Stamps Faroe Islands

No. 20 April 2014

ISSN 1603030-0030366

- The Prince Consort 80 Years - First World War Centenary - The Casement Report & Dollin - 70th Anniversary since D-day - The Christmas Gospel II - Franking Labels 2014 RSHA TÓ VN

4 Ú 1 T 0 G . 2 Á 6 VU 1. DAGIN 1

FO 791 Test proof

The Prince Consort 80 Years

In connection with Prince Henrik of Den- Education mark's 80th birthday on 11 June, Post Den- Prince Henrik was educated at home until mark, Post Greenland and Posta Faroe 1947, when he came to a Jesuit boarding Islands publish a joint stamp issue. school in Bordeaux. From 1948 to 1950 he followed the teaching of Cahors high school. His Royal Highness, the Prince Consort, In 1950 however, Prince Henrik returned to Henrik, Prince of Denmark, is the husband of Vietnam and graduated from Hanoi's French Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. High School in 1952.

Prince Henrik was born on 11 June 1934 in From 1952 to 1957 Prince Henrik studied law Talence, Gironde in France. His birth name is and political science at the Sorbonne Univer- Henri Marie Jean André, Count de Laborde de sity in Paris. Concurrently, he studied Chi- Monpezat. His parents were the Count André nese and Vietnamese languages at the École de Laborde de Monpezat and his wife Renée Nationale des Languages Orientales. After de Monpezat (born Doursennot). taking a master's degree in French literature and oriental languages, a few years of study The first 5 years of his life the Prince Con- followed in Hong Kong and Saigon. sort spent in French Indochina, now Viet- nam, where his father was responsible for From 1959 to 1962 Prince Consort served the family's interests in commercial compa- his military service in the French infantry in nies, founded by Prince Henrik's grandfather. Algeria. In 1939 the family returned to France, and spent the next 11 years on the family estate Diplomatic career le Cayrou in Cahors. In 1962, Prince Henrik started to work in the Asia Department of the French Foreign

2 The Prince Consort and Queen Margrethe II visiting the Faroe Islands in 2010 Photo: Scanpix

Ministry. From 1963 to 1967 he served as As the spouse of the present sovereign, the embassy secretary at the French Embassy in Prince Consort been a qualified support and London. has performed the official duties together with Queen Margrethe as well as by his Prince of Denmark own. There is no doubt that Prince Hen- In 1964, while he was working as secretary rik's background in diplomacy and extensive at the embassy in London, Prince Henrik knowledge of international affairs has been met the Danish Crown Princess Margrethe, a valuable asset to the Danish royal family. who at the time was studying in England The modern Danish monarchy is very inter- and in France. The couple was engaged in nationally oriented and there is no doubt that 1966 - and on 10 June 1967, Henri de Mon- part of the credit goes His Royal Highness pezat and Crown Princess Margrethe mar- the Prince Consort. ried in Holmen's Church in Copenhagen. On this occasion he received the title: His Royal The Literary Prince Highness, Prince Henrik of Denmark. Prince Henrik's interest in literature, langua- ges and cuisine has manifested in numerous The couple has two sons, Crown Prince Fre- publications, both by his own works as well derik (b. May 26, 1968) and Prince Joachim as translations from French literature. In 1981 (born June 7, 1969). he translated Simone de Beauviors novel "All men are mortal" together with Queen Mar- In 1972, King Frederik IX died and the Crown grethe, which was published under the pseu- Princess was hailed as Queen Margrethe II donym H. M. Vejerbjerg. of Denmark.

3 This elegant Souvenir Folder will be issued together with the stamps. The joint folder contains one stamp of each country, Faroe Islands, Denmark and Greenland. Can be ordered by using the order form in the middle of this magazine. Price: 51.00 DKK

He has also published several poetry col- and status of the royal family and appreciate lections, among others: "Chemin faisant" his jovial nature at the royal visits. (1982), "Cantabile" (2000), "Les escargots de Marie Lance Line" (2003) and "Murmu- Congratulations on the 80 years from us out res de vent" (Whispering Breeze) (2005). His here in the North Atlantic! "Roue-Libre" from 2010 was translated into Danish by Queen Margrethe and Peter Poul- Anker Eli Petersen sen entitled “Frihjul” (Freewheel).

