Mayon, Luzon Island, Philippines.
Like Fuji, Mayon is the almost perfect shape of a concave-upward,
composite volcano.
Radiocarbon dating has produced an age of 3100 BC for an eruption.
The volcano erupts fairly frequently but fortunately most
eruptions are of magnitude 3 or less on the VEI scale. Exceptions were in
1814 and 1897 when eruptions of magnitude 4 occured.
The cover illustrated below is a first day of issue (April
1st, 1943) during the "transition period" from being a Commonwealth
member of the United States to the Republic of the Philippines in 1946.
The Japanese censor markings reflect the Japanese occupation of the islands
begining December 8th 1941. The cachet illustrates both Mayon and Fuji.
The same cachet can be seen as the next stamps issued in 1943
The following is a semi-postal issued in 1943
The next stamp was issued in 1947 and as an official in 1949
The next stamp shows special delivery messenger with Mayon
in background
Stamp courtesy of Mitchell Ward.
Same stamp but sheet margin
(courtesy Matthew Healy)
The next stamps were issued in 1951
(courtesy of Lisa Heiman and Ed Benson)
The next stamps (courtesy of Mark Yorty & Lisa Heiman)
were issued in 1955 to celebrate the Rotary Club
It was later issued overprinted.
The next stamp is the airmail version of same image
The next stamp is a rather unusual Air mail semi-postal
(thanks to Lisa Heiman)
The next stamps, issued in 1967 depict a nativity scene with
Mayon in background
(courtesy of Lisa Heiman)
The next stamps, issued in 1969 show the president and his
wife harvesting rice.
(courtesy of Lisa Heiman)
The next stamp, issued February 1971. appears to have Mayon
in background
The next stamp celebrates co-operation between the Philippines
and Switzerland
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