Pictorial Postmarks: Worldwide

My oldest nephew worked for many years in Alberta from late spring till early fall fighting forest fires including smoke jumping. Mostly though they would be stationed in remote areas where lightning often started fires. They were never too scared of the fires but bears storming into their camps were unnerving. Rough on his wife and 2 sons back in Nova Scotia but on the plus side he was home all winter. His last summer was year 1 of the pandemic and when he came home on leave he would have to isolate at home and his wife and kids would have to isolate as well. Great money but is really a young single persons job.

I've finally been going through a large box (some 1,500) of mostly commemorative covers and scanning some of the nice ones. You have been warned.



Waterbury, Connecticut was the Brass City. Earlier in the century, some ridiculous amount of the brass used in industry and manufacturing in the world - 80% or something - went through one of the factories in Waterbury. The mills shuttered in the 1970s and 1980s. Now if you asked me what Waterbury's major product is, I couldn't tell you. The city hangs together somehow, but it's in pretty bad shape.

I can tell you that the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra is really good, or it was back when I could still travel more than I can these days. One night, they invited the Connecticut Accordion Society to play in the lobby while people were leaving. Those guys were really good, and it would have been a great idea had the orchestral concert not ended with an explosive rendition of Shostakovich's 5th Symphony, which is pretty damned harrowing to begin with.

The Mattatuck Museum is excellent; they have several paintings by my favorite artist, Kay Sage, who lived nearby for several years. Once I saw an exhibit of the history of beer in Waterbury, which was dominated by a brewery owned by the long-time mayor, and if you wanted a license to run a bar in Waterbury, you'd better have it on tap. The beer...wasn't great. So when the mayor finally got run out of office, sales immediately went down to almost nothing and the brewery folded in no time.

The bold W in the postmark is modeled after an early Waterbury cancellation that was around for a while when the Post Office was relatively blithe about fancy cancels. The Northeastern Federation of Stamp Clubs tells me that the Waterbury Stamp Club is still around, but I've never seen them post anything about a show or an open house or even a cancellation, so I don't know its real status.

For swvl , a philatelic souvenir from a World Series he probably didn't care about:


Check out the graphic on the left side. I must have forgotten that this was the first World Series in which a pitcher's foot fell off during his windup.

By biking across Japan, I realised that Japan Post offers a lot of pictorial cancellations, called「風景印」(fuu-kei-in), that are exclusive to particular post offices. I would say about 1/3 or even 1/2 of post offices across Japan offer pictorial cancellations. They can be obtained with a stamp of minimal value (today this value is 63 yen).

There is an official repository of these postmarks on Japan Post's website, but the list is far from being complete. I can often find online image of a cancel that is not included, despite being still in use.

I like to refer to these personal websites to look for pictorial cancels:

divisions.jp/

www.pulanari-postmarks.com/index.html

Japan Post's explanation about the design of a given cancel tends to be more detailed, wherease the personal websites just list the elements that appear in the cancels.

There are also some personal blogs here and there about getting a particular 風景印, but they are not as complete / official as these two sources. You need to search for「風景印 (space) X」where X is the element you want to be pictured in the cancel. For instance, 「風景印 東京タワー」will give you many results including this site that I like.

---

Let me begin to share Japan's pictorial cancels that I have collected during my journey.

IN HOKKAIDO

(1) Obtained at the northernmost post office of Japan in Cape Soya, 宗谷岬郵便局.




This cancels depicts the monument that marks the northernmost point of Japan and a monument of 間宮林蔵, an explorer who mapped out areas of northeast Asia then unknown to Japanese.





(2) Obtained at a post office in central Kushiro, 釧路中央郵便局.


This cancel depicts Kushiro Marsh, red-crowned crane, and the Nusamai Bridge in Kushiro. On the left is the regular Japanese cancel of this post office that is applied to mails sent within Japan.





(3) Obtained at the easternmost post office of Japan in Cape Nosappu, 珸瑤瑁郵便局.




This cancel depicts the earliest sunrise in Japan seen at Cape Nosappu Lighthouse, plus the specality of the area: konbu (昆布), an edible kelp.






