Timepieces on Postage Stamps

By Steve Hall (NJ)

Horological themes occasionally appear on postage stamps. When the United

States issued the 10c American Clock stamp in January, 20031, I was inspired to pull out

my stamps and related published articles. I hope you enjoy these examples from my

collection.

The stamps in this article depict the serious side of horology. Some honor famous

clockmakers and inventors. Others illustrate high grade clocks found in museums. You

will see public clocks, historical timekeepers and an advertising piece. Other stamps in

my collection (my database contains more than 1000 entries) are less directly associated

with timepieces. There are stamps that use clocks or watches as a design element (e.g., a

clock face indicating that time is running out for the environment). Churches and town

halls are often the subject for stamps; the clocks in their towers show as tiny specks when

transferred to a stamp. Sometimes I find a person who happens to be wearing a

wristwatch illustrated on a stamp. There are also humorous issues, such as those with a

Disney theme, that have hourglasses, sundials, grandfather clocks and other timepiece-

related artwork.

I decided not to illustrate stamps that were published before, either in the NWACC

Bulletin or in European magazines. See the “Further Reading” section at the end of this

article for references.

Steve Hall Page 1 May 2003

United States

The American Clock stamp issued in January 2003 is the first by the United States

that specifically commemorates the U.S. clock industry. However, there have been

several other notable stamps from the United States.

This one honors Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806). Issued on February 15, 1980

during Black History Month, the stamp illustrates Banneker as a surveyor. Banneker is

credited as the first to build a clock in Maryland, around 1750.2 <Fig. 1>

The January 2003 stamp was not the first to illustrate a Willard timepiece. The

House of Representatives at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. was honored on April 4,

1989 with a 25 cent stamp, featuring the 1819 Carlo Franzoni marble statue representing

Clio the Muse of History. In the wheel of her chariot is a Simon Willard clock, delivered

in 1837. This statue is also known as the “Car of History” because Clio, in her chariot,

overlooks and records events going on below her. It is located at the north end of Statuary

Hall (old House of Representatives), and is probably the first neo-classical statue

executed entirely in the United States.3 <Fig. 2>

Steve Hall Page 2 May 2003

Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia)

The centerpiece in Prague is the astronomical clock on the Old Town Hall. It was

constructed in 1410 by a local clockmaker working in conjunction with a professor of

mathematics and astronomy at Prague’s Charles University. It is one of the oldest

European clocks of its kind, unique in being the oldest of those where the original

clockwork has been in operation from the beginning to the present4. This commemorative

stamp was issued on June 20, 1978. <Fig. 3>

Steve Hall Page 3 May 2003

France

France has issued more than thirty stamps with a horological connection. Several

depict famous city gates with clocks, such as this one of Rouen issued on April 24, 1976.

Other French clock towers in my collection include Bordeaux, Vire, Toulouse, Riquewihr

and Calais. Famous people such as Pope Sylvester II (said to have invented the first all-

mechanical clock in about 997) and Pierre Caron Beaumarchais (who invented a special

variant of the escapement in the 18th century) are honored along with Foucault, seen

below.

The Large Clock in Rouen is probably the most popular tourist attraction in the

city. It is said to date to 1389, strikes quarter hours, and is the oldest known existing

mechanical clock. As with most early clocks, the Rouen clock was converted from foliot

to pendulum movement in 1713, but kept most of its original wheels. The frame is nearly

6-1/2 feet wide and 6 feet high. The clock originally had no dial; dials on both sides of

the arch were added in the first half of the sixteenth century.5 <Fig. 4>

Jean Bernard Foucault (1819-1868) built a pendulum that demonstrated the

earth’s rotation. The plane of vibration turns through the day, like a clock hand as if the

pendulum were hung from a “sky hook” that is detached from the earth’s surface. His

work supported the work of scientists, like Newton, who strove to measure absolute time

in relation to the observed universe.6 Foucault pendulums are found in science museums

everywhere. <Fig. 5>

Steve Hall Page 4 May 2003

Hungary

Hungary, as with several countries, issued stamps depicting clocks found in their

museums. On December 14, 1990 four stamps were issued. Two were in the Trade and

Art Museum of Budapest, one from the Liszt Ferenc Museum in Sopron and the fourth

from the Hungarian National Museum. The 3 Forint stamp is described as a book-shaped

travel clock, by Wolff and Fenich, cirra 1576. The 5 Forint table clock was made by H.

