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After covering January and February 2024, today we’re once again traveling the globe to explore some fascinating new stamps released in July, August, and September 2024. We'll take a look at stamps marking 50th anniversaries, a few featuring monsters, and a couple of surprises.
Let's begin in France with a stamp featuring the creature from one of the country's most famous legends – the Beast of Gévaudan (in what is now modern-day Lozère). The legend dates back to 1764, when the first attacks occurred. Villagers and shepherds reported sightings of a large beast, and soon after, people began to disappear.
The Beast of Gévaudan
France – 2024/07/01
Denomination: 1.29 €
We'll never know the full truth, but according to legend, it was a large, wolf-like creature with a powerful body and massive teeth. Naturally, it was fast and strong, allowing it to easily hunt both cattle and humans. According to legend, the beast was ultimately killed in 1767 by a local hunter named Jean Chastel. The story goes that he used a silver bullet—a common motif in folklore, particularly for slaying monsters like werewolves.
Boćanje (in Serbo-Croatian), balote or balinanje (in Slovenian), and bocce (in Italian) are popular ball sports, particularly in the Adriatic region, which includes Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Euromed 2024: Boćanje
Montenegro – 2024/07/08
Denomination: 2.00 €
The game itself has many variants which differ in rules, surface, and the objective. Still, the common feature of all variants is socializing and frequent swearing (especially in casual games).
“Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), fantasy role-playing game (RPG), created by American game designers Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson in 1974 and published that year by Gygax’s company, Tactical Studies Rules (TSR). The game was acquired in 1997 by Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. The game’s soaring popularity led to D&D-themed miniature figurines, books, television shows, and movies.” - www.britannica.com
Dungeons and Dragons (50th anniversary)
United Kingdom – 2024/07/25
Red Dragon - 1st
Owlbear - 1st
Vecna - 1st
Gelatinous Cube - 1st
Mind Flayer - £2.50
Mimic - £2.50
Displacer Beast - £2.50
Beholder - £2.50
Fifty years later, people still love it. The game has evolved in many ways, with numerous editions of both the game and its rules. D&D has also served as the foundation for countless movies, TV series, and video games.
Dungeons and Dragons (50th anniversary)
United Kingdom – 2024/07/25
Tiefling Rogue - 1st
Human Bard - 1st
Halfling Cleric - 1st
Elf Fighter - 1st
Dwarf Paladin - 1st
Dragonborn Paladin - 1st
It's no surprise that the Royal Mail issued stamps to commemorate this anniversary.
There are two main sets. The first set features 8 monsters, while the second showcases 6 heroes from various races and classes.
“All 14 stamps in the set have been illustrated by British artist Wayne Reynolds, with 11 images being specially commissioned for this set. Reynolds has previously produced illustrations for various D&D games, handbooks and guides for more than 20 years.” - collectgbstamps.co.uk
We’re staying in the UK for the final sheet featured in this article, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic UK TV series Porridge.
Porridge (50th anniversary)
United Kingdom – 2024/09/03
“I read a book once, green it was” - 2nd
“I treat you all with equal contempt” - 2nd
“Born free, till somebody caught me” - 1st
“There is a thief among us” - 1st
“Little victories - yow told me that” - £2.00
“Free eggs? More like half a dozen, mate” - £2.00
“What, from here?” - £2.50
“I sometimes wish I was in here with you lot” - £2.50
"Porridge was a sitcom created by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and was originally broadcast on the BBC in the 1970s. It centered on the lives of the inmates of Slade Prison in the wilds of Cumbria (or Cumberland as it was known then). The central character was Norman Stanley Fletcher aka Fletch played brilliantly by Ronnie Barker. Although only in four of the seven episodes of the first season the other main character was Lennie Godber who spent most of the series as Fletch's cell-mate. Godber was played by the late great Richard Beckinsale.
Porridge gained its title from British slang. Serving time in Prison is known as "doing porridge" referring to the traditional breakfast dish commonly served in British prisons in times passed." - www.porridge.org.uk
Today, we've explored some stunning stamps from July, August, and September 2024. While you await the next article, feel free to check out the previous installments in this series:
New Stamps Around the World: February 2024
New Stamps Around the World: January 2024
