Journal 3/99
Post Denmark, Stamps
[contents:]
Nature reserves, page 2
50th anniversary of the Council of Europe, page 8
New ‘city bike’ postage labels, page 12
Queen Margrethe folder, page 14
Beautiful folder for new stamp collectors, page 15
EUROPE - nature reserves
Date of issue: 28 April 1999
Prices and motifs:
DKK 4.50 - Vejlerne
DKK 5.50 - Langli
Artist: Jens Gregersen
Engraver: Arne Kühlmann
Colours: Multi-coloured
Method of printing: Combination steel engraving/offset
Format: 31.08 x 23.60 mm
Perforation: 12 3/4
Number of stamps per sheet: 50
Printer: Post Denmark, Stamps
Marginal number: 008 and 009
Catalogue numbers: 1139 and 1140
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Common reeds
The stamps will be available from Post Denmark, Stamps and post offices from 28 April 1999 or you can order them on the enclosed coupon.
Nature reserves
This year's EUROPA-stamp theme is nature reserves.
The purpose of a nature reserve is to protect plant and wild life, although as a rule the protection it offers is less far-reaching than that provided by a preservation order. In Denmark, there are two types of reserves: scientific reserves and game reserves. The purpose of scientific reserves is to protect particularly valuable areas for local wild life - especially birds - and for purposes of scientific research. The game reserves were established under the Game Act to create sanctuaries for birds, especially migratory birds, as well as mammals, and to nurture the stock of game.
Reserves are usually publicly owned and are administered by the National Forest and Nature Agency.
Since 1917, when Denmark became one of the first countries in the world to pass a nature conversation act, the Danes have been among the world leaders in wildlife and nature protection.
Vejlerne
The reclaimed and partially drained inlets to Liim Fjord called Vejlerne constitute one of the most important aquatic bird sanctuaries in Europe. Liim Fjord is in Jutland, north-east of Thisted and near the Løgstør Broads.
A drainage programme to reclaim Vejlerne and transform it into agricultural land was started in the 1860s. It transpired that the soil did not live up to expectations since the reclaimed land consisted mainly of sand. A halt was called to the programme in 1916 and in due time, the area assumed its present appearance - field upon field of reeds, meadows and shallow lakes.
Thousands of aquatic birds soon occupied Vejlerne, and in 1958 the whole area was placed under a conservation order by the private owners at the time. In 1960, Vejlerne were turned into a scientific reserve. Vejlerne enjoy special protection as a Ramsar and EU bird protection area.
Highway 11 from Thisted to Fjerritslev cuts through the western Vejler on its way to Bygholm Dam in the eastern Vejler. The extremely rich bird life can be observed from its two lay-byes, the only form of public access to Vejlerne.
Today, the area is owned by the Aage V. Jensen Nature Preservation Foundation, which also produced the books about Vejlerne described on page 6.
Langli
The island of Langli is located among the huge tidal sands in Ho Bay on the Wadden Sea, to the north of Fanø and between Esbjerg and Skallingen. The island covers approximately 80 hectares and consists mainly of salt marshes, commons and old sand dunes.
In the breeding season, bird life on Langli is dominated by species such as the black-headed gull, the herring gull, the common gull and the arctic tern. Large numbers of oyster catchers, who live off the cockles and bristle worm found on tidal sands, also breed here. In July, August and September, thousands of waders and terns gather around the island before migrating southwards.
Langli was acquired by the State in1982 and incorporated into the Wadden Sea nature reserve. Langli is a scientific reserve, and visitors are only allowed from 16 July to 15 September. You approach the island at low tide along a 3-kilometre tidal path - but remember to keep an eye on the time, otherwise the tide might turn you into an involuntary overnight guest on the island.
Beautiful books about Vejlerne
Nature in Vejlerne - Status 1998
A beautiful big book with hundreds of watercolours by Jens Frimer Andersen and the stamp artist Jens Gregersen. 302 pages in Danish with short summaries in English.
DKK 190.00.
Vejlerne - People and Nature in the Past and Present
A very beautiful book full of interesting reading and lots of pictures of a unique piece of Danish nature. 240 pages in Danish with an English summary.
DKK 150.00.
Hunting in Vejlerne
An extremely beautiful book full of interesting articles about nature, the hunters and hunting in Vejlerne. 160 pages in Danish and detailed maps of Vejlerne.
DKK 170.00.
The books are available while stocks last.
Jens Gregersen
The two new EUROPA stamps featuring motifs depicting Danish nature reserves were designed by 46-year-old Jens Gregersen.
From advertising to nature
Jens Gregersen was born in Århus in 1952 and later trained as a commercial artist in the city. He never got round to producing advertisements though. His drawings of birds and nature always in greater demand and since conservation was in focus at the time, nature won out over advertising in the long run.
In the 1970s, Jens started work for the Ministry of the Environment which had just started a nature surveillance and information programme at the time.
