More Unusual Stamps

Within the world of philately a philatelist will have certain favorite stamps that appeal to them more than others. It might be that the postage stamps that they like the best all feature some sport or other hobby that they are interested in. There is an unlimited range of topics and subject matter that can be featured on stamps. If you collect stamps from only one country such as Canada, US or Australia Post it is likely that you will have a good cross section of material to choose from. If, however you collect postage stamps by topic then the amount of stamps from all over the world will be immense. This hub follows on from an earlier hub called Unusual Postage which featured the Beatles along with oval and circular shaped stamps. Postage stamp errors do occur such as the recent mix up with the ‘wrong’ Statue of Liberty image on a USA postage stamp but this article is about unusually cut stamps.

This is the Darwin anthropology jigsaw postage stamp which was issued in 2009. It is one of six jigsaw stamps that were issued as a set. What first attracted me to this stamp were the unusual shape and the jigsaw piece effect. I had not seen such an odd (unusual) stamp before.

Origin of the Species

The set of six special stamps were issued to mark, firstly, the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and secondly, his study masterwork called ‘On the Origin of the Species’ which was being marked on the 150th anniversary of its publication. This work changed history and the scientific study of humankind and how we evolved. It is believed by many to be the most influential book ever written.

The Royal Mail, who is the stamp issuers for the United Kingdom, came up with the radical stamp design once they had decided to recognize Darwin’s studies. The Great Britain stamps, under the auspices of Royal Mailissued six Darwin stamps in total. Each stamp represented elements of Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection and included images of geology, zoology, botany, anthropology, ornithology and one stamp of the great man himself.

These are great stamps to start collecting stamps with, and collections such as these (non typical stamps) are being issued by postal services throughout the world. Starter kits are available from all of the big stamp issuers so do log on to USPS, Royal Mail, Canada Post and many other national issuers to check what stamps they have available. They all have a helpful section on stamp starter kits as well as information to encourage children to start this wonderful hobby of stamp collecting.