The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south. It is claimed by New Zealand. Since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article IV of which states: “No acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is in force shall … Continue reading Ross Dependency, Scott Base, and HMNZS Endeavour
On February 6, 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi ITe Tiriti o Waitangi in Māori) was signed by representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs (rangatira), establishing New Zealand as a British colony.The Treaty of Waitangi. It is a document of central importance to the history and political constitution of the state of New Zealand, and has been highly significant in framing the political relations between … Continue reading The Treaty of Waitangi
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
A Madonna (Italian: [maˈdɔnna]) is a representation of Mary, either alone or with her child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word is from Italian ma donna, meaning ‘my lady’. The Madonna and Child type is very prevalent in Christian iconography, divided into many traditional subtypes especially in Eastern Orthodox iconography, often known after the location of … Continue reading A Month of Christmas: The Madonna and Child
The Adoration of the Magi or Adoration of the Kings is the name traditionally given to the subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art in which the three Magi, represented as kings, especially in the West, having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worship him. It is related in the Bible by Matthew 2:11: … Continue reading A Month of Christmas: Adoration of the Magi & Albrecht Dürer
Captain James Cook FRS was born on November 7, 1728, in the village of Marton in Yorkshire and baptized on November 14 in the parish church of St Cuthbert, where his name can be seen in the church register. A British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the Royal Navy, Cook made detailed maps of Newfoundland prior to making three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, … Continue reading James Cook’s Birthday
The use of homing pigeons to carry messages, known as pigeon post, dates back at least 2000 years. Pigeons were effective as messengers due to their natural homing abilities. The pigeons were transported to a destination in cages, where messages would be attached to their legs or necks. The pigeon would then fly back to its home where the owner could read their mail. They … Continue reading National Stamp Collecting Month: Mail by Pigeons
My random stamp days (and there have been a lot of them recently) are not always so random as I usually decide the country that I want to pick from before selecting a stamp. I try not to choose from the same issuing entity too often (sometimes that can’t be avoided) and the United States has yet to be included in a random stamp day … Continue reading Tarapunga, or the Red-Billed Gull, and New Zealand’s Health Stamps
A Stamp A Day 