Postage Stamps Celebrate World Expo Shanghai

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The world expo shanghai 2010 has attracted stamp designers all over the world to come up with special stamps for the gala. These stamps highlight the theme of this specific expo and distinct national cultures, thus promoting the fusion and exchanges of cultures across the world. The following are some brief introductions to some souvenir stamps dedicated to the World Expo Shanghai 2010.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, a tiny European nation, enjoys an international fame as a stamp designer and distributor. In order to celebrate the World Expo Shanghai, the country’s postal service created a souvenir sheet. A normally perforated souvenir sheet and an imperforate variant have been issued.

This souvenir sheet presents firstly an “Atmospheric View of Vaduz” painted by Johann Jakob Schmidt (18041844) and dating from 1833, and secondly the picture “Tidal bore on the Qiantang river” by the Chinese painter and Buddhist monk poet Xu Gu (18241896), which was painted at about the same time.

At the Liechtenstein Pavilion in Shanghai, 50,000 Liechtenstein stamps form a large replica of “Atmospheric View of Vaduz”. All the stamp designs ever issued by Liechtenstein are represented in this painting and each one is used about 25 times. The 50,000 stamps include the first one released in 1912 when the country began to issue postage stamps. A close look reveals that all these stamps are arranged perfectly to fit the colors and brushstrokes of the original masterpiece.

San Marino

The world’s oldest and smallest republic, famed of its stamps, issued this souvenir sheet to commemorate its participation in this expo. Issued in February, 2010, the sheet presents the unique charm of the miniature country composed of nine fortifications. The jade Statue of Liberty, erected in 1867, is ten years older than its American namesake. In the background are the Government Building, Mount Titano and the Three Towers. The Great Wall of China is depicted on the right of the souvenir sheet. The landmarks of the two countries are put together to indicate the long-term friendly ties between San Marino and China.

New Zealand

The souvenir sheet issued by New Zealand on April 30th 2010, the day before the grand opening of the World Expo Shanghai, presents five stamps with ten images in an attempt to show the similarities of New Zealand and China. Each stamp has both Chinese and English titles. It is very interesting to look into the similarities of these pairs of images.

Australia

Two stamps were released on May 18, 2010 by Australian Post to commemorate Australia’s participation in the World Expo Shanghai. The first stamp showcases the stunning Australian pavilion. The Australian pavilion with its sculptured shape and red ochre color uniquely evokes Australia. The second stamp features Australia's mascot for the Expo - a cheeky, fun-loving kookaburra named Peng Peng after the legendary Chinese bird.

The organizers of Australia Pavilion had wanted to have a Chinese name for the mascot. The pavilion asked Chinese people to find a name. More than 2,800 names were suggested. The shortlist had 5 names, which were posted online for final voting. Peng Peng was chosen. The name reminds people of the legendary Chinese bird mentioned in an all-time essay written more than 2,000 years ago and carries connotations of "friendship" in Mandarin.

Austria

On April 30, 2010, Austria released a souvenir stamp to commemorate its participation in the World Expo. On the stamp is a portrait of the country’s legendary Empress Kaiserin Elisabeth, which was created in 1865 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter.

On the left side of the stamp is the façade of Schloss Schonbrunn, the famous palace where Empress Kaiserin Elisabeth lived. In this palace is the largest collection of Chinese porcelains outside China. Under the palace is a Chinese character 人in bright red, whose reflection on the stamp is A, the initial letter of Austria.

The Austria Pavilion has its external wall covered with pictures on porcelain tiles in red and white, indicating the long history of the export of Chinese porcelain to Europe. With the pavilion decorated this way, Austria pays its homage to China, the home of porcelain.