Norwegian Stamps
Commemoratives of 1938-1945
Commemorative Norwegian stamps of 1938 to 1945 began with a set of stamps promoting tourism and then went on to celebrate the lives of important Norwegian historical figures, writers, and musicians.
The three major-type pictorial Norwegian stamps shown above were issued in 1938 and 1939 to promote Tourism.
The three stamps were issued in 1938 (Sc. #181-183) on watermarked paper, and they were issued in 1939 (Sc. #184-186) on unwatermarked paper.
The three designs are as follows.
- 15 Ø. -- A Reindeer. The reindeer is native to the Arctic regions. In the Arctic regions of North America, the reindeer is called a Caribou.
- 20 Ø. -- The 12th Century Stave Church in Borgund. The church is now used as a museum, and it is administered by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments.
- 30 Ø. -- The village of Jolster in the District of Sunnfjord. Sunnfjord is home to the largest glacier in continental Europe and a clear green lake, called Jølstravatnet, which is renowned for its Trout fishing.
The six pictorial Norwegian stamps shown above (Sc. #240-245) were issued on September 23, 1941 to commemorate the 700th Anniversary of the Death of Snorri Sturluson.
The six stamp designs, featuring 19th Century illustrations of the Heimskringla, written by Snorri Sturluson, are as follows.
- 10 Ø. -- Dream of Queen Ragnhild, from the Heimskringla - Saga of Halfdan the Black. The design is from a drawing by Erik Werenskiold (1855-1936).
- 15 Ø. -- Einar Tambarskjelve (980-1050) during the Battle of Svolder, from the Heimskringla. The design is from a drawing by Christian Krohg (1852-1925).
- 20 Ø. -- Portrait of Snorri Sturluson, from a drawing by Christian Krohg (1852-1925).
- 30 Ø. -- King Olaf II Haraldsson (995-1030) Sailing to Landmerket, from the Heimskringla. The design is from a drawing by Christian Krohg (1852-1925).
- 50 Ø. -- Syipdagr's followers entering the Hall of Seven Kings, from the Heimskringla - Prologue to the Prose Edda.
- 60 Ø. -- Before the Battle of Stiklestad, from the Heimskringla. The design is from a drawing by Halfdan Egedius (1877-1899).
Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician, having served two terms as the Speaker of the Althing, the Icelandic Parliament.
He was the author of the Prose Edda, or Younger Edda, which is a poetic narrative on Norse Mythology, but he is best known for the Heimskringla, or The Circle of the World. The Heimskringla is a collection of sagas about the first kings of Norway, followed by historical accounts of the Norwegian kings from the 9th through the 12th Centuries.
The four pictorial Norwegian stamps shown above (Sc. #247-250) were issued on June 12, 1942 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Rikard Nordraak.
The three designs feature a portrait of Rikard Nordraak, Viking longboats, and a majestic view of the Norwegian coast.
Rikard Nordraak (1842-1866) was a Norwegian composer, best known for the melody of the Norwegian national anthem, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (English: "Yes, we love this country"), first performed in 1864, on the 50th anniversary of the constitution. Nordraak died of Tuberculosis, at the age of twenty-three.
The two pictorial Norwegian stamps shown above (Sc. #251-252) were issued on October 6, 1942 to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Johan Herman Wessel.
The common design features a portrait of Johan Wessel.
Johan Herman Wessel (1742-1785) was a Danish-Norwegian poet and playwright. His poems and plays were often satirical and humorous, and they referred to man's foolishness and injustice.
The two Norwegian stamps shown above (Sc. #253-254) were issued on October 12, 1942 to publicize the European Postal Congress in Vienna.
The common design features a Norwegian postage stamps of 1942 and 1855.
The four commemorative Norwegian stamps shown above (Sc. #253-254) were issued on June 15, 1943 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Edvard Grieg.
Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843-1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the greatest Romantic Era composers.
The 40 Ø. denomination Norwegian stamp shown above (Sc. #267) was issued on July 30, 1944 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the First Flight over the North Sea, made by Tryggve Gran on July 30, 1914.
The stamp design features Gran's aircraft and a map of the flight-path across the North Sea.
Jens Tryggve Herman Gran (1888-1980) was a Norwegian explorer, aviator, and author. He was a member of the Scott Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913, and he was the first person to cross the North Sea in an airplane in 1914.
The three portrait Norwegian stamps shown above (Sc. #269-271) were issued on July 12, 1945 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Death of Henrik Wergeland.
The common design is based on an 1842 daguerreotype of Henrik Wergeland.
Henrik Arnold Thaulow Wergeland (1808-1845) was a Norwegian writer, playwright, historian, and linguist. He is considered a pioneer in the development of the Norwegian literary heritage and of the modern Norwegian culture. It is believed that he died of either Tuberculosis or Lung Cancer, being only thirty-seven years of age.
The two commemorative Norwegian stamps shown above (Sc. #272-273) were issued on December 19, 1945 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Norwegian Folklore Museum.
The common design features the logo of the museum.
The Norwegian Folklore Museum, also called the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, is located on the Bygdøy Peninsula in Oslo, Norway. The museum features artifacts from all regions of the country. It also incorporates a large open-air museum with more than 150 buildings, relocated from Norwegian towns and rural districts, including a 13th Century Stave Church.
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Norwegian Stamps - Commemoratives of 1938-1945
The 1 Kr. denomination pictorial stamp shown above (Sc. #246) was issued on September 2, 1941 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the University of Oslo building.
Until 1939, the institution was called the Royal Frederick University, being named after its founder, King Frederick VI of Denmark-Norway (1768-1839).
Until 1946, it was the only university in Norway. Between 1947 and 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded each year in the atrium of the university. Since 2003, the Abel Prize has been awarded each year in the atrium of the university.