The commemorative work "Destin oblige" (Fate obliges) appeared in 1996 and in the book "Chateau de Caix – The Place, the Wine and Food" from 2004, Prince Henrik describes his French chateau, its history and environment. The interest in gastronomy is further emphasized by two cookbooks: "Not always goose liver" from 1999 with Jakob Johannsen and "To the Palates's Delight - New Recipes for a Royal Kitchen" from 2005.

Heindrikur prinsur Also from the Faroe Islands, we will pay tribute to "Heindrikur prinsur", which we call the Prince Consort. Like Greenland and Denmark, our sister countries in the com- monwealth, we have benefited from his role

Self adhesive booklet 4 Endurgeving av FR Endurgeving av FR 097 16 9 . . 20 20 14 14 8,00 8,00 Endurgeving av FR 277 Endurgeving av FR 17 3 . . 20 20 14 8,00 14 8,00

Test proof Franking Labels 2014: Faroese stamps for 40 years

In January 2015, 40 years have passed since the year 1300 in Gothic style. It is one of the most first Faroese stamps were issued. Until then, important relic of the pas in the Faroe Islands. Danish stamps were used in the Faroe Islands. Ole Wich prepared the stamp issue. In this connection we have decided to re-issue some of the classic Faroese stamps – this time FR 173 from the stamp issue "Tórshavn Church" as franking labels. on 6 February 1989. The stamp was issued in connection with the 200 Years Jubilee of the The four chosen stamps have one thing in church. This means that today the church is 225 common: They have all been engraved by the Years. Ole Wich prepared the stamp issue. famous engraver Cz. Slania. The stamps were issued in the period 1984-1995. FR 277 from the stamp issue "Folkways on Photographs” on 12 September 1995. The The stamps reproduced as franking labels are: stamp illustrates dairymaids and is reproduced FR 097 from the stamp issue "Smacks" on 10 from a photograph from the turn of the century. September 1984. The smack illustrated on the stamp is "Westward Ho" TN 54, which was built New Issue: Franking labels 2014: in Grimsby in 1884 and bought to the Faroe Faroese stamps for 40 Yrs Islands in 1895. The smack has been repaired Date of issue: 01.10.2014 and is well preserved, so that it now can be Value: 4 x 8,00 DKK rented for different arrangements. Design: Reproduction of old stamps Size: 22,5 x 55,0 mm FR 169 from the stamp issue "The Cathedral Printing method: Flexotryk Ruins in Kirkjubøur" on 17 October 1988. The Printer: Ganket, Denmark Cathedral Ruins in Kirkjubøur were built around

5 FO 792-795 Test proof

First World War Centenary

The Great War The Austro-Hungarian government was well In early August 1914, disturbing news aware that this could escalate into a major reached the Faroe Islands that a great war war. Russia had guaranteed Serbia's security had started on the European mainland. There and the Austro-Hungarians had therefore had been some worrying indications through secured the support of Germany. The day the so-called July Crisis that emerged in the after the declaration of war Russia started wake of the Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Prin- to mobilize its army, which led to a German ciple's assassination of the Austro-Hungarian declaration of war against Russia on August Crown Prince, Franz Ferdinand, on 28 June 1st. 1914. Concerned about the development, France Since the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) Aus- also started to mobilize its army, and this tria-Hungary had been concerned about the caused Germany to declare war on France on development of the former Ottoman posses- 3 August. The same day Germany invaded sions in the Balkans, where Serbia emerged Belgium as a mean to attack France, and this as an increasingly strong power. The Aus- promptly triggered a British declaration of tro-Hungarian Empire had been waiting war against Germany. for an opportunity to supress Serbia, and the assassination of their heir, provided the The situation spiralled out of control, and opportunity they had been waiting for. Ulti- soon a major war in Europe had become real- matums were put on Serbia, which the coun- ity. And out here, in the North Atlantic, the try could not meet, and the consequence Faroese cold just observe, with increasing was that Austria-Hungary on 27 July 1914 astonishment, the extreme escalation and declared war on the young nation. fateful developments which in the years to come, should bring so much misery.

