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Chinese Signs of the Zodiac – Liechtenstein

srmodh — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:56:48 +0000

For some time now the small Principality of Liechtenstein and the vast People’s Republic of China have enjoyed friendly relations. One expression of this cordial relationship are numerous Liechtenstein postage stamps to which Chinese artists have contributed. For the “Chinese Signs of the Zodiac” issue (face value CHF 1.90) a different approach has however been adopted, and the result is a world first. For the first time a postage stamp is appearing in silhouette form. For the purpose the face design by Stefan Erne was cut out using state-of-theart laser technology. For greater practical convenience the stamp is moreover appearing in self-adhesive form.

Legend has it that the Chinese signs of the zodiac, which should not be equated with the western horoscope, came about when Buddha invited all the animals to join him in a New Year celebration. Of the animals invited only twelve accepted the invitation however. As an expression of thanks Buddha rewarded the guests who had come with alternating oversight of each year. They exercised this oversight in the order of their arrival for the celebration. So the rat was allowed to begin, followed by the buffalo, the tiger, the hare, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep, the ape, the rooster, the dog and, last but not least, the pig.

The notion of the 12 signs of the zodiac has been in existence for over 2000 years. In the Chinese horoscope there are however no fortune-tellers or forecasting of the future; yet each Chinese sign of the zodiac is associated with certain character traits, propensities and talents. The dragon for example was the symbol of the Chinese imperial house. People born in the year of the dragon are reputed to be healthy, energetic, long-lived, easily roused, impatient and obstinate. They are however also reliable, honest and courageous and radiate self-confidence. In the Chinese zodiac dragons are the eccentrics. The year of the dragon lasts from 23 January 2012 to 9 February 2013.

Title: Chinese Signs of the Zodiac – Liechtenstein
Date of Issue: 14 November 2011
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 1.90

Source: http://www.philatelie.li

Christmas 2011 – Liechtenstein

srmodh — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:46:08 +0000

Liechtenstein post has chosen Christmas cribs as stamp subject: much loved in Liechtenstein, these decorate the local churches in the time leading up to Christmas, at Christmas itself and in the period between Christmas and the New Year, bringing the event of Christ’s birth closer to the faithful in palpable three-dimensional form. A section taken from the “Crib at the parish church of St. Gallus, Triesen” is shown on the stamp with the lowest face value (CHF 0.85).

This depiction of the nativity scene is a relief mural handcarved in 1925-26 to a commission from Anton Frommelt, then parish priest of Triesen, by the Tyrol artist Johannes Troyer from sketches left after his early death by Josef Bachlechner. In 1994 the relief was restored as part of the church renovation. The second stamp shows the “St. Florin parish church Vaduz crib” (face value CHF 1.00). This crib was made between 1920 and 1925 from wood and bark by the South Tyrolese crib-maker Ferdinand Stuflesser. The 32 hand-carved attendant wooden figures (Holy Family, angels, ox and ass, shepherds, sheep and the Three Magi), which are up to 50 cm tall, were made by the same artist. Both crib and figures were restored in the 1980s.

A scene from the “Parish church of the Assumption Bendern crib” (face value CHF 1.40) completes the 2011 Christmas issue. This crib was constructed in 1982 by the Liechtenstein pioneer crib-maker Heinz Ritter of Schaanwald, by Ambros and Richard Hagen of Tisis (A) and by Peter Hasler (timber framing) of Gamprin. At the same time the existing group of carved and set wooden figures almost a metre in height has been augmented with three sheep carved by the Vaduz stone-sculptor and carver Engelbert Ospelt.

Title: Christmas 2011 – Liechtenstein
Date of Issue: 14 November 2011
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 0.85, CHF 1.00, CHF 1.40

Source: http://www.philatelie.li

Liechtenstein Landscapes SEPAC – III

srmodh — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:29:36 +0000

For the third and final time the focus of the stamp folders produced since 2007 by SEPAC (“Small European Postal Administrations Cooperation”, to which Liechtenstein also belongs) is on “European Landscapes”. Following “Beautiful Corners of Europe I” (2007) and “Beautiful Corners of Europe II” (2009) this year’s issue too is intended offer an exclusive platform for philatelic and touristic self-promotion. For this purpose Liechtenstein has opted this year too for a photograph by local photographer Marco Nescher.

