Luxembourg 9 May 2000

Stamp series

On 9 May 2000 Luxembourg issued four new stamp series. The topics are ducks, Europe, Robert Schuman and natural gas.

Ducks

The mallard (18 Fr.) is certainly the most frequently observed water bird in Luxembourg. The male is easily recognisable with its yellow bill, green head and blue speculum on its wings. Mallards breed almost on every pond and river throughout Luxembourg. The mallard is a dabbling duck, that means that it never completely dives under water when feeding.
There is no breeding record for the pochard (24 Fr.) so far, although several of those birds summer in the Remerschen gravelpits each year. Pochards are diving ducks that spend much time diving for food. The male is attractive and distinctive: The rounded head is reddish orange, the breast is black contrasting with the greyish upper parts. The female has a uniform grey-brown plumage and is not so distinctive.
The male of the tufted duck (30 Fr.) is very distinctive, looking black and white at a distance. In good light, the dark feathering shows sheen and the yellow eye and the small crest features may be seen.
Design: André Buzin.
Print: photogravure by Hélio Courvoisier in five colors.

Europe 2000

In the context of the campaign launched by PostEurop to promote philately, it has been decided to give the "Europa 2000" stamps a single theme focus. The theme of the stamps, designed by the French artist Jean-Paul Cousin, was selected from proposals submitted by the organisation's members, and accepted at the PostEurop plenary meeting held in 1998 in Monaco.
Value: 21 Fr.
Design: Jean-Paul Cousin.
Print: photogravure by Hélio Courvoisier in six colors.

Robert Schuman

The two World Wars took Europe to the brink of the precipice. Europeans understood that it was the union alone that could bring them out of that disaster. Jean Monnet, planning commissioner in France, had the idea of bringing together recent enemies, France and Germany, into a European Coal and Steel Community open to other European countries. Placing coal and steel under the control of a High Authority with cross-national privileges, he wanted to make it impossible for war to be waged between them ever again.
Robert Schuman, a man of the frontier, born and brought up in Luxembourg, understood the implications of the plan better than most and took over its political patronage.
On 9 May 1950, he launched a solemn appeal for union. Six countries would respond: France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The negotiations for the "Schuman Plan" concluded in the Treaty of Paris (1951). This treaty created the first European Community.
Value: 21 Fr.
Design: Guy Hary.
Print: Photogravure by l'Imprimerie du Timbre, Belgium Post in three colors.

From town gas to natural gas

This postage stamp is issued to mark the centenary of the Esch-sur-Alzette gas works which started production on 30 December 1899. The painting by the Luxembourg artist Harry Rabinger (1895-1966) shows the works' production and storage installations in the mid 1930s.
The gas manufactured varied in quality according to the mixture and quality of the coal used in its production. Its calorific value was relatively low and the product was extremely toxic, because of its high CO content.
Natural gas arrived in Luxembourg on 3 January 1972. This type of gas basically consists of methane, giving it a calorific value more than twice that of manufactured gas. As is does not contain carbon monoxide, natural gas is not toxic and is very environment friendly.
Value: 18 Fr.
Design: Harry Rabinger.
Print: photogravure by Hélio Courvoisier in five colors.

More information Postage Stamps

Stamps Luxembourg
Postage Stamps 2000
Luxembourg December 2000
Luxembourg September 2000
Luxembourg 31 March 2000
Luxembourg issues March 2000

Postzegels kopen en verkopen: tips waarmee u geld verdient, is geschikt voor elke postzegelverzamelaar; of u nu net bent begonnen of al jaren verzamelt, met de tips in deze uitgave kunt u goedkoper of meer verzamelen.
Postzegels kopen en verkopen

Sinds de verschijning van de vorige bundel in de serie verzamelwoede heeft Ruud van Capelleveen honderden artikelen over postzegels, het verzamelen van postzegels en de postzegelhandel geschreven. De beste honderd artikelen uit deze jaren werden opgenomen in zijn nieuwe bundel met 'verzamelwoedes'. Voor 'Verzamelwoede 4' selecteerde Ruud van Capelleveen ook een aantal artikelen over de postzegelhandel die niet eerder werden gepubliceerd. Deze artikelen kunnen beschouwd worden als een aanvulling van zijn succesvolle uitgave 'Postzegels kopen en verkopen'.
Bekijk: Verzamelwoede 4

Deze bundel bevat honderd columns over postzegels en het verzamelen van filatelistische stukken. Deze columns bestrijken een breed spectrum van de filatelie: naast een groot aantal achtergrondverhalen over basisbegrippen voor postzegelverzamelaars bevat deze bundel ook een aantal stukken waarin Ruud van Capelleveen zijn licht laat schijnen over postzegels, eerstedagenveloppen en allerlei andere onderwerpen die interessant zijn voor de waarachtig geïnteresseerde postzegelverzamelaar.
Bekijk: Verzamelwoede 3

Verzamelwoede 2
Verzamelwoede 1