6 Consequences the coastal spring-fishery was in 1915 ham- It did not take long before the Faroes suf- pered by bad weather. Deficiency Diseases fered the consequences of the Great War. occurred because of too little or too mono- Sea transport to and from mainland Europe, tonous food and even harvested lives among especially Denmark, stopped more or less. the most disadvantaged, children and the The belligerents set up blockades, patrolled elderly. the seas and went after ships that might carry supplies to hostile territory. The oil supplies were soon exhausted and it was not possible to bring more to the coun- This led to a shortage of the most basic try. People started to experiment with fish necessities. Soon you could only buy bread oil, which turned out to be useful for lamps and sugar on ration-cards - and things like tea and even as fuel for boat engines. and coffee became difficult and expensive to obtain. But times of need is the mother of The Day of Fate ingenuity - and people came up with differ- On 1 February 1917 the German Navy declared ent ways to tough scarce supplies. There are, the waters around the UK as a War Zone. for example, stories of women who cooked Any ship caught in the zone risked, regard- roe and mixed it up in the rye flour, to make less of nationality, to be the subject of attack it last longer. from German submarines. Unfortunately for the Faroe Islands, the War Zone reached all The early years of war caused such serious the way to the southern islands and thereby deficiencies, especially among the poorest covered one of the largest Faroese fishing segment of the population that we can talk grounds, known as the Faroe Bank. about real crisis conditions. During the rough winter months it was hard to catch fish, and The War Zone was mainly directed against

7 The map shows the War Zone in the waters around the UK declared by the German Navy on 1st February 1917.

British interests, cargo shipping and trans- under the name “Beinir”) and were taken on port convoys to England. The Faroese hoped board. When Orion/Beinir's skipper heard that it did not include fishing vessels and took what had happened, he gave orders to cut the calculated risk of fishing in the zone. all fishing lines and set sail. But they had not sailed for long before the submarine caught But in the morning of 23 May 1917, war up with them, and Orion/Beinir suffered the struck the Faroese fishermen. Skipper Axel same fate as “Else”. The two crews then Sivertsen on cutter "Else" later told the news- rowed together towards the shore. On the paper "Norðlýsi" that in the early morning of way they saw two other cutters and a trawler, the 23rd, the ship was hailed by a German but also the infamous submarine, which was submarine, which fired their machine gun in now heading for the trawler. They rowed all front of and behind the ship. The crew imme- night and morning and did not reach land diately loaded supplies into the lifeboat and before six o'clock the following afternoon. left Else. They rowed towards the submarine and six of them were ordered to enter the It turned out that 8 Faroese fishing vessels submarine's deck. Two German submariners were sunk within 24 hours on 23rd and 24th then went into the boat and made the rest of May. Miraculously no Faroese fishermen of the crew row back to Else. They brought lost their lives through in the tragedy. fuel on board Else, and shortly thereafter the crew could see their ship burning on the All the ships were sunk by the same subma- high seas. The German submariners were rine, UC 33, under the command of Captain uncomfortable about the situation, but there Lieutenant Martin Schelle. During its active was nothing to do about it. They acted under period, UC 33 sank 36 ships, but was itself orders, they said. caught up by destiny on 26 September Else's crew began to row against the Faroe 1917, when a British Islands. Four hours later they met cutter patrol boat sank it "Orion" (which at that time was registered in the St. George's UC 33 8 Christian Petersen's draft card.

Channel of Ireland. Only one of the 27 crew Then the young Faroese travelled from battle members survived. to battle. 16th Battalion participated in the battles of Hill 70, Ypres and Passchendaele. The Soldier They participated in the campaigns around While most Faroese experienced World War Amiens, the Second Battle of Arras, Scarpe I from a distance, others were not so lucky. and Drocourt-Queant Line in 1918. From One of these was the 26 year-old Christian there to the battles on the Hindenburg Line Ludwig Petersen from the village Kvívík, who and Canal du Nord, right to the last advance had emigrated to Canada before the war. toward Mons.

