Slovenia 2021 stamps offer up familiar themes of wildlife, aviation and, of course, the lunar new year. This year is a bonanza year for aviation collectors, with post offices around the world marking a number of 100 year anniversaries. Slovenia will be offering a tribute to inventor & engineer Valentin Matija Živic in late fall.
A stamp that should create interest in Canada is the next issue in the Slovenes around the World series. This year, Canada is celebrated. Approx. 40,470 Canadians proudly claim Slovenian heritage. There are quite a few easily recognized names in the list of Slovenians who make Canada home, including world class figure skater Elvis Stojko and 12 NHL hockey players. Slovenian Canadians | The Canadian Encyclopedia
If you are a looking for a new area to explore, I’d recommend popping over to the Slovenia Post’s website. They have a lot of useful information and an easy-to-use format. The English version of the Slovenian post office is excellent. Plenty to keep a new collector happy. After wading through over 180 post office websites, Slovenia Post was a breath of fresh air. They include a lot of details, including cancels (post marks), FDC information and designers.
This listing includes links to stamp designers when I was able to find them. Happily, for me, Slovenia seems to love its arts and isn’t shy about promoting the designers.
Slovenia 2021 stamps for January
Blasius Kozenn
FDC
Post marked: Ponikva
Blasius Kozenn – 200th Anniversary of the Birth.
Blaž Kocen, geographer and cartographer,
200th anniversary of his birth &150th anniversary of his death
1 stamp, 1 FDC
Designer: Borut Bončina
Previous stamps include last year’s 90th Anniversary of the Execution of the Heroes of Bazovica and 2019’s Franjo Malgaj the first Slovene to arrive in Carinthia in 1918.
Release date: Jan 28, 2021
Love – Slovenia 2021
FDC
Maribor post mark
Love 1 stamp – heart shaped, 1 FDC
In some parts of the world and some social environments, conditions are still far from being ideal and we are still witnessing cases of rejection, intolerance and other phenomena that attempt to push homosexual love and the whole LGBT movement to the margins of society, or even out of it altogether. For this reason, the stamp design in the characteristic colours of the LGBT flag aims to draw attention to our tolerant encounters with human relationships of different kinds. From Slovenia Post
Berk’s previous stamp designed include 10 years -1988 Liberation of Slovenia, Bozidar Jakac Slovenian artist, 2002 Valentine’s stamp and 2020’s Contemporary Arts and Crafts Metal Work and Gastronomy – Šelinka from the Karst Region.
Release date: Jan 28, 2021
Lunar New Year
FDC
Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox
Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox
1 stamp, 1 FDC
Designer: Maja Tomažič
Some of Marat Design’s previous issues include 2020 Prominent Personalities – Hugo Wolf, 2019 Year of the Pig, 2018 Slovenia Ballet, and Superstition and Magic in Slovenia in 2018.
