Etna, though not particularly destructive, has achieved notoriety for two reasons.

The first being attempts to divert lava flows away from persons properties, which led to the enactment of laws to prevent such actions being undertaken.

The second being that it has killed many unsuspecting tourists and travel guides who wander too close to the summit crater at the wrong moment.

It is probably, after Kilauea, the most actively studied volcano in the world.

A truly comprehensive site devoted to the volcano is maintained by Boris Behncke

The stamp shown below (courtesy of Paolo Bagaglia) is from the Italian Tourism series for 1977.

The following three "cinderellas" were issued to raise funds for the survivors of the 1908 Messina earthquake.

These three are in German funds.

Stamps courtesy of Maarten Willems

The next set courtesy of Paolo Bagaglia have values in cents

Next postcard (courtesy Lisa Heiman) show Etna from Taormina

Postcard dated February 23rd, 1929

The following stamp illustrates Etna from almost exactly the same position as the previous postcard.

Stamp overprinted AMG-FTT for Trieste.

Likewise the following painting on a stamp issued by Hungary in 1973

The following stamp was issued by Sierra Leone as part of a souvenir sheet in 2002

The following stamp was issued by Portugal in 2008

 

 


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