myStampJourney

This is quite new, and it just further proves the elaborate use of stamps beyond mainstream postage purposes. Newspaper stamps as the name suggests are affixed on newspapers or newspaper wrappers as means of paying the cost of mailing them. Quite specific, isn't it? There are many examples of newspaper stamps issued by many countries but since I happen to collect German stamps, I think that it is great to feature an example here.  1943 German Reich - Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia 7 Heller brick red  These are with left margin There are two versions of newspaper stamps (Zeitungsmarken) for this protectorate: the first set being released in 1939 (MiNr. 42-50) with nine denominations, and the second set being released in 1943 (MiNr. 117-125), also with nine denominations, however, bearing an additional inscription 'Deutches Reich'.  For the newspaper stamps that were released in 1943, they were the only stamps that were allowed to be used after the re-establishment of th

First and foremost, happy World Pneumonia Day (12 Nov 2020). I personally find that the significance of World Pneumonia Day this year has been greatly redefined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pneumonia is the infection and inflammation of lungs that lead to fluid-filled air sacs (alveoli). This respiratory disease has long existed and therapeutic solutions against it includes vaccines and steps to lower its risk factors such as smoking. However, with the current pandemic affecting every country, the availability of medical oxygen has been put into attention - thus, this year's theme is 'Every Breath Counts'. 1989 Taiwan - Anti-smoking campaign Pneumonia was not as popular in philately compared to other medical themes such as Tuberculosis, Malaria, diabetes, AIDS, and now, COVID-19. Speaking of COVID-19 stamps, they fetch quite a premium with most, if not all, sold at several times their face value. Hence, after weeks of browsing through stamps that were offered by local sellers,

Mail-carrying rockets?  It was a plan first proposed by Heinrich von Kleist, a German editor of the Berliner Abendbl ä tter (Berlin Evening Papers) in 1810. However, the first rocket mail, after decades of fascination towards delivering mail via a faster projectile led the launching of the first rocket mail by Friedrich Schmiedl. Among other pioneers are Hermann Oberth, Gerhard Zucker, and Stephen Smith.  Friedrich Schmiedl To be honest, I was not aware that rockets were ever considered as another mode of mailing. The idea of mail being shot up the sky and finally parachuting down to its destination sounds cool but at the same time, quite risky. Changes in wind direction may steer the rocket off course.  In spite of that, there were numerous successful launches containing postal covers commemorating such. For instance, the launch of a long range rocket mail from the US submarine USS Barbero in 1959 to a naval station in Florida.  At the time of writing, I had only acquired one example