Sky over Adélie ( Ciel de Terre Adélie ), TAAF

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.

Polar Lights by USPS

During my stay in US, I never had an opportunity to watch aurora borealis aka Northern Lights but hoping may be in next trip I doesn't want to miss it. In fact I came to know that polar lights phenomenon is possible in US only through stamps.

USPS released a set of two 41 cents stamps in 2007 featuring aurora borealis ( Northern Lights ) and aurora australis ( Southern Lights ). The photograph of the aurora borealis, the northern lights featured in these stamps, was made by Fred Hirschmann of Wasilla, AK. It shows the northern lights over the Talkeetna Mountains in Alaska. The photograph of the aurora australis, a phenomenon of the southern polar region, was made by Per-Andre Hoffmann of Stuttgart, Germany who resides in Manila, Philippines. The header image on the pane of stamps ( 20 stamps sheet ) is a photograph of the aurora borealis by LeRoy Zimmerman of Ester, AK. Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA, was artistic designer. 

80 million were printed and plenty are still available in market. Go, get yours, frame it and bring this phenomenon to your living room or where ever you like.

For more details click the link Aurora by USPS

2014 - Australia Post - Southern Lights

If colors don't inspire, then what else can ? Look at the Southern Lights ( Aurora Australis ), are they not jaw dropping phenomenon, only fortunate to be visible in few countries. Australia Post is one of the pioneers in coming up with amazing stamps on a wide variety of subjects. Full credits to them. For 2014 I suppose this could be the grand release.

Set of 4 Stamps

Issued on 23rd August the release features 11 varieties such as set of 4 stamps, mini-sheet, a wonderful maxi-card set, stamp-medallion cover, postcard, coles-bay, booklet, gutter strip etc. Sometimes we get that overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration looking at these beautiful stamps. The photographs in the design were taken in Tasmania as reported by Auspost. Well, one can wish to see both Borealis and Australis once in our their lifetime.

Maxicard Set of 4

Minisheet

Nordia 2013 - Aurora Borealis, Iceland

Aurora is a wonderful natural phenomenon that occurs in the sky privileged only to the high altitude regions of the Earth. The lighting effect in the northern latitudes is known as Aurora Borealis and in the southern latitudes as Aurora Australis.

Capturing Aurora through photography needs perseverance and especially luck as these are bound to occur with many specific conditions such as geographic location, solar activity, weather and clear dark sky. The luminous glow is often associated to green and red colors in the sky.

Collecting stamps on Formula one being the foremost hobby, the stamps on these amazing natural phenomenon was really enticing and there is no reason how easily I took this as my second foremost theme.

  

Iceland post during the NORDIA 2013 - Nordic stamp exhibition that took place in Ásgarður Sports Center, Garðabær, issued a souvenir sheet of 4 stamps on Aurora Borealis also known as Northern Lights. The pictures on these 4 stamps displays bright occurrence of this spectacular phenomenon which could be definitely as a result of professional photography.