Seismic Philately

Home , 1907 Kingston earthquake, Philately, Postage stamp

adapted from the 2008 CUREE Calendar introduction by David J. Leeds

Stamps shown on front cover (left to right): • Label created by Chicago businessmen to help raise relief for the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake • Stamp commemorating the 1944 San Juan, Argentina Earthquake • Stamp commemorating the 1954 Orleansville, Algeria Earthquake • Stamp commemorating the 1953 Zante, Greece Earthquake • Stamp from 75th Anniversary stamp set commemorating the 1931 Hawkes Bay, New Zealand Earthquake • Stamp depicting a lake formed by a landslide triggered by the 1923 Kanto, Japan Earthquake

Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering 1301 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804-4600 tel: 510-665-3529 fax: 510-665-3622 CUREE http://www.curee.org Seismic Philately by David J. Leeds

Introduction

Philately is simply the collection and the study of postage stamps. Some of the Secretary of the Treasury, and as a last resort, bisected stamps could stamp collectors (philatelists) collect only from their native country, others be used for half their face value. (see March) collect from the stamp-issuing countries around the world. Other philately collections are defined by topic, such as waterfalls, bridges, men with beards, FDC, first day cover, or Covers, are sometimes created to commerate the nudes, maps, flowers, presidents, Americans on foreign stamps, etc. Many first day a new stamp is issued. As part of the presentation, an envelope of the world’s stamps that are related to the topic of earthquakes have been with the new postage stamp is cancelled on the first day of issue. Additional compiled in this publication. information and/or artwork, called a cachet, may be included.

Earthquakes impact philately in two major ways. First is the transient effect Free Franking is where no stamps are required to indicate postage paid. of shaking, which disturbs or damages the physical postal system and This is done by order of the post office department, or other agency, usually interferes with its operation. During this initial period, while repairs and following a disaster, when access to post offices is limited. An example of reconstruction are underway, we may find free stampless mail, covers and this is shown for the San Francisco 1906 Earthquake (April). Due to the cards flown on emergency flights, and other makeshift arrangements that damage to post offices, and their limited access by the public, free mail was mark the event. The other more lasting impact is on the production of accepted for about three weeks after the earthquake. Congress and other commemorative stamps, fund- raising semi-postal stamps, and postal tax Federal agencies use this term, but their free franked envelopes are actually stamps. Examples of all of the above are shown on pages of this calendar. prepaid.

Philatelists have their own vocabulary that may need explanation. Postal Tax Stamps are small denomination stamps that indicate a tax above the regular postal rate was paid; usually required on all mail issued on a Cachet refers to the printed or hand-stamped information on a cover. It particular day or for a few days only. In some Arab countries, the tax is may be official, confirming mail service, or a decoration supplying restricted to the issuing country and other Arab countries. Examples are information (see February airmail envelope from Antarctica ). shown, mostly from Lebanon.

Control Overprints: Many Latin American countries issue commemorative Labels are non-denominated adhesives (stamps) issued by non- stamps with published periods of validity. These may run for days, weeks, governmental agencies. They look like stamps but have no real franking or even a year. At the end of the period of validity the stamps will no longer value. Examples would be the several labels issued by the Japanese be accepted for use. Authorities may extend the period by overprinting the Women’s Club of Los Angeles for the 1923 Tokyo Earthquake (September), stamps with the word “HABILITADA” which means re-habilitated, or the Chicago Business Association stamp issued for the 1906 San Francisco acceptable for use. In 1931 in Managua, Nicaragua after the earthquake, Earthquake (April), or the 1907 triangle label issued by the Massachusetts the post office vaults were broken open and huge quantities of stamps were Red Cross for the Messina, Italy Earthquake (December). stolen. To avert a shortage of stock, everything on hand not stolen (including demonetized stamps) were overprinted, either with “1931” or the signature Perforations are the tiny holes that make individual separation easy. There About the author are other means of separation such as roulette, a process by which paper is slit between stamps to make their separation easier, and die cut, where Following his graduation from the machines are used to cut out each stamp, such as in self-adhesive stamps University of Texas in 1939, the first that have a backing. Imperforate indicates the absence of these little experience in engineering and seismology helpers. The most important example is the issue of Japan’s 1923 Dragonfly of David Leeds was in gravity and seismic (September). The roof of the factory building collapsed on the gumming exploration on the U. S. Gulf Coast. He and perforating machinery in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. For the entered the U.S. Air Corp in 1942, and is first time since Japan’s first stamp issue in 1871, the stamp was printed currently a retired Lt. Colonel devoting most without perforations or gum. of his time to his hobby, philately (stamp collecting.) David J. Leeds Postage Due Stamps are special stamps affixed by the Post Office to letters to collect sums upon delivery for deficient (not prepaid) or insufficient Mr. Leeds coined the title “Engineering postage. In certain cases there is a fine fixed at twice the deficiency. Portugal Seismologist,” a profession he has practiced since joining the USC&GC issued double face value postage due stamps to be used for the improper (United States Coast and Geodetic Survey) Seismological Field Survey, use of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake Commemorative (November). The Strong Motion Program in 1948 as a geophysicist. Following were postage stamps were mandatory on certain days on the continent and in the assignments as a Research Engineer at UCLA, a geophysicist with Dames many colonies. & Moore, independent practice, and finally, virtual retirement.

