Bonsai Art On Stamps by Ken Goebel
(printed in MBS Newsletter March 2012)
UNITED STATES forever series issued January 13, 2012
(printed in MBS Newsletter March 2012)
UNITED STATES forever series issued January 13, 2012
For the first time the United States has joined other countries honoring the
beauty of bonsai with a set of five bonsai images on postage stamps. The
USPS first issued these stamps on January 13, 2012. They were issued as
Forever® stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class
Mail one-ounce rate. First Day Covers with each of these stamps also is
available from the USPS.
Art director and stamp designer Ethel Kessler worked with Hilo, Hawaii
Artist John D. Dawson to create these stamps. Dawson wanted to show
popular trunk variations in the stamp illustrations, as well as portray
different species of plants. He created rough sketches of four stamps on
tissue paper, then started the back-and-forth exchange with Kessler and a
number of consultants. The fifth stamp, a trident maple was added later.
The first stamp is intended to depict a Sierra juniper in semi-cascade style,
in which the tip projects over the pot rim but does not extend below the
base. Second is a trident maple in informal upright style, in which the trunk
bends slightly to the right. Third is a black pine in formal upright style, with
the trunk straight and tapering evenly, and symmetrical branches, from base
to apex. Fourth is an azalea in multiple-trunk style, with several trunks
emerging from one root system. The fifth and final stamp shows a banyan in
cascade style, with the tip extending below the pot’s base.
The trees shown are roughly 15 to 20 inches tall in reality.
beauty of bonsai with a set of five bonsai images on postage stamps. The
USPS first issued these stamps on January 13, 2012. They were issued as
Forever® stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class
Mail one-ounce rate. First Day Covers with each of these stamps also is
available from the USPS.
Art director and stamp designer Ethel Kessler worked with Hilo, Hawaii
Artist John D. Dawson to create these stamps. Dawson wanted to show
popular trunk variations in the stamp illustrations, as well as portray
different species of plants. He created rough sketches of four stamps on
tissue paper, then started the back-and-forth exchange with Kessler and a
number of consultants. The fifth stamp, a trident maple was added later.
The first stamp is intended to depict a Sierra juniper in semi-cascade style,
in which the tip projects over the pot rim but does not extend below the
base. Second is a trident maple in informal upright style, in which the trunk
bends slightly to the right. Third is a black pine in formal upright style, with
the trunk straight and tapering evenly, and symmetrical branches, from base
to apex. Fourth is an azalea in multiple-trunk style, with several trunks
emerging from one root system. The fifth and final stamp shows a banyan in
cascade style, with the tip extending below the pot’s base.
The trees shown are roughly 15 to 20 inches tall in reality.
There are about 14 countries of the world that issue legitimate, usable postage stamps depicting bonsai
art. Most of these countries are in Asia. By far, the most abundant issuers of these stamps include
China, Vietnam and Philippines. They also provide souvenir sheets, first day covers, commemoratives
and cancellations for collectors.
CHINA first day cover issued April 18, 1996
art. Most of these countries are in Asia. By far, the most abundant issuers of these stamps include
China, Vietnam and Philippines. They also provide souvenir sheets, first day covers, commemoratives
and cancellations for collectors.
CHINA first day cover issued April 18, 1996
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of China issued a set of six special bonsai stamps on
April 18, 1996. Three of the stamps are shown on this First Day Cover, featuring examples of Shan Shui
Pen Jing or tray landscapes made from plants attached to rocks, with or without figurines. The titles of
the stamps are ‘Green Scenery of Lijiang’ (20 fen), ‘Melting Snow overflows the River’ (50 fen), and ‘Most
Uncommon Years and Months of one’s Life’ (100 fen). The designer of the cover and cancellation is
Chen Jingyi.
VIETNAM souvenir sheet issued June 16, 1986
April 18, 1996. Three of the stamps are shown on this First Day Cover, featuring examples of Shan Shui
Pen Jing or tray landscapes made from plants attached to rocks, with or without figurines. The titles of
the stamps are ‘Green Scenery of Lijiang’ (20 fen), ‘Melting Snow overflows the River’ (50 fen), and ‘Most
Uncommon Years and Months of one’s Life’ (100 fen). The designer of the cover and cancellation is
Chen Jingyi.
VIETNAM souvenir sheet issued June 16, 1986
PHILIPPINES souvenir sheet of 4, issued July 27, 2004
Japan and some smaller countries and regions such as Monaco, San Marino and Maldive Islands
occasionally have issued stamps to commemorate special bonsai conventions in Europe and Asia.
occasionally have issued stamps to commemorate special bonsai conventions in Europe and Asia.
JAPAN Teruo Kurosu received the Prime Minister Award at the 30th Sakufu-Ten for this tree, a five-
needle pine. World Bonsai Convention, Omiya 1989, issued April 6, 1989.
MONACO Japanese maple. European Bonsai Congress in Monaco, 1995, issued April 3, 1995.
SAN MARINO 20th Convention of the European Bonsai Association, issued April 16, 2004.
Of course there are the illegal or fraudulent philatelic activities as well. The vast majority of countries
issuing fraudulent stamps are in Africa; countries like Angola, Congo, Djibouti, Rwanda and Somalia.
Stamps probably are the main source of income for these countries. These are "illegal issues for
territories which are not entitled to issue stamps and false stamps produced by fraudsters in the name of
an issuing authority with the intent to defraud collectors”.
Perhaps the most notorious of these originated from ANGOLA.
needle pine. World Bonsai Convention, Omiya 1989, issued April 6, 1989.
MONACO Japanese maple. European Bonsai Congress in Monaco, 1995, issued April 3, 1995.
SAN MARINO 20th Convention of the European Bonsai Association, issued April 16, 2004.
Of course there are the illegal or fraudulent philatelic activities as well. The vast majority of countries
issuing fraudulent stamps are in Africa; countries like Angola, Congo, Djibouti, Rwanda and Somalia.
Stamps probably are the main source of income for these countries. These are "illegal issues for
territories which are not entitled to issue stamps and false stamps produced by fraudsters in the name of
an issuing authority with the intent to defraud collectors”.
Perhaps the most notorious of these originated from ANGOLA.
Issued in 2000, these 3,500,000 Kz stamps are illegal per the Universal Postal Union International
Bureau. At least three dozen sets of various subjects with this denomination were issued by three
companies located in Belgium, Great Britain and Lithuania. The trees depicted here are kurume azalea,
bald cypress, chinese wisteria, cork oak, pinus genus and olive.
DJIBOUTI issued in 2007.
Bureau. At least three dozen sets of various subjects with this denomination were issued by three
companies located in Belgium, Great Britain and Lithuania. The trees depicted here are kurume azalea,
bald cypress, chinese wisteria, cork oak, pinus genus and olive.
DJIBOUTI issued in 2007.
These four 800F bonsai stamps are not listed with The World Association for the Development of
Philately (WADP) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Not all of my collection is shown here. There are many more bonsai stamps, legitimate and fraudulent,
that I am still looking for. No doubt many more will be issued in the future. My main source of collecting
these stamps has been eBay auctions, and DelCampe auctions online.
Philately (WADP) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Not all of my collection is shown here. There are many more bonsai stamps, legitimate and fraudulent,
that I am still looking for. No doubt many more will be issued in the future. My main source of collecting
these stamps has been eBay auctions, and DelCampe auctions online.