(4) Obtained at a post office in Obihiro, 帯広郵便局.


This cancel depicts Ban'ei, a kind of Japanese horse racing that is nowaday only regularly held in Obihiro, and in the background the Tokachi Ohashi Bridge that is a main attraction in the area. Notice that this cancel is in the shape of a horse shoe; this is called a「変形印」(literally, 'deformed cancel') in Japan.

Ban'ei (競走) is a special form of Japanese horse racing during which draft horses pull heavy sleds up sand ramps. These horses are bred for executing heavy agricultural labour, therefore have a very distint, strong, physical appearance, than other 'regular' horses bred for speed. Today, regular ban'ei races are only held at the Obihiro racecourse.

This is one of the sand ramps the competing horses have to pull over in the Obihiro racecourse:




(5) Obtained at a post office in Muroran, 東室蘭郵便局.


It's a bit blurry, but the centre of the cancel depicts Muroran Port in the shape of a ship, and in the background is Mount Sokuryo, on the top of which transmition towers (for TV, radio, etc.) stand together with an observatory. Notice that the stamp on the right also depicts Mount Sokuryo that began to be lighted up 1988, and the stamp on the left uses a historical photo of the opening of Muroran Port.



Here is a clearer picture of the cancel, found online.




(6) Obtained at a post office in Muroran, 室蘭母恋郵便局.


This cancel, with the matching stamp, depicts the lighthouse at Cape Chikyu and Charatsunai beach.



(7) Obtained at a post office in Muroran, 室蘭郵便局.


This whale-shaped cancel depitcts the Hakucho Bridge and seagull. It is also a「変形印」.

Now moving onto Honshu.

TOHOKU & KANTO

(1)Obtained at a post office in Morioka, 盛岡ホットライン肴町郵便局.


This cancel shows portrays of poet Takuboku Ishikawa (left), native of Morioka, and poet/novelist Kenji Miyazawa (right), native of Hanamaki who spent many years studying and teaching in Morioka. The architecture depicted here is the musem commemorating both of them today, which was formerly a bank.





(2) Obtained at a post office in Hanamaki, 花巻藤沢町郵便局.


3 elements are incorporated into this pictorial cancel of Hanamaki:

(a) The gigantic mural depicting Night on the Galactic Railroad by Miyazawa in Hanamaki, which uses pigments that absorbes ultra-violet light to shine at night.

(b) An image of Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来), the primary Buddha of Pure Land Buddhism.

(c) A flower: kobushi magnolia.





(3) Obtained at a post office in Hanamaki, 花巻二枚橋郵便局.


My cancel was not very visible on this wooden postcard, so here is an image found online:


Miyazawa once held an academic position in agricultural science when he was teaching in Morioka. At one point due to illness and hoping to develop a closer connexion to the life of peasants, he retired to an impoverished region of Hanamaki to work on a farm. There, he established a private school (私塾) called 羅須地人協会 to teach the locals about modern cultivation techniques improved by scientific methods. It took place at one of Miyazawa family's residential buildings depicted in this pictorial cancel. On the tablet (in the cancel) is inscribed an exerpt taken from Miyazawa's「農民芸術概論綱要」 (Introduction to Farmer's Art).



(4) Obtained at a post office in Sendai, 仙台八幡町郵便局.


This cancel shows the main shrine of Osaki Hachimangu Shrine (大崎八幡宮), which was made into a National Treasure of Japan.

There happened to be some event held at this shrine on the day of my visit. The piece of architecture was veiled by tent and other stuff. 





Another reason for this shrine's popularity is that the figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生結弦), who is native of Sendai, once paid it a visit. His volitive tablet is still hinged behind a glass window inside the shrine. Many of his fans have come here to pray for him.





(5) Obtained at a post office in Nikko, 日光郵便局.


