Hey, Mr Postman!

This text was published on THE UMBRELLA magazine edited for the English speaking community of Rio de Janeiro. If you are interested to know more about it, click here.

Hey, Mr Postman!

The print version Umbrella magazine arrives with stamps on its envelope – how cute is that? Usually there are five coloured pieces of paper, roughly 1 inch square, depicting something informative or commemorative; these so attract the eye they make it impossible to simply throw the plastic casing away.

A trumpet designed in 2002, three shoe menders/makers of 2005, plus something indiscernible, permit the magazine to arrive in our homes.

It is possible to get to know a country’s or city’s history by paying attention to the stamps governments issue along the years. The biggest event now being celebrated in Rio de Janeiro is its 450^th anniversary. The Brazilian Postal Service (“Correios”) printed four different drawings with the smiling face numbers that represent the logo for the date, each by a different artist. They added hats, wigs and scarves with allusions to Carnival, to Copacabana sidewalk stones, to the city’s sand, sea and forests.

Corcovado, Sugar Loaf and the black and white waves of stone ornamenting our pedestrian pavement, all frequent Rio’s stamps constantly. However, beautiful old buildings have also been depicted: these include the Monroe Palace (sadly, no longer among us); the Lapa Aqueduct; football team Botafogo’s headquarters; and the Presbyterian Cathedral (built between 1920 and 1934). 

Curiously, the commemorative stamp issued in 2012 upon the 150^th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Brazil [the church began in 1862, the Cathedral in 1920.] sported a hologram of the Cathedral’s stained glass window, of great interest to philatelists.

Brazilian samba schools and football teams are subjects of stamp designers, as are noted singers: Carmen Miranda is a perennial favourite. Raul Seixas and Cazuza were remembered in 1991 upon the second Rock‘nRio event. (Unfortunately, our research could not find any explanation for the fact that Cazuza’s stamp was worth 25 cruzeiros but Raul’s 185 cruzeiros!)

The Correios has a special commission in charge of defining the themes of the stamps to be printed, and they are open to suggestions. They can be about art, architecture, pop culture, commemorative dates, sports, fauna, flora, personalities, environment, tourism, in sum, practically anything. If you are an artist (or even if you are not) and have an inspiration about Rio you would like to share, go to http://www2.correios.com.br/selos/selos_postais/vota_selo/ and follow the instructions for submission. Suggestions received by June, 1^st 2016 will (if approved) be printed in 2017!

PS An Historical Footnote.

Postage stamps were invented by a resourceful gentleman in England who decided to find out why so many letters went back to the post offices unopened. The answer was that the recipient had to pay for correspondence; many did not have the means to pay and simply refused to accept mail. Sir Rowland Hill proposed using prepaid stamps to the British government in 1939, and in 1940, the first stamps were issued. Does it surprise you to know that, in 1843, Brazil was the first country to follow England’s example?