Pictures of History

Ships Ahoy!

One of the first things that attracted me as a young boy to stamp collecting was discovering the history locked inside the miniature artworks on every stamp. My first set of stamps was a beautiful set of Sailing Ships from Australia. For a long time I left the hobby only to rediscover it a few years back. Naturally I started where I'd left off. My collections included KGV stamps and of course Sailing Ships on stamps.

The first thing I did was go back to my beloved ships. In my years of hiatus I'd forgotten how much I love the hobby. Reliving the historical facts I'd uncovered as a kid was immensely rewarding. I'd like to share a snippit of the interesting information I have found while reassembling my Sailing Ships Thematic collection.

Laos 1992 

Piri Res, an Ottoamn Admiral is famous for his world map of 1513. He was a renowned seaman. By 1547 he was the Commander of the Ottoman fleet. He was beheaded in 1553 for failing to support the new Ottoman Governor of Basra. 

 

Surviving Left-Hand portion of 1513 Piri Res map

 

 Laos 1992

On 3 August 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail across the Atlantic in search of a western route to the orient. The three ships of the fleet included the 'Santa Maria', which was the flagship. It was a large Carrack.

Australia 1964

Captain James Cook was the first recorded European explorer to reach Australia's Eastern coastline in 1770. He was known for his excellent seamanship, superior surveying, and cartographic skills.

Australian Antarctic Territory 1972

In 1772 Captain Cook circumnavigated the vast continent of Antarctica.

Australia 1970

On 26 January 1788, Arthur Philip and a few dozen marines officers and oarsmen landed in Sydney cove, claiming the land in the name of King George III. The ship in the background is presumably the 'Supply'. From which sailors and convicts watched the planting of the British flag.

This is just a brief taste of the information theme collectors can place with their miniature works of art...

Stay Stamp Crazy!