SPAIN — Cantabrian Wars
Spain issued a single stamp commemorating the Cantabrian Wars on November 6, 2019. In the foreground is a picture of the Monument devoted to Cantabria in Santander. Next to it, two famous Cantabrian stelae, an ancient Roman map of the area, and the mountains of Northern Spain. The Cantabri horsemen, who were renowned as superb horsemen and “particularly brave and brutal men,” were long considered enemies of Rome. The Romans began to settle in Regio Cantabrorum, driving the Cantabri tribes down from the mountains, where they were enslaved. In the spring of 26 BC, Emperor Augustus brought seven legions to the region to conquer the Cantabrian Army, which was finally overcome. In 24 BC, the Cantabrians launched a counter-attack. The Romans and Cantabrians continued to fight for control of Cantabrian lands, and some say that the Romans never completely succeeded. The online stamp store for Correos can be found at aps.buzz/SpainPost.
UNITED NATIONS — UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Cuba
The concept of universal application makes World Heritage exceptional, according to the UNESCO Brazil. “World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.” These six World Heritage site stamps, issued on October 24, 2019, were designed for the UN by Sergio Baradat and printed in offset lithography with gold foil. The stamps show the Heritage sites of Morro Castle, Old Havana; Viñales Valley; Valle de los Ingenios, Trinidad; Palacio de Valle, Cienfuegos; Camagüey; and Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, Santiago. The six stamps of the United Nations Cuba UNESCO sites are available in singles, full sheets, prestige booklets, and first day covers in a variety of forms from unstamps.org/shop/2019-world-heritage-cuba.
VANUATU — Magnificent Birds of Vanuatu
The carnivorous, predatory birds of Vanuatu are scarce and solitary creatures, preferring to nest in crags and trees. The stamp issue from December 11, 2019, features four birds of prey. The 90 vatu stamp depicts a Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), the largest raptor in the region. The harrier has a distinctive flight silhouette and breeds in suitable habitats on most islands in Vanuatu. Shown on the 150v issue is the rarely seen Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) known to inhabit the Santo mountains. It is easily identified by its distinctive plumage during its slow, wheeling flight. On 180v, the rarely-seen Brown Goshawk is depicted (Accipiter fasciatus vigilax), boasting a wingspan of one meter which aids in its fast, maneuverable flight. The final value, 300v, features a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus nesiotesis) which are commonly found around lakes throughout the archipelago. They are known for their speed and agility in flight when hunting prey. Ordering information is online at aps.buzz/VanuatuBirds.
Editor's Note: New worldwide stamps are presented for information and are not necessarily shown at the correct scale. The quality of images available at the time of release varies widely and we resize to achieve the best possible reproduction.
This article was published in the March 2020 issue of The American Philatelist. Read the full issue online at stamps.org/the-american-philatelist