Schmidt, c. 1643. The mantel clock on the second 5 Forint stamp was made by J. M.

Welz in about 1790. Finally, the 10 Forint stamp depicts a clock attributed to J. Hillrich.

None of these clockmakers is referenced in the NAWCC Bulletin Index, and I found no

mention of them on the internet. <Fig. 6a-d>

Steve Hall Page 5 May 2003

Austria

This is the only “flower clock” stamp in my collection, although I have many

postcards with this theme. It was issued to commemorate the first International Fair held

at Wels, Austria in 1966 (issue date August 26, 1966). The current “Messe Wels” is a

new structure; I haven’t ascertained if the one pictured still exists or if the flower clock

has survived. <Fig. 7>

Austria has issued more than 30 stamps with timekeepers. Six of them are

particularly decorative although I have scant data about their provenance. The first three

(June 22, 1970) illustrate a 15th century tower clock movement, 17th century pendant

clock and 18th century mantel clock. <Fig. 8a-c>

The next three stamps (October 23, 1970) depict a late 18th century lyre clock, an

early 19th century pocket watch and a 19th century French column clock. <Fig. 9a-c>

Steve Hall Page 6 May 2003

Luxembourg

These stamps, issued on October 16, 1997, illustrate clocks, now housed in the

National History and Art Museum, that were made in Luxembourg by 19th century

craftsmen. The oak wall clock on the 16 franc stamp dates to about 1816. The 32 franc

stamp depicts a walnut cased astronomic clock from the mid-19th century. A pear tree

wood wall clock is shown on the 80 franc stamp, dating to circa 1815. <Fig. 10a-c>

Malta

Historical Maltese clocks are featured on a series of four stamps issued October 5,

1995. Pinto’s Turret Clock started keeping time in June, 1745. The whole clock tower

was paid for and erected by Grand Master Pinto in his grandiose scheme to embellish the

palace with architectural additions.7 The 5c stamp depicts Michelangelo Sapiano (1826-

Steve Hall Page 7 May 2003

1912), considered the most famous Maltese clockmaker of all time. His interest in

horology developed when he came in contact with a blacksmith who was also a

clockmaker. He built turret clocks, long-case clocks and complicated calendar clocks.

<Fig. 11a-b>

On the 14c stamp is a Maltese style of clock, dating to the late 17th century,

known as “L-Arlogg tal- lira”. It consists of a wooden case measuring 20 by 24 inches.

The wheels were made of brass, the axles iron. A framed glass pane enclosed the clock

face to protect the hands and mechanism from dust. <Fig. 11c>

Sundials are the subject of the fourth Maltese stamp. Vertical dials are the most

common type in Malta, the earliest known example dates to 1546. There are several early

vertical sundials in the islands with some towns having more than one. <Fig. 11d>

Dominican Republic

In the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo there stands a tapering pillar made of rock

and mortar, roughly 15 feet tall. On top is a rock cube with two vertical sundials. It was

erected during the administration of Francisco Rubio y Pernaranda around 1753 and is

said to be one of the oldest sundials in the Americas. It is thought that the timepiece was

Steve Hall Page 8 May 2003

erected so bureaucrats could look out their windows to see the time. On the southeast side

you can see the time before noon, on the southwest side the time in the afternoon. An

equatorial dial was placed on top in about 1787, but a hurricane partially destroyed it.

During the 500th anniversary of Columbus celebration a replica was reinstalled.

Steve Hall Page 9 May 2003

 This photo was taken at 12:45 on April 25, 2003.

