jueves, 25 de diciembre de 2014

URU - 2014 - #030 - DESCRIPTION - 135 YEARS OF GALICIAN SOCIAL CLUB "CENTRO GALLEGO DE MONTEVIDEO" (SPECIAL CANCELATION)


Uruguay - 2014 - 135 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", a Galician Social Club PreviousNext)





Options:

FDC not Sent 1 --- 3,50 EUR
FDC not Sent 2 --- 3,50 EUR
FDC Sent on First Day 1 --- 9,00 EUR
FDC Sent on First Day 2 --- 9,00 EUR

If you are interested in any of this items, or any other items from Uruguay, just make a donation including your e-mail in the description.

I will contact you as soon I receive your donation, we agree on which items do you need, and I will discount the donation done to the amount of your purchase.



Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: September 10th, 2014

FDC Type: Official Cover from Post Office
FDC not sent Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]
FDC sent on issue day Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]

Topics:

Issue:

As Main Topic: I will choose The Galicians, or Galician People, a National, Cultural and Ethnolinguistic Group, whose historic homeland is Galicia, an Autonomous Communityin northwest Spain, with the official status of a Historic nationality.

Also their Homeland, Galicia, could be considered the Main Topic, or going to more precise ones, first Galician People Diaspora, and then Galician People Diaspora in Uruguay, that is the forth in population outside Spain , and through another aproach Galician People Social Clubs, or Diaspora Social Clubs, and of course, inside this Topic, The "Centro Gallego de Montevideo"in particular too, that has the particularity to be the Oldest Galician People Social Club of the World.

Perhaps too, the Main Topic could be a wider: National, Cultural and Ethnolinguistic Groups, instead of the Galiciansin Particular

Then, surrounding the main topic, could be found the followings:First, could be one related to Human Population Massive Migrations or Diasporas, and also it causes that generally are Economyand Wars.

In particular the Galicians Diaspora that occured since the Late 19th Century to Eearly 20th centurywas provoked at first by Economic Issues, as at that time Galicia was a Relatively Isolated Village Society whose main sources of income were Subsistence Agriculture and Fishing. Its Agricultural sector continued to be among the most backward in Spainand Farm productivity was severely hampered by the tiny size of the individual farmsteadsknown as Minifundios, that was the result of a System of inheritancethat distributed land plots in a closed rural system to a growing population by requiring that equal shares be bequeathed to every descendant, so The land had became subdivided so much that most of the plots were too small to support a family or to be economically viable.

The latest waves of Emigration of Galicians was caused too by the starting of the Spanish Civil War, that was fought from 17th July 1936 to 1st April 1939 between the Republicans, who were Loyal to the democratically elected Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a Fascist Rebel Groupled by General Francisco Franco. The Nationalists prevailed, and Franco ruled Spain for the next 36 years, from 1939 until his death in 1975. The war is often called the "dress rehearsal" for World War II.

Added to the difficult situation both Economical and Political that the Region of Galiciawas suffering, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Uruguay in particular, and all South America in general, were in a period of both Peace and Welfare, so these lands were the Destination chosen by most of the Galicians.

South America has the largest number of people of Galician descent outside of Spain
. Several million South Americans are descendants of Galician immigrants, mostly in Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, and Uruguay.

In northeastern Brazil, people with light or blue eyes or light colored hair are often called galegos (Galicians), even if not of Galician descent, because of the large number of Galicians that settled in the region in the early 20th century.

In Argentina and Uruguay, the term "Gallegos" was often used for all Spaniards because a large part of them were Galicianswhen they arrived in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Buenos Aires is the city with the second largest number of people with Galician ancestry, although most share the mixed origins of most Argentinians.

Concluding the relationship established by the Human Population Massive Migrations, it is clear that associated with them is also the Topics of History, in particular European History, SouthAmerica History, also Century 19th History and Century 20th History, and even Geographycould be included in that final relation too.

The other natural relationship could be made to the Club itself, the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", specially about one of it locations, the one at Downtown, that was Opened in 1923, a Building of Eclectic style, which is currently Cultural heritage of Uruguay and also Cultural heritage of Galician People, in which you can visit: the "Rosalía de Castro" Rooms, reserved for special occasions, and named honouring this Galician Romanticist Writer and Poet, also the "Concepción Arenal" Library; that also honour another Galician woman, Concepción Arenal Ponte, a Galician feminist writer and activist; and the "Castelao" a Room for reading, named after Alfonso Daniel Rodríguez Castelao, commonly known as Castelao, a Galician Politician, Writer, Painter andDoctor, considereded as One of the fathers of Galician Nationalism; then a kind of Pub called "El Viejo Pancho", as the pseudonym that José Alonso y Trelles, a Galician Uruguayan Writer andPoet, used for his work; And finally the Chamber "Valle Inclán", a Theaterwith a very rich Architecturethat astonishes all of his visitors, named in hounour of Ramón María del Valle-Inclán y de la Peña, aGalician Dramatist, novelist and Member of the Spanish Generation of 98, considered perhaps as the most noteworthy and certainly the most radical dramatist working to subvert the traditionalism of the Spanish theatrical establishment in the early part of the 20th century.

Related to the Club itself, the 135th Anniversary could be another one included, and a very rare in Anniversaries Topics.

