Iceland by Geir Sør-Reime

World of Stamps: Island Communities: Iceland by Geir Sør-Reime Iceland has an area of 39,770 square miles and a population of extended 1904. In 319,700, giving a low population density of 7.5 per square miles. 2004, a stamp and Several earlier World of Stamps articles a souvenir sheet have focused on different areas within Ice- commemorated the land, so this is the first article covering the centenary of the whole country and its postal history. 1904 autonomy. Iceland In 1918, Den- issued its mark recognized first stamps in 1873. At that time, Iceland was 2004 souvenir sheet for centenary of part of the 1873 4 skilling from internal self-government, showing poet/ Kingdom of 1st Icelandic issue politician Hans Hafstein, Sc. 1007a 1930 Millennium series, Denmark. (Sc. 2) Iceland as a sovereign state under the Danish here discovery of Iceland Danish king. A 1968 pair of stamps celebrated the by Raven-Floki (Sc. 153) stamps were available from two 50th anniversary of this recognition and portrayed Iceland’s post-offices on Ice- first prime minister, land 1870-73. Jón Magnusson. Iceland10: 1968 Iceland was During WWII, showing Prime settled in the Vi- Denmark was occu- Minister Jon Mag- king period, pri- pied by Germany, nusson, for 50th marily by Norwe- and Iceland was oc- anniversary of in- gian chieftains in cupied by U.S. and opposition to the British dependence within unification process forces. In the Danish realm in their homeland. 1944, the (Sc. 402) They developed a 2003 souvenir sheet also show- Top: 1994 for 50th anniversary ing discovery of of Republic and showing first Iceland by Ra- President, Sveinn Bjørnsson ven-Floki, Sc. (Sc. 788a). Bottom: 1994 for Iceland13: 1973 for centenary kind of republican 50th anniversary of Republic of Icelandic stamps (Sc. 449) rule, the so-called and showing President of Par- liament and citing unanimous Commonwealth, Icelandic decision of Allthing to change which lasted until parliament the constitution and become a 2005 souvenir sheet showing Viking artifacts 1262, when inter- declared the republic (Sc. 787) found on Iceland and on display at the Na- nal strife forced Republic of tional Museum in Reykjavik, Sc. 1036 the parliament to Iceland and became fully independent. ask for intervention The first stamps had a numeral design, from the Norwegian king, and Iceland was integrated into the Norwe- and were first issued with denominations in gian kingdom. Some artifacts from the Viking period were depicted shillings (skilding in Icelandic). on the 2005 souvenir sheet issued for the reopening of the National In 1973, a series of five stamps were 1998 for 125th an- Museum. issued to celebrate the centenary of Iceland’s niversary of Icelan- Iceland was kept as part of Norway when Norway was united first stamps. A single stamp was also issued in dic stamps (Sc. 865) with Denmark in the 14th century. After the 1814 Treaty of Kiel, when 1998 for the 125th anniversary. Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden, Denmark kept Iceland and the Already in 1875, Iceland changed to a decimal system with 100 two other Norwegian dependencies, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. aurar equaling 1 krona, and the numeral design stamps were re-issued In 1874, Iceland was granted a degree of autonomy which was Continued on page 16 December 24, 2010 Mekeel's & Stamps MAGAZINE 15 with the new currency from August 1876 on- wards. A single stamp was issued in 1976 to celebrate the 1925 Landing the Mail centenary of the (Sc. 144) 1930 Millennium of Allthing introduction of portrait of the new king, Christian (Icelandic parliament), show- 1876-82 decimal issue aurar stamps. X, issued. ing current Parliament build- (here #15 issued 1882) 1976 for centenary When Iceland’s first pictorial stamps ing in Reykjavik (Sc. 152) stamps portraying of stamps in decimal appeared in 1925 and showed scen- King Christian currency (Sc. 492) ery and important buildings (The National Museum and the National IX were issued Library, both in Reykjavik). A very large pictorial series was also in 1902, these old stamps were declared invalid, but the decision was quickly reversed, and these older issues were over- 1902 King Christian printed “I GILDE IX (Sc. 44B) ’02-‘03” to denote 1930 Millennium series, left, arrival of first settlers led 1902 “Valid 02-03” that they remained by Ingolf Arnarsson AD874 (Sc. 155); right, “land-run”, valid through- overprint on official taking possession of land by burning fires (Sc. 156) out 1903. King stamp (Sc. O25) Christian IX died issued 1930 to celebrate the millenary in January 1906, of Iceland’s parliament, the Allthing. and in June 1907, In 1931, the famous waterfall stamps with the Gullfoss was featured on definitive portrait of him and his succes- sor, Frederik VIII 