Stamps implies postage stamps, usually perforated and gummed, but The admiration in which he is held by both the earthquake and philately almost always with a designated value. fields is indicated by the fact that he is an Honorary Member of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and a National Judge Semi-Postals are stamps that are valid for postage at the standard designate of the American Philatelic Society. He has a desk full of gold awards for rate at the time of issue, plus a small additional charge. The difference exhibits of his Canal Zone stamps. He edited the journal The Canal Zone between the sales price of the stamp and the underlying postage, consists of Philatelist for about seven years, as well as EERI’s Newsletter for about a contribution to support some sort of charity, such as child welfare, postal the same period. employee pensions, Olympic stadiums, and other worthwhile causes. Semi- Postals are much more common abroad. Quite a few are shown here raising funds for disaster relief.

All of the stamps shown here are from the collection of David J. Leeds and are reproduced with his permission. A.

D. B.

A surcharge was added to pre-printed stamps to raise relief funds by adding an overprint; sometimes the overprint was inverted.

January Stamps A. January 10, 1977 – First Day cover commemorating the Sixth World Conference on Earthquake Engineering; stamp depicts the Earth’s crust with fault and seismograph. B. Letter airmailed after the January 15, 1934 Bihar-Nepal, India Earthquake and delivered by an earthquake relief plane. C. One of the earliest semi-postal stamps issued (some were printed with an inverted overprint), benefiting the CUREE January 19, 1907 Kingston, Jamaica earthquake relief fund. D. First day covers, cache, and stamp 2008 commemorating the January 15, 1944 San Juan, Argentina Earthquake.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING January JANUARY: Janus, Roman god of doors, beginnings, sunset and sunrise, had one face looking forward and one backward 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5

New Year's Day 678 9 10 11 12

1857 Fort Tejon, CA Earthquake 1693 Sicily, Italy Earthquake Islamic New Year (1429)

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

1995 Hanshin (Kobe), Japan EQ. 1915 Avezzano, Italy Earthquake 1944 San Juan, Argentina EQ 1994 Northridge, CA Earthquake 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2001 Bhuj, India Earthquake 1700 Cascadia Subduction Zone, Martin Luther King, Jr's 1999 Quindio, Columbia WA Earthquake Birthday (observed) 1857 Andrija Mohorovicic born 1980 Livermore, CA Earthquake Earthquake 1531 Lisbon, Portugal Earthquake 27 28 29 30 31

Sunday: Sunnenday Monday: Monan daeg Tuesday: Tiwes daeg Wednesday: Woensdag Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo Saturday: Saeterdaeg (Middle English transla- (Anglo Saxon, monan, (Anglo Saxon Tiw, war (Danish, Woen, Woden, chief English; Thorr, Icelandic, Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief (Anglo Saxon; Saeter, tion of Greek Hemera moon; daeg, day): the god, related to Greek god Norse god, Frigga's husband; thundergod; daeg, Anglo Norse goddess,Woden's wife; Saturn, Roman god of time; heliou): the sun's day moon's day Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day dag, day): Woden's day Saxon, day): Thor's day daeg, day); Frigga's day daeg, day); Saturn's day CUREE CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING CUREE A. B. The Leap Year Earthquake

The red "X" indicates the destruction of the city.