Gregersen is an author as well as an artist. He has illustrated countless books and magazines about nature and wildlife as well as explaining his work in words. He depicts his impressions and experiences of nature with consummate technical skill. We instantly recognise and enjoy his shapes and colours, and especially his intense use of light and shadow effects, all of which anybody with an eye for it can experience in the countryside.
Nature’s ambassador
It is extremely difficult to depict nature graphically without descending into naive banalities or pure kitsch. But Jens Gregersen does so by simply depicting what he sees, and not bestowing his work with any romantic or false atmosphere. His accuracy creates the genuine atmosphere we all recognise from our own observations of nature.
A life on Vorsø
For more than 20 years, Jens has been associated with the nature reserve on the island of Vorsø in Horsens Fjord where he has worked as an attendant, biologist and artist. On Vorsø, nature is allowed to look after herself on her own premisses. So is Jens Gregersen, and that suits him fine, giving him the peace and quiet to work and absorb himself in his motifs.
“Nature reserves” first-day cover
The motif on the first-day cover was drawn by the artist Jens Gregersen, who also drew the motifs for the two stamps. It depicts one of the public observation towers in Vejlerne. Jens Gregersen also drew the illustration on the first-day postmark depicting the common reeds that are harvested in such large numbers in Vejlerne.
The first-day cover only costs the face value of the stamps + DKK 1.00 for the envelope. It can be ordered on the enclosed coupon.
The 50th Anniversary of the Council of Europe
Date of issue: 28 April 1999
Price: DKK 9.75
Artist: Mette P. Johansson
Engraver: Arne Kühlmann
Colour: Blue
Method of printing: Steel engraving
Format: 23.60 x 40.40 mm
Perforation: 12 3/4
Number of stamps per sheet: 50
Printer: Post Denmark, Stamps
Marginal number: 010
Catalogue number: 1141
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The Star motif
The stamp will be available from Post Denmark, Stamps and post offices from 28 April 1999 or you can order it on the enclosed coupon.
The 50th Anniversary of the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe was established in 1949 on the basis of the Declaration of Human Rights passed by the UN General Assembly the previous year.
The purpose of the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is a pan-European body with 39 members. Membership is open to any European state that accepts the principles of constitutional law as well as fundamental freedoms and human rights. The purpose of the Council of Europe is to safeguard our common cultural heritage and European ideals, such as pluralist democracy and human rights, and to promote the economic and social development of the member states.
To that end, the Council holds conferences and draws up conventions, for example, the European Human Rights Convention and the Court where cases are heard against member countries accused of contravening the convention.
The supreme authority of the Council of Europe is invested in the Council of Ministers, which either consists of the member countries' foreign ministers or permanent representatives to the Council of Europe.
“The 50th Anniversary of the Council of Europe” First-Day Cover
The motif on the first-day cover was designed by the young graphic artist Mette P. Johansson, who also drew the motif on the stamp. It depicts a star formed by the beautiful words upon which the Council of Europe is based. Mette P. Johansson also drew the star illustration for the first-day postmark.
Mette P. Johansson
The stamp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe was designed by the 28-year-old graphic designer Mette Pia Johansson. Mette is a student at the Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture and will soon graduate from the Design Department.
Stamp design as an assignment and a competition
In the spring of 1998, Mette P. Johansson and her fellow students were invited to submit proposals for a stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe.
The judges awarded first prize to two of Mette P. Johansson's three submissions. After a more in-depth technical and artistic study, Post Denmark, Stamps decided to issue one of her winning entries as a stamp. “Following the creation of a stamp has been so exciting. It was particularly interesting to watch the engraver Arne Kühlmann at work,” Mette P. Johansson says.
Other work
During her studies Mette P. Johansson has also turned her hand to other design disciplines. Along with two fellow students, she designed a complete identity programme for the Danish Music Information Centre (MIC). It includes a new homepage featuring a register of Danish operas from 1900-1996. The homepage is at
Earlier in her studies, Mette P. Johansson and another of her fellow students spent six months in India working on a total concept for a Danida (Danish International Development Agency) programme to provide water and sanitary conditions for the local population.
Modern and metropolitan
Mette P. Johansson lives in a flat near the lakes in central Copenhagen, from where she rides her bike to the School of Architecture on Holmen every day. The atmosphere created on the old naval station Holmen by relocating several creative schools there is highly stimulating. As well as the Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture, they include the Film School, the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and the State Theatre School.
“And it is so close to everything a big city can offer in the way of cultural life , from museums and cinemas to cafés and night life”, Mette rounds off.
"Gækkebrev"
Spread joy or pull the legs of you friends and family by sending them this year's traditional Danish "gækkebrev" (anonymous letter akin to a Valentine card).
The stamp artist Sonia Brandes designed the "gækkebrev" with the beautiful paper cutting. The paper cutting also makes a nice decoration afterwards. Use the enclosed coupon to order the card. An envelope is included in the price of DKK 19.99 per card. The "gækkebrev" is also on sale at major post offices.