Also another relation could be done to the Galician Culturewhose first elements can be traced back to the Bronze Age Celtic Civilizationknown as the Castro Culture. Although being taking over by the Roman Republic and Empire, after the empire declination the Galicia Region was followed by the rule of two Germanic Tribes, The Suevic, who settled in considerable numbers, and The Visigoths in the Middle Ages. Later, in 718, the region briefly came under the control of The Moorsafter their conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom, but The Galicians successfully rebelled against Moorish rule in 739, and Joined their Christian neighbour the Kingdom of Asturias.

After being ruled by very different cultures, is with the first that they experienced, the Celtic Culture, the one that Galician Culturefelt more represented. In the 19th century a Group of Romantic andNationalist writers andscholars, among them Eduardo Pondal and Manuel Murguía, led a "Celtic revival" initially Based on the historical testimonies of ancient Roman and Greek authors (Pomponius Mela, Pliny the Elder, Strabo and Ptolemy), who wrote about the Celtic peoples who inhabited Galicia; but they Also based this revival in linguistic andonomastic data, and in The similarity of some aspects of the culture and the geography of Galicia with that of the Celtic countries in Ireland, Brittany and Britain. The similarities include Legendsand Traditions, Decorative and popular arts and music. It Also included the green hilly landscape orthe ubiquity of Iron Age hill-forts, Neolithic megaliths and Bronze Age cup and ring marks.

During the late 19th and early 20th century this revival permeated Galician society. In 1916 Os Pinos, a poem by Eduardo Pondal, was chosen as the lyrics for the new Galician hymn. One of the strophes of the poem says: Galicians, be strong / ready to great deeds / align your breast / for a glorious end / sons of the noble Celts/ strong and traveler / fight for the fate / of the homeland of Breogán. The Celtic past became an integral part of the self-perceived Galician identity, as a result of that, an important number of cultural association and sport clubs received names related to the Celts, among them Celta de Vigo, Céltiga FC, or Fillos de Breogán. From the 70's a series of Celtic music and cultural festivals were also popularized, being the most notable the Festival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueira, at the same time that Galician folk musical bands and interpreters became usual participants in Celtic festivals elsewhere, as in the Interceltic festival of Lorient, where Galicia sent its first delegation already in 1976.

A final relationship that could be made is with the People of Galician Origin, an there it is interesting to remark that both Former and Actual Presidents of Cuba Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro, also Former President of Argentina Raúl Alfonsín, and of course, the Former President of Uruguay, and the recently Elected one from the 2015 - 2020 Period, Dr. Tabaré Vázquez.

Now, regarding the desing of the Special Cancelation:Besides the legends that states about the 135th Anniversary, and the Logotypeof the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Club, what I think is the best achieved part of the design is the use of the Shell of Saint James as the background for the Logotype of the Club.

This Shell of Saint James, besides being the Animalcalled Scallop, a common name that is primarily applied to any one of numerous species of Saltwater Clamsor Marine Bivalve Mollusks in the taxonomic Family Pectinidae, The Scallops, it is also the Traditional Emblem ofJames, son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and traditionally considered the first apostle to be martyred, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle, also called James the Greater orJames the Great to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus and James the Just. James the Greater is The patron saint of Spain.

The Shell of Saint James, is also a popular emblem of Pilgrimson the Way of Saint Jamesto the apostle's shrine at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, and by extension an emblem of theWay of Saint James itself.

The Camino de Santiago, also known by the English names Way of St. James, St. James's Way, St. James's Path, St. James's Trail, Route of Santiago de Compostela, and Road to Santiago, is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes (most commonly the Camino Francés or French route) to the shrine of the Apostle St. James the Greatin the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. Many take up this route as a Form of spiritual path or retreat, for their Spiritual growth.

Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spainwhere he was buried on what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. (The name Santiago is the local Galician evolution of Vulgar Latin Sanctu Iacobu, "Saint James".)

The Way can take one of dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims per year arrived in Santiago. Later, the route attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Now, going to the Logotypeof the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Club, it is clearly composed by two elements. The first is a kind of Shieldvery similar to the Coat of Arms of Galicia, in this case with the Letter 'G' instead of the Calice, however still Surrounded by the seven Crosses that represents the seven historic provinces of Galicia: A Coruña, Santiago, Betanzos, Mondoñedo, Lugo, Ourense, Tui. The second element is the Cross of Saint James, also called the Santiago cross or the "Cruz Espada", that is a charge in the form of a cross. It combines a Cross fitchy (the lower limb is pointed, as if to be driven into the ground) with either a cross fleury(the arms end in fleurs-de-lys) or a cross moline (the ends of the arms are forked and rounded).

Most notably, a Red Cross of Saint James with flourished arms, surmounted with an escallop, that match exactly the pattern of the cancelation, was the Emblem of the military Order of Santiago.

Finally, in a more symbolic way:The ideas that remain in my mind after doing this analysis on this release, are the ones of Humanity, Solidarity, Integration without loosing Identity, the Whole world as all humans home. This kind of Clubs are great institutions for both Keep the Culture alive, and also to Made it known, a group not to be isolated from outside, on the contrary to integrate to other cultures in order to make a richer world.

Another concept that I think is powerfully expressed in this Release, is the one of Path, of Growth, of Movement to a better State. This is mainly seen in the Massive Migration of Galicians, also in the Creation of Galicians Clubs like the one that is commemorated in this issue, and finally in choosing the Shell of Saint Jamesas part of the Cancelation design, reinforcing the same idea with another Pathrelated with Galician People too, however, this time with Galicia as the Destination, and Cristiansim Religion as the main motive, or at least as a Path of Spiritual Growth.    


