Radio Stations In Stamps

In the days when international broadcasters played a prominent role in promoting  a nation's brand image, commemorative postage stamps of government broadcasters were often at the forefront. In the spirit of that era I  have collected individual stamps, first day cover issues and maxim cards that featured government stations, private broadcasters and/or amateur radio.

AUSTRALIA POST in 1982 issued a first day cover stamp marking the 50th anniversary of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Many of these ABC commemorative FDCs were signed by staff personnel of the ABC radio stations in each State. This particular FDC is sans signature(s).

AUSTRALIA POST in 1985 issued a first day cover of a printed stamp and cachet on stamped envelope marking the 75th anniversary of Amateur Radio, The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA), 1910. Interestingly, it is a print, not a traditional stamp per se. An Australian amateur radio operator gifted this particular FDC to me knowing I am collector of  radio related stamps.  

POS MALAYSIA in April 2021 marked the 75th Anniversary of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) with four First Day Cover stamps. The stamp sheet commemorated RTM’s progress in each era - The Radio Era, The Radio and Television Era, The Coloured Television Era and The Digital and Multimedia Era. This was a limited edition release with only 2,000 folder sets for sale.

POSTE VATICANE  in 1981 issued a first day cover stamps marking the 50th Anniversary of Vatican Radio. The cachet on the envelope features Pope Pious XI, future Pope Pious XII and Guglielmo Marconi. The stamps depict Marconi and Pope Pious XI, Pope John Paul II, old Vatican Radio microphone and Vatican Radio antenna and statue.

CANADA POST in 1971 issued a First Day Cover stamp of Radio Canada International's then-new transmitters at Sackville, New Brunswick. Indeed, their 100 kW transmitters could be heard anywhere in the world. In the western United States where I lived at the time, their signal would pin the S-meter on my Realistic DX-160 to the max.  In Malaysia, their Sackville transmissions could be received as well, usually in the winter months on 9.620 kHz. The Sackville facility has since been razed and RCI no longer broadcasts from Canada.

 

POST LUXEMBOURG in 1955 issued a First Day Cover stamp and Maxi Card of Radio Luxembourg studio and antenna array. Any radio listener, particularly shortwave radio hobbyists, will remember Radio Luxembourg. The station was heard all around the world. I certainly do. I was living in a suburb north of Denver in 1977. I distinctly recall listening to the Paul McCartney & Wings hit song, "Mull of Kintyre" over Radio Luxembourg. Happy days!

POSTA VE TELEGRAF TESKILATI (PTT - TURKISH POST) in 2014 issued these First Day Cover stamps marking the 50th anniversary of TRT (Turkish Radio & Television) in Ankara.

DEUTSCHE POST in 2017 offered a limited edition stamp of Radio Mi Amigo International (a Spanish broadcaster) that occasional books air time through service providers in Germany. This paticular stamp was featured on their verification (QSL) card depicting their station on the days of pirate/offshore radio.

LA POSTE FRANCE first day cover stamp commemorating the opening of the the then-new Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (ORTF) in 1963.

 

Soviet-era commemorative first day cover stamp on the 50th anniversary of Radio Moscow issued in 1979.

 

AUSTRIAN POST in 1964 issued a first day cover stamp marking the 40th anniversary (1924 - 1964) of their national broadcaster Österreich Rundfunk (ORF). Affixed to a maxim card illustrating the coverage of ORF is this 40th anniversary stamp.

 

SRI LANKA POST on 5th January 2017 issued a  postal stamp to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. It had a denomination of Rs.10.00.

USPS in 1967 issued a first day cover stamp of the Voice of America (VOA). Shown on the envelope is a cachet of a VOA control studio, along with a block set of VOA stamps, postmarked Washington D.C.

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES POST  in 1970 released two first day cover stamps of the Trans World Radio Bonaire transmitter/studio site. This stamps affixed to this envelope is one of two known cachets. A postcard of the station with a stamp of the studio was also issued. 

DANMARK POST in 1950 issued a first day cover stamp commemorating the 25th anniversary of Radio Broadcasting in Denmark. It was designed by Viggo Bang. Engraving was mastered by Bent Jacobsen. This red stamp featured 12¾  perforations. The first day of release was postmarked from Copenhagen.

 

 

 INDIA POST on 8th June 1961 issued a first day cover stamp commemorating the Silver Jubilee celebrations of All India Radio.

 

ISRAEL POST in 1986 issued a commemorative stamp marking the 50th anniversary of Radio Broadcasting in Israel (KOL). 

 

ROYAUME DU LAOS on 15 June 1965 issued a series of three first day cover stamps called "Centenary of the International Telecommunication Union". The stamps included a teletype machine, telephone, radio receiver and transmitter station. The colour cachet features a sphere and electric bolt to signify the Union of International Telecommunications.

 

 

UNITED NATIONS POSTAL ADMINISTRATION on 13 February 2013 issued three pairs of stamps commemorating the launch of U.N. Radio on that day in 1946.  Each stamp design featured a different image that captured an aspect of radio communication throughout history.The stamps themselves boast an interactive feature allowing smart phone or tablet users to directly download and launch the U.N. Radio application.  Shown here is one of the sets postmarked Geneva. 

 

SRI LANKA POST in 2019 issued a single first day cover stamp marking the inauguration of the Colombo Lotus Tower, a communication tower located in the capitol of this South Asian nation. This iconic tower of Sri Lanka is the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia; the second tallest structure in South Asia after the guy-wire-supported INS Kattabomman in India; the 11th tallest tower in Asia and the 19th tallest tower in the world. The lotus-shaped tower is used for communication, observation and other leisure facilities. The tower is 350 m (1,150 ft) tall and covers 30,600 m2 (329,000 sq ft) of floor area.

 

POSTVERKET NORGE in 1975 issued two first day cover stamps marking the 50th Anniversary of Kringkasting -- Radio & TV Broadcasting in Norway (1925-1975). The cachet featured a sketch of towering buildings and antenna mast in the shape of a radiating orb.

 

REPUBLIQUE DU NIGER in 1965 issued a series of  four stamps dedicated to "Promotion Humaine - Radio Clubs of Niger". Topics covered in this series included recording music/songs, listening to radio transmissions, lectures and interviews intended for radio broadcasts. Stamps shown are mint, no postmarks and gummed.

 

ASCENSION ISLAND on 1 December 1966 issued four first day cover stamps marking the opening of BBC Relay Station on Ascension. The images of Queen Elizabeth II and Lion With BBC emblem are gold embossed against four different colours (blue, green, red and purple) and corresponding to the individual monetary denominations - 1D, 3D, 6D and 1,6. The cachet depicts an illustration of Ascension Island with radio waves radiating from the island. Above the island is the heraldic crest of BBC Ascension Island. 

HELVETIA POST in 1985 released an FDC marking the 50th anniversary of Swiss Radio International (SRI).