Release date: Jan 28, 2021
The Meksika building 1926−1927, Vladimir Šubic
FDC
Meksika post mark
ARCHITECTURE IN SLOVENIA Meksika Building in Ljubljana
1926‒27 (Vladimir Šubic)
Continuing series celebrating Slovenia architecture
1 stamp, miniature sheet and FDC
Designer: Robert Žvokelj, DAK
Previous stamps in the series by Žvokelj includes the 2018 and 2020 Architecture in Slovenia issue
Release date: Jan 28, 2021
Contemporary lacemaking
FDC
Post Mark
CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CRAFTS IN SLOVENIA
Contemporary lacemaking
1 stamp, FDC
… Tina Koder Grajzar, a native of Idrija, the centre of Slovene lacemaking, … dedicates herself above all to the creation of contemporary lace jewellery. Her focus is not so much on the technique itself, which allows her to maintain the identity of her products with the predominant use of the narrow-tape style (also known as the Idrija style), as on the creation of modern patterns, in other words design. An example of this is the necklace featured on the present stamp. Slovenia Post Office
Designer: Pavla Bonča
Previous stamp designs include 2020’s International Year of Plant Health
Release date: Jan 28, 2021
200th anniversary
FDC
Post Mark 200th anniverary
200th anniversary of the Congress of Laibach
1 stamp, FDC
Designer: villa creativa
Previous designs include 2020’s FIS Ski Flying World Championships
Release date: Jan 28, 2021
March 2021 stamps
TBA
TOURISM Dolenjska, wellness tourism
1 stamp
Release date: March 21, 2021
TBA
FIRST SLOVENE INVENTORS WITH PATENTS Ivan Bajde – claviharp (19210
1 stamp, Miniature sheet
Release date: March 21, 2021
TBA
FLORA – SPONTANEOUS SHRUBS
Wayfarer (Viburnum lantana),
laurustine (Viburnum tinus),
snowball bush (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’),
guelder rose (Viburnum opulus)
4 stamps + miniature sheet of 1 stamp
Release date: March 21, 2021
May 2021 stamps
TBA
E U R O PA 2021 – Endangered wild animals
2 stamps + sheetlets
Release date: May 28, 2021
TBA
SPORT UEFA
European Under-21 Championship (Slovenia and Hungary)
1 stamp
Release date: May 28, 2021
TBA
SLOVENIA – EUROPEAN REGION OF GASTRONOMY 2021
1 stamp
Release date: May 28, 2021
TBA
Fortunat Bergant and his works,
300th anniversary of his birth
5 stamps
Release date: May 28, 2021
TBA
8th EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICS
1 stamp
Release date: May 28, 2021
July 2021 stamps
TBA
EUROMED POSTAL Hand-made jewellery of the Mediterranean1 stampRelease date: July 12 2021
TBA
2021 FIREFIGHTING OLYMPIAD
1 stamp
Release date: July 12 2021
TBA
Games of the XXXII Olympiad, Tokyo
2 stamps – may not be issued
Release date: July 12 2021
Sept. 2021 stamps
TBA
FAUNA – WORKING DOGS
Assistance dogs,
therapy dogs,
service dogs,
hunting dogs
4 stamps, miniature sheet
Release date: Sept. 24 2021
TBA
WELLS IN SLOVENIA
Well at Maribor Castle1 stamp, miniature sheet
Release date: Sept. 24 2021
TBA
200th anniversary of the National Museum of Slovenia
1 stamp
Release date: Sept. 24 2021
Nov 2021 stamps
TBA
PIONEERS AND MILESTONES OF SLOVENE AVIATION
The beginnings of systematic experimentation with model aircraft (Valentin Matija Živic)1 stamp
Release date: Nov. 12 2021
TBA
RURAL HOUSES OF SLOVENIA Kavčnik Homestead, Zavodnje nad Šoštanjem1
stamp, miniature sheet
Release date: Nov. 12 2021
TBA
SLOVENE FEMALE SCIENTISTS Melita Pivec-Stele, librarian and historian1 stamp
Release date: Nov. 12 2021
TBA
SLOVENES AROUND THE WORLD Slovenes in Canada1 stamp
Release date: Nov. 12 2021
Don’t forget to look at the growing list of 2021 releases from around the world –
Some of the Australia 2021 stamps have been announced. Yes, it’s that time of year when post offices around the world tease out upcoming releases. Australia Post’s stamps for Jan and Feb offer tradition, history, creatures, and home comforts. One set will appeal to aviation, airmail, Australian history, and militaria fans around the world. As of this articles publication date (Dec 29, 2020), none of the stamps listed are for sale yet, but check Australia Post office closer to release dates Stamps – Sending (auspost.com.au).
Stamp subjects for Australia 2021
Chinese New Year
5 Home comforts with Memorable Moments
Happy Birthday
100 Years of the RAAF
Norfolk Island Lizards
Front Line Heroes
Australia 2021 stamps – Kicking off with Lunar New Year Jan 8, 2021
It’s now expected that post offices will issue a Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, stamp and Australia Post’s Christmas Island stamps don’t disappoint. Of all the Lunar New Year stamps I’ve seen this set will go down as my favourite.