Stamps selection:

The stamps selected were:A stamp released on August 30th of 2004 about the 125 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", and a stamp issued on September 24th of 1998 commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the First Overseas Mail between Montevideo and La Coruña.
 
The reason for selecting these stamps was:quite different for each one, however it is clear that both are heavily related with the Galicia Region.

For the first, the Selection Reason is trivial. The existence, and availability, of a Stamp commerating another anniversary of which is being honoured by a special cancelation release, make this stamp always the first choice in these kind of selections, because the Topic is identical.

Then, for the second stamp, as the Galician People, or Galicia Region, it not a Topic with many stamps, I think I was fortunate that at least there was one actually available for postage, so I choose this stamp that commemorates the Bicentenary of the First Overseas Mail between Montevideo and La Coruña, being La Coruña, still sometimes known as Corunnain English, and archaically as The Groyne, a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. The second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country. The city is the provincial capital of the province of the same name, having also served as political capital of the Kingdom of Galicia from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and as a regional administrative centre between 1833 and 1982, before being replaced by Santiago de Compostela.

Besides that it was the only one available, another merit of the stamp selected, was that includes a nice popular Topic, that is Ships, or the more precise ones:Sailing Ships andPost Ships, and also Post History Topic.

The selection of this stamps, add the following topics:The first, besides reinforcing "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Topic, and adding the 125th AnniversaryTopic, it also, by it design, reinforces Buildings and Architecture, showing the facade of the Downtown Headquarter of the Club, that was previously mentioned, and adds Typical Clothing, and Typical Dance and Music, as it shows a couple dressed for dancing surely Muiñeira, a Traditional Dance and Musical Genre of Galicia,  distinguished mainly by the tempo of 6/8, played expressive and lively, although some variants are performed in other time signatures. There are also variant types of muiñeira which remain in the tempo of 6/8 but which displace the accent in different ways.

The second one, besides adding the already mentioned ones: Sailing Ships, Post ShipsPost History, and the City of "La Coruña", one could dive deep a bit more in  the History of the Post, and add that the Shipshown in the selected stamp is a Frigatenamed "La Princesa", in english "The Princess"

"La Princesa" on her First trip to Montevideo, Sailed from La Coruña on 15th December of 1767. On June 18th of 1768 left Montevideo back to La Coruña and anchored with all happiness in this Galician port onSeptember 24th of 1768. Meanwhile, other frigates named: "La Diana", "La Diligencia", "La Nueva Cantabria", "El Patagón", and "El Tucumán", had sailed from La Coruña with the same mission, that was to Establish an Overseas Mail Service between Homeland Spain and his Colonies in Southamerica: Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Paraguay (today Bolivia), other occupations on what is now Argentinaand Chile, and even the Viceroyalty of Perú.

The type of Ship, The Frigate, is any of several types of Warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries, however, in particular in the 18th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability.

The Classic Sailing Frigate, well-known today for its role in the Napoleonic wars, can be traced back to French developments in the second quarter of the 18th century. The French-built Médée of 1740 is often regarded as the first example of this type.These ships were square-rigged and carried all their main guns on a single continuous upper deck. The lower deck, known as the "gun deck", now carried no armament, and functioned as a "berth deck" where the crew lived, and was in fact placed below the waterline of the new frigates.

Another examples of this Frigates represented in stamps could be seen in the previous release about Bicentenary of the Naval Battle of Buceo .

Finally, this second stamp selected also adds the Topics: Philatelic Exhibitionor Argentinian Philatelic Exhibitions, that could be included in a wider Philately, and in a specific one about ESPAMER '98, an exhibition that was held from August 20th to 28th, on Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, that is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the continent's southeastern coast.  

Regarding this ESPAMER '98 relationship, in what seems to be the Logotype of this Philatelic Exhibition, a Buildingis included, however, I am not able to realize which one is it. Probably it should be The Buenos Aires Central Post and Communications Office, a Public building and Landmark in the San Nicolás district of Buenos Aires, because it was there where the Philatelic Exhibition was held, however the design in the stamps is quite different from the pictures I saw of this Argentinian Building.


If you consider that there are another topics in this stamp, that were not spot in this review, you are encouraged to telling me about them, so please do not hesitate to post a comment. I would appreciate your help very much.

URU - 2014 - #030 - FDC Sent on First Day 2 - 135 YEARS OF GALICIAN SOCIAL CLUB "CENTRO GALLEGO DE MONTEVIDEO" (SPECIAL CANCELATION)


Uruguay - 2014 - 135 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", a Galician Social Club


If you are interested in any of this items, or any other items from Uruguay, just make a donation including your e-mail in the description.

I will contact you as soon I receive your donation, we agree on which items do you need, and I will discount the donation done to the amount of your purchase.


URU - 2014 - #030 - FDC not Sent 1 - 135 YEARS OF GALICIAN SOCIAL CLUB "CENTRO GALLEGO DE MONTEVIDEO" (SPECIAL CANCELATION)


Uruguay - 2014 - 135 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", a Galician Social Club


If you are interested in any of this items, or any other items from Uruguay, just make a donation including your e-mail in the description.

I will contact you as soon I receive your donation, we agree on which items do you need, and I will discount the donation done to the amount of your purchase.


URU - 2014 - #030 - FDC not Sent 2 - 135 YEARS OF GALICIAN SOCIAL CLUB "CENTRO GALLEGO DE MONTEVIDEO" (SPECIAL CANCELATION)


Uruguay - 2014 - 135 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", a Galician Social Club


If you are interested in any of this items, or any other items from Uruguay, just make a donation including your e-mail in the description.

