Friday 20 August 2010

airmail

The box of stamps my father gave me has been emptied out on my dining room table for several weeks now. Every so often, I stop and have a little random sort through the various piles, looking at all these vintage treasures. There is no order to any of this, I'm just drawn to the papers and the images, and the slightly worn and faded colours. Of course, as I've already mentioned, the paper patterns on the inside of the envelopes are of just as much interest to me as the stamps. Yesterday I found these two airmail patterns - aren't they wonderful?


These are just an example of some of the styles I'm coming across. I suspect there are at least a thousand stamps in the box, with 1940 being the earliest postmark I've come across so far.


I've not yet got around to doing anything more creative with these beauties than admire them. I think I may do some small collages, and I have another idea too which I will share when I've tried it out.

13 comments:

Frogdancer said...

I've got a collection of stamps like this one. I started saving them for my sons, but none of them ended up being interested in stamp collecting.

I've still got the stamps though.

Simone said...

It must be so interesting to rummage through the box of stamps. My son has recently got interested in old coins and I hsd fun digging out some old coins with King George on them and showed him the old half pence piece and a two shilling coin and a huge old penny! I look forward to see what you do with the stamps! x

blue china studio happy said...

That is such a great collection. I really love the air mail paper from the envelopes. How fantastic is that?

Gina said...

They are beautiful little treasures!

lovethosecupcakes said...

The fragments of envelope really add to the collection, don't they? The postmarks are so intriguing. Love that exhortation to smoke Jamaican cigars!

Diane said...

so romatntic - with a promise of something exotic. really romantic. xxx

A time to dance said...

our friends inherited a huge stamp collection and they made beautiful wide picture frames then covered with stamps and varnished..they were lovely...

Helen said...

What a treat to have so many lovely old stamps. I really like designs with stamps incorporated in them and look forward to seeing what you make!Love your blog, which I've recently discovered. x x

Reading Tea Leaves said...

In this age of e-mail communication when the art of writing letters is becoming almost obsolete it's so refreshing to see these stamps and airmail envelopes, they seem so resonate of a seemingly glamorous bygone age.

I have a box that that has been handed down my mother's side of the family containing photos and letters, one going as far back as 1810 - it's so very precious to me.

Look forward to seeing your ideas for the stamps Diana.

Jeanne
x

thecatalanway said...

hi Diana Lovely photos of the stamps. Really beautiful. I have been thinking of taking photos for my blog of a large collection of Spanish stamps that Peps father collected - not got around to it yet but hope you don't think I am copying you when I do! Some of them from the Republic and then Franco times...a lovely historic record. Hope all well with you Kx

Sally Anne said...

A beautiful collection and special treasures of times past.

Anonymous said...

Airmail stamps are so exotic, like those old fashioned stickers that hotels used to put on suitcases.

The romance has left flying ages ago: I can't imagine the post office will will be issuing stamps to commemorate Ryan Air services anytime soon!

Cate said...

i love stamps, can't wait to see what you do with these.

cate, x