Year of the Ox 2021
Year of the Ox 2021 Christmas Island $2.20 value
Year of the Ox 2021 Christmas Island $3.30 value
It’s interesting to see how each country interprets the same subject. I was thinking this morning that this would make for an interesting study. The Lunar New Year series, will also come in souvenir sheets, maxi cards, covers etc.
Come hither and buy my stamps
Christmas Island’s First Day of Issue cancel is, well, adorable. The ox looks like flirtatious. Not sure if that was intentional, but now I want to get hold of a cancel. It’s a hell of a “come hither” glance.
Australia Post outdid themselves with this issue. If there is a stamp collector in your life that is near and dear to you, you might want to consider the gold mini-sheet folder. It’s breathtaking.
Australia 2021 stamps feature a gold mini sheet with folder
Sydney, Australia based artist Chrissy Lau designed the series, and when I wandered through her site, I realised I’ve seen her art before. She designed Guernsey Islands Year of the Rat stamp series last year. Check out her distinctive style on her website: Chrissy Lau | Artist Illustrator | Portfolio.
Australia Post also has a full Chinese zodiac souvenir sheet displaying all the animals and years they are associated with. It would round out a Lunar New Year collection.
Souvenir keeper showing entire Chinese zodiac
5 Home comforts with Memorable Moments – Jan 25, 2021
This is a set designed for comfort and home thoughts. Memorable moments for Australia 2021 stamps were designed by Keith Downes and Sonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio. Release date: January 25, 2021. Five stamps in series. In the series will be:
$1.10 Bunnies showing stuffed toy rabbits
$1.10 Thank You
$1.10 Balloons showing colourful heart balloons
$1.10 Heart showing a heart graphic
$2.20 Blossoms
You can never go wrong with bunnies – designed by Sonia Young
Thank you designed by Keith Downes & Happy Birthday Heart Balloons by Sonia Young
Heart designed by Sonia Young and Blossoms by Keith Downes
The postmark reflects the overall “home comforts” theme.
First Day Cancel for the Moments series
Happy Birthday Available from Order Jan 11, 2021
The Happy Birthday heart balloon stamp (above) will also be available for a personalised birthday greeting. Australia Post allows people to pre-order the stamp and birthday cover with a specific date on the cancel. You choose the birthdate of your choice and it will bear the appropriate date on the cancel.
Happy Birthday to you
100 Years of the RAAF Feb 9, 2021
As an aviation buff, this is the set for me. Although, my interest in airplanes stops with the advent of jet engines. I’m a canvas and wood kind of woman. The Royal Australian Air Force was formed Mar 31, 1921 and this stamp will help celebrate their storied history.
1921 – 2021 the RAAF at 100
The usual covers, cards, stamps, and sheets will be issued. My favourite is the distinctive SE5a biplane. It’s hard to mistake that flat nose for anything but an SE5A.
The much-loved Scout
RAAF F-35 jet
Covers, maxi cards and sheets ready for purchase in Feb.
The first day cancel features an F-35 in flight. It’s too bad the SE5a wasn’t offered as well.
First Day issue cancel
RAAF souvenir sheet
The series was designed by Jamie and Leanne Tufrey, who designed the 2014 Centenary of Military Aviation & Submarines for Australia Post. This series shares the style of the ’14 set, especially the Bristol Military Biplane number CFS-3 stamp.
Bristol Military Boxkite, CFS-8 in flight from 2014
Norfolk Island Lizards Feb 9, 2021
Not to be left out, little lizards will be featured on a Norfolk Island series.
Yet to be shown will be a series honouring the front-line workers of 2020. It sad it took a pandemic to make so many appreciate their day-to-day work. When details are released, I’ll post more.
And finally
That’s all the news for Australia 2021 stamps to date. I spent a couple days signing up for newsletters from various post offices so hopefully, I’ll be able to keep you up to date on new releases. Keep coming back, I have a few more country issues for 2021 lined up and will roll them out over the coming weeks.
In the meantime, check out Japan’s soon to be released MOOMINS.
How about a trip on a self-powered aircraft? This early heavier-than-air design combined cycling with balloon power. Successful flights were was still 6 years away when Carl Myers dreamed up this innovative sky cycle.