I will contact you as soon I receive your donation, we agree on which items do you need, and I will discount the donation done to the amount of your purchase.


URU - 2014 - #030 - FDC Sent on First Day 1 - 135 YEARS OF GALICIAN SOCIAL CLUB "CENTRO GALLEGO DE MONTEVIDEO" (SPECIAL CANCELATION)


Uruguay - 2014 - 135 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", a Galician Social Club


If you are interested in any of this items, or any other items from Uruguay, just make a donation including your e-mail in the description.

I will contact you as soon I receive your donation, we agree on which items do you need, and I will discount the donation done to the amount of your purchase.


URU - 2014 - #030 - DESCRIPTION - 135 YEARS OF GALICIAN SOCIAL CLUB "CENTRO GALLEGO DE MONTEVIDEO" (SPECIAL CANCELATION)


Uruguay - 2014 - 135 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", a Galician Social Club PreviousNext)





Options:

FDC not Sent 1 --- 3,50 EUR
FDC not Sent 2 --- 3,50 EUR
FDC Sent on First Day 1 --- 9,00 EUR
FDC Sent on First Day 2 --- 9,00 EUR

If you are interested in any of this items, or any other items from Uruguay, just make a donation including your e-mail in the description.

I will contact you as soon I receive your donation, we agree on which items do you need, and I will discount the donation done to the amount of your purchase.



Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: September 10th, 2014

FDC Type: Official Cover from Post Office
FDC not sent Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]
FDC sent on issue day Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]

Topics:

Issue:

As Main Topic: I will choose The Galicians, or Galician People, a National, Cultural and Ethnolinguistic Group, whose historic homeland is Galicia, an Autonomous Communityin northwest Spain, with the official status of a Historic nationality.

Also their Homeland, Galicia, could be considered the Main Topic, or going to more precise ones, first Galician People Diaspora, and then Galician People Diaspora in Uruguay, that is the forth in population outside Spain , and through another aproach Galician People Social Clubs, or Diaspora Social Clubs, and of course, inside this Topic, The "Centro Gallego de Montevideo"in particular too, that has the particularity to be the Oldest Galician People Social Club of the World.

Perhaps too, the Main Topic could be a wider: National, Cultural and Ethnolinguistic Groups, instead of the Galiciansin Particular

Then, surrounding the main topic, could be found the followings:First, could be one related to Human Population Massive Migrations or Diasporas, and also it causes that generally are Economyand Wars.

In particular the Galicians Diaspora that occured since the Late 19th Century to Eearly 20th centurywas provoked at first by Economic Issues, as at that time Galicia was a Relatively Isolated Village Society whose main sources of income were Subsistence Agriculture and Fishing. Its Agricultural sector continued to be among the most backward in Spainand Farm productivity was severely hampered by the tiny size of the individual farmsteadsknown as Minifundios, that was the result of a System of inheritancethat distributed land plots in a closed rural system to a growing population by requiring that equal shares be bequeathed to every descendant, so The land had became subdivided so much that most of the plots were too small to support a family or to be economically viable.

The latest waves of Emigration of Galicians was caused too by the starting of the Spanish Civil War, that was fought from 17th July 1936 to 1st April 1939 between the Republicans, who were Loyal to the democratically elected Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a Fascist Rebel Groupled by General Francisco Franco. The Nationalists prevailed, and Franco ruled Spain for the next 36 years, from 1939 until his death in 1975. The war is often called the "dress rehearsal" for World War II.

Added to the difficult situation both Economical and Political that the Region of Galiciawas suffering, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Uruguay in particular, and all South America in general, were in a period of both Peace and Welfare, so these lands were the Destination chosen by most of the Galicians.

South America has the largest number of people of Galician descent outside of Spain
. Several million South Americans are descendants of Galician immigrants, mostly in Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, and Uruguay.

In northeastern Brazil, people with light or blue eyes or light colored hair are often called galegos (Galicians), even if not of Galician descent, because of the large number of Galicians that settled in the region in the early 20th century.

In Argentina and Uruguay, the term "Gallegos" was often used for all Spaniards because a large part of them were Galicianswhen they arrived in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Buenos Aires is the city with the second largest number of people with Galician ancestry, although most share the mixed origins of most Argentinians.

Concluding the relationship established by the Human Population Massive Migrations, it is clear that associated with them is also the Topics of History, in particular European History, SouthAmerica History, also Century 19th History and Century 20th History, and even Geographycould be included in that final relation too.

The other natural relationship could be made to the Club itself, the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", specially about one of it locations, the one at Downtown, that was Opened in 1923, a Building of Eclectic style, which is currently Cultural heritage of Uruguay and also Cultural heritage of Galician People, in which you can visit: the "Rosalía de Castro" Rooms, reserved for special occasions, and named honouring this Galician Romanticist Writer and Poet, also the "Concepción Arenal" Library; that also honour another Galician woman, Concepción Arenal Ponte, a Galician feminist writer and activist; and the "Castelao" a Room for reading, named after Alfonso Daniel Rodríguez Castelao, commonly known as Castelao, a Galician Politician, Writer, Painter andDoctor, considereded as One of the fathers of Galician Nationalism; then a kind of Pub called "El Viejo Pancho", as the pseudonym that José Alonso y Trelles, a Galician Uruguayan Writer andPoet, used for his work; And finally the Chamber "Valle Inclán", a Theaterwith a very rich Architecturethat astonishes all of his visitors, named in hounour of Ramón María del Valle-Inclán y de la Peña, aGalician Dramatist, novelist and Member of the Spanish Generation of 98, considered perhaps as the most noteworthy and certainly the most radical dramatist working to subvert the traditionalism of the Spanish theatrical establishment in the early part of the 20th century.