In March 1916, Christian Petersen (Pjetur- Like most other army-units in the Great War, son) was drafted by the newly created 108th the 16th battalion suffered from heavy casu- battalion (Selkirk, Manitoba) in the Canadian alties - and the survivors suffered from the Expeditionary Force (CEF), which fought on psychological stress and trauma, inflicted European battlefields. Already on 18 Sep- by the horrible war memories. Christian tember the same year, the battalion was Petersen was no exception. Shortly after dis- sent to England, where it was absorbed by charge, he moved back to the Faroe Islands 14th reserve battalion, which provided rein- and settled as a farmer in the village Kaldbak forcements to the fighting battalions on the on Streymoy. According to his people who mainland. knew him, he never talked about the war and his role in it - the memories were simply too Christian Petersen was then sent to the 16th terrible. Battalion (Canadian-Scottish) in the area of Arras in France, around the time of, or imme- Anker Eli Petersen diately after the violent battles of Vimy Ridge in 1917. 9 FO 796 Test proof

The Casement Report 1904 - Daniel J. Danielsen (Dollin)

Faces on fading photographs. Memories Dollin and fragments of stories about people a few Daniel Jacob Danielsen, popularly referred to generations back. Fading traces of lifetimes as "Dollin", is best known for his work as a long passed, exposed to the relentless pas- preacher and missionary in the Faroe Islands sing of time. in the beginning of the 20th century. He was one of the pioneers in the Faroese "Plymouth But sometimes it happens that the right eye Brethren" congregation, which today is the hits the right traces. The thread is taken largest Faroese Free Church. up and stories, much larger than ordinary memories indicate, roll out before our eyes. He travelled around the islands and held revivalist meetings and was a controversial This was the case when local historian, for- figure of his time, known for his intensity mer trade unionist and politician, Óli Jacob- and fiery mind. At his death, the newspaper sen, by the newspaper Sosialurin, was asked Dimmalætting wrote: "In the early days he to write about people buried in Tórshavn's old performed very strongly, but in recent years cemetery. This resulted in a series of intere- he became more moderate. He made the sting articles called "Hendur ið sleptu" (Hands impression of a convinced Christian.” that lost the grip), where the individuals men- tioned on the tombstones are described. Danielsen’s work on the Faroe Islands gave him both friends and enemies, as might be The most remarkable story was inspired by a expected in times of change, and his quarrel- tombstone with the inscription: some character did not help the matter.

"D. J. Danielsen, Missionary. B. 25 June 1871. But it was not on the Faroes that Danielsen D. 16 October 1916. Worked in Congo from made his most significant fingerprints. As 1901 to 1903. A Fearless Christian Soldier." indicated on the tombstone, people knew

10 The mission paddle steamer "Pioneer" that he had worked as a missionary in Congo, local tribesmen whose profits of the exports without granting it any particular attention. bordered the non-existent. But when Óli Jacobsen started to trace his footsteps, a quite sensational story emerged, Missionaries which uncovered D. J. Danielson's crucial role The faithful companion of colonizations at in events that changed the course of history. the time was Christian missionary activity, and the Free State of the Congo was no The Congo Free State exception from the rule. An extensive mis- As a result of European explorers mapping sion in more than 100 locations, of which a of Central Africa, an extensive colonization large part was from Protestant missionary began of the huge territories. From 1885 to societies, soon emerged in the colony - and it 1908, the Belgian king Leopold II had per- was in one of these, the English Balolo Mis- sonal sovereignty over the Congo Free State sion Station in Bonginda, that D. J. Danielsen - on the north bordering the former Por- arrived in 1901 to work as a missionary and tuguese enclave Kabinda and French Congo, skipper/engineer on the small mission paddle along the river Tsjiloango – to the east bor- steamer "Pioneer" (the upper riverboat on the dering British and German East Africa and stamp). to the south bordering British Central Africa and Portuguese West Africa. This enormous D. J. Danielsen, who in his youth had no area, about 2,252,800 km2, was an exclu- particular religious beliefs, was a rambunc- sive trading colony placed directly under King tious young man. 18 years old, he went to Leopold's personal control. The colony's Scotland, where he was trained as a marine exports included ivory, palm oil and coffee, engineer. For some years, he sailed with as well as an extensive rubber production. English steamships and reportedly also had The work was performed by forced labour, problems with alcohol. At the age of 27, he