I, CARL EDGAR MYERS, aeronautical engineer, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mohawk, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Sky-Cycles, of which the following is a specification.”
Edgar Myers
Carl Edgar Myers (March 2, 1842 – November 30, 1925) was an interesting person. Engineer, meteorologist, entrepreneur, balloonist and inventor, Myers is an unsung hero of American ingenuity and inventiveness. At the cusp of the 20th century, he explored ways to use recent technological breakthroughs in innovative ways.
One of his enduring passions was hot air balloons. Myers’ interest in ballooning appears to have arisen out of his involvement in meteorological measurements and a desire to further atmospheric studies. He built his first balloon in 1878, flying it later in 1880. He designed and manufactured various improvements for dirigibles, including improving the materials used. His home was called the Balloon Farm and is listed with the National Register of Historic Places. His contributions to early flight and meteorology are intriguing. Myers reminds me of great Otto Lilienthal and his experiments with flight.
The Aerial Velocipede Patent No. 581,218 April 20, 1897
My invention consists, first, of a new form of body possessing greater bulk or capacity with less proportional exposed surface, combined with less resistance to projectile movement through air, than any other form yet discovered or in use, and which I term a symmetrical wave line spindle shaped body, and, secondly, of certain connected devices for propulsion, more especially adapted to be operated in air, a special arrangement of which adapted to be operated by manual power I term the aerial velocipede for flying. Google Patent
The aerial velocipede was a hot air dirigible controlled by human pedal power. Myers envisioned a single seater balloon that combined elements of cycling and flight.
Self-powered aircraft with a twist
Dirigible cycling for one.
The propulsion mentioned in the patent would be a unique combination of hot air balloon, wings, and pedal power for thrust and steering.
The operator seated upon the velocipede seat V grasps the hand-cranks K, attached to the gear-wheel O, while his feet may operate the foot-cranks attached to gear-wheel O, arranged to move simultaneously with C by means of gear-wheels C, attached to the hollow connecting shaft U, which revolves around the upright rod U. (Shown in detail in Fig. 3, similar letters referring to similar parts.) Gearwheel (1, attached to propeller-shaft Z, is driven by gear O, and the construction of the crank system thus permits the revolving of the screw S backward or forward by either one or both hands or feet, leaving one or both hands at liberty for other purposes when desirable. Paragraph 40 pg. 4
It’s not as complicated as it seems. The rider can use hands or feet, depending on what they are doing. The pedals are attached to a propellor shaft that gives the sky bike both a bit of lift and the ability to propel forward and backward. The design also considers the need for a rudder and wings for both stability and directional guidance.
To work the Wings, the operator grasps the … principal or secondary wing-arm at any point serving to give him proper control, the position varying advantageously by the special movement to be made. The Wing-shaft may be rotated like a crank or operated like a feathering-oar or simply move backward and forward or up and down. Paragraph 115 pg. 5
The wings allowed the balloonist to move forward, back, and up/down. It was, on paper, very maneuverable. But required an enormous amount of leg and arm strength to operate. For a short hop it might have been fine but exhausting for any lengthy trip.
Not a Myers balloon, but you can see the inspiration
The sky cycle never got off the ground. I could find no reference to it being built. Myers was no amateur dreamer. He knew his balloons. Myers continued his work building better balloons for nearly 2 more decades, including developing over 100 for the US Weather Bureau and 21 for the United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) for use in the Spanish American War. (rf: Smithsonian Institute – Carl Myers Balloon Farm Collection)
Sky Cycle self-propelled aircraft as a blueprint
I tidied up the original diagram and turned it into a clean schematic for a bit of fun. It came out surprisingly good. I tried tarting up the balloon a bit, but the design looked too busy, so I pulled back. Feel free to download the blueprint (or should I call it a black print) for your own use. The image is quite large so you might need to downsize it for your device. It’s a bit fun, and whimsical. So enjoy. Don’t forget to take a look at the details on the wings and pedals. They are impressive.
