a visual look at vintage postage stamps from around the world with a focus on design and illustration (any additional history in forms of notes always appreciated) Curated by Karen HortonTumblr (3.0; @stampdesigns)http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m34ce7SYfO1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/6971474724/in/photostream" title="Uruguay postage stamp: Pegasus black" target="_blank">Uruguay postage stamp: Pegasus black</a></p> <p>c. 1929</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21894875688http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21894875688Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:30:06 -0400vintagestampshorsesUruguay1920stypography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m32d84LTrL1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/6968331226/in/photostream" title="Brazil postage stamp: television screen" target="_blank"><strong>Brazil postage stamp: television screen</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1974, part of Brazillian Communications Pioneers series, “honoring F. de Assis Chateaubriand, inaugurator of first TV station, São Paulo, 1950”*<br/><br/>designed by A. Carvão<br/><br/>*(description found in <em>Stanley Gibbons South America Catalogue, 4th Edition</em>)</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21823692521http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21823692521Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:52:00 -04001970sA. CarvãodesignstampstvvintageBrazil<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m30mcrJhCV1qac08mo1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/7111353835" title="Czechoslovakia postage stamp: modern fashion" target="_blank">Czechoslovakia postage stamp: modern fashion</a></p> <p>c. 1963<br/><br/>designed & engraved by Jiří Švengsbír?</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21763296825http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21763296825Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:14:00 -0400vintagestampsdesignCzechoslovakia1960sfashionpink<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2yjx35uip1qac08mo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/7107722129/" title="Cuba postage stamp: May 1" target="_blank"><strong>Cuba postage stamp: May 1</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1964, symbolic numeral “1” in honor of Labor Day<br/><br/>(designer unknown)</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21682364483http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/21682364483Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:27:02 -0400vintagestampsCubanumerals1symbolictypography1960s<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls83mqOcXF1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Israel postage stamp: festivals 5737 dove" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/6190307487/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>Israel postage stamp: festivals 5737 dove</strong></a></p> <p>depicts Peace with dove and olive branch<br/><br/> from <a href="http://english.israelphilately.org.il/series/content/en/000257">Festivals 5737 (1976) series</a><br/><br/> The inscription on tab reads: “By three things is the world preserved by Truth, by Judgment, and by Peace” (Ethics of the Fathers I, 18)<br/><br/> designed by <a href="http://gallery.passion4art.com/members/kalderon/index.html">Asher Kalderon</a></p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/10761477156http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/10761477156Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:01:00 -0400vintagestampsdesignIsraelholidaysAsher Kalderonbirdspeacesymbolic<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrkhkuoWKk1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="United Nations postage stamps: bird and world (block of four):" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/6149232023/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>United Nations postage stamps: bird and world (block of four)</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1964</p> <p>designed by O. Hamann</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/10239137234http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/10239137234Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:00:00 -04001960sO. HamannUnited Nationsblockdesignillustrationstampsvintagebirds<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqaxzctQTm1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="5 postage stamps from Uruguay with the number 5" target="_blank" href="http://www.designrelated.com/inspiration/view/Karen/entry/4656/the-number-5">5 postage stamps from Uruguay with the number 5</a></p> <p>(above c. 1866)</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/9228341789http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/9228341789Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:45:00 -04001860sUruguaydesignnumeralsstampstypographyvintagebluelettering<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpzifzqZjH1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Brazil postage stamp: centenary" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/6044167904/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>Brazil postage stamp: centenary</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1943, honoring 100 years of Brazilian stamps</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/8961857241http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/8961857241Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:33:56 -0400vintagestampsdesignBrazilnumerals1940stypographylettering<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lp8u18NZgi1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Japan postage stamp: letter writing bear" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5996006139/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>Japan postage stamp: letter writing bear</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1980, for Letter Writing Day<br/><br/> designed by M. Sato and S. Watanabe</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/8335646253http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/8335646253Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:51:00 -0400stampsillustrationcutelettersJapangreenS. WatanabeM. Sato<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_loptnzM0K91qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Israel postage stamp: fireworks over Tel-Aviv " target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5753215673/in/photostream">Israel postage stamp: fireworks over Tel-Aviv </a></p> <p>c. 1966, part of the <a href="http://english.israelphilately.org.il/stamps/content/en/000783">18th Independence Day</a> series.</p> <p>designed by <a title="E. Weishoff" target="_blank" href="http://www.weishoff.com/html/about.html">E. Weishoff</a></p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/7913088700http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/7913088700Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:28:47 -0400vintagestampsdesignillustration1960sE. WeishoffIsrael<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnoybvCzLr1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Canada postage stamp: constitution" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5892294170/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>Canada postage stamp: constitution</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1982, in honor of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rights-and-freedoms/index-e.html">Constitution Act</a>.