Related to the Club itself, the 135th Anniversary could be another one included, and a very rare in Anniversaries Topics.

Also another relation could be done to the Galician Culturewhose first elements can be traced back to the Bronze Age Celtic Civilizationknown as the Castro Culture. Although being taking over by the Roman Republic and Empire, after the empire declination the Galicia Region was followed by the rule of two Germanic Tribes, The Suevic, who settled in considerable numbers, and The Visigoths in the Middle Ages. Later, in 718, the region briefly came under the control of The Moorsafter their conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom, but The Galicians successfully rebelled against Moorish rule in 739, and Joined their Christian neighbour the Kingdom of Asturias.

After being ruled by very different cultures, is with the first that they experienced, the Celtic Culture, the one that Galician Culturefelt more represented. In the 19th century a Group of Romantic andNationalist writers andscholars, among them Eduardo Pondal and Manuel Murguía, led a "Celtic revival" initially Based on the historical testimonies of ancient Roman and Greek authors (Pomponius Mela, Pliny the Elder, Strabo and Ptolemy), who wrote about the Celtic peoples who inhabited Galicia; but they Also based this revival in linguistic andonomastic data, and in The similarity of some aspects of the culture and the geography of Galicia with that of the Celtic countries in Ireland, Brittany and Britain. The similarities include Legendsand Traditions, Decorative and popular arts and music. It Also included the green hilly landscape orthe ubiquity of Iron Age hill-forts, Neolithic megaliths and Bronze Age cup and ring marks.

During the late 19th and early 20th century this revival permeated Galician society. In 1916 Os Pinos, a poem by Eduardo Pondal, was chosen as the lyrics for the new Galician hymn. One of the strophes of the poem says: Galicians, be strong / ready to great deeds / align your breast / for a glorious end / sons of the noble Celts/ strong and traveler / fight for the fate / of the homeland of Breogán. The Celtic past became an integral part of the self-perceived Galician identity, as a result of that, an important number of cultural association and sport clubs received names related to the Celts, among them Celta de Vigo, Céltiga FC, or Fillos de Breogán. From the 70's a series of Celtic music and cultural festivals were also popularized, being the most notable the Festival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueira, at the same time that Galician folk musical bands and interpreters became usual participants in Celtic festivals elsewhere, as in the Interceltic festival of Lorient, where Galicia sent its first delegation already in 1976.

A final relationship that could be made is with the People of Galician Origin, an there it is interesting to remark that both Former and Actual Presidents of Cuba Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro, also Former President of Argentina Raúl Alfonsín, and of course, the Former President of Uruguay, and the recently Elected one from the 2015 - 2020 Period, Dr. Tabaré Vázquez.

Now, regarding the desing of the Special Cancelation:Besides the legends that states about the 135th Anniversary, and the Logotypeof the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Club, what I think is the best achieved part of the design is the use of the Shell of Saint James as the background for the Logotype of the Club.

This Shell of Saint James, besides being the Animalcalled Scallop, a common name that is primarily applied to any one of numerous species of Saltwater Clamsor Marine Bivalve Mollusks in the taxonomic Family Pectinidae, The Scallops, it is also the Traditional Emblem ofJames, son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and traditionally considered the first apostle to be martyred, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle, also called James the Greater orJames the Great to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus and James the Just. James the Greater is The patron saint of Spain.

The Shell of Saint James, is also a popular emblem of Pilgrimson the Way of Saint Jamesto the apostle's shrine at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, and by extension an emblem of theWay of Saint James itself.

The Camino de Santiago, also known by the English names Way of St. James, St. James's Way, St. James's Path, St. James's Trail, Route of Santiago de Compostela, and Road to Santiago, is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes (most commonly the Camino Francés or French route) to the shrine of the Apostle St. James the Greatin the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. Many take up this route as a Form of spiritual path or retreat, for their Spiritual growth.

Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spainwhere he was buried on what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. (The name Santiago is the local Galician evolution of Vulgar Latin Sanctu Iacobu, "Saint James".)

The Way can take one of dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims per year arrived in Santiago. Later, the route attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Now, going to the Logotypeof the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Club, it is clearly composed by two elements. The first is a kind of Shieldvery similar to the Coat of Arms of Galicia, in this case with the Letter 'G' instead of the Calice, however still Surrounded by the seven Crosses that represents the seven historic provinces of Galicia: A Coruña, Santiago, Betanzos, Mondoñedo, Lugo, Ourense, Tui. The second element is the Cross of Saint James, also called the Santiago cross or the "Cruz Espada", that is a charge in the form of a cross. It combines a Cross fitchy (the lower limb is pointed, as if to be driven into the ground) with either a cross fleury(the arms end in fleurs-de-lys) or a cross moline (the ends of the arms are forked and rounded).

Most notably, a Red Cross of Saint James with flourished arms, surmounted with an escallop, that match exactly the pattern of the cancelation, was the Emblem of the military Order of Santiago.