<Photos by the author>

In 1931 to 1933 the Dominican Republic issued a series of eight airmail stamps

that depict the so-called “batwing sundial”. They all have the same design (but with

different colors), with values ranging from 10 centavos to 1 peso. <Fig. 12>

Ascension Island

Dozens of stamps feature navigation instruments, principally sextants and

chronometers. Other timekeepers such as sand glasses and sundials are also featured. This

Steve Hall Page 10 May 2003

stamp from Ascension Island (January 8, 1979) is typical of those that celebrate voyages

of European explorers. <Fig. 13>

Syria

Astrolabes are a popular subject for stamps; there are more than 35 astrolabe

stamps in my database. This one is from a set of three Syrian stamps issued on May 2,

1980 (each with the same design). It marked the 2nd International Symposium for the

History of Arabic Science. <Fig. 14>

The astrolabe is a very ancient astronomical computer used for solving problems

relating to time and the position of the Sun and stars in the sky. The most popular type is

the planispheric astrolabe, on which the celestial sphere is projected onto the plane of the

equator. A typical old astrolabe was made of brass and was about 6 inches in diameter,

although much larger and smaller ones were made.

Steve Hall Page 11 May 2003

Seychelles

The most famous landmark in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, is the Clock

Tower. It was unveiled on April 1, 1903, a memorial to Queen Victoria Alexandrina. The

clock is modeled after a similar one erected at Victoria Station in London in 1892.

Originally painted black, it was changed to lustrous silver in the 1940s. Its spring-driven

movement was replaced with an electric one in 19998. The Clock Tower is depicted on

three Seychelles stamps, this one issued on December 15, 1978. <Fig. 15>

Japan

The Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has been issuing

Regional (or Prefecture) stamps, to contribute to the development of the regional

Steve Hall Page 12 May 2003

community. This one shows the clock tower in the Administration Building at Kyoto

University in a painting by Genso Okuda. It was issued on June 18, 1997. <Fig. 16>

Tonga

Tonga, “Where Time Begins”, often issues unusual stamps in an effort to attract

collectors. On July 20, 1972, Tonga issued two stamps shaped like a wristwatch evoking

the famous Bulova tuning fork symbol. Bulova capitalized by printing special First Day

Covers; front and back shown. <Fig. 17a-b>

Steve Hall Page 13 May 2003

Steve Hall Page 14 May 2003
Isle of Man

On January 24, 2000, The Isle of Man issued six stamps commemorating the

development of the precision watch. John Harrison (1693-1776) is celebrated for his

watch that won the award for being a means of determining the longitude at sea.

Completed in 1759, this watch employed a form of verge escapement with diamond

pallets energized by a small, separate mainspring wound at 7-1/2 second intervals. Two

stamps, 22p and 29p, were issued in his honor9. <Fig. 18a-b>

Steve Hall Page 15 May 2003

 The 34p stamp recognizes Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) who invented the lever

escapement. He had been apprenticed to George Graham, inventor of the Graham

escapement for pendulum clocks. In 1754 Mudge invented the escapement that was

eventually to dominate the watch industry. <Fig. 18c>

John Arnold (1736-1799) is named on the 38p Isle of Man stamp. He is credited

with producing affordable timepieces that were accurate enough for navigation, using

new forms of temperature compensation, new balances and balance springs and new

escapements. <Fig. 18d>

Steve Hall Page 16 May 2003

 Thomas Earnshaw (1749-1829) invented his chronometer in 1780. His

escapement is original and simpler to make than Arnold’s. From the mid-19th century to

the 1980s, both British Merchant and Royal Navy ships carried chronometers designed

on Earnshaw’s principles. He is remembered on the 44p stamp. <Fig. 18e>

Dr. George Daniels (1926- ) invented the first, practical new watch escapement

for 250 years since the invention of the lever escapement in the 18th century. His Coaxial

escapement has now been adopted in the Swiss watch industry10. Dr. Daniels, a resident

of the Isle of Man, is honored with the 26p stamp in the series.11 <Fig. 18f>

Steve Hall Page 17 May 2003

A Fascinating Hobby

Horological postage stamps are little windows into the world of timekeeping. If

you choose to peer in, expect to find new aspects to our familiar pastime. I have spent

many satisfying evenings researching the topics depicted on my stamps, feeding my

thirsts for history and technology. Perhaps you will, too!