11 was however conversed at a Christian meet- violence against the indigenous population, ing in Glasgow, turned his back to the old life conducted by the soldiers of the Admini- and, as already mentioned, went to Congo by stration. Based on the report, the British his Christian conviction. government demanded a review of the Berlin Agreement of 1885, where King Leopold had Atrocities Against the People been granted the mandate of the colony. The As early as in the 1890's, stories of atrocities Belgian Parliament forced Leopold to estab- against the indigenous people of the Congo lish an independent commission of inquiry, Free State started to leak out. Missionaries, which largely confirmed Casements obser- journalists and a human rights organization, vations. the Aboriginal Protection Society, reported about large-scale violation of human rights, Danielsen's legacy but were completely ignored by King Leopold After the Casement expedition, D. J. Daniel- and his administration in Congo. sen went back to England, where he diligen- tly tried to convince his mission agency, the The Casement Report Congo Balolo Mission, to openly criticize the In 1903 the stories of atrocities against the situation in the Congo. indigenous population were so extensive, that the English Parliament decided to send As the missionary society hesitated, Daniel- the British consul in Boma, Congo, the Irish- sen started a series of meetings in Scotland, man Roger Casement, up the Congo River to showcasing slides of mutilated Congolese, investigate the allegations. which Danielsen himself had photographed. In this context, he was in close contact with I order to travel beyond the reach of the the journalist E. D. Morel, another activist in authorities, Roger Casement hired the old the Congo case. paddle steamer "Henry Reed" from the Ame- rican Baptist Mission (the lower boat on the These meetings attracted so much attention stamp). The Congo Balolo Mission made a that the Balolo mission immediately after skipper available for Casements travels - started its own series of meetings, which none other than Daniel J. Danielsen. Daniel- in March 1904, after the publication of the sen took Casement around the Congo River Casement Report, led to the formation of the and its tributaries and functioned as well Congo Reform Association, which then con- as skipper and engineer also as Casement's tinued the campaign. This started an outrage interpreter and assistant. Casement later in Britain, Europe and the United States over praised Danielsens skills in a letter to the the atrocities in the Congo Free State. Promi- British Foreign Office and stated that without nent figures such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Danielsen's participation the trip would not and Mark Twain were also involved in the have been as successful as it was. campaign.

The result of the expedition was the so-cal- This movement led "Casement Report," which in 1904 publis- is credited for the hed a devastating criticism of King Leopold's fact that Leopold 2 Congo Administration. It included horrible in 1908 had to give stories of murder, maiming, kidnapping and up the Congo Free

12 Robert Casement.

The journalist, E.D. Morel at his desk

State as his personal property. In connection with the stamp issue, Óli Jacobsen's research has revealed that it was Jacobsen will publish a book in English about Danielsen who made most of the original Daniel Jacob Danielsen, where his key role well-known photographs of mutilated Congo- in the Congo case is documented with docu- lese, which other people have been credited ments until recently unknown. for. These photographs were a crucial part of the success of the campaign. Anker Eli Petersen

It is quite clear that it was Danielsen's pres- sure that started the so-called Congo Reform Campaign, which led to these results. But Danielsen's role has been forgotten, and he has not yet been credited for his part of the story. NB! The book "Atro- city Photographs D. J. Danielsen never returned to Congo. In and the Congo 1904 he moved back to the Faroe Islands Reform Move- with his wife Lina, whom he had married the ment" can be orde- same year - and started his preacher activi- red from Posta ties on the islands. He continued his work Stamps. Please until his death in 1916 and was, as mentioned use the order form in the introduction, one of the pioneers in the in the middle of Faroese Plymouth Brethren movement. the magazine.