Click on the image to see the full image
I used the schematic over at Bittergrounds.Redbubble store. The design worked well on several items and I had a lot of fun setting them up. If you go to the store, check them out in the Schematics & Blueprints category.
They do make interesting coffee coasters. Good conversation pieces
One frustrating aspect of collecting pioneer aviation material is the lack of clean schematics to use for display purposes. One of my favourite airplanes is the Antoinette Flyer, from 1908. It’s a beautiful monoplane.
Fragile and magnificent
I’ve scoured the internet looking for something presentable and concluded last week that I’d have to do my own. When it comes to something like schematics, it’s essential the lines are crisp and easy to follow. They also need to be free of scan artifacts. The little spots of black and paper markings are distracting.
To achieve all of this, I had to get over my phobia of using the pen tool in Photoshop. It was the only way of getting sharp lines and smooth curves. But, I’ve never been successful in earlier attempts. And yes, I developed a bit of a fear about using the pen tool. After this job, the fear is gone. I’m embarrassed to admit, it’s easy to use and I’m unsure why I made such a fuss over it through the years. I have a lot of work to do before I become proficient with it, but the Antoinette Flyer schematic was a great start.
Antoinette Flyer schematic – 1908
Cleaned up and ready to display
I used a composite of a couple grainy and badly scanned schematics to build the above. It took hours to lay out the lines and align them correctly. I don’t have all the measurements included yet. I’m hoping to layer them in at a later point. I also have the entire Antoinette engine somewhere on my hard drive. I might pull it out, clean it up a bit, and post it.
I played with several backgrounds to highlight the airplane as well as thicknesses for the lines. I opted for a very thin 2px white line and a black background. It displays the framework’s delicacy better. I tried traditional blueprint blue, but the airplane didn’t show well. The final schematic is 5,000 px x 3,843 px and prints to 10″ x 7.6″. It looks smashing.
Technology as art
One of my motivations, aside from the sheer joy of watching the Antoinette appear in pristine shape, was to use them over at Redbubble for a few merchandise ideas. I’ve played with a few postage stamps and early aviation photographs from my collection and have been pleased with their overall look. It takes quite a bit of time getting everything the right size and clarity. Schematics like the Antoinette adapt to Redbubble designs well.
Technology as art is an appealing genre. There’s something elegant in a simple schematic. I have a thing for industrial and mechanical style art, so I guess my passion for schematics is a natural extension. I’ll be working up more ideas in the coming months.
I’m currently taking a stab at a schematic for an Avro CF-100 Canuck. It’s a bit uncharacteristic for me, I’m not normally a jet fan, but it’s a bit of a sentimental journey. The Canuck was the jet my father worked on when he was in the RCAF with the old 440 Nimble Bat squadron. It’s not looking good at the moment, I need a few more drawings and blueprints if I want it to look correct.
Enjoy the Antoinette Flyer in the meantime and pop over to Bittergrounds.Redbubble.com and check out how well the Antoinette Flyer looks. Wish I had more space for pillows in my little apartment.
Worked out better than I expected
If you’d like to learn more about the magnificent Antoinette read my previous article here:
Canada Post’s latest release, Canadians in Flight honours 5 significant Canadians and Canadian creations. This has to be my favourite subjects – Canadian history & pioneer flight. There are 5 stamps, a booklet, souvenir sheet and 5 covers to in the set.
Stamps from the Canadians in Flight booklet
Starting at the top left and working across:
Elsie MacGill – The Queen of the Hurricanes
Elsie MacGill, the underappreciated hero of aeronautical engineering, feminist and all around amazing Canadian. She was a woman of many firsts – 1st female graduate of electrical engineering at U of T, 1st woman to earn a Master’s in aeronautical engineering, 1st female practicing engineering in Canada, when recovering from polio MacGill designed airplanes and wrote articles about aviation, rode along with test pilots to observe her designs in flight, chief aeronautical engineer at Canadian Car & Foundry, headed the Canadian production of the Hawker Hurricane fighter planes in WW2, feminist activist, commissioner on the Royal Commission on the Status of Women and tireless advocate for women’s rights1.