Finally, in a more symbolic way:The ideas that remain in my mind after doing this analysis on this release, are the ones of Humanity, Solidarity, Integration without loosing Identity, the Whole world as all humans home. This kind of Clubs are great institutions for both Keep the Culture alive, and also to Made it known, a group not to be isolated from outside, on the contrary to integrate to other cultures in order to make a richer world.

Another concept that I think is powerfully expressed in this Release, is the one of Path, of Growth, of Movement to a better State. This is mainly seen in the Massive Migration of Galicians, also in the Creation of Galicians Clubs like the one that is commemorated in this issue, and finally in choosing the Shell of Saint Jamesas part of the Cancelation design, reinforcing the same idea with another Pathrelated with Galician People too, however, this time with Galicia as the Destination, and Cristiansim Religion as the main motive, or at least as a Path of Spiritual Growth.    


Stamps selection:

The stamps selected were:A stamp released on August 30th of 2004 about the 125 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", and a stamp issued on September 24th of 1998 commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the First Overseas Mail between Montevideo and La Coruña.
 
The reason for selecting these stamps was:quite different for each one, however it is clear that both are heavily related with the Galicia Region.

For the first, the Selection Reason is trivial. The existence, and availability, of a Stamp commerating another anniversary of which is being honoured by a special cancelation release, make this stamp always the first choice in these kind of selections, because the Topic is identical.

Then, for the second stamp, as the Galician People, or Galicia Region, it not a Topic with many stamps, I think I was fortunate that at least there was one actually available for postage, so I choose this stamp that commemorates the Bicentenary of the First Overseas Mail between Montevideo and La Coruña, being La Coruña, still sometimes known as Corunnain English, and archaically as The Groyne, a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. The second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country. The city is the provincial capital of the province of the same name, having also served as political capital of the Kingdom of Galicia from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and as a regional administrative centre between 1833 and 1982, before being replaced by Santiago de Compostela.

Besides that it was the only one available, another merit of the stamp selected, was that includes a nice popular Topic, that is Ships, or the more precise ones:Sailing Ships andPost Ships, and also Post History Topic.

The selection of this stamps, add the following topics:The first, besides reinforcing "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Topic, and adding the 125th AnniversaryTopic, it also, by it design, reinforces Buildings and Architecture, showing the facade of the Downtown Headquarter of the Club, that was previously mentioned, and adds Typical Clothing, and Typical Dance and Music, as it shows a couple dressed for dancing surely Muiñeira, a Traditional Dance and Musical Genre of Galicia,  distinguished mainly by the tempo of 6/8, played expressive and lively, although some variants are performed in other time signatures. There are also variant types of muiñeira which remain in the tempo of 6/8 but which displace the accent in different ways.

The second one, besides adding the already mentioned ones: Sailing Ships, Post ShipsPost History, and the City of "La Coruña", one could dive deep a bit more in  the History of the Post, and add that the Shipshown in the selected stamp is a Frigatenamed "La Princesa", in english "The Princess"

"La Princesa" on her First trip to Montevideo, Sailed from La Coruña on 15th December of 1767. On June 18th of 1768 left Montevideo back to La Coruña and anchored with all happiness in this Galician port onSeptember 24th of 1768. Meanwhile, other frigates named: "La Diana", "La Diligencia", "La Nueva Cantabria", "El Patagón", and "El Tucumán", had sailed from La Coruña with the same mission, that was to Establish an Overseas Mail Service between Homeland Spain and his Colonies in Southamerica: Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Paraguay (today Bolivia), other occupations on what is now Argentinaand Chile, and even the Viceroyalty of Perú.

The type of Ship, The Frigate, is any of several types of Warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries, however, in particular in the 18th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability.

The Classic Sailing Frigate, well-known today for its role in the Napoleonic wars, can be traced back to French developments in the second quarter of the 18th century. The French-built Médée of 1740 is often regarded as the first example of this type.These ships were square-rigged and carried all their main guns on a single continuous upper deck. The lower deck, known as the "gun deck", now carried no armament, and functioned as a "berth deck" where the crew lived, and was in fact placed below the waterline of the new frigates.

Another examples of this Frigates represented in stamps could be seen in the previous release about Bicentenary of the Naval Battle of Buceo .

Finally, this second stamp selected also adds the Topics: Philatelic Exhibitionor Argentinian Philatelic Exhibitions, that could be included in a wider Philately, and in a specific one about ESPAMER '98, an exhibition that was held from August 20th to 28th, on Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, that is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the continent's southeastern coast.  

Regarding this ESPAMER '98 relationship, in what seems to be the Logotype of this Philatelic Exhibition, a Buildingis included, however, I am not able to realize which one is it. Probably it should be The Buenos Aires Central Post and Communications Office, a Public building and Landmark in the San Nicolás district of Buenos Aires, because it was there where the Philatelic Exhibition was held, however the design in the stamps is quite different from the pictures I saw of this Argentinian Building.


If you consider that there are another topics in this stamp, that were not spot in this review, you are encouraged to telling me about them, so please do not hesitate to post a comment. I would appreciate your help very much.

domingo, 7 de diciembre de 2014

URU - 2014 - #029 - DESCRIPTION - DECADE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE


Uruguay - 2014 - International Second Decade of the World's Indigenous People PreviousNext)




Options:

SERIE--- 3,00 EUR
SERIE [2X2] --- 12,00 EUR
FDC not Sent --- 4,00 EUR
FDC Sent on First Day --- 9,00 EUR
COVER Sent on First Day --- 7,00 EUR

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Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: September 2nd, 2014
Printed: 15.000 copies

Stamp Shape and Size: Rectangular [27 mm. x 39 mm.]
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

Block Configuration: 25 stamps [5 x 5]
Block Shape and Size: Rectangular [Unknown]

FDC Type: Official Cover from Post Office
FDC not sent Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]
FDC sent on issue day Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]

Cover Shape and Size: Rectangular [240 mm. x 160 mm.]