This cancel shows a bunch of important cultural properties in Nikko:

(a) Nikko Toshogu Yomeimon Gate


(b) Nikko Toshogu five-storied pagoda


(c) Shinkyo Bridge


(d) Nikko's Cedar Avenue.
I passed through the Cedar Avenue in the dark, so I have no photo to show. But even in the dark, I could feel the imposing presence of the magnificent cedar trees. 

Nikko Toshogu is the shrine dedicated to the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This town is extremely popular amongst foreign nationals for reason unknown to me.



(6) Obtained at a post office in Tokyo, 浅草郵便局.


(7) Obtained at a post office in Tokyo, 雷門郵便局.


These two cancels of Asakusa show the Kaminarimon gate of Senso-ji temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo, the five-storied pagoda, and Tokyo Sky Tree that is visible from Assakusa.











(8) Obtained at a post office in Tokyo, 芝郵便局.


This cancel that shows Tokyo Tower has been in use since 1959, the next year when the tower's construction was complete. It's the old symbol of Tokyo (the new one being Tokyo Sky Tree).



(9) Obtained at a post office in Tokyo, 六本木ヒルズ郵便局.


The main subject of depiction in this cancel is Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, the 54-story skyscraper in which Mori Art Museum is located. I went there to see the exhibition of the manga artist Yoshihiro Togashi (冨樫義博) and got this cancel as a souvenir.



(10) Obtained at a post office in Tokyo, 銀座六郵便局.


This cancel pictures the train model used for today's Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (東京メトロ銀座線), along with a street view of the district.

KYUSHU & OKINAWA

(1) Obtained at a post office in Nagasaki, 長崎松山郵便局.


This cancel and the matching stamp depict the Peace Statue in the Peace Park in Nagasaki, the second city that was destroyed by an atomic bomb in WWII.









(2) Obtained at a post office in Nagasaki, 長崎北郵便局.


Like the previous cancel, this cancel shows the Peace Statue in Nagasaki together with the Urakami Cathedral (浦上天主堂), which was destroyed by the bombing and was rebuilt in 1959.





It was close to the Feast of the Assumption of Mary when the atomic bomb fell merely 500m away from the Urakami Cathedral. The bomb killed everyone inside the church that was well attended. Only a broken wall remained standing at the current Nagasaki Peace Park.



(3) Obtained at a post office in Nagasaki, 長崎小曽根郵便局.


The subject of depiction in this cancel and the matching stamps is the Oura Church (大浦天主堂) in Nagasaki, which is said to be the oldest Christian church in Japan. Together with some 11 other sites related to Catholic persecution in Japan, this church was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photography is forbidden inside the church and at the gallery that exhibits the history of the Catholic persecution in the area of Nagasaki, which is the subject matter of Endo Shusaku's novel Silence, if anyone is interested.











(4) Obtained at a post office in Kumamoto, 熊本中央郵便局.


This cancel depicts the Kumanoto Castle and the erupting Aso Volcano in the background.





(5) Obtained at a post office in Kagashima, 鹿児島中央郵便局.


This cancel shows 3 elements representative of Kagoshima:

(a) The statue of the Japanese samurai and nobleman Saigo Takamori (西鄕隆盛, 1828-1877), native of Kagoshima and one of the three nobles who led the Meiji Restoration that modernised Japan. His statues are everywhere in the city of Kagoshima.

(b) City of Kagoshima as seen from atop a hill.

(c) Sakurajima -- Sakura Island, right off Kagoshima Port, on which the most active volcano of Japan is located. It is constently erupting and dropping volcanic ash. A popular souvenir of the area mixes this volcanic ash from the island and concrete to make all sorts of small sculptures and decorative objects.







(6) Obtained at the southernmost post office of Japan, 大泊郵便局.


This cancel depicts the souternmost point of Japan, Cape Sata and an observatory.







(7) Obtained at a post office in Naha, 那覇中央郵便局.


This cancel depicts the flower representing the prefecture of Okinawa, erythrina, and Shisa, a traditional Okinawan mythological creature that resembles a cross between a lion and a dog. Shisa is often seen in pairs, placed on rooftop or at main gates to people's houses, to protect them from the evil spirits.





(8) Obtained at a post office in Naha, 牧志郵便局.