Further Reading

Owen wrote a plea for NAWCC members to lobby for a U.S. postage stamp with

horological theme. His wish came true in January, 2003! His article provides a colorful

overview of (mostly) European stamps with timepieces. He included two series from

Germany, the Romanian set, a series from Poland and several miscellaneous issues.12

Englebert published an article (in French) with descriptions and illustrations of

several very nice clock series. Included are German stamps with globe clocks, two other

German clock stamp series, six stamps from Romania and a very nice set of clock stamps

from Poland. I repeated a few of what he wrote about in this article since his publication

is not widely available in the U.S.13

Steve Hall Page 18 May 2003

 Several clock and watch stamps were depicted in a pictorial article in Antique

Clocks magazine. All of these were also contained in Englebert’s article. There is very

little accompanying text, but the stamps are reproduced at about twice actual size.14

About the Author

Steve Hall is a pharmaceutical engineer with an attraction to historical aspects of

clock collecting. His interest in stamps was passed down from his mother, but horological

stamp collecting first caught his fancy when he lived in Germany in the mid-nineties. He

and Doug Stevenson (Germany) assembled and donated to the NAWCC Library a

collection of German stamps with timekeepers.15 Steve subsequently donated several

additional stamp series to the Library. He is currently the Secretary for Chapter 93. You

can contact Steve by e-mail at smh2002@comcast.net.

1
See the front cover and description in NAWCC Bulletin, Volume 45/2, Whole Number 343, page 145

(April 2003).

2
Gibbs, James W., “Benjamin Banneker,” NAWCC Bulletin, Volume 13, Whole Number 142, October,

1969, page 1155.

3
There is a brief mention of this clock in the Bulletin. See Burns, John Fielding, “Clocks of the White

House and Capitol,” NAWCC Bulletin, Volume 6, Whole Number 58, page 423.

4
Photographs and descriptions of Prague’s astronomical clock can be seen at

http://www.towerclocks.org/misc/0022-en-hist.htm.

5
Bruton, Eric, The History of Clocks and Watches, Crescent Books, 1989.

6
ibid.

Steve Hall Page 19 May 2003

7
Descriptions of the Maltese clocks are taken from The Malta Stamp: Official Bulletin of the Philatelic

Bureau, October 1995.

8
A detailed history of the clock tower is given at the Seychelles nation website, http://www.seychelles-

online.com.sc/archives/clock.html.

9 See the front cover and description in NAWCC Bulletin, Volume 38/6, Whole Number 305, page 721

(December 1996) for a depiction of one of four stamps issued by the United Kingdom in 1993,

celebrating the tercentenary of John Harrison’s birth.

10
Blair, Harry, “Profile: George Daniels”, NAWCC Bulletin, Volume 35, Whole Number 320, page 320.

11
Isle of Man stamp descriptions are paraphrased from a commemorative booklet issued by the Isle of Man

Post Office, called A Story of Time.

12
Owen, Scott, “Horological Postage Stamps,” NAWCC Bulletin, Volume 39/3, Whole Number 308, June

1997, page 329.

13
Englebert, André M., “Mesure du Temps et Philatélie,” Horlogerie Ancienne et D’art (ANCAHA),

Number 74, Automne-Hiver 1995, pages 59-68.

14
Schuessler, Raymond, “Horological stamps: the fascination of philately,” Antique Clocks, Volume 11,

Number 12, May 1989, pages 33-36.

15
Doudna, Eileen, “Library News,” NAWCC Bulletin, Volume 39/6, Whole Number 311, December 1997,

page 730. Eileen’s two-page story includes illustrations of six stamps.

Steve Hall Page 20 May 2003