Sunday, May 3, 2020

Agua

This week's Sunday Stamps theme is water.


First up, the water of the Bay of Cádiz on this stamp celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Casa de Contratación in Cádiz. 

 Initially founded by the Queen Isabella I of Castile in 1503 in Seville, it was transferred to Cádiz in 1717. It was a crown agency responsible for collecting all colonial taxes and duties. The Casa de Contratación also produced the official maps carried by Spanish ships. Interestingly, these maps were a highly guarded secret. The agency was abolished by Charles IV in 1790.

 Cádiz, located on Spain's Atlantic coast, is one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, having been founded in approximately 1104 BC by the Phoenecians.


Staying in Spain, here is a nice beach scene reflected on sunglasses on a stamp issued in 2019 promoting tourism.


My third stamp from Spain was issued in 2019 to show commitment to the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals. There are a couple of water-related aspects to the stamp: the earth is two-thirds water, and two of the goals are water-related: Clean Water & Sanitation, and Life Below Water. The Spanish post office, Correos, donated 3% of revenue from this stamp issue to this project.


And finally, I was fortunate enough to receive one of the water-related sustainable development goals stamps issued by the United Nations in 2016.

 Thanks to Eva for the first three stamps. To see more water on postage, explore the links at Sunday Stamps.
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14 comments:

  1. Mail AdventuresMay 3, 2020 at 5:04 AM

    I hadn't realised I send you so much water on stamps!
    As you will see on my post... you have send a lot of water, too! ;)

    Cádiz is one of my favourite cities.

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    1. FinnBadgerMay 3, 2020 at 2:27 PM

      I didn't realize either until I was looking for stamps for today.

      Delete
  2. viridianMay 3, 2020 at 1:14 PM

    Interesting assortment of water stamps!

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    1. FinnBadgerMay 3, 2020 at 2:27 PM

      Thank you, I was surprised at what I found.

      Delete
  3. violet sMay 3, 2020 at 1:38 PM

    Love the bright yellow sunglasses. And the view in them!
    I suppose the Casa de Contratación didn't want any Dutch or Portuguese to find their secrets.

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    1. FinnBadgerMay 3, 2020 at 2:29 PM

      That's a very cheerful stamp, isn't it. I was surprised to read about the cartography being so well-guarded - makes sense to keep your map knowledge secret from your rivals.

      Delete
  4. HeleenMay 3, 2020 at 4:29 PM

    How funny that Eva posted your rivers today and you her seas :-)
    Wonderful stamps, and the sea reflected in the sunglasses is a very original view of water!

    Nice to see the map on the Cádiz stamp! (Maps are a favourite theme, too :-) )

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    1. FinnBadgerMay 3, 2020 at 4:33 PM

      I'm always amazed at how maps were made before modern technology existed. Even the Romans, who knew where the narrowest part of England was so they could build Hadrian's Wall.

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  5. AnaMay 4, 2020 at 11:27 AM

    At first glance I thought the first stamp featured a lighthouse :)

    I like the variety of how water is represented through your selection and it is not just the common water image

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    1. FinnBadgerMay 4, 2020 at 2:09 PM

      Thanks, I had fun putting this post together.

      Delete
  6. JoyMay 5, 2020 at 3:18 PM

    Maps always fascinate me so I love the combination of colours, view and map.

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    1. FinnBadgerMay 5, 2020 at 3:34 PM

      The funny thing is, I hardly noticed the map part of that stamp - the color of the ocean water must have mesemrized me.

      Delete
  7. Bob ScotneyMay 9, 2020 at 8:21 AM

    I always associate Cadiz with Francis Drake when he 'singed the Spanish beards' there. A truly fine stamp with the map and the Casa.

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