Jim Nolan's Blog

Swedish Winter Stamp

A beautifully designed and drawn stamp sent to my mother Christa by her brother Heye Paul. Looks like the postmark says "Vikingstad," which is the small town near Linköping where Heye and his wife Maria used to live (in Rappestad). I can't quite make out the date. It looks like 10. 9. 73? (September 10, 1973?) You can see more Swedish stamps from Heye here. 

Swedish Horse Stamps

I love the way these stamps seem to face one another. Sent from Linköping in May, 1973.

Swedish Stamp and Christmas Postmark

Sent to me on an envelope from my cousin Karl-Frederick (Feffe). I love that the postmark has a drawing, snowflakes and "Merry Christmas" (God Jul). 

Swedish Santa Stamp

I believe this stamp is from 1973, sent to us in Buffalo, from my Uncle Heye in Rappestad, which is near Vikingstad, which is near Linköping. 

Swedish Christmas Stamp

Another Christmas stamp sent to us in 1973 by Uncle Heye. That's Lucia with the candles on her head. Star Boy is the fellow to her left. 

French Stamp, 1968

A beautiful stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Armistice. Two of my great uncles, John and Robert, died in WWI. John is buried in France. Robert was lost at sea. This stamp is part of a small collection my Grandfather Bengt gave my mother. 

NATO Stamp

I think this is a British stamp, but I couldn't find it on the Internet. I'm guessing it's from 1969. Anybody know what the 1/6 means? 

Swedish Royal Dramatic Theater Stamp

Not sure what play this is from, but she seems to be asking him to reconsider a decision taken in haste. One of the Royal Dramatic Theater's greatest directors was Alf Sjöberg, who led productions there from 1930-1980. Not a bad run. He also won two Grand Prix du Festival at the Cannes Film Festival, in 1946 and 1951. Sjöberg also happens to be the grandfather of my buddy Martin. Letter sent from Bromma, Sweden, so it must be from my grandfather Bengt Paul.

Swedish Stamps with Made-Up Histories

Stamps honoring August Strindberg's great-grandmother, Karin. She was famous throughout Skåne for her banana bread, to which she added chocolate morsels. Strindberg hated chocolate morsels.

Swedish Stamps with Made-Up Histories

The four stamps to the right celebrate the departure for Lindisfarne in 793. The stamps to the left display Viking Christmas ornaments, which were hung on the conifer trees so plentiful in Scandinavia.