In 2007 his spectacular panoramic photograph showing the entire state of Liechtenstein on a single photograph was featured; in 2009 it was the turn of the Liechtenstein Oberland, represented by his picture of the St. Mamertus Chapel in Triesen. This series is now concluded by an atmospheric picture from the Ruggell Marsh in the Liechtenstein Unterland.

The so-called Liechtenstein Unterland lies in the north of the Principality and is at 35 Sqkm the smaller of the two regions making up the small state of Liechtenstein. In the five Unterland communities Eschen-Nendeln, Mauren-Schaanwald, Gamprin-Bendern, Ruggell and Schellenberg there live 12,500 people, about a third of Liechtenstein’s population. In Ruggell, Liechtenstein’s northernmost community, lies the Ruggell Marsh depicted on the stamp (face value CHF 1.40), a low-lying marsh formed 10,000 years ago. The best-known plant in the marsh is the Siberian iris, which transforms the entire region into a single blue carpet in the months of May and June. Some 150 different bird species and well over 500 species of butterfly have made this region their home. And very recently beavers and storks have found their way back to this peaceful and tranquil place, which has been a protected area for many years.

Title: Liechtenstein Landscapes SEPAC – II
Date of Issue: 28 September 2011
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 1.40

Source: http://www.philatelie.li/

Butterflies – III – Liechtenstein

srmodh — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:37:19 +0000

Liechtenstein post for the third time following 2009 and 2010 issued butterflies native to Liechtenstein feature depicting two more harbingers of spring, the Orange Tip and the Peacock.

The “Peacock”, Inachis io (face value CHF 2.20) from the Nymphalidae family was the “Butterfly of the Year 2009”. Since because of global warming this butterfly now regularly forms a second generation in the late summer, it has been chosen to draw attention to the consequences of climate change. The conspicuous black, blue and yellow eyespots on its russet-coloured wings serve as effective protection for the Peacock against its natural enemies. When danger threatens, in a flash the butterfly spreads its wings to display their striking upper side, leading the predator to imagine itself confronted by a large creature proportional to the eye(spot)s.

The Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines (face value CHF 5.00), whose German name the “Aurora” Butterfly was inspired by the goddess of the dawn, can be observed in spring in large swarms in Liechtenstein’s valley landscape. Both males and females of this species of White have white wings, the outer half of the forewings being coloured orange only on the males.

Title: Butterflies – III – Liechtenstein
Date of Issue: 6 June 2011
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 2.20, CHF 5.00

Source: www.philatelie.li

Europa 2011 – Liechtenstein

srmodh — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:31:14 +0000

There have now been annual “Europa stamps” for more than 55 years. Following the pattern established in 1956 by the six member countries of the then European Coal and Steel Community (Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), every year a steadily growing number of European postal administrations all issue a stamp on a common theme.

Originally these stamps shared the same face design, but every year since 1973 a theme for the year has been set which each country then interprets individually. Following last year’s “Children’s Books”, this year’s theme for the 49 member countries grouped together in the European organization of public postal operators “PostEurop” is “Forests” – in line with the UNO, which has declared 2011 the “International Year of Forests”.

This is intended to focus attention on one of the world’s most important ecosystems. Forests supply the renewable resource timber, protect against natural hazards, provide a habitat for plants and animals and serve as an important recreational space for people. Liechtenstein is a country which benefits notably from its forests – after all, its forested area makes up 43% of its whole land surface. Many of its forests, some of them in very steep locations, act as protective barriers against natural hazards such as avalanches, rockfall and land erosion (mudflows).

