Award winning stamp from Iceland

 

Iceland Post was recently awarded the Ecology Prize for the year 2013 at the 44th Asiago International Award for Philatelic Art.

The prize has high patronage of the President of the Republic of Italy, and was presented during a ceremony in the Council Hall of the Municipality of Asiago (Vicenza, Italy) on Sunday, 6 July 2014.

The award winning stamp - International Year of Water Cooperation, was designed by Borgar Hjörleifur Árnason and issued on 24th January 2013.

About the stamp DESIGN : “With elegant, clear and unequivocal graphics, the stamp represents arms stretched out to the skies, as in an invocation of thirst for life. Raising awareness is everyone’s concern, and a new commitment the first duty of all.”

The stamp was designed after the United Nations’ General Assembly had declared the year 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation, the purpose being to raise general awareness about the possibility of increased cooperation on this precious resource.

Icelandic institutions and non-profit organizations have been involved in international relief efforts, which include digging wells to provide water for people in drought areas. The Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) has been working in several countries drilling for water and digging water wells. The Youth Organization of the National Church has also been actively involved in the relief effort, for instance in Malawi where with the assistance of the Icelandic Church Aid, residents have been digging wells and installing water well pumps, thereby gaining better.

 

Centaurium erythraea – useful and beautiful flower on New German Stamp

Here is a new beautiful stamp from German Post featuring centaury flower. This stamp is part of the continuous series “Flowers”.

The real centaury (Centaurium erythraea) is known for its acerbic taste as bitter herbs or Erdgalle. Who discovered the up to 40 cm high herb for Flowering from July to September, however, not allowed to access. All occurrences of the plant from the genus of gentian plants are protected.

About 30 species are known to grow wild, mostly in Europe, North America, North Africa and the western part of Asia. The five-petalled flowers look like little stars and are often pink, but there are also yellow or white flowers. The flowering period lasts about five days. The centaury has square stems and oval leaves. It’s usually one or two years old.