13 FO 797 Test proof

70 Years since D-day

On June 6th 70 years have passed since the Narrows, at the entrance to St John's in infamous D-day. The day when Operation Newfoundland. The 669 ft. long and 22,225 Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, ton heavy cruiser had less than 2 ft. clear- took place. In the early hours of the morn- ance between keel and the bottom. People ing of June 6th 1944, allied forces launched came from far and wide to see the giant a violent attack on the coast of the Bay of grey painted ship arrive, the largest that had Seine, between Cherbourg and Le Havre. ever entered St. John's harbour. The carrier The purpose of the attack was to establish a brought about 1,000 soldiers, who should beachhead in Normandy, in which they could build the first U.S. "Land & Lease" military transport soldiers and the huge quantities of base outside the United States, although US equipment to be used for the liberation of still had managed to stay out of the war in Western Europe. Europe.

The invasion of Normandy is the largest Edmund B Alexander stayed in St. John's until and most complex military operation ever. It June 20 and served as floating barracks for required meticulous planning and enormous the soldiers, while the land base was built. logistical resources, where all wheels, large and small, had to work in sync. The ship's captain was the Faroese Vilhelm R. Joensen, or, as most U.S. sources call him, Several Faroese were involved in the compli- William Joensen, from the Army Transport cated and dangerous game. For this stamp Service (ATS) . issue we have chosen to focus on the most enigmatic of them, Captain Vilhelm Rein- Assumed he was dead ert-Joensen (1891-1949) - and in order to do Hans Christoffer Vihelm Reinert-Joensen was so, we have to start in a completely different born March 17, 1891 in Godthaab, Greenland, place. where his father was a servant of the colo- nial administration. In 1902 the family moved Captain Joensen back to the Faroe Islands and settled in Tórs- On 28 January 1941 the enormous troop havn. carrier "Edmund B. Alexander" passed The

14 Already at the age of 14, Vilhelm Rein- An operation of such magnitude requires ert-Joensen went to sea. A few years later massive action in the transportation area, but he received navigational training in Den- the primitive harbour in Reykjavík turned out mark and started to sail with merchant ships to be a bit of a logistical nightmare for the around the world. The contact with the family Americans. The task to solve the transpor- on the Faroes became more and more spo- tation problems fell on Major, later Colonel radic and at the end of World War I it stopped Richard S. Whitcomb from the US Transpor- altogether. No more letters arrived - and the tation Corps. During the next couple of years family assumed that he had died out there in he assembled a team of logistics experts and some foreign country. got to grips with the difficulties. One of these was Captain Vilhelm R. Joensen. U.S. Citizen But William was very much alive. He sailed Rumours soon reached the Faroe Islands, on cargo ships all over the World. In 1928 he that a senior Faroese officer was stationed became U.S. citizen and shortly thereafter in Reykjavik. Several Faroese sailors had met he was employed by ATS (Army Transport the weathered captain, who turned out to be Service). He advanced in the ranks until he a jovial gentleman in his fifties - and people became captain - and in 1941 he stood as started to realize that this had to be Villy, master of the bridge on one of the largest Greenland-Johan's long lost son. troop-transports the world has seen. "Show me your ears" Iceland In the spring of 1943, an American destroyer In 1941 the United States took over the brought Captain Joensen to Tórshavn, where British occupation of Iceland. Great Britain he reunited with the family. But when he, needed the troops elsewhere and convinced for the first time in over 30 years, appeared the Americans to take over, even though before his mother Amalie, she did not recog- USA still was not engaged in the war. nize him. The stout old lady demanded that

