In the military, D-Day is the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. The earliest use of the term by the United States Army that the U.S. Army Center of Military History has been able to find was during World War I. In Field Order Number 9, First Army, American Expeditionary Forces, dated September 7, 1918: “The First Army will … Continue reading The 75th Anniversary of D-Day
On February 13, 1967, American researchers discovered the Madrid Codices by Leonardo da Vinci in the Biblioteca Nacional de España (National Library of Spain) in Madrid. The Madrid Codices I–II (I – Ms. 8937 i II – Ms. 8936) are two manuscripts discovered by Dr. Jules Piccus, Language Professor at the University of Massachusetts. The Madrid Codices I was finished during 1490 and 1499, and … Continue reading Leonardo & the Madrid Codices
The Galápagos Islands were annexed by the Republic of Ecuador (República del Ecuador) on February 12, 1832. The first governor of Galápagos, General José de Villamil, brought a group of convicts to populate the island of Floreana, and in October 1832, some artisans and farmers joined them. Today also happens to be the birth anniversary of Charles Darwin, the English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best … Continue reading The Galápagos Islands Become Part of Ecuador
On February 9, 1964, The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing before a “record-busting” audience of 73 million viewers across the USA. The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show that ran every Sunday night from its debut on June 20, 1948, until its final show on June 6, 1971. Hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan, … Continue reading The Beatles Make History in the U.S.A.
Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, at 1 Mile End Terrace (now 393 Commercial Road), Landport in Portsea Island (Portsmouth), the second of eight children of Elizabeth Dickens (née Barrow; 1789–1863) and John Dickens (1785–1851). His father was a clerk in the Navy Pay Office and was temporarily stationed in the district. He asked Christopher Huffam, rigger to His Majesty’s Navy, … Continue reading Charles Dickens: A Philatelic Tribute on His Birthday
Today is the 313th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin on Milk Street in Boston, Massachusetts. As arguably the greatest American who has ever lived, Franklin has been mentioned on this blog numerous times and received extensive biographies in 2017 and 2018 in conjunction with his roles in founding both the United States and Canadian post office systems. It is difficult to choose another … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Ben Franklin.
On January 9, 1941, the Avro Lancaster — a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber — took its first flight. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same … Continue reading The Avro Lancaster Bomber
There are many days where it can be difficult to find a single stamp in my collection to match an anniversary of an event, a birth, or occasionally a death on a particular date. When this occurs, I usually pick a “random stamp” portraying something not usually associated with a date such as an animal, fruit or place. However, there are days when I need … Continue reading The Birth Anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien
