Between this post and the last blog post there are at least 20+ Aurora related stamps that have been released by many postal administrations. I was completely on a collection-spree and not utilizing time to devote on this blog which I started with so much enthusiasm. Covid-19 related lock-down have kept me spending time indoors which finally gave some opportunity to dedicate time on this blog.
In January 2020, La Poste (French post) released this beautiful miniature sheet representing French overseas territory "French Southern and Antarctic Territories" often refereed as TAAF ( French: Terres australes et antarctiques françaises).
The sheet features the Adélie Land, French claimed territory in the continent of Antarctic which was discovered in 1840 by the French explorer and naval officer Jules Dumont d'Urville (1790–1842) who explored the south and western Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. Dumont d'Urville named this land after his wife, Adèle. In 1950 first Antarctic expedition station was setup in Adélie Land in the name of Dumont d’Urville and remains as one of the active expedition stations in the Antarctic region. Emperor penguins, Adélie penguins and few varieties of Petrels are found in this region.
The sheet represents a beautiful illustration of the magical phenomenon Aurora Australis in the sky of Adélie Land along with 2 penguins in the foreground. Polar lights in the northern hemisphere around Arctic regions are called as Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis and in the southern hemisphere around Antarctic as Southern Lights or Aurora Australis.
The sheet is tagged under unusual stamps category. The sheet when moved towards/back will glitter with bright white dots as if stars are glittering in the sky.
Pls check this video :
https://ne-np.facebook.com/LaVecchiaScatola/videos/679118315956308/
The miniature sheet has 2 captions : "Ciel de Terre Adélie" (English: Sky over Adélie) and inside the stamp "Aurore Australe - Dumont d'Urville" (English: Aurora Australis - Dumont of Urville).
This stamp is only valid when departing from French overseas terriorty French Southern and Antarctic Territories, but a wonderful collectible for passionate collectors.
