Albania’s role in my Peacemaking collection was dealt with
in the July issue of Stamp Magazine. It told the story of Albania’s first years
of independence, how it was occupied by so many different countries during World
War I, with Italy and Greece being the main two, and how, after the war, the
Peace Congress had to find a solution for the country. An Italian mandate? Carving
up the country and dividing it between Greece, Italy and Serbia? Eventually Albania
survived as an independent nation, with its borders almost exactly as
determined in 1913 when the country first became officially recognised as a
nation.
As it happens, 1913 was also the year in which Albania started issuing stamps,
but their first attempt was when Albanian independence was proclaimed, in November
1912. Those stamps however, could not be issued because the heraldic symbols
were wrong. The design included an eagle, which is fine, but Albania’s eagle is
a two-headed beast, and the stamps showed just the one head.
I love the story how Albania got its eagle. You can read the
full story here, but basically it goes like this: youth saves eagle chick from
being bitten by snake. Parent eagle promises the youth strength matching his
own. Youth goes on to slay many villains, with the now fully grown eagle chick
being his guardian angel. Youth becomes known as 'Son of the Eagle' and his
kingdom will be called 'Land of the Eagles', or Shqipëria.
No wonder the eagle is
Albania’s national symbol, with the two heads representing the south and the
north of the country.
The centenary of the country’s independence was marked last
year with commemorative issues marking the revolution and the proclamation of
independence. The majority of stamps features the usual flag waving and groups
of revolutionaries, but there is one stamp which is rather remarkably different
and more original. It is a stylised version of the eagle and it is so powerful
in its simplicity that I would like to proclaim it the most beautiful stamp of
2012!
See yous later
Adrian
Adrian,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for your work!!!
I liked very much this post, and this last image is truely beautiful!!!
One I hug!!!
Thanks very much for your kind comments, Marcelo. Much appreciated!
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