The cancellation stamp “U.S. Navy Operation Deepfreeze” refers to the codename for a series of US missions to Antarctica.

In seismic refraction exploration, refracted seismic energy is detected by seismic receivers to produce a visual image of the subsurface structure of the earth. The S.S. City of New Orleans was sailing upstream when the Mississippi River temporarily changed course.

D. February Stamps A. Feb. 18, 1968 first day cover honoring the establishment of a seismic station in Antarctica. The cachet “Byrd Land” is a humorous reference to the explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd. B. Stamps commemorating the “leap year earthquake” Feb. 29, 1960 – Agadir, Morocco Earthquake. C. Feb. 7, 1812 the New Madrid Earthquake caused a portion of the Mississippi River to reverse its direction of flow. D. Miniature sheet showing CUREE reconstruction efforts commemorating the Feb. 4, 1976 Guatemala earthquake. E. Stamp issued in Russia 2008 showing Seismic Refraction Exploration.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING February FEBRUARY: On February 15 the Romans celebrated the festival of forgiveness for sins; (februare, Latin, to purify) 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 12

3 456789

1812 New Madrid, MO Earthquake (#3 of 3 largest 1811-1812) 1931 Hawkes Bay, 1663 St. Lawrence, Canada 1971 San Fernando, CA New Zealand Earthquake 1976 Guatemala Earthquake Earthquake Chinese New Year Earthquake

10 11 12 1314 15 16

Valentine's Day

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Presidents' Day

24 25 26 27 28 29

2001 Seattle, WA Earthquake 1990 Upland, CA Earthquake 1960 Agadir, Morocco Earthquake

(Left) The 1931 overprint distinguishes valid stamps from those that were looted from the damaged post office after the earthquake, (Center) Image depicts the post office building before and after it was damaged by the earthquake, (Right) American performer, Will Rogers, raised money to aid relief efforts.

C. Stamp commemorates the efforts of ham or amateur radio operators to keep communication lines open after natural disasters have taken out the usual means of communication such as phones, television, and even radio.

D. E.

F. This is a half stamp, used to increase supply of stamps after disasters.

The historic frigate Constitution was in Long Beach at the time of the earthquake, and later had to be dry docked to repair damage to a mast.

March Stamps A. Stamp series printed to raise relief funds for the March 31, 1931 Managua, Nicaragua earthquake. B. Postmark commemorates 25th anniversary of the establishment of a seismological station in Anchorage Alaska and a stamp recognizing role of ham radio. C. First day cover – March 10, 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. D. Relief stamp issued for the March 1956 Lebanon earthquake. E. Stamp honoring UNDRO (United Nations CUREE Disaster Relief Organization) shows an artistic rendering of a seismogram. F. Bisected stamps sold to increase 2008 the supply of smaller denominations after the 1931 Managua, Nicaragua earthquake.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING March MARCH: Mars, the Roman god of war 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1

Founding of CUREE, 1988 1987 Edgecombe, New Zealand Earthquake 23 4 5678

1985 Chile Earthquake 1977 Romanian Earthquake 1987 Ecuador Earthquake 1927 Tango, Japan Earthquake

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Daylight Savings Begins 1933 Long Beach, CA Earthquake 1737 Calcutta, India Earthquake 1992 Erzincan, Turkey Earthquake 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Good Friday (Western Christianity) 1957 San Francisco, CA 1956 Lebanon Earthquake St. Patrick's Day Muhammad's Birthday Vernal Equinox Earthquake 23 24 25 26 2728 29 Easter

1872 Owens Valley, CA Earthquake 1931 Managua, 1812 Caracas, Venezuela 30 Nicaragua Earthquake 31 Earthquake 1964 Alaska Earthquake Sunday: Sunnenday Monday: Monan daeg Tuesday: Tiwes daeg Wednesday: Woensdag Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo Saturday: Saeterdaeg (Middle English transla- (Anglo Saxon, monan, (Anglo Saxon Tiw, war (Danish, Woen, Woden, chief English; Thorr, Icelandic, Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief (Anglo Saxon; Saeter, tion of Greek Hemera moon; daeg, day): the god, related to Greek god Norse god, Frigga's husband; thundergod; daeg, Anglo Norse goddess,Woden's wife; Saturn, Roman god of time; heliou): the sun's day moon's day Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day dag, day): Woden's day Saxon, day): Thor's day daeg, day); Frigga's day daeg, day); Saturn's day CUREE CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING CUREE A. B.

