan introduced postage stamps that doubled as actual CD-ROMs. One is entitled “Bhutan: In Harmony with Nature”, the other “Bhutan: 100 Years of Monarchy”.
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So there you have it, a look at some of the more peculiar, quite unusual, slightly odd and downright weird postage stamps from around the world. Until next time...
(image credit: Tatiana Glinskaya)
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Philately has been considered as an "auxiliary science of history" because it is based on the general principles of other sciences, which in turn contribute to enrich it. It acquires knowledge of the sciences, of the arts, of languages and opens an immense road of social relations through all countries. This science broadens broad horizons of culture, discovers artistic temperaments and offers the interest of the new and the unknown, while performing a positive therapeutic wor.