Catalogue information:

Michel: No Data Available
Ivert: No Data Available
Scott: No Data Available
Stanley & Gibbons: No Data Available

Topics:

Issue:

As Main Topic: I think Indigenous People is the most representative, and this one could fit in a widers ones as: Ethnic Groups, or also History, and Anthropologytoo.

Then, more in particular, the Topic focuses in the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (2005-2014), a programme of Action, adopted on December 16th of 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly, through the Document A/60/270 - sect. II, and Resolution 60/142, that appealed to the international community at large to provide financial support to the Programme of Action, including through contributions to the Voluntary Fund for the Second Decade, and urged all Governments and indigenous organizations concerned to take action to facilitate adoption of the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples as soon as possible.

Also, in this case, the release could be seen as having two Main Topics, although it is clear that the emphasis is put in the already mentioned one, the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, the issue also commemorates directly the Ten Years Anniversary of th the "Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indígena (MAPI), that means in english "Museum of Art Pre-Columbian and Indigenous", so the wider Museums, and Arts, or the more specifics ones of this Topic: Pre-Columbian Art, and Indigenous Art, could be considered as Main Topics of this Release too.

Then, surrounding the main topic, could be found the followings: From the branch of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, the most clear Topics that emerges are the ones related to Human Rights, like: Non-Discrimination, Inclusion, Participation, and Protection of Cultural Integrity, and by the way to provide that Rights, Laws and Politics Topics.

The Under-Secretary-General in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Chinese diplomat, Wu Hongbo, is the Coordinator for the Second Decade, which commenced on January 1st of 2005and will conclude in December 31st of 2014, as it was adopted by the General Assembly Resolution A/RES/59/174, on December 22nd 2004, and has published The final report on the achievement of the goal and objectives last August 6th of 2014, which probably was the reason of issuing this release in the date it was issued.

That document provides Examples of current efforts to achieve the objectives of the Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. One of the major highlights of the Second Decade was the adoption, in 2007, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The report also provides an Analysis of the impact of the Second Decade on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Also tells that while there has been some progress in achieving the goals of the Second Decade, a Substantial gap remains between the formal recognition of indigenous peoples and the implementation of policies on the ground. The post-2015 development agenda and the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, afford an opportunity to Make indigenous peoples part of the solution and to build a life of dignity, equity and hope for all.

Then, from the Branch of Ten Years Anniversary of the "Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indígena (MAPI), many Topics could be related through both the Musuem itself and the Buildingin which is located.

The Buildingwas designed by Emilio Reus, a Spanish Businessman who emigrated first to Argentina in 1885, and then to Uruguay, where he became known for Building Residential Homes. His work made such an impact on the traditional architecture of the country which led to a period now known as
Time of Reus, and also today there is a neighborhood in Montevideo that is known by his name, "Barrio Reus". This neighbourhood was also known as "Barrio de los Judios"or Jewish Neighbourhood, and one of his streets could be seen in This Previous Release released on April 22nd of 2014, about the Centenary of the Football Club "Sud América".

Returning to the Building, it was build at late XIX Century, more precisely at year 1888, and it has been designed following an Eclectic Architecture, a XIX and XX Century Architectural Style,in which a single piece of work incorporates a mixture of elements from previous historical styles to create something that is new and original. By this Architecture Design, it was declared a National Historic Landmarkin 1986.

Now going to the Museumitself, "Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indígena (MAPI), is a Cultural Joint venture, in which they are associated the Municipality of Montevideo and the Society, so both parties provide Values, Heritage and Resources from a shared vision. The Museumwas founded on September 17th of 2004, so the stamp was issued 15 days before the Anniversary, and was created through a Loan Agreementsigned between the Intendent of Montevideo of this period, Architect Mariano Aranaand the Collector Matteo Goretti, who gave up some of its important Ethnographic and Archaeological Collectionfor a period of 20 years. In recent times the stock of MAPI has increased ten other collections that were donated or on loan by public institutions, embassies and private collectors.

The MAPIoffers visitors a Permanent exhibition of Archaeological and Ethnographic Pieces from different Cultures in the Americas and conducts Research, Exhibitions and Publications on various aspects related to this topic. In 2014 he first presented an exhibition abroad, entitled "Uruguay in Guarani"which was exhibited at the Vatican Museums and theEthnological Museum in Hamburg, where he is now before continuing touring other cities in Europe.

The MAPIhas been Awarded for four consecutive years (2011-2014) with the "Premio Iberoamericano de Museos", in english "American Award of Museums".

Now, regarding the desing of the stamp:Besides reinforcing, by it legends, the two Main Topics of the release, that are: the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (2005-2014), and Ten Years Anniversary of the "Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indígena (MAPI), it clearly add the ones related with Pre-Columbian Art, and Indigenous Artshowing a close-up of two Statuettes, or Little Statues, with Woman Shape, so Sculpturecould be in a way a Topic for this Release too.

The Statuettesshown in the Release are two Specimens of the Female Anthropomorphic Figurinescalled "Venus of Valdivia", these Female Anthropomorphic Representations, were made by the group of people with the same name "Valdivias", that was developed in what is now Ecuador, in the Formative Period, that extends from 4000 BC to 500 AC.