1907 Kings Frederik were issued on VIII and Christian IX Iceland. Stamps 1931 Gullfoss (Golden (Sc. 71) with the por- 1912 King Frederik Falls) definitive (Sc. 170) trait of only King Frederik VIII (Sc. 93) VIII were is- 1933 semi-postal (Sc. B2) sued in 1912. In the meantime, stamps, and other landmarks were added the design used to this series in 1935. for these stamps Iceland’s first semi-postals were had been used issued in 1933, and the following year, a for a stamp se- pictorial air post 1911 Birth centenary of ries commemo- series was is- rating the birth sued. (Air post Jon Sigurdsson (Sc. 86) 1931 Zeppelin over- centenary of and zeppelin 1961 for 150th birth print, Sc. C9 Jón Sigurdsson post stamps had anniversary of Jon (1811-1879), a been produced prominent fig- Sigurdsson (Sc. 335) previously over- ure in Icelandic revival in the 19th century printing defini- and several times presiding over the Ice- tive stamps.) landic parliament, the Allthing. In fact, his In 1935, a Matthias Jochums- birthday, June 17, is celebrated as Iceland’s set of six stamps son, Sc. 195 national day. Stamps in the same design celebrated the were in fact issued in 1961, for the 150th centenary of the birth of the poet M. Jo- anniversary of his birth. chumsson, and in 1937, three stamps were 1920 King Christian King Frederik VIII died in May 1912, King Christian X, issued for the 25th anniversary of the X (89) but not until 1920 were stamps with the Sc. 199 accession of King Christian X. These 16 Mekeel's & Stamps MAGAZINE December 24, 2010 were also united The first issue in Iceland’s first of the Republic, souvenir sheet. made June 17, 1944, were the stamps cel- ebrating independence and portraying Jón Sigurdsson. The 20th anniversary of the Republic was celebrated in 1964 with 1964 for 20th anni- a single stamp fea- 1984 for 40th an- versary of Republic turing Iceland’s coat- niversary of Re- Left, 1938 Leifr Eiricsson souvenir sheet, of Iceland (Sc. 362) of-arms. The public (Sc. 591) Sc. B6; right, 1938 showing geyser (Sc. 203) 40th anniversary was celebrated in 1984 with a single stamp featuring Iceland’s second souvenir Icelandic flags. sheet was issued the following year, the Leifr Eiricsson, “Son of Iceland—Discoverer of America”. 1947 air post stamp showing 1938 20th anniversary of inde- Thingvellir, old site of Icelan- pendence (within Danish realm) dic parliament (Sc. C21) showing University of Iceland, Post-WWII issues have featured Reykjavik (Sc. 209) a vast range of interesting themes and The famous motifs, including the unique Icelandic landmark “Gey- landscape, important historic events and 1958 for 40th anniver- sir” appeared personalities that have contributed in sary of national flag on 1938 forming the modern Icelandic society. stamps, 1939 showing na- Iceland’s flag was first introduced (Sc. 313) and the tional flag of Iceland in 1918, and was first featured on new (Sc. 228) a 1943 definitive. In 1958, two building of the University of Iceland stamps were issued, featuring the also appeared on 1938 stamps. flag, for the 40th anniversary of its In 1939, definitive stamps fea- introduction. turing cod, herring and the Icelandic Iceland’s capital city is flag were issued, and also stamps for Iceland’s participation in New York’s World Fair (these also exist with a 1961 for 175th Top, 1939 for New York “1940” overprint). One of the stamps anniversary of World’s Fair and showing of the latter set (showing the statue charter of Reyk- statue of Thorfinn Karlsefni of Thorfinn Karlsefni, the first -Eu javik (Sc. 338) (the first European attempt- ropean who Reykjavik, and ing a settlement in America) attempted a although a very (Sc. 215); bottom settlement old settlement, 1939 definitive without “N.Y. in America) it became a city 2005 Souvenir sheet showing aerial view of 1939 W.F.” inscription (Sc. 229) was re-is- residential area of Reykjavik sued with- only in 1786, and in out commemorative 1961, two stamps inscriptions as a defin- celebrated the itive stamp. 175th anniversa- The last issue ry of Reykjavik. made before Iceland’s 1941 Snorri Sturlu- Four 1986 stamps independence declara- son (Sc. 239) commemorated the tion, was a 1941 set honoring Snorri Sturluson, 200th anniversary the political leader of Iceland and the writer of of the city, and in many of the Icelandic sagas, commemorating 2005, a souvenir 1944 proclamation of Republic of Iceland, por- the 700th an- 1947 air post stamp sheet showed an ae- 1948 for 1947 erup- traying Jon Sigurdsson (leader of the 19th century niversary of showing Mount rial photo of parts of tion of Mount Hekla Icelandic independence movement) (Sc. 240) his murder. Thyrill (Sc. C25) Continued, p.18 (Sc. 246) December 24, 2010 Mekeel's & Stamps MAGAZINE 17 the city.

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