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Here's a stamp that was issued in 1985 to commemorate the end of WW2. Well, not really. 

It commemorates the 40th anniversary of the integration of German expellees, also known as Heimatvertriebene (German citizens who were displaced from Eastern Europe after World War II). The design is minimalistic, featuring stylized, interlocking shapes in the colors of the German flag (black, red, and gold), symbolizing unity and integration.

The text "40 Jahre Eingliederung heimatvertriebener Deutscher" [40 Years of Integration of Displaced Germans] and was meant to highlight the social and political effort to assimilate these individuals into West German society after the war. The integration of millions of displaced Germans was a significant aspect of postwar German history, as it required extensive economic, social, and political resources.

This is not the first stamp to do this ... there were stamps earlier in the Cold War on the same theme.

What is interesting about all of the stamps with this theme is that they were sometimes in the middle of a Postkrieg [Postal War] when covers using the stamps were either not accepted or the stamps were blacked out by the East German postal authority.

The topic of German expellees was a sensitive issue, as it touched on the postwar displacement of ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe, areas that were then part of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union. From the Eastern Bloc perspective, this subject was politically charged and, in some cases, viewed as a challenge to postwar borders and territorial settlements.

Returning or defacing the stamp to indicate disapproval was part of a broader strategy by Eastern Bloc countries to control the narrative surrounding postwar history and German territories, and to reject any Western narrative that could be interpreted as irredentist or revisionist. As a result, mail bearing this stamp could encounter issues when sent to or through East Germany and other Warsaw Pact nations, reflecting the ongoing political and ideological tensions between East and West Germany during the Cold War.

For example, here is a cover in my collection, with your stamp, that was refused delivery. 

   

From Roy's 50 cent box ... always fun. Especially the various postmarks on this otherwise unassuming picture postcard. A delightful mess. 

   

Here is my reconstruction. Feel free to provide your own interpretation.

Based on the receiving cancel and the dateline, it was mailed at Gilroy, California on Saturday, January 18, 1910. It sent by L. Serles to his brother Geo. [George] at 1900 Alameda in San Jose, CA. His rather terse message is, "Dear Brother, I was glad to hear from you." That's it.

There is an arrival cancel from San Jose dated January 20. George is, however, hard to find. The address is crossed out and a General Delivery stamp, dated January 20th is hand-stamped in red ink. Someone must have suggested to try Fresno - which is added in green crayon which is also used to cross out San Jose. On arrival in Fresno a faint CDS is applied, with black ink, as well as another General Delivery stamp in red ink both with a date of January 21. George doesn't show.

Then, someone writes a new address, in pencil, 'General Delivery Los Angeles'. The card must have been duly forwarded since there is a new purple General Delivery stamp for LA dated January 22. And, when George does not claim it, another one is added on January 23.

At that point the card must have been put in abeyance. Almost a month later, someone writes in pencil 'Feb 20' and two single-line dated handstamps, one in purple and one in red, are added and dated February 21, 1910.

Was that the day that George finally picked up his mail? Or the day it  was sent back to his brother in Gilroy? Don't know. Was George travelling around looking for work? Again, we'll never know.

What I do know is that postmarks are fun. 

PS - The illustration on the postcard is by a well-known artist who did a lot of postcard art - Fred L Clavally. His 'Glad Hand' image dates to 1908. 

   

So ... is it a fort if we think it's a fort?

In 1962 Peru issued a series of stamps with the image of the ruins of a large pyramid structure, with four levels, built on a hill near what is today the town of Paramonga.

During the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in the early 16thC, the structure reminded those who saw it of a European Fortress. And, so it became known as the Fortress of Paramonga. In 1541 Pedro Cieza de León wrote, "The buildings were very handsome, and many wild beasts and birds were painted on the walls, which are now all in ruins and undermined in many places by those who have searched for buried gold and silver. In these days the fortress only serves as a witness to that which has been" [Wikipedia].

It was old when the Inca Empire was new.

More recent archaeology suggests, however, that the complex had a more religious purpose. But who knows? Fort or Temple? As de León suggested, it is a silent witness to a distant past.

Stamp:
Peru: Definitive Series of 1962
Fortaleza de Paramonga, Ruinas Incas
Issued on November 19, 1962
1s [Peruvian Sol], Rose-carmine
Mi.Nr. 622

   

Satellite photo by Peru-Sat1

   

.If you want  to know When a U.S. stamp was used  on  cover the earliest date  or first day cover. Here  is the up to date list of all early U.S. covers. U.S. Scott #1 up to over  #500 U.S. stamps used on cover and who found them.  This list changes weekly some times. This is the experts list to help keep track of the newest finds on rare covers. If you collect U.S. First day covers of old stamps click on the pdf below, And if you ever need a new list email me ill send you the most  up to date list.