This "Venus of Valdivia" have a Size of between 7 and 20 cm. , and were At first Sculptured in Stone, and then Turn to be Shaped by hand from two Clay cylinders attached to the body and head and legs separated, with the later addition of touched and arms. They have rounded shapes and well-marked sexual attributes, especially her breasts, coffee bean eyes shaped, thick eyebrows, arms over his body and legs without feet.

It has been theorized much about the purpose of these figures. Some researchers see them as Symbolsor Talismansand Idolspromoters of Fertility.

The Italian Archaeologist Constanza Di Capua argues, based on the variation of the features of the body-forms and representation of hair and styles, that the "Venus of Valdivia" are figures Alluding to the physiological cycles of women in various stages. From the nubile, with a bulge in the pubic region, no arms, straight trunk and shaved head, going through puberty, with partial removal of hair and hint of breasts and arms, and adolescence, where the figurines are represented by bodies developed until adulthood and pregnancy, with bulging belly, suggesting pregnancy. For the researcher, the figures are Associated with the female cult that developed in society Valdivia and are, along with the funeral, a Testament to how this society empowers breeding group.

Finally, in a more symbolic way:I will choose Women, and Feminityin general, and perhaps Fertilityin particular, as the Topics more subtly incorporated in this Release, as for it desing it was chosen these particular Female Anthropomorphic Figurinescalled "Venus of Valdivia", to represent graphically the fusion of the two Main Events that are commemorated in this Issue.

Also this selection could be seen as a gaze to Matriarchy, perhaps too, as a way to Get free of the Current System, that for milleniums was based in Patriarchy.


Block:

The block: Besides the legend that enunciate the Main Topic of the Release, that is Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, only adds the icon used to show the ink colours used in the printing of the stamps, however, this icon shows a Rarely seen Item in Philatelythat is the "Boleadoras", that are a Throwing Weapon superficially similar to the Surujin, made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, designed to capture animals by entangling their legs.

The "Boleadoras"were most famously used by the Gauchos(Argentinian cowboys), but have been Found in Excavations of Pre-Columbian settlements, especially in Patagonia, where Indigenous peoples used them to catch 200 pound guanaco, a mammal similar to a Llama, and also the Ñandú, a non flying birds, as the one shown in This Release. They were also Used in battle by the Inca army, and even as a modern-day tool in North America at the Calico Early Man Site.


FDC:

The desing of the First Day Cancelation:Besides the legends of both Main Topics: Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People and Ten Years Anniversary of th the "Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indígena (MAPI) , and the Logotypeof the MAPI, what it is really interesting in the Cancelation is the Circle Shaped Elementthat surrounds both Legends and Logotypes, that is The Wheel with the 20 Inscription Glyphs that represent the Named Days in the the Tzolk'in, the Basic Cycleof the Maya calendar.  

The Tzolk'in Calendarcombines a Cycleof twenty Named Dayswith another Cycle of Thirteen numbers (the trecena), to Produce 260 unique days(i.e., 20 × 13 = 260). Each successive named day was numbered from 1 up to 13 and then starting again at 1.

The Tzolkindoes not have a generally-recognized start and end, although there are specific references, that 1 Imix was the Beginning dayin The Books of Chilam Balam, that are a set of handwritten books that preserve important traditional knowledge in which indigenous Maya and early Spanish traditions have coalesced.

The Glyph for Imixis the one located at the 'O' of "Mundo" in the Cancelation, and the other 19 Glyphs are shown ordered Clockwise in the Cancelation too. 

The name and the meaning of the 20 Glyphs are the following: 1) Imix: The Crocodile, or the Reptilian body of the planet earth; 2) Ik: The Wind, also Breath, Life, even Violence; 3) Akbal: The Night-house, or Darkness, The underworld, Therealm of the nocturnal jaguar-sun; 4) Kan: The Maize, the Sign of the Young Maize Lord who brings Abundance, Ripeness. Also Lizard, Net; 5) Chicchan: The Snake, the Celestial serpent; 6 ) Cimi: The Death; 7) Manik: The Deer, Sign of the Lord of the Hunt; 8) Lamat: The Rabbit, Sign of the planet Venus, Sunset; 9) Muluc: The Water, symbolised by Jade, an aspect of the Water Deities, Fish; 10) Oc: The Dog, who guides the night sun through the underworld; 11) Chuen: The Monkey, the Great craftsman, patron of Arts and Knowledge; 12) Eb: The Grass, associated with Rainand Storms; 13) Ben: The Reed, who fosters the growth of Corn, Cane, and Man; 14) Ix: The Jaguar, the Night Sun. Associated with the Goddess Ixchel; 15) Men: The Eagle, the Wise one, Bird, Moon; 16) Cib: The Owl and the Vulture, death-birds of night and day. Also wax, soul, insect; 17) Caban: The Earthquake, Formidable Power. Also Season, Thought; 18) Etznab: The Knife, the Obsidian Sacrificial Blade; 19) Cauac: The Rainor Storm, the Celestial Dragon Serpents and the Chacs, Gods of Thunder and Llightning; 20) Ahau: The Lord, The Radiant Sun God. Also associated with the Mayan hero twins.


If you consider that there are another topics in this stamp, that were not spot in this review, you are encouraged to telling me about them, so please do not hesitate to post a comment. I would appreciate your help very much.