Besides the flower erythrina and Shisa previously mentionned, this cancel also incorporates the Shureimon (守礼門), which is one of Shuri Castle's main gates.



This gate survived the 2019 fire incident.



(9) Obtained at a post office in Naha, 首里寒川郵便局.


This cancel depicts the main hall of Shuri Castle that was destroyed by fire in 2019, and the Shuri Kinjo-cho (Shuri cobblestone street).

















(10) Obtained at a post office in Naha, 首里北郵便局.


This cancel depicts the main hall of Shuri Castle, a stone dragon pillar, and the family crest of the royal family of Ryukyu Kingdom Sho.

Philatarium I don't mind my posts being part of this worldwide pictorial postmarks thread, or have their own dedicated thread. Let the Admin decide then.

I may post a couple more pictorial cancels obtained in Japan when they are redirected to me. But for the moment, my philatelic journey through Japan is over now.

I think you can seperate my posts starting with the one posted on 31 Mar 2023 at 11:02am to a new thread. The title of the thread can be something like 'Pictorial Postmarks: Japan' ?

Another question for forum members: Do you prefer to see one cancel in one post? In my previous posts, I grouped cancels by region but I realised that this makes the post long, and a particular cancel difficult to point to in case someone wants to refer to it. I can repost these cancels one by one in separate posts.

I had this one set aside for the date-postmark thread, but I had two other 04/22s and it fits nicely here.



Yehudi Menuhin had an unusual career. A prodigy, he gave his first public performance when he was 12. His career went on for almost ¾ of a century; in the second half of that, he was criticized for not playing nearly as well as he had when younger, and there was some truth to that; all musicians lose their chops eventually, and in Menuhin's case that happened more quickly than it should have. But millions of people around the world didn't care if he had all his chops. For one thing, he was a generous soul, a bridge-builder across nations, and an avid supporter of young musicians. For another thing, even when he could no longer hit all the notes as gracefully as before, he always communicated the music. When he played something, you knew why he loved it and why he wanted you to hear it too. I suppose many great classical musicians have those same feelings - the life they lead is pretty grueling and there are better ways to make a living, so there's got to be a reason they keep on with it - but some people communicate it almost natively. Itzhak Perlman has that gift. Yo-Yo Ma has it.


Overall, one cancel per post - going up to maybe three if they're part of the same story, closely related - is a good way to go. But restructuring everything you have put up so far sounds like a lot of work and I don't think it's necessary. Thanks for all of those posts - it's like a new world to me!

Here is a pair of recent additions.



For those who don't have reason to follow these affairs, one of the United States' largest military bases (over 250 square miles!) was renamed due to a recent law mandating the removal of names from military sites that were taken from military and political personages of the Confederate States. Braxton Bragg was a Confederate general, and one considered by his peers in the Confederate Army to be incompetent, and hated by his subordinates (see the American Battlefield Trust). He was also a slave owner. Despite all this, quite a number of people are upset by the name change. I understand that the fort holds an immense repository of our military history; it is home base for the legendary 82nd Airborne and the Special Operations Command, just for starters. It will now be the only major American military base that isn't named after a person; according to the Army Times, agreement could not be reached amongst the involved parties on an individual successor name.

In stamp and postal news, the same Army Times article reports that the USPS will for the time being and the foreseeable future recognize both Fort Bragg and Fort Liberty as deliverable addresses. Names associated with the base but not part of it are not affected, so Bragg St., for instance, will remain Bragg St. unless local and state authorities choose to rename it.

I wish the postmarks had turned out a bit better, but I'm still glad to have them because this event really is history come alive.

Very cool cancel and Maxicard, dorincard . Nicely done. 

Here’s a video of a bobcat looking out from my stamp desk; We had everything moved out of the lanai so the pressure washer could clean - except for the plant that was getting tossed - so we had a good unobstructed view. My dogs are going nuts - this is the only time I’ve ever heard them bark like this - they were seriously annoyed. The woods behind us are off limits - we’re not even allowed to trim those dead branches. That is ONLY done by the county crews.