I have had a lifelong interest in postage stamps and particularly music stamps. Occasionally, the stamp hobby has been put on hold for one reason or another (work schedule, family, finances, etc.) With retirement came more free time, and finally an opportunity to revive my involvement with the stamps that I have acquired through the years.  I have several hundred items thanks to the fact that I subscribed to new issue services for a number of years and also visited stamp dealers and stamp shows at various times.  There are some gaps, but I am fairly complete in Italy, Austria, Russia  and Germany.

When I opened up the albums this time, I decided I would research each stamp with the help of the internet and learn as much as I could about each issue.  There are a number of other collectors who have excellent sites - much more complete than mine.  I have been inspired by them to work on mine.  

I believe we can draw inspiration from others in ways they do not expect. As I was researching the Austrian stamp honoring Bosendorfer pianos and Oscar Peterson, I learned that Oscar Peterson, the great jazz pianist, had suffered a stroke and lost the use of his left hand.  A Youtube video showed him playing on a Bosendorfer piano and he played only with his right hand and his left thumb.  I have played the pipe organ all my life, and a year ago I lost my left leg due to an amputation.  If Oscar Peterson can play with one hand, surely I can play with one foot.  Lesson: we all do the best we can with what we have and if we have faith and confidence we can overcome our limitations.

Austria 1337

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (1736-1809), 250th anniversary of his birth.  The pipe organ on this stamp is the Klosterneuberg Organ.  The entire facade is not shown, only the section on the left side.

Bamboo Organ, Phillipines

France 2252

France 2252

Publish Post

France 2252

Austria Silent Night

Austria 823

Austria 1417

Brazil 893

Brazil #893 was issued on July 16, 1959 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Carmelite Order in Brazil.  The design features the facade of a pipe organ.

Thankfully Handel Cecilio has written a dissertation on the organ.  A good picture is found on pages 56 and 57 of his work which is available online:  http://www.archive.org/details/TheEighteenth-centuryPipeOrganAtTheCarmelChurchInDiamantinaIts

Belgium 1199

Issued May 13, 1985, part of a set #1199/1200.  Issued for EUROPA 1985.  Cesar Franck is seated at the organ, 1887.

Austria 1410

Austria 884

Austria 1700

Austria 1337

Austria 789

Austria 789

 These envelopes with Austria #789 are commemorating the 1990 and 1992 International Music Week at Karnten.  Concerts take place in the Millstatt Abbey.  Although there are not many pictures of the interior of the Abbey online,  I believe that the organ facade on the stamp is that of Millstatt Abbey.

Ukraine Igor Shamo

This envelope from the Ukraine depicts the Ukrainian composer Igor Shamo.  I am not sure whether he played the pipe organ.  If anyone has any more information about him, please post.

Introduction

Collecting stamps with the music theme has led to specializing in collecting pipe organ stamps.  My activity in working with my collection has seen several stages.  I have laid the task aside several times due to work and raising a family.  But now that retirement has come,  I once again resume this fascinating hobby with renewed interest.  I will be posting some of my checklists of music stamps and photos of the pipe organ stamps.  This is a first for me - blogging.  Wish me luck.