• Beer Purity Laws come into effect

    Germany , Germany

    Reinheitsgebot or Beer Purity Laws came into effect, April 23, 1516, in Bavaria 500th anniversary German Beer Purity Law  Germany issued this April 7, 2016 Designers: Martin and Thomas Poschauko […]

  • St Lawrence Seaway opened

    Canada , Canada

    St Lawrence Seaway opened April 25, 1959    Joint issue Canada-USA Opening of St Lawrence Seaway Issued by Canada and USA June 26, 1959, to coincide with the official opening. […]

  • Seven Samurai released

    Japan

    Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece Seven Samurai released April 26, 1954 The victory belongs to those peasants. Not to us. Kambei Shimada  七人の侍 "Seven Samurai", 1954  From the series Japanese Films (Masterpieces […]

  • Julius II excommunicates Venice

    Italy , Italy

     Pope Julius II excommunicates Venice on April 27, 1509  Pope Julius II From 500th Anniv. of Saint Peter's Basilica Vatican Post issued the set June 22, 2006 Venice From Tourism […]

  • April 28, 1947 Kon-Tiki sets sail

    Norway , Norway

    On April 28, 1947, the Kon-Tiki left Callao, Peru Kon-Tiki + prestige booklet From the Thor Heyerdahl Centenary set Issued by Norway Post April 28, 2014 Designer: Benjamin Stenmarck Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl, […]

  • Elektromote hits the road

    Germany , Germany

    April 29, 1882, Werner von Siemens tested the world's first electric trolleybus, the Elektromote, on the streets of Berlin.  “When I have time and money, I want to build an […]

  • Bessie Coleman – aviation US

    USA

    Pioneer black aviator Bessie Coleman was tragically killed in an air accident April 30, 1926. It's tempting to draw parallels between me and Ms. Coleman . . . I point […]

  • The Penny Black goes on sale

    England , United Kingdom

    The world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, went on sale May 1, 1840.  Although some Penny Blacks were sold on May 1, it wasn't officially released until May […]

  • Leonardo da Vinci dies

    Italy , Italy

    The embodiment of Renaissance humanist thinking, Leonardo da Vinci died May 2, 1519. Born in Vinci, Republic of Florence and died in Clos Lucé, Amboise, Kingdom of France.  500th Anniversary […]

  • John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields

    Canada , Canada

    On May 3, 1915, Canadian army surgeon penned In Flanders Fields. 50th Death Anniversary of John McCrae (1872-1918) Canada Post issued October 15, 1968  Designer: Imre von Mosdóssy In Flanders […]

  • Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore, killed

    India , India

    On May 4, 1799, Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, was killed during the Siege of Seringapatam in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.   Tipu Sultan From the Indian Personalities 1974 […]