"Art" on stamps is a popular subject for topical collectors. Today we report on two different and diverse art objects - religious stained-glass windows and tribal arts and crafts.
France has released a special stamp illustrating a view of the Romanesque stained-glass windows at St. Julian Cathedral in Le Mans. The five paneled windows relate to the legend of St. Stephen, one of the earliest Christian martyrs. Each of the windows shows a scene from his martyrdom and finally his resurrection.The French stamps are available from your local stamp dealer.
In the West African nation of Ghana, a set of 10 stamps and two souvenir sheets has been issued featuring that country's arts and crafts.
Portrayed on the stamps are the following: a tribal pot and lid, traditional tribal doll, snake charmer figurine, colorful beads, a tribal scabbard, a hoe, a deer figurine, a tribal pipe, traditional tribal mask, and a traditional doll figure.
These stamps of Ghana, a nation once known as the Gold Coast, are available from the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corp., 460 W. 34th St., New York, NY 10001.
- European Discoveries is the theme chosen by San Marino for its 1994 "Europa" set. San Marino, the oldest independent country in Europe, has released a pair of stamps featuring the journey of the "Ulysses" spacecraft of the European Space Agency.
It was launched in 1990 by the space shuttle Discovery with the aim of flying over the poles of the sun to explore the sun's environment for the first time. In September 1994, the "Ulysses" will continue over the South Polar Pass and in September of next year will conclude its journey. The flight is a joint venture of the European Space Agency and NASA.
The San Marino space stamps are available for $6.95, first-day covers for $8.95, and both for $14.95 from the International Stamp Collectors Society, P.O. Box 854, Van Nuys, CA 91408.