April Stamps A. Stamp depicting the eruption and earthquakes of the Hekla Volcano in Iceland, which lasted from March 29 1947 to April of 1948. B and C. Label and stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the April 18,1906 San Francisco Earthquake. D. Postcard with a San Francisco Earthquake relief label sponsored by the business merchants of Chicago, IL. E. Stamp from China promoting civil defense by CUREE demonstrating the “duck and cover” exercise. F. Letter mailed from San Francisco after the April 18, 1906 2008 earthquake when the post office allowed mail to be sent without postage.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING APRIL: Roman month Aprilis, perhaps derived from aperire, (L., to open, as in opening buds and blossoms) or April perhaps from Aphrodite, original Greek name of Venus 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2345

1946 Aleutian, AK Earthquake 1868 Island of Hawaii Earthquake

6 7 8 9101112

1972 Ghir Karzin, Iran Earthquake

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

1906 San Francisco, California 1949 Olympia, WA Earthquake Earthquake 1899 Vacaville, CA Earthquake 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

1918 Riverside County, CA 1992 Cape Mendocino, CA Passover Begins Earthquake 1992 Joshua Tree, CA Earthquake Earthquake 27 28 29 30

1965 Seattle, WA Earthquake

E. C.

May Stamps A. Labels commemorating the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) and the associated World Conference. B. IDNDR stamps issued by the United Nations (UN). C. Label to raise earthquake relief funds for India, coincided with the British monarchy’s Silver Jubilee. D. Mail in India was shot across a river in a rocket to raise money for the May 31, 1935 Quetta Earthquake relief fund. CUREE E. Stamp honoring the 400th anniversary of Guadalajara depicting the towers of the Cathedral of 2008 Guadalajara that were rebuilt after the earthquake of May 31, 1817.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING May MAY: Maia, Roman goddess, mother of Mercury by Jupiter and daughter of Atlas 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3

1983 Coalinga, CA Earthquake

45 6 7108 9

Cinco de Mayo 1976 Friuli, Italy Earthquake

11 12 13 1415 16 17

Mother's Day Buddha's Birthday 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

1875 Cucuta, Columbia EQ 526 Antioch, Syria Earthquake 1960 Chilean Earthquake 1960 Chile Earthquake

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1983 Sea of Japan, Japan Earthquake 1293 Kamakura, Japan Memorial Day Earthquake 1990 Peru Earthquake 1970 Ancash, Peru Earthquake

C. E. D.

Stamp honors the 100th anniversary of the Italian Institute for Water Sonar shown in use by the marine military, 1873 – 1973.

June Stamps A. Stamps issued to commemorate 300th anniversary of the June 7, 1692, Port Royal, Jamaica Earthquake. B. Miniature souvenir sheet showing 1692 Port Royal Earthquake damage. C. Cancellation mark and engraving refers to the 5th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering held in Rome, Italy, June 1973. D. Semipostal issued to raise funds for disaster relief in Indonesia. E. Cancellation mark refers to the 11th World Conference CUREE on Earthquake Engineering held in June 1996, Acapulco, Mexico. The stamp depicts the logo for the Mexico 2008 National Civil Protection System.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING June JUNE: Juno, chief Roman goddess 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1954 Fallon-Stillwater, NV 1692 Kingston Port Royal, Earthquake Jamaica Earthquake

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1836 Northern California Earthquake 1978 Miyagi-Ken-Oki, Japan Earthquake 1773 Antigua, Guatemala Earthquake 1897 Assam, India Earthquake

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

1896 Sanriku, Japan Earthquake 1964 Niigata, Japan Earthquake Father's Day 1819 Calcutta, India Earthquake 1990 Caspian, Iran Earthquake Summer Solstice

