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  Stamps: Sweden's "Traveling in Space"

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Author Topic:   Stamps: Sweden's "Traveling in Space"
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-18-2009 08:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Swedish Post bulletin
Keen Christer Fuglesang visited Sweden Post Stamps

The stamps depict some scenes from Christer Fuglesang's space flight in December 2006 when he became the first Swede in space. During the almost two-week mission to the International Space Station, ISS, Fuglesang carried out three space walks.

Day of Issue: September 24, 2009

The stamps were engraved by Martin Mörck (portrait and space walk) and Lars Sjööblom (other three stamps) based on proofs by Eva Wilsson, who processed photographs from NASA. Eva Wilsson also designed the stamp typography and cancellation for the first day cover (the Discovery space shuttle from the official emblem for the 2009 flight) based on a picture from NASA. The illustration for the first day cover is also from NASA and shows the official emblem for STS-128, Christer Fuglesang's flight in autumn 2009. The collector's sheet shows the 2006 lift-off of the Discovery space shuttle and was designed by Eva Wilsson.

In autumn 2009 astronaut Christer Fuglesang made his second trip to the International Space Station. He found time in the middle of his training program ahead of the mission to visit Sweden Post Stamps to approve the stamp originals.


Credit: ESA

"It's tremendously exciting and is a genuine honor to appear on stamps. Sweden Post has made an excellent choice of photos from the spaceflight," said Christer Fuglesang after his meeting with Head of Sweden Post Stamps Britt-Inger Hahne, head of design Stina Olofsdotter and designer Eva Wilsson.

The stamp issue contains six designs, one of which was made public on 28 January at the premiere showing of the 2009 stamp program. The other motifs were released closer to the day of issue at the end of September.

That is also the time when National Stamp Day was celebrated throughout Sweden - this time with a particularly elated atmosphere. Space and spaceflights are a popular theme that fire the imagination and appeal to all age groups.

Christer Fuglesang said that his wife was the first person to find out he was to be a stamp motif. He will send the first letters bearing the stamps to his children, but that will have to be via Sweden because the family lives in the US.

"I think it's nice both to send and receive letters and postcards, even if nowadays most correspondence is by e-mail. My driving forces are speed and efficiency, but when I write more personal greetings I opt for a normal letter."

Christer's interest in stamps began during his childhood and has stayed with him. When he took the Russian cosmonaut training in Star City in the mid-1990s, he acquired quite a few Russian stamps with space motifs.

Christer Fuglesang's three successful space walks from the ISS in December 2006 were reviewed with the words "nice catch" by the commander of the Discovery space shuttle, Bill Oefelein. And these stamps will certainly be a nice catch for collectors when they are issued.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 10-19-2009 12:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Anyone tried to use the Swedish Post's web site for online purchase?

Although their bulletin states that credit cards are accepted, that option is not available (or I missed something - the English page does not allow you to create an account, the Swedish page does - that may explain the problem) when ordering online (try paying SEK in Euros in Germany!). We'll see - stay tuned.

UPDATE: The Swedish Post has sent me an authorization form to charge credit cards. Just need to fill it in and sent it back (fax, email, or mail). It's a bit odd to do business if you ask me, but we'll see.

perssj
Member

Posts: 73
From: Sweden
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 10-19-2009 10:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for perssj   Click Here to Email perssj     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just visited the philatelist department for the postal office in Göteborg, Sweden.

I could purchase all stamp versions there. The first day cover was the last one, but they could acquire more by ordering. The watch was available on mail order only, so I will get it in approx. a week.

If anyone of you, my space friends, need any help upon purchase, please let me know. Send me an e-mail off-line and I will do my best.

All times are CT (US)

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