To avoid long term congestion of the "For Sale" category, postings in this category will be deleted after 2 months.

https://postalhistorysunday.substack.com...ng-you-see   .Here is a link to an interesting site its all about postal history and postal markings postal routes. I read it every week enjoy.

Wanted any and all U.S. Scott 231 types new used and on covers. Email me at richardziggy65@gmail.com

Arrived today from PSE. U.S. Scott 279A. This is an important stamp to send in. There are only two used Scott 279A to date none others Used or not used. And there are only one on cover certified by APS the only one according to the expert. These stamps are Rare

At last night’s meeting, Roy asked if I had ever seen the video Gary Burghoff - who played Radar O’Reilly in the wonderful TV show MASH - had made to promote stamp collecting. It was news to me, and very curious was I. Here are the preliminary results of my search for answers:

Gary Burghoff made the video in 1988. Apparently he visited several major stamp shows to promote the video.

He really was a collector. He was also a supporter of the Duck Stamp program in the US, and a duck stamp contest judge. 

You can buy the VHS tape on eBay for about $40 USC, but with Canada Post on strike, that doesn’t seem like a good option. I have found a free recording on YouTube. I have only watched the first three minutes, because I felt compelled to share the link with a wider audience. It is funny and kooky and a wonderful artifact of the 1980’s. As I mentally curate my “stuff”, I see this tape sharing a shelf with the 1970’s Stamp Album I was recently gifted - with Fonzie from Happy Days on the cover - and the VHS Guide to Windows 95 made by actors from Friends. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/YaCE3uaBxWA?si=KZG5MAJWNjetim6e

It sounded so easy when Roy said “take home these pages of stamps, look up the catalogue value, pay me 30% of that”.

You send a request for a catalogue to the upstairs study. You receive a massive book that gives a new definition to “kiloware”. You discover the print is too small to read. You submit a request for help and a large magnifying glass is delivered. You look at the stamp. Its face is hidden by the postmark. You move on to the next stamp. You are able to sort of identify it. You put down the magnifying glass and pick up your phone. In order to take the picture, you need two hands. You put down the page of stamps, take a photo, and edit the photo into 5 strips of stamps. You ask Google Lens what it thinks of a stamp. The AI says “This is a stamp from Queensland. It is green.” It links an eBay listing for a completely different stamp. You show Google another stamp. It says “This stamp is Scott 101. Or Scott 120. It is similar to 101b.” You can’t use the Israeli sourced superior stamp identifier app because you are taking a stand against the government of Israel. Netanyahu hasn’t noticed yet …

You put down the phone, place the catalogue on your lap and notice it is now twice as heavy. You look for Scott 101. You hold the magnifying glass over the page and notice the slight tremor in your hand is making it difficult to focus on the print. You hold a ruler in your other hand to help you read. Of course you are now unable to make notes. You put down the magnifying glass and can no longer read the catalogue. You put down the ruler. You reach for your phone and take a picture of the catalogue. 

You now have a picture of the catalogue listings for 101 and 120. The stamp you are looking at doesn’t seem to be related to either listing. But there are variations that seem dependent on watermarks and perforations. You know from past attempts that you can’t see watermarks, even with the magic fluid. You begin to curse. You attract the polydactyl cat, followed by the occupant of the upstairs study. You are given a perforation gauge because you have no idea what happened to the ones you were given previously. You interrupt your toils long enough to say “No, another damned perforation gauge would not be a good Christmas stocking stuffer!”

You announce that you are too stupid to do this and you won’t buy any of the stamps. Another catalogue makes its way to you.

“Australia is hard” says the bearer. “Start with Iceland.”

An hour later you still can’t read the catalogue without taking a photo to enlarge the print, but you have found all the stamps on one page, even the stamp that Scott has insisted on sticking at the back of the book like an orphan instead of listing it with its siblings.

You realize that the people of Iceland were very sensible designers of stamps and you decide to search for a list of other sensible countries. You vow to devote your time to the sensible. As you begin to Google, you realize that the AI is mocking you. You decide to give up on philately for now, and soothe your troubled mind with a sudoku. You knock off the easy and medium puzzles, and are feeling much smarter. But half way through the difficult puzzle you realize they are the New York Times puzzles, and you have vowed to avoid US purchases. “But they are free and you cancelled your subscription” you argue. “It’s a slippery slope” says the little voice in your head. You decide to read before bed. “Don’t even think about saying anything right now” you tell the little voice as you pick up your Kindle. At least the book was purchased from a publisher in the UK.