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

1992 Landers, CA Earthquake 1992 Big Bear, CA Earthquake 2001 Arequipa, Peru 1991 Sierra Madre, CA Earthquake 1946 Vancouver Island, Canada 1948 Fukui, Japan Earthquake 29 30

1925 Santa Barbara, CA Earthquake

COMMEMORATING THE EFFORTS OF SEARCH AND RESCUE AROUND THE WORLD

B. C.

July Stamps A. A selection of stamps commemorating Search and Rescue efforts. B. Cachet recognizing 25th anniversary of the 1909 Mexico City Earthquake. C. Stamps depict reconstruction efforts after the July 26, 1963 Skopje, Yugoslavia Earthquake. The United Nations flag is depicted on stamp on left in gratitude for its support. Image on postcard shows earthquake damage and acknowledges the establishment of a CUREE seismological station. 2008

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING JULY: Renamed for Julius Caesar in 44 BC, who was born this month; Quintilis, L. for fifth month, was the former name (the July Roman year began in March rather than January) 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 345

Independence Day 1201 Upper Egypt Earthquake

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1986 Palm Springs, CA 1993 Hokkaido-Nansei-Oki Earthquake 1958 Lituya Bay, AK Earthquake Earthquake, Japan

1314 15 16 1718 19

1990 Luzon, Philippines Earthquake

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

1952 Kern County (Tehachapi), CA Earthquake 365 BC Knossos, Crete Earthquake 1963 Skopje, Yugoslavia EQ 27 28 29 30 31

1976 Tangshan, China Earthquake 1957 Mexico City, Mexico 1967 Caracas,Venezuela Earthquake Earthquake

The volcanic eruptions of the volcanoes on Krakatora that occurred on August 26-27 1883 were preceded by increased seismicity.

D. E.

STAMPS COMMEMORATING THE GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Few buildings were left standing on Zakynthos after the 1953 quake. The first relief efforts came from Israel. The swift response was in gratitude to the island’s mayor and to Bishop (Left to right) Canadian Geological Stamp showing ground faulting; China Chrysostomos for refusing to provide to the Nazi's occupying Geological Society – 60th anniversary stamp; and India stamp depicting the the island in World War II a list of Zakynthos Jews. Earth’s crust with surface fault and seismograph.

August Stamps A. Labels raising disaster relief funds for victims of the 1976 Guatemala Earthquake. B. Increased seismic activity was the first indication that the volcanoes on the island of Krakatoa in Indonesia were preparing to erupt. C. U.S.S. Charleston postmark commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Aug. 31, 1886, Charleston, South Carolina Earthquake. D. Stamps commemorating the geological sciences. E. Stamps CUREE commemorating Aug. 12, 1953, Zakynthos (Zante), Greece Earthquake. 2008

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING August AUGUST: Formerly Sextilis (sixth month in the Roman calendar); re-named in 8 BC for Augustus Caesar 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 12

3 4 5 6897

1949 Ambato, Ecuador EQ 1993 Guam Earthquake

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1978 Santa Barbara, CA 1906 Valparaiso, Chile 1953 Zante, Greece Earthquake Earthquake 1950 Assam, India Earthquake Earthquake 17 18 19 20 2122 23

1999 Izmit, Turkey Earthquake 1976 Mindanao, Philippines Earthquake 1952 Kern County (Bakersfield), 1959 Hebgen Lake, MT Earthquake CA Earthquake

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1886 Charleston, SC Earthquake

31 Sunday: Sunnenday Monday: Monan daeg Tuesday: Tiwes daeg Wednesday: Woensdag Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo Saturday: Saeterdaeg (Middle English transla- (Anglo Saxon, monan, (Anglo Saxon Tiw, war (Danish, Woen, Woden, chief English; Thorr, Icelandic, Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief (Anglo Saxon; Saeter, tion of Greek Hemera moon; daeg, day): the god, related to Greek god Norse god, Frigga's husband; thundergod; daeg, Anglo Norse goddess,Woden's wife; Saturn, Roman god of time; heliou): the sun's day moon's day Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day dag, day): Woden's day Saxon, day): Thor's day daeg, day); Frigga's day daeg, day); Saturn's day CUREE CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING CUREE B.