Title: Europa 2011 – Liechtenstein
Date of Issue: 6 June 2011
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 1.40

Source: www.philatelie.li

Liechtenstein Museum of Art: Arte Povera

srmodh — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 07:58:03 +0000

Liechtenstein post issued a set of stamps featuring the art work of some of the most famous artists of Liechtenstein.

Those responsible for Liechtenstein Art Museum made it clear from the outset that the works displayed in their exhibition rooms would not be confined to established artists. Their primary concern is to create new perspectives by exhibiting not only new and, for the Liechtenstein public, sometimes still unknown artists and their work, but also contemporary artistic trends and concepts. There is an especially strong emphasis here on the concept of “Arte povera” (“art by simple means”), a movement among visual artists from Rome and northern Italy in the second half of the 1960s. It is now the case that the most important public collection of work by Arte povera artists is to be found at Liechtenstein Art Museum.

Among the best-known Arte povera artists, who sought to decrease the distance between work and viewer, bridge the gap between art and life and broaden people’s perception by using as artworthy materials everyday objects generally considered worthless, are Alighiero Boetti (1940–1994), Marisa Merz (1931) and Jannis Kounellis (1936).

The commemorative stamps depict first Boetti’s “Normale e anormale” (face value CHF 1.00), an embroidery commissioned by the artist from Afghan women in which the letters of Normale e anormale are distributed over a grid pattern composed of rectangles. The second stamp shows Merz’s “Testa” (face value CHF 2.20), a head crudely modeled from clay, plaster and modelling compound and then painted. Finally, the third stamp (face value CHF 3.60) shows an object by the Greek artist Kounellis fabricated from steel, coal and wire.

Title: Liechtenstein Museum of Art: Arte Povera
Date of Issue: 15 November 2010
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 1,00 – CHF 2,20 – CHF 3,60

Source: www.philatelie.li

Christmas 2010 – Liechtenstein

srmodh — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:48:08 +0000

Liechtenstein post issued a Christmas stamps featuring three large ceiling paintings of Maria Hilf.

In idyllic surroundings in the Mäls district of the Balzers community there stands a chapel about whose origins little is known, although its praises are sung in many poems and it is used as a popular wedding chapel. One legend tells of a dragon which brought added difficulty to the penurious lives of the people of Mäls. In their distress the farmers vowed that they would build a chapel to the Blessed Virgin if she would rid them of the dragon.

Another tradition refers to the battle fought on 5th January 1289 between Friedrich von Montfort, Bishop of Chur, and his cousin, the imperially minded Count Hugo von Werdenberg. It is from this time that the earliest foundations date. The first structure of any size was built in 1690, when the Maria-Hilf Chapel had become a popular place of pilgrimage. This building was followed by others in 1720, 1842/46 and 1895. The chapel was given its present-day appearance by the extensive renovation of 1945.

A distinctive feature of the chapel are the three large ceiling paintings, whose authorship is likewise unknown. The paintings with their rustically rendered figures may have originated in the middle of the 19th century when a new roof structure was built. The ceiling paintings were renovated in 1945 and refreshed in 1977.

Title: Christmas 2010 – Liechtenstein
Date of Issue: 15 November 2010
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 0,85 – CHF 1,00 – CHF 1,40

Source: www.philatelie.li

Vaduz Castle in the Four Seasons

srmodh — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:16:10 +0000

The two commemorative “Autumn” (face value CHF 1.40) and “Winter” (face value CHF 1.90) conclude the series “Vaduz Castle in the Four Seasons” begun last year. The series has been based on water colours by the painter Jacques Sonderer who has lived in Liechtenstein since 1983.