How bad ass was Elsie MacGill? She had a comic book written about her in 1942 called Queen of the Hurricanes – Elsie MacGill. MacGill was the Queen of Badass Women. Not enough Canadians are taught about her contributions to engineering, aviation, and feminism so this is a long overdue tribute to a great Canadian.
1942 comic – Elsie MacGill, Queen of the Hurricanes
William George Barker, VC
Next is William George Barker, VC, enlisted as a private in the Canadian army, ended his career as a Wing Commander in the new RCAF. The lad from Dauphin, Manitoba who went on to be a WW1 Royal Flying Corp and RCAF pilot, businessman and the most decorated serviceman in Canadian history. Barker was one of those legendary fighter pilots that emerged from WW1, a small-town prairie boy who became larger than life because of a war they were tossed into. Here’s an excerpt from the Barker’s official military records2:
William George Barker’s service record note about his Victoria Cross win
William George Barker’s service record note about his Victoria Cross win
Memorial to William Barker at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto
Bush Pilot Punch Dickins
C. H. Punch Dickins, another flier from the prairies, was one of Canada’s great bush pilots. After WW1 ended, many pilots bought decommissioned biplanes and headed north to carry freight, mail and passengers to remote towns and mining camps that dotted the Canadian north3.
In Canada, the word “bush” has been used since the 19th century to describe the hostile environment beyond the clearings and settlements. In bush flying it has been used to refer to flying in adverse, if not hostile, conditions in the remote expanses beyond the ribbon of settlement in southern Canada, into the “bush” of the Canadian Shield and the barren Arctic. By the end of WWI most of southern Canada had been linked by railways, but the North remained as inaccessible as ever by land. Its innumerable lakes and rivers did, however, provide alighting areas for water-based aircraft in summer and ski-equipped aircraft in winter. Bush Flying | The Canadian Encyclopedia
Punch Dickins cut his teeth fighting on the Western Front, serving in the RFC and later RCAF. After the war, he flew to remote locations surveying over 10,000 miles of northern Canada for Western Canadian Airlines.
Western Canadian Airways Semi-official stamp
Western Canadian was one of the companies allowed to print stamps and collect money for the delivery of mail to remote locations. Punch delivered the first mail to the NWTs for WCA. By the end of his career, Dickins flew over 1.6 million miles across the northern Canada.
Avro Arrow
On the second row is the Avro Arrow, continuing Canada’s fascination with the best aircraft that never got a chance. A Canadian designed fighter craft capable of flying 2x the speed of sound, but buried and sunk in Lake Ontario for political reasons. The cancellation of the Avro is still considered a national scandal 60 years later and hotly argued about.
Ultraflight Lazair
And finishing out this set is the nibble twin engine Ultraflight Lazair, a Canadian designed ultralight craft that still buzzes around the skies5. Between 1979 and 84, over 2000 were built and sold for under $5000 US. It is considered one of the most successful aircrafts sold in Canada.
This is an OUTSTANDING set. I rushed out and bought the booklet and souvenir sheet the morning they were released. The covers were missing in action everywhere I looked. so it looks like they’ll have to be ordered from the Canada Post website. The booklet of 10 stamps costs $9.50 CDN as does the set of 5 covers. The souvenir sheet of 5 stamps costs $4.50.
Hats off to designer Ivan Novotny6 of Taylor | Sprules Corporation for this beautiful set.
Canadians in Flight 2019 spring Canadian stamp release booklet
Canadians in Flight booklet backside
Canadians in Flight souvenir sheet
Notes & further reading on the people on these Canadian stamps:
1 – To learn more about Elsie MacGill start with the Canadian Encyclopedia entry Vintage Wings – The Queen of the Hurricanes includes photos of airplanes MacGill designed
Pick up the book Queen of the Hurricanes by Crystal Sissons, published 2014 by Second Story Press. ISBN: 9781927583531 for paperback and 9781927583579 for hardbound editions. Or check your local library
Comic image courtesy Roberta Bondar Foundation
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