1907) "Discovery of Antarctica", Portugal: Correios da Portugal (CTT-Portuguese Post) has brought out a set of Stamps featuring the important discovery hypothesised by Aristotle in (384-322 BC): Date of Stamp set issue: 16.06.2021:
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About The Discovery Of Antarctica:
Hypothesised by Aristotle (384-322 BC), the discovery of "Terra Australis Incognita" was first mooted by Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521), when his ships made the maiden voyage between the Atlantic and the Pacific in 1520.
In his judgement, the so-called "Tierra del Fuego", ("the southern limit of the Strait of Magellan"), with its forests and snow-capped mountains, was proof of its existence.
Dubbed "Terra Australis recenter inventa sed nondum plene cognita" ("The Southern Land newly discovered but not yet fully known"), the outlines of this presumed new continent henceforth became a permanent feature on maps, updated whenever new lands and islands were found, as if in anticipation of the imminent discovery that had long been foreseen.
However, it would take three more centuries for the expedition led by Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen (1778-1852) to first sight the shores of Antarctica on 28.01.1820, his name having been given to the adjacent sea through which he sailed.
Meanwhile, the search for the mythical "Terra Incognita" continued, particularly in the South Pacific, by means of Spanish, French, Russian and English Expeditions, which had a mixture of political, commercial, and scientific objectives.
Given the vastness of the sea being explored and, initially, the rather poor accuracy of the navigational methods and instruments, many islands and places were "discovered" several times and were therefore given different names, which were recorded on the maps.
During these three centuries Australia was also discovered, and it continued to be associated with the purported continental mass of Aristotelian inception for some time afterwards.
According to popular belief at the time, Terra Australis was the southern boundary to all the seas in the world, and this mythical designation was behind the name ultimately given to the territory.
Due to its extreme climate, Antarctica is the only continent with no native human population. Occupation only began in the 19th century, albeit intermittently, when whaling ships started to visit its waters for commercial purposes.
It was also around this time that James Weddell (1787-1834) and James Clark Ross (1800-1862) led expeditions that surveyed part of the coasts of Antarctica, which only then began to appear with some degree of accuracy on maps.
James Cook (1728-1779) who was the first to circumnavigate the new continent, between 1772 and 1775, though he never actually sighted it, despite having even crossed the Antarctic Circle.
Given the difficulties posed by the terrain and extreme climate, surveying the Antarctic coast was both a laborious and perilous process that took more than a century to complete. Only the advent of engine-powered ships, combined with the development of new scientific instruments and methods, would finally accelerate the endeavour.
In geographical terms, Antarctica is almost entirely contained within the Antarctic Circle, only fleetingly traversing it, and is an important biodiversity reserve, home to countless unique species.
Since the ice is retreating as a result of global warming, aggravated by increasing human presence and activity in these regions, a substantial number of Antarctic species are now severely endangered.
The Stamps:
The two Stamps of 0.54 and 0.84 Euro titled "Descoberta da Antartida" (meaning "Discovery of Antarctica").
The First Day Cover (FDC) shows at left a sail ship reaching the icy expanse of the Antarctica. The FDC is titled -"Descoderta da Antartida" ("Discovery of Antarctica").
At top right are affixed the two stamps issued in the set cancelled with a special Handstamp/Postmark depicting a sail-ship in the centre . The Postmark is of CTT Lisbon Post office and is dated - "16.06.2021".
The Miniature Sheet (MS) has a stamp of 2.50 Euro which depicts an iceberg, with most of it under the icy waters - a scourge of the early wooden sailing ships.
A First Day Cover (FDC) with a cancelled Miniature Sheet (MS) affixed at top right.
Technical details:
Stamp set Issue Date: 16.06.2021
Designer: Pedro Ferreira
Printer: bpost Philately & Stamps Printing
Process: Offset
Stamp Sizes: 40.0 mm x 30.6 mm
Interesting links to posts on Portugal and Spanish Coins and postage stamps on this blog:
6) "The Joker", Portugal: Portugal Post has issued a set of four stamps featuring "The Joker"character of DC Comics, who is an archenemy of the "Batman": Date of Stamp issue: 31.03.2020
7) Portuguese Numismatics (1st Group): A set of four Stamps in the values of N20g, A20g, E20g and 120g issued by CTT Correios (Portuguese Post) in partnership with INCM ("Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (the "Portuguese Mint & Official Printing Office") depicting coins from various periods of history: Date od Stamp set issue: 22.04.2020
12) "Linha Do Douro" ("The Douro Line (Train)", Portugal:12th Coin in the Ibero-American Coin Series titled "Historic Trains" brought out by the "Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda" (INCM): Date of issue: 06/2020
9) "Nacional Museo del Prado", Spain: Celebrating the Bicentenary milestone (1819-2019): Commemorative Silver Coins of 30 Euros issued by Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Casa Real de la Moneda on 20.11.2019: Coins minted by the Madrid Mint
12) The New Silk Road: A Joint issue of a two stamp set of 1.50 Euros each by Spain (Correos Post) and China: Stamps issue date: 01.07.2019
13) Charming Towns, Spain : For the past five years, Correos (Spanish Post) has issued Stamps and Postcards on four beautiful Spanish villages as old-fashioned accordion-style postcards: Date of PostCards/Stamp set issue: 30.03.2020
14) "International LGBTQ Pride Day", Spain: The LGBTQ Pride Day Flag (Rainbow Flag) depicted on the first ever stamp issued: Date of Stamp issued: 15.06.2020
15) "Card Games", Spain: Correos Espana (Spanish Post) has issued a Stamp Sheet of 3.80 Euros representing the four suits (Swords, Pentacles, Cups & Wands) in a Tarot Deck, as the Origins of Card Games: Date of Stamp Sheet issue: 02.07.2020
6) Leonardo da Vinci, France: The latest issue from the Monnaie de Paris, France highlights him on the latest Europa Silver Star Coin Programme issued by the Paris Mint: Coin issue date: 03/2019
7) i) "Europa Coin Programme" or the "European Star Programme" or the "Eurostar Programme" ii) Central Bank of Malta issues 50 Euro (Gold) and 10 Euro (Silver) Proof Coins featuring "Architecture and artwork of the Gothic Era" in 05/2020 (which is a part of the wider programme focussing on the ages of Europe: Date of Coins issue: 08.05.2020
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