The “Autumn” stamp shows what is probably the most familiar view of this symbol of Liechtenstein: in its commanding position on the Castle Rock overlooking the capital and backed by a magnificent mountain panorama. The sumptuously grape-laden vines in the picture’s foreground show the artist to have painted the Castle from within the Princely vineyard, known as the Herawingert or Bockwingert. At four hectares this vineyard, which has belonged to the Princes of Liechtenstein since 1712, is the longestestablished and most important vineyard in the Principality of Liechtenstein and one of the best in the Rhine valley. Its south-westerly aspect, mild foehn climate and soil quality provide ideal conditions for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The “Winter” stamp presents a view of the mighty round tower on the Castle’s north side within whose thick walls the Prince’s celebrated art collection is housed. The picture also shows the striking Castle tower, one of the building’s oldest parts (12th century). At ground level its walls are up to 4 metres thick. Anyone wanting to see this view of the Castle must take the Quadretschaweg (Quadretscha trail), which runs above the Castle meadow from the Castle to the exclusive villa district of Vaduz.

Title: Vaduz Castle in the Four Seasons
Date of Issue: 6 September 2010
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 1.90, CHF 1.40

Source: www.philatelie.li

Renewable Energy

srmodh — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:11:41 +0000

Liechtenstein post will issue a postage stamps to create awareness about the various renewable energy sources.

In 2004 the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein published its wide-ranging and ambitious Energy Strategy 2013. Its contents included the stated aim of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 8 % over the 1990 level by 2013. This is to be achieved by selective and subsidized thermal refurbishment of existing buildings or increasing to more than 10% the share in overall energy consumption of renewable energy sources such as hydropower, solar energy and geothermal energy.

The “Renewable Energy” series of stamps is devoted specifically to these energy sources, which are characterized by being self-renewing and thus sustainably available resources. The first part of this series highlights “Hydropower” (face value CHF 1.00), “Wood” (face value CHF 1.40) and “Near-Surface Geothermal Energy” (face value CHF 2.80) as such renewable energy sources. The proportion of wood in the biomass is to be substantially raised in the coming years by, among other things, increasing the number of wood-chip heating systems installed in public buildings.

Hydropower is converted into electrical energy by means of turbines and generators. The “Wood” stamp depicts the wood-chip wave formation typically produced by the rotary stirrer used in a special heating apparatus such as this. In the still young process of geothermal energyrecovery (terrestrial heat) the energy stored in the earth is turned into usable heat.

CHF 1.00 – Hydro power
CHF 1.40 – Wood
CHF2.80 – Near-Surface Geothermal Energy

Title: Renewable Energy
Date of Issue: 6 September 2010
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 1.00, CHF 1.40, CHF2.80

Source: www.philatelie.li

Liechtenstein Panaroma

srmodh — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:58:44 +0000

Liechtenstein post will issue a set of two stamps showing panoramic view of Tallandschaft – Ost and Tallandschaft – West .

Although the picture most people have of Liechtenstein is determined by the mountain world of the Lower Alps, in reality it is the valley landscape divided in two by the Rhine which for centuries has influenced the fate of this country’s people. It was on the valley’s elevated parts (such as Gutenberg or Eschnerberg) which offer protection against the Rhine floods that the first settlements came into being some 7 000 years ago, and the Rhine was the route followed by the military road the Romans built in the 1st century AD, which linked Rome with the Empire’s northern provinces and later became one of the most important trade routes between northern and southern Europe. This continuous contact with the throngs of people passing through the Rhine valley, along with the ideal conditions for profitable farming, had a significant influence on the people’s character and habitual way of life.

The panoramic photograph was taken in the middle of the Ruggell marsh in a slowly dispersing morning mist. The view shown is from the north looking south. Far away in the background one can see the Mt. Pizol massif in the Sarganserland. On the “East” stamp (face value CHF 1.00) one can see the gently rising summit of the Eschnerberg together with the Liechtenstein Dreischwestern massif. Both these heights are still in shadow. On the “West” stamp (face value CHF 1.00) the mountains of the Alvier chain in St. Gallen canton are already bathed in the soft light of the morning sun as it rises over the Liechtenstein mountains. At the centre of the stamp is a white willow, characteristic of this area and called “Felba” in the local dialect.

- Tallandschaft – Ost
- Tallandschaft – West

Title: Liechtenstein Panaroma
Date of Issue: 6 September 2010
Country: Liechtenstein
Denominations: CHF 1.00 x 2

Source: www.philatelie.li