Brunei-Singapore Joint Issue 2024 Flora

 

Malaysia-Singapore Joint Issue 2024 Johor Causeway 100th Anniversary

 

Italy : Marco Polo

Marco Polo (c. 1254 – 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c. 1300), a book that described the then-mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the wealth and great size of the Mongol Empire and China under the Yuan dynasty, giving Europeans their first comprehensive look into China, Persia, India, Japan, and other Asian societies.

Born in Venice, Marco learned the mercantile trade from his father and his uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, exploring many places along the Silk Road until they reached "Cathay". They were received by the royal court of Kublai Khan, who was impressed by Marco's intelligence and humility. Marco was appointed to serve as Kublai's foreign emissary, and he was sent on many diplomatic missions throughout the empire and Southeast Asia, visiting present-day Burma, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. As part of this appointment, Marco also travelled extensively inside China, living in the emperor's lands for 17 years and seeing many things previously unknown to Europeans. Around 1291, the Polos offered to accompany the Mongol princess Kököchin to Persia; they arrived there around 1293. After leaving the princess, they travelled overland to Constantinople and then to Venice, returning home after 24 years. At this time, Venice was at war with Genoa. Marco joined the war effort on behalf of Venice and was captured by the Genoans. While imprisoned, he dictated stories of his travels to Rustichello da Pisa, a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married, and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice.

Though he was not the first European to reach China, Marco Polo was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience. His account provided the Europeans with a clear picture of the East's geography and ethnic customs, and it included the first Western record of porcelain, gunpowder, paper money, and some Asian plants and exotic animals. His narrative inspired Christopher Columbus and many other travellers. There is substantial literature based on Polo's writings; he also influenced European cartography, leading to the introduction of the Catalan Atlas and the Fra Mauro map.

8 July 1954 : The 700th Anniversary of the Birth of Marco Polo

22 March 1996 : Italy-San Marino Joint Issue : Return of Marco Polo from China

overprint with 9th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition - CHINA '96

17 June 2024 : The 700th Anniversary of the Birth of Marco Polo

China-Malaysia Joint Issue 2024 Diplomatic Relation > 50th Anniversary

 

Pos Malaysia announces the launch of a special joint stamp collection to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China, together with China Post. This golden milestone celebrates half a century of friendship, trust, and mutual respect, originating from the historic Joint Communiqué signed by Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak bin Hussein, and China’s Premier Chou En-lai on 31 May 1974.

For centuries, Malaysia and China have shared a rich history of cultural exchanges and people-to-people interactions, fostering deep-rooted connections between the two nations. In 2013, this relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), further strengthening bilateral ties. As we celebrate this significant anniversary, the future of Malaysia-China relations remains bright and mutually beneficial, with continued collaboration and shared prosperity on the horizon.

The commemorative stamps feature iconic trees from both countries: Malaysia’s national tree, the Merbau, and China’s renowned Greeting Pine, symbolising the enduring strength and hospitality of both nations. The Merbau tree symbolises the importance and the crucial role forest resources play in the development of industry and the economy. It represents the integrity of Malaysia’s forest management, which has been sustainably managed and conserved to ensure the preservation of the country’s rich biological diversity. Meanwhile, the Greeting Pine, one of China’s most famous trees located on Huangshan Mountain, embodies China’s cultural tradition of hospitality. Known for its long branches extending like an outstretched arm, the Greeting Pine serves as a cultural symbol of Chinese warmth and welcoming nature.

Italy-San Marino Joint Issue 2024 Vespa Club d'Italia

Vespa is an Italian brand of scooters and mopeds manufactured by Piaggio. The name means “wasp” in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy to a full line of scooters and one of seven companies today owned by Piaggio.

In 2024, San Marino and Italy celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Vespa Club d’Italia (created 1949), the largest Italian association that promotes Vespa riding in its many forms : sporting, tourist, cultural, recreational. Both stamps, with different designs, were issued on April 20, 2024. In the San Marino stamp, the Vespa license plates refer to the day of issue, respectively “20.04” and “2024”. This is very unusual to discover the exact date of issue printed directly on the stamp

EUROPA stamps

The Europa postage stamp is an annual joint issue of stamps with a common design or theme by postal administrations of member countries of the European Communities (1956–1959), the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) ( 1960-1992) , and the PostEurop Association ( 1993- ).  Europe is the central theme.

EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its

 common goals. As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.

HISTORY

The first Europa issue was on 15 September 1956. The postal administrations of the founding six members of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) issued stamps with a common design: a tower made up of the letters of the word "EUROPA" and surrounded by construction scaffolding.

15 Sep 1956

In 1959, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) was formed, and from 1960 the initials "CEPT" were displayed on the joint issue stamps. The stamps had a common design from 1956 to 1973, (with the exception of 1957). However, many countries issued a stamp that did not feature the common pattern but just displayed the word "EUROPA". 

From 1974, the common design was replaced by stamps with different designs, but with a common theme.

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop, i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning to the right.

From January 2011, the new EUROPA logo, preceded by a symbolic reminder of the mailbox, applies.

Australia-Vietnam Joint Issue 2023 > 50th Anniversary "Flowers"

 

Italy-San Marino Joint Issue 2021 Centenary of the Carabineiri in San Marino

 

Israel-Vatican Joint Issue 2019 25 Years of Bilateral Relations

 
The 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the State of Israel and the Holy See is a time for joy as well as acknowledgement of the long way we have travelled together along a path of reconciliation and friendship.
 
On Dec 30th 1993, Israel and the Holy See signed in Jerusalem the fundamental agreement establishing full diplomatic relations between our two states. This unique bonding between the only Jewish State and the universal Catholic Church combines both political and spiritual elements.
 
The special Joint Stamp issued by the Israel Philatelic Service and the Holy See Numismatic Service to commemorate the 25th anniversary depicts St. Peter’s Church and the synagogue at Capernaum and symbolizes the unique relations and interactions between Judaism and Christianity.
 

 

Capernaum

Capernaum is an archeological site on the Sea of Galilee shore, north of Tiberias. A town from the Roman Byzantine period which was mentioned in a book by the ancient Jewish historian Josephus (Yosef ben Matityahu) was excavated at the site. Capernaum’s historical and religious significance stems from what is written about it in the New Testament, and the fact that this was where Jesus lived during his time in the Galilee. One of the most magnificent ancient synagogues in Eretz Israel was discovered in the center of the town, alongside the remnants of an octagonal church from the Byzantine period.
 
The Gospel of Mark features a description of how Jesus began his religious mission after being baptized in the Jordan River. He went northward to the Galilee, where he located his first students, fishermen in the Sea of Galilee. Together with these students, he made his way to the nearby town of Capernaum, where some of them lived. “They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach” (Mark 1:21). This was the first time Jesus had appeared before the Jewish public in the Galilee. He was revealed to be an authoritative Halachic teacher and also miraculously healed a man who was overtaken by a demon.
 
At the end of the prayers, Jesus and his students “left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon and Andrew” (Mark 1:29), where Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law of her fever. “That evening after sunset… The whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many who had various diseases” (Mark 1:32-34). During the Byzantine period a grand church was built to mark the place where Simon the student’s house was traditionally thought to have been. In 1990, a modern church was constructed on the ruins of the Byzantine church, which was discovered in the early 20th century, hovering over the ancient remains.
 
The church and the synagogue, which are currently overseen by the Franciscan order, attract tourists and Christian pilgrims from all around the world.
 

Philippines-Thailand Joint Issue 2009 Diplomatic Relations, 70th

 

Philippines-Singapore Joint Issue 2019 Butterflies