F. A. Restored buildings, five years after Tulbagh earthquake.

D. E. G.

This lake was formed by a landslide generated by the 1923 Kanto Earthquake.

The Great Kanto Earthquake damaged the postal service’s perforating and gumming machines, resulting in history's first imperforate and ungummed stamp issued because of earthquake damage.

September Stamps A. First day cover and stamps commemorating the September 29, 1969 Tulbaugh, South Africa Earthquake. B. Cover commemorating the relief aid provided the day after the Sept. 1, 1923, Kanto, Japan earthquake by the U.S. Navy. C. Stamp commemorating a Day of Gratitude, Sept. 17, to honor the United States for their aid in the August 1949 Ecuador earthquake. D. Stamp commemorating the Sept. 9, 1954, Orleansville, Algeria CUREE Earthquake. E and F. Stamps printed after the Sept. 1, 1923 Kanto, Japan earthquake. G. Stamps commemorating 2008 the Seventh World Conference on Earthquake Engineering held Sept. 8-13, 1980, Istanbul, Turkey.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING September September, (septem, L. for 7) the seventh month in the Julian or Roman calendar, established in the reign of Julius Caesar 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 456

1962 Kazvin, Iran Earthquake Labor Day Ramadan Begins

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

1986 Kalamata, Greece 1999 Athens, Greece Earthquake 1954 Orleansville, Algeria EQ 1899 Yakutat Bay, AK Earthquake Earthquake

14 15 16 17 1819 20

1985 Mexico City, Mexico Earthquake

21 22 23 2425 26 27

1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan Earthquake

Autumnal Equinox 2003 Hokkaido, Japan Earthquake 1997 Assisi, Italy Earthquake

28 29 30

1993 Maharashtra, India Earthquake

1999 Tulbagh, South Africa EQ Rosh Hashanah

C. B.

October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, occurred during Game #3 of the World Series held in San Francisco, California

The hands in this engraving depict the Peru ancient Symbol of Friendship

October Stamps A. Cover and stamps issued by German Red Cross to raise funds for Turkey earthquake disaster relief. B. Stamp issued by German Red Cross to raise funds for Yugoslavia earthquake disaster relief. C. Postmark commemorating the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. D. Overprint earthquake relief stamp to help victims of the October 8, 1974 Antigua Earthquake E. Turkey issued stamps and a cancellation mark CUREE depicting reconstruction after earthquakes. F. The use of hands clasped in friendship or extended in the offer 2008 of aid are frequent images used in postal art world-wide to express support for disaster relief aid.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING OCTOBER: eighth month (octo, L. for 8) in the Julian (Roman) calendar. The Gregorian calendar instituted by Pope Gregory October XIII established January as the first month of the year 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 142 3

1987 Whittier, CA Earthquake 1969 Santa Rosa, CA Earthquake Ramadan Ends

56 7 891011

1986 San Salvador, El Salvador 1918 Mona Passage, Puerto Rico Earthquake Earthquake 1974 Antigua Earthquake Yom Kippur 1980 El Asnam, Algeria Earthquake 1737 Calcutta, India Earthquake

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Columbus Day 1979 Imperial County, CA 1992 Cairo, Egypt Earthquake (observed) Earthquake 1989 Loma Prieta, CA Earthquake 1935 Helena, MT Earthquake

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

1868 Hayward, CA Earthquake

26 27 28 29 30 31

1983 Borah Peak, ID Earthquake 1891 Mino-Owari, Japan Earthquake Diwali (Festival of Lights) Halloween

The earliest known device used to detect earthquakes was created around A.D.132 by Zhang Heng, a chinese astronomer, mathematician, and seismologist.

E. C. D.

The apparatus consisted of a richly decorated copper vase with eight dragon heads positioned around its upper circumference, facing outwards. Fixed around the lower circumference, directly beneath the dragon heads, were eight copper frogs. In its mouth, Marquês de Pombal, Prime Minister each dragon held a small ball that dropped into the mouth of the at the time of the November 1, 1755 frog below it when a rod inside, flexible and weighted at its earthquake in Lisbon who oversaw upper end, was triggered by an earthquake. the reconstruction of the city.