<br/><br/> Please leave a comment if you know the designer of this postage stamp. A guess is that the stamp was designed by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gdc.net/about/fellows/articles76.php">Friedrich Peter</a>, but I’m not certain.</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/7148269353http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/7148269353Sat, 02 Jul 2011 05:38:00 -0400vintagestampsdesignCanadasymbolicflags1980scalligraphyred<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ln4ld7Pfnv1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Yugoslavia postage stamp: Red Cross tear" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5753729246/in/photostream">Yugoslavia postage stamp: Red Cross tear</a></p> <p>c. 1961 designed by <a href="http://www.aed.org.tr/bogdankatalog/bogdan_index.html">Bogdan Kršić</a></p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/6748324899http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/6748324899Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:46:00 -04001960sBogdan KršićRed CrossYugoslaviadesignillustrationstampssymbolicvintageyellow<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ln2uypUfyh1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Iran postage stamp: pen nibs" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5753140969/in/photostream">Iran postage stamp: pen nibs</a></p> <p>c. 1972, in honor of International Literacy Day</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/6716765191http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/6716765191Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:18:00 -04001970sIrandesignliteracystampssymbolicvintagewritingblue<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llocfdpw0Q1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="calligraphy" target="_blank" href="http://plurabellecalligraphy.com/alphabets.html">calligraphy</a> by <a title="Plurabelle" target="_blank" href="http://plurabellecalligraphy.com/about.html">Plurabelle</a> with <a title="vintage" target="_blank" href="http://plurabellecalligraphy.com/vintage_style.html">vintage</a> stamps on envelopes</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/5784776581http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/5784776581Mon, 23 May 2011 20:38:00 -0400stampsenvelopesdesignweddingsstationery<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llm8ozhuMM1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="New Zealand postage stamp: cable" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5745252315/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>New Zealand postage stamp: cable</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1963, in commemoration of Commonwealth Pacific <a href="http://atlantic-cable.com/stamps/Other/index2.htm">Cable</a><br/><br/>designed by <a href="http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/new-zealand/1963/commonwealth-pacific-cable#issue-info">P. Gauld</a></p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/5744677834http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/5744677834Sun, 22 May 2011 21:22:00 -0400vintagestampsdesignillustrationyellow1960stechnologyworldNew ZealandP. Gauld<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llh9p2Yj9H1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Israel postage stamp: 1967 Israel Defense Forces" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/3264290327/">Israel postage stamp: 1967 Israel Defence Forces</a></p> <p>c. 1967, part of the <a href="http://english.israelphilately.org.il/stamps/stamp.asp?id=823">Zahal (I.D.F) Victory 1967</a> series.</p> <p>Stamp design depicts the emblem of the Israel Defense Forces, commemorating the Six-Day War in the Middle East.</p> <p>The above stamp was designed by R. Errell. But who designed the original IDF emblem?</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/5659670570http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/5659670570Thu, 19 May 2011 23:58:00 -0400vintagedesignstampsIsraelsymbolicIDF1960s<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljiv9s0thk1qda12mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><blockquote></blockquote> <p><a title="Russia postage stamp: Soviet rocket " href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/4902920469/">Soviet Union postage stamp: Soviet rocket</a></p> <p>c. 1961</p> <p>April 12th, 2011 marks the <a title="50th anniversary " href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/04/11/science/space/20110412-yuri.html">50th anniversary </a>of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin.</p> <blockquote></blockquote>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4546058735http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4546058735Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:37:00 -0400CCCPRussiadesignspacestampsvintageillustration1960s<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_liwkpaQWQO1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Ryukyu Islands stamp: Japan and U.S.A. flags" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5575232239/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>Ryukyu Islands stamp: Japan and U.S.A. flags</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1972</p> <p>in honor of <a href="http://www.history.army.mil/books/dahsum/1972/ch12.htm">United States-Japan Agreement</a> to return Ryukyu Islands to Japan<br/><br/> designed by S. Tamanaha</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4226081408http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4226081408Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:42:00 -0400vintagestampsdesignflagsbirdsblueRyukyusRyukyu IslandsJapanillustration1970ssymbolic<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_livfzrUb8t1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="North Korea postage stamp: chipmunk" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/5573363438/in/set-72157613482977550/"><strong>North Korea postage stamp: chipmunk</strong></a></p> <p>c. 1962</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4207877030http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4207877030Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:56:39 -0400vintagestampsdesignanimalschipmunksillustrationNorth Korea1960s<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lisuyhZhNC1qac08mo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title='"Funky Little Bird Houses"' target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hadesigns/sets/72157617409339356/with/5569688221/">“Funky Little Bird Houses”</a> with roofs made with folded vintage postage stamps  <br/><br/>(by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hadesigns/5569688221/in/set-72157617409339356/">HA! Designs / Artbyheather</a>)</p>http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4176779223http://stampdesigns.tumblr.com/post/4176779223Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:27:00 -0400birdsephemerajewelrystampscraftsobjectscute