15 Greenville Victory, one of the ships on which Vilhelm Reinert-Joensen was Captain.

the naval officer should take off his cap and Back to the Big Ships show her his ear. Vilhelm had damaged one At the end of the war, Vilhelm Reinert-Joensen of his ears in the childhood, and only when returned to his original task as master on the Amalie saw the scar, she was convinced that main troop carriers. From 1946-49, he was this really was her Vilhelm. Captain on ships like George W. Goethals, George Washington, General ML Hersey and Omaha Beach Greenville Victory, which carried U.S. troops In the fall of 1943, transports in Reykjavik home from Europe and German prisoners of were scaled down, and most of the officers war back to Germany. and men from the Transportation Corps went to England to start preparations for the Captain Joensen was a bit of a local celebrity invasion of Normandy. They took over the in the Brooklyn area, where the army naval transport unit "11th Port", which was planned base was located. He appeared frequently in to operate at the soon so infamous Omaha the newspaper's society pages as the rugged Beach. It is not quite clear what Captain and jolly sea Captain, whose only home was Joensen actually did in the months prior to on the sea. the invasion, but from the military archives, we can see that he frequently arrived and Unfortunately, Vilhelm R. Joensen did not departed from ETOUSA's Assault Training become an old man. In august 1949, he was headquarters. found dead in his hotel room in Brooklyn, only 58 years old. One of the days just after the invasion, a Far- oese freighter mate, Martin í Kvidni, met Vil- There will be more detailed description of helm on Omaha Beach. According to Martin, Captain Joensen's life and work in connection Capt. Joensen organized the army tugs at the with the stamp issue in September. bridgehead. Anker Eli Petersen

16 FØROYAR 8,00 KR FØROYAR 14,50 KR Einglarnir Edward Fuglø 2014 Hirðarnir Edward Fuglø 2014 FO 798-799 Test proof

Joy and peace in hardship and suffering

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for protect the sheep. This is how it had been behold, I bring you good news of great joy since Adam and Eve were charged with nur- that will be for all the people.” Luke 2,10 turing and protecting the Garden of Eden in other words the harmonious existence. And This unexpected message disturbed the so it would continue. shepherds in the middle of the night. Now, as before, they sat and watched their flocks, Was life just endless days, where some peo- by day and by night. The sheep lay safely ple were excessively rich, others were penni- as they usually did, and there was nothing less, where some died of hunger and others to suggest that anything unexpected would lived a carefree existence? happen. The work was the same as it always had been. They were just waiting for sunrise, No! The shepherds knew their role in the when they would yet again lead their flocks natural cycle – to cherish it, to co-exist to new pastures. with it, and to assume responsibility for ensuring that their families were fed. The lives of the shepherds and their animals followed the cycle of nature. They lived in Perhaps wise King Solomon was right when tune with nature, and deviating from this he said: “What has been is what will be, and cycle meant certain death. The work was what has been done is what will be done, and hard, and there were dangers everywhere; there is nothing new under the sun.” It was wild animals and bandits could attack and also he who said: “Vanity of vanities, says upset the day-to-day routines – the shep- the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” herds’ task was to cultivate the fields and Ecclesiastes, 1,1-9

17 The shepherds definitely did not expect any path we need to take, and which enlightens fundamental changes to the natural passage the mind on the absolute, eternal values in of life. the midst of relativity and the daily grind. The angels descended from the starlit skies, and That is why they were so afraid when they the herdsmen are therefore gazing upwards. suddenly heard an unexpected voice deliver Thus, the angels symbolise the cosmic a completely new and unknown message, communication between the Creator and which they found hard to believe. Could any humankind. A communication with prayer joyfulness be so great that it included every- and meditation on the cosmic internet, which one, without discrimination? A joyfulness people cannot do without if we are to live in which did not overlook anyone? A peace harmony with the Creator and the message: which everyone could enjoy? If it was true, it “It must be for all people.” could not be temporary joy or peace. Indeed, the shepherds possessed the nec- As on the previous stamps in this series, the essary consciousness of God which is artist Edward Fuglø has managed to del- demanded by the cycle of nature, and which icately and in great detail convey the com- made them capable of hearing the Creator’s munication between eternity and time. The message. Nature itself had always been a star from above is still regarded as a symbol reminder of the creative power in all things; of the transcendental reality, God’s light and the never-ending cycle of life had also awak- guidance in the midst of meaninglessness, ened a deep yearning for eternal values. injustice and futile daily drudgery. A light Life itself had strengthened the sense that from the Creator, which points us along the their day-to-day work – of tending their live-

18 stock, the pastures and their families – was share in the eternal joy and peace, to give part of a bigger picture. Now, the joy and the every single person a sense of meaning and peace extended beyond the shepherds, and hope in the midst of our daily lives, filled as the whole of humanity could be saved from they are with problems and humdrum activ- meaninglessness, injustice and suffering. ities.