November Stamps A. Stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Hong Kong Observatory show both ancient and modern seismographs. B. Stamps with overprint issued by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta commemorate the Nov. 23, 1980, Campania-Basilicata Earthquake. C. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge - believed to be the source of sea-floor spreading, earthquakes, and continental drift in the Atlantic Ocean. D. Stamp commemorating CUREE Alfred Wegener who first proposed the theory of continental drift. E. Stamp issued to raise funds to build a 2008 statue of Marquês de Pombal, Prime Minister at the time of the November 1, 1755 earthquake in Lisbon.

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING NOVEMBER: 9th Roman month (L. novem, 9). Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, skipping 10 days November that October, correcting for too many leap years 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1

1755 Lisbon, Portugal Earthquake 23 45 67 8

Daylight Savings Ends

91011 12 1314 15

1999 Duzce, Turkey Earthquake 1994 Manila, Philippines 1946 Quiches, Peru Earthquake Veterans' Day 1996 Nazca, Peru Earthquake 1980 Eureka, CA Earthquake Earthquake

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

1755 Cape Ann, MA Earthquake 23 24 25 26 2728 29 1977 San Juan, Argentina EQ

1987 Imperial County, CA Earthquake 1800 San Diego, CA Earthquake 30 1976 Eastern Turkey Earthquake 1930 Idu, Japan Earthquake Thanksgiving Sunday: Sunnenday Monday: Monan daeg Tuesday: Tiwes daeg Wednesday: Woensdag Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo Saturday: Saeterdaeg (Middle English transla- (Anglo Saxon, monan, (Anglo Saxon Tiw, war (Danish, Woen, Woden, chief English; Thorr, Icelandic, Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief (Anglo Saxon; Saeter, tion of Greek Hemera moon; daeg, day): the god, related to Greek god Norse god, Frigga's husband; thundergod; daeg, Anglo Norse goddess,Woden's wife; Saturn, Roman god of time; heliou): the sun's day moon's day Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day dag, day): Woden's day Saxon, day): Thor's day daeg, day); Frigga's day daeg, day); Saturn's day CUREE CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING CUREE A. B.

Terrestrial spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between energy waves and the surrounding earth surface through which the waves pass.

C. Roberto Clemente was a hall of fame right-fielder D. for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. He spent much of his time involved in charity work. When the city of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, was reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake on December 23, 1972, Clemente immediately arranged emergency relief flights. While deliver- ing a relief shipment he was killed when the airplane he was in crashed into the ocean off the coast of Puerto Rico on December 31, 1972. Clemente's body was never recovered.

December Stamps A. Memorial postcard of the Dec. 28, 1908, Reggio-Messina Earthquake. B. Stamp commemorating terrestrial spectroscopy – Israel issue C. Stamp honoring baseball star, Roberto Clemente, who provided relief aid to the victims of the December 23, 1972 Managua, Nicaragua Earthquake. D. Many European countries issued labels to raise disaster relief funds for victims of the 1908 Reggio-Messina Earthquake; CUREE the example shown was issued by Germany. E. In Memoriam of Italy’s Dead – a lithograph, and a German 2008 label, that commemorate the Reggio-Messina Earthquake’s dead and the “homeless in Southern Italy.”

CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING December DECEMBER: Julian (Roman) year's 10th month (L. decem, 10). 2008 SUNDAYMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3456

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

1812 San Juan Capistrano, CA 1988 Spitak, Armenia Earthquake Earthquake

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

1954 Dixie Valley-Fairview, NV Earthquake 1920 Gansu, China Earthquake 1811 New Madrid, MO Earthquake (#1 of 3 largest 1811-1812)

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

1972 Managua, Nicaragua Earthquake 2003 Bam, Iran Earthquake 1954 Eureka, CA Earthquake 1939 Erzincan, Turkey Earthquake 1854 Shikoku, Japan Winter Solstice First Day of Hanukkah Earthquake Christmas Eve Christmas Day 1932 Gansu, China Earthquake 1939 Erzincan, Turkey Earthquake 28 29 30 31

1703 Kanto, Japan Earthquake

1908 Reggio-Messina, Italy EQ 1730 Hokkaido, Japan Earthquake New Year's Eve

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26 28 27 24 25 Earthquake stamps from the collection of David J. Leeds 29 CUREE Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering www.curee.org