N.B. "Gækkebrev" ordered on the enclosed coupon, cannot be delivered until after Easter (28 April 1999).
Postage labels
Date of issue: 28 April 1999
Prices: DKK 0.25 - 99.75 in 25-øre increments
Motifs: City bikes with elements of the Post Denmark logo
Design: Kontrapunkt A/S
Colours: Multi-coloured
Format: 28.84 x 40.00 mm
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Elements of the Post Denmark logo
New postage labels
Post Denmark, Stamps will issue new postage labels on 28 April 1999. They will be available from the postage label machines at post offices/post centres.
The current postage labels will be on sale until 27 April.
There are three different motifs on the new postage labels which were designed by Kontrapunkt A/S, the same company that designed the current labels.
The three different motifs appear consecutively on the rolls.
Ordering postage labels
You can use the enclosed coupon to order mint condition and postmarked postage labels. The postmarked labels will arrive with Post Denmark, Stamps' ordinary date postmark.
The labels are available in the prices DKK 3.75, 4.00 and 5.25, so you can purchase the three prices on three different motifs or the same price on three different motifs.
On a limited scale, you can also order your own combinations of prices on the blank lines on the order coupon.
The postage labels are available in prices from DKK 0.25-99.75 at 0.25-øre increments, for example, DKK 23.25 - 23.50 - 23.75, etc.
Please note that it is not possible to order a single postage label with a particular motif. Individual orders will be supplied with randomly selected motifs.
First-day postmark
On the date of issue, all post from Post Denmark, Stamps will automatically bear the first-day postmark if they are posted with one or several of the new DKK 3.75, 4.00 or 5.25 postage labels.
Post bearing other postage labels will not carry the first-day postmark.
First-day covers (FDCs)
There are two ways to order first-day covers with postage labels:
1. On the enclosed form, paying the fee by the date of issue (28 April 1999) at the latest.
The official first-day cover is only available with one of each of the new DKK 3.75 , 4.00 and 5.25 postage labels on the same envelope.
2. Send us one or more self-addressed envelopes and we will affix stamps and first-day postmarks. Your order and payment must be received by 14 April 1999 at the latest.
You can only order postage labels with one or several of the DKK 3.75, 4.00 or 5.25 postage labels.
Orders must be submitted separately along with self-addressed envelopes.
Note:
The postage labels are not included in your subscription, nor will they be included in the 1999 year pack 1999 and/or yearbook. Use the enclosed coupon if you want the new postage labels or FDC with postage labels.
First-day cover with postage labels
The first-day cover and first-day postmark were designed by Kontrapunkt A/S and, like the postage labels, they depict a Copenhagen city bike with elements of the Post Denmark logo. In 1998, there were approx. 150 city bikes with the Post Denmark logo on the streets of Copenhagen.
Queen Margrethe folder
This beautiful folder containing a complete series of the definitive series stamps featuring the latest portrait of Queen Margrethe II is now on sale. No more definitive stamps will be issued with this portrait of the Queen.
As well as some extremely beautiful pictures, the folder also includes a short history of the special production of Queen Margrethe definitive stamps.
The text is also translated into English and German for the benefit of our overseas collectors.
The series is complete and only costs the face value of the stamps: DKK 47.75.
The Queen Margrethe folder is not included in presentation pack subscriptions, but can be ordered on the enclosed coupon.
Beautiful folder for new stamp collectors
We have produced a folder for new stamp collectors to replace the ageing suitcase. It is a beautiful, practical folder with a zip, partitions, pockets and everything the new stamp collector needs to get started.
The “My First Stamp Collection” folder contains a magnifying glass, tweezers, glassine envelopes, a drying book, album leaves, and lots of stamps, of course.
This great present for the new stamp collector costs DKK 159.95 and can be ordered on the enclosed coupon.
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Exhibitions
Post Denmark, Stamps will be participating in the following exhibitions:
Australia '99 in Melbourne, 19-24 March 1999
IBRA in Nuremberg, 27 April - 4 May 1999
Philexfrance in Paris, 2-11 July 1999
Nordia 98 in Åbo, 24-26 September 1999
AROS 99 in Århus, 2-3 October 1999
Sindelfingen in Germany, 29-31 October 1999
Stamps in Forum, 11-14 November 1999
The next Journal
Four Danish revue stamps and a stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Danish constitution.
Date of issue 2 June 1999.
Journal 4/99 will be issued at the end of April 1999.
Publisher: Post Denmark, Stamps
Editors: Allan Bo Hansen (editor-in-chief)
Flemming Nielsen
Ottar Bingen-Jakobsen
Inger Winther
Layout and typesetting: Ipsen & Parmo
Repro: Multi-Scan, Albertslund
Printer : Dansk Erhvervstryk
Print run: 82,000
ISSN 1398-3059
[Billedtekster til Journal 3/99]