It is for this reason that the shepherds are “And the shepherds returned, glorifying looking up with an open mind; it is why one and praising God for all they had heard of them has already risen; it is why they and seen, as it had been told them.” They have both taken hold of their crooks. They returned to their daily lives, but now with a are happy to pass on to others the happy new sense of joy, wonder, praise and love of message of joy and peace. They have seen life. God’s protection and love in the angels’ out- stretched wings and arms. They have heard The cycle of life was briefly interrupted, so the joy in the message between trumpets that the shepherds and the rest of mankind and songs of praise. They have felt God’s could learn to live life with a greater sense glory and magnificence in the angels’ radi- of meaning, substance and purpose. The ant clothing. They have truly understood the shepherds had been part of the joy and the meaning of the word “angel”, which is derived peace which could transform meaningless- from the Greek “angelos”, which means mes- ness to understanding, emptiness to sub- senger – now also between the Creator and stance, anxiety to courage, hopelessness man. Even though the shepherds think first to hope, discord to peace and sorrow to joy. and foremost of their ruminating flocks, this night they become aware of something Róland í Skorini else. They look up and hear the unexpected message: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And sud- denly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and say- ing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, among those with whom he is most pleased.” Luke 2,11-14

What did it mean, a child in a manger? What was the secret of the message? The physi- cian Luke tells us that the shepherds trav- elled to Bethlehem to find out what it was all about. Here, they saw for themselves that even the Creator himself had decided to live with the suffering and the weak, to take our destinies upon himself and to allow us to

19 New Stamp Issues 11 June and 24 September 2014

Test proof * also available New stamp issue: The Prince Consort, 80 Yrs' as a self adhesive Date of issue: 11.06.2014 booklet of four Value: 14,50 DKK Numbers: FO 791 Stamp size: 51 x 43 mm Photo: Torben Eskerod Design: Post Danmark Frimærker/Jakob Monefeldt Printing method: Offset Printer: Posten Frimärken, Sweden Postal use: Small letters to Europe, 0-50 g. Test proof New stamp issue: First World War Centenary Date of issue: 24.09.2014 Value: 4 x 8,00 DKK Numbers: FO 792-795 Sheet size: 70 x 100 mm Stamp size: 42,00 x 23,52 mm Design: Anker Eli Petersen Printing method: Offset Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France Postal use: Small inland letters, 0-50 g

Test proof New stamp issue: The Casement Report & Dollin Date of issue: 24.09.2014 Value: 25,00 DKK Numbers: FO 796 Stamp size: 42,00 x 23,52 mm Design: Anker Eli Petersen Printing method: Offset Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France Postal use: Inland large letters, 101-250 g

Test proof New stamp issue: The 70th anniversary of D-Day Date of issue: 24.09.2014 Value: 26,00 DKK Numbers: FO 797 Stamp size: 42,00 x 23,52 mm Design: Anker Eli Petersen Printing method: Offset Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France Postal use: Medium B-letters to other countries, 51-100 g

Test proof New stamp issue: The Christmas Gospel 2' * also Date of issue: 24.09.2014 available as Value: 8,00 and 14,50 DKK stamps in booklet of Numbers: FO 798-799 eight Stamp size: 25,5 x 42,0 mm Design: Edward Fuglø Printing method: Offset Printer: LM-Group, Canada Postal use: Small letters inland and to Europe, 0-50 g

FØROYAR 8,00 KR FØROYAR 14,50 KR Einglarnir Edward Fuglø 2014 Hirðarnir Edward Fuglø 2014 Frontpage: Tórshavn - Photographer: Kasper Solberg Solberg Photographer: Kasper - Tórshavn Frontpage: Denmark TrykTeam, Printer: Layout: - Posta Stamps

Posta Stamps Óðinshædd 2 FO-100 Tórshavn Faroe Islands

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