STAMP ISSUES RELATED TO ICAO (1994-1995)

 

Nauru : 50th Anniversary of ICAO

 

Issue date: 14/12/1994

 

 

ICAO logo and Civil Aviation Authority emblem (which is also the coat of arms of the country); Air Nauru Boeing 737.

 

Nauru International Airport with control tower; 50th anniversary logo; Air Nauru Boeing 737.

 

DVOR navigational aid; 50th anniversary logo; Air Nauru Boeing 737.

 

Fire engines (airport crash tenders) at Nauru International Airport; 50th anniversary logo; Air Nauru Boeing 737.

 

 

 

Cancelled to Order (CTO).

Souvenir sheet showing the four stamps of the issue. The flags of Nauru, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Guam, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (F.S.M.), Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Fiji and Niue surround a map of the various Air Nauru flight routes.

 

Presentation folder of this issue:

 

 

 

 

Official First Day Cover showing the coat of arms of Nauru.

 

Background: The design of the Coat of arms of Nauru (depicted on the cachet of the above cover) originated in 1968 following the declaration of independence; it began to be used officially in the early 1970s.

Its shield is divided and separated in the middle. In the upper section, the alchemical symbol of phosphorus is shown over a golden woven background (symbolizes the mining of phosphates). The lower-left section depicts a black frigate bird, which sits on a perch over blue ocean waves (symbolizes the fauna). The lower-right section is blue and contains a branch of calophyllum flowers. The shield is surrounded by images of tribal chief gear (which was worn to ceremonies), ropes from palm leaves, feathers of the frigate bird and shark teeth (symbolizes the people of Nauru). The twelve-pointed star centered above the shield is taken from the flag. The ribbon above it bears the name of the island in Micronesian Nauruan: Naoero. The ribbon under the shield bears the national motto of the Republic of Nauru: God's Will First.

 

Phosphorus fascinated alchemists because it seemed to contain light, which was associated with the spirit. Phosphorescent compounds glowed. Pure phosphorus spontaneously burns in air, though it wasn't isolated until 1669. Alchemical symbols, originally devised as part of alchemy, were used to denote some elements and some compounds until the 18th century. Note that while notation was mostly standardized, style and symbol varied between alchemists.

Phosphorus is an element that occurs in nature and is widely distributed in combination with other minerals. In chemistry classes, it is presented as one of the elements on the Periodic Table (#15 on the atomic chart of elements, with the symbol P). Phosphates are natural compounds, i.e. salts containing phosphorus and other minerals.

 

Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) are large seabirds that spend much of their time at sea (they are therefore referred to as pelagic). Their range includes tropical and subtropical oceans and they nest on remote islands or coastal mangrove forests. Frigatebirds have predominantly iridescent black plumage, long narrow wings, and a forked tail. Males have a large, bright red gular pouch (located on the front of their throat) that they use in courtship display. The male frigatebirds assemble in a group and each inflates its gular pouch and points its bill upwards.