Monkeys in Art, Space, Mythology, Literature and...on Trees!

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 30 Apr 2014 04:43

For more than two decades my main interest, beside Laos, is monkeys (primates) on stamps and other philatelic items. The collection includes all kind of primates from lemur to apes, monkeys in art, legend, literature, mythology, Chinese calendar, WWF, cinema and evolution of primates and man.

I glad to share with you my collection and to see your stamps and philatelic materials about monkeys. As a start here are my favorite monkeys on stamps:

Lemur catta:

Gorilla:

Orangutan:

Chimpanzee:

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 01 May 2014 02:09

Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, is a main character in the Chinese classical novel “Journey to the West”. In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. After rebelling against heaven and being imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha, he later accompanies the monk Xuanzang on a journey to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India.

The novel was written in the 16th century by Wu Chengen. It is believed that the novel is a criticism against the Feudal rulers in China in those days.

In 1979, the PRC issued this set of stamps which is the first set depicts the novel about Sun Wukong and, as far as I know, the first set about Chinese mythology.

Sun Wukong the monkey - King of the flowers and fruits mountains:

Battle with the Prince Necha:

Monkey King with the stolen peach of immortality:

The Monkey King in the furnace:

Battle with the white demon:

The Monkey King protects the monk Xuanzang's companions:

Battle with the Spider-women:

The journey to the West:

Since 1979 till now, many other countries issued stamps depict the novel of Sun Wukong like Taiwan, Macau, Australia-Christmas Islands, Canada, Brazil etc. Here is one beautiful SS issued by Poland to commemorate Singapore2004 stamp exhibition and the Year of the Monkey:

dzhuo · Post by **dzhuo** » 01 May 2014 09:59

A few more from China. First set issued on Sept. 23, 1963 (Scott #713-715) for the Snub-nosed Langur:

Another set issued on Dec 7, 2002 (Scott #3249-3252). The monkeys are Hylobates lar, Hylobates leucogenys, Hylobates concolor and Hylobates hoolock:

Finally another set from Hong Kong issued on Jan 4, 2004 (Scott #1073-1076 and #1076a) celebrating the year of monkey:

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 02 May 2014 01:27

Monkey see, monkey do: Patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas), designed and engraved by Pierre Béquet, and issued by Mauritania on July 6, 1963, Scott No. 142.

- nethryk

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 02 May 2014 07:43

Thanks Nethryk and dzhuo. The Chinese monkey set from1963 (Scott #713-715), became relatively scarce in MNH condition.

Here are more issues depict Sun Wukong, the Monkey King:

Canada, 2004 - SS issued to mark year of the monkey:

Joint issue Brazil-PRC, 2000. The stamp show Brazilian and Chinese theater characters. China is represented by Sun Wukong, the Monkey King:

Macau, 2007 - "Journey to the West - The Adventure of Monkey King":

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 03 May 2014 00:37

Monkeys in Japanese Art:

A nice sheet contains 12 stamps issued by Marshall Island to commemorate Philanippon 2001 stamp exhibition held in Japan. The stamps show Japanese art. Four stamps show paintings of baboon monkey by Wang Yani.
Third raw right: Baboon with basket.
Bottom raw left: Baboon in tree.
Bottom raw middle: Baboon with fruits.
Bottom raw right: Baboon on ox.

Bhutan issued a SS depicts painting by Shibata Zeshin: Hawk carrying off a monkey, 1885.

Modern Art: “Old Monkey" – sculpture by Koun Takamura on Japanese stamp issued in 1983:

"Monkeys on tree" by Mori Sosen on Japanese stamp issued in 2004 for the Philatelic Week:

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 03 May 2014 03:14

Gorilla in profile, printed by photogravure, and issued for use in the Spanish colony of Rio Muni on November 23, 1962 for Stamp Day, Scott No. 20.

- nethryk

dzhuo · Post by **dzhuo** » 03 May 2014 17:05

Eli wrote:The Chinese monkey set from1963 (Scott #713-715), became relatively scarce in MNH condition.

I've seen them on sale from time to time on eBay. One more from China issued on Feb 25, 2000 (Scott #3006). The sheet has 10 stamps plus 2 labels.

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 03 May 2014 23:04

A young orangutan, engraved and printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., Ltd., and issued for use in Sarawak on October 1, 1957, Scott No. 198.

- nethryk

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 04 May 2014 22:20

Monkeys in Traditional African Art:

Chad - Baboon head sculpture from Sao art:
Designer: Cottet, Engraver: Bequet

The Sao civilization flourished in Middle Africa from the sixth century BCE to as late as the sixteenth century CE. The Sao lived by the Chari River south of Lake Chad in territory that later became part of Cameroon and Chad. They are the earliest people to have left clear traces of their presence in the territory of modern Cameroon. Around the 16th century, conversion to Islam changed the cultural identity of the former Sao.

Mali - Monkey on top of snuff box:

Cameroon - Vulture is attacking a monkey - Wood carving, Abbia culture, Cameroon:
Designer and engraver: Bauthier

Benin - "Monkeys" box:

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 06 May 2014 15:16

Monkeys in Chinese Art:

“Monkey and Deer”- painting by Yuan-Chi - ROC, 1975:

"Gibbons" - painting by Chen Wen Hsi - Singapore, 1972:

"Gibbons" - painting by Chen Wen Hsi - Singapore, 1995:

Lohan, the Buddhist saint, in garden with monkey - ROC, 1982:

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 07 May 2014 23:07

Nihonzaru: Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) are also known as "snow monkeys" because they live in areas where snow covers the ground for months each year. Here is an image of a stamp depicting Japanese macaques bathing in a hot spring in Nagano, printed by photogravure, and issued as the first Nagano Prefecture stamp by Japan on April 1, 1989, Scott No. Z1, plus a photo of some members of this species enjoying their natural hot tub.

- nethryk

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 08 May 2014 14:25

Monkeys in Art
Painting from Georgia

The following sheet contains 16 stamps issued by Georgia. It depicts a huge painting of many different animals by the Georgian painter Zurab Potskhishvili:

There are several monkeys "hiding" in this painting. Here is a Chimpanzee:

...and a lovely little lemur:

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 09 May 2014 00:06

Here are images of the three stamps in a set depicting lemurs, designed and engraved by Jean Pheulpin, and issued by Malagasy on December 9, 1961 to publicize wildlife protection, Scott Nos. 321-23. I like to move it!

- nethryk

Gray lemur (Hapalemur griseus)

Ruffled lemur (Lemur varius)

Mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz)

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 10 May 2014 02:11

Monkeys in Fables of Jean de La Fontaine

Here is a nice engraved stamp issued by Niger shows a scene from the fable by the French poet Jean de La Fontaine "The Monkey and the Leopard". The stamp was designed and engraved by Durrens.

The fable:
https://www.lafontaine.net/lesFables/fableEtr.php?id=883

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 11 May 2014 01:44

Year of the (Samurai!) Monkey, printed by photogravure, and issued by Japan on November 14, 2003, Scott No. 2872.

- nethryk

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 12 May 2014 00:15

Monkeys in Scientific Research
Jane Goodall Research

Jane Goodall, (1934- ) is a British primatologist, ethologist (animal behavior researcher) and anthropologist. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 45-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program, and she has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues.

During her research, Goodall named each chimpanzee in the group she researched. Here are several members of the Gombe chimpanzees that were observed by Goodall on stamps issued by Tanzania. Note that the upper left chimpanzee name is Leaky, after Goodal’s university instructor, Prof. Louis Leaky, a famous anthropologist.

One famous discovery of Goodall was that chimpanzee use tools for several purposes like for termite fishing. Until her observation, scientists believed humans are the only tool-making species.

This stamp shows a real photo of chimpanzee using tool for fishing. The photo was taken in Virunga Park, Congo.

We are not alone. Guys!!!

librarianc · Post by **librarianc** » 12 May 2014 00:30

Because of the Title of this thread, I thought I'd include this cover........

Mercury Test Launch - HAM.....Prelude to Man! - Cachet with red imprint "HAM" - PRELUDE TO MAN...... canceled Jan. 31, 1961 PAFB - machine cancel on SC#1173, 4 cent Echo 1 - On January 31, 1961, Ham, whose name was an acronym for Holloman Aero Med, became the first chimpanzee in space, aboard the Mercury Redstone rocket on a sub-orbital flight very similar to Alan Shepard's. Ham was brought from the French Camaroons, West Africa, where he was born July 1957, to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico in 1959. The original flight plan called for an altitude of 115 miles and speeds ranging up to 4400 mph. However, due to technical problems, the spacecraft carrying Ham reached an altitude of 157 miles and a speed of 5857 mph and landed 422 miles downrange rather than the anticipated 290 miles. Ham performed well during his flight and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean 60 miles from the recovery ship. He experienced a total of 6.6 minutes of weightlessness during a 16.5-minute flight. A post-flight medical examination found Ham to be slightly fatigued and dehydrated, but in good shape otherwise. Ham's mission paved the way for the successful launch of America's first human astronaut, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., on May 5, 1961.- unaddressed -

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 12 May 2014 21:34

King colobus (Colobus polykomos), also known as the western black-and-white colobus, designed and engraved by Jacques Combet, and issued by Ivory Coast on September 14, 1963 to publicize the Réserve de Bouna (which is now called the Comoé National Park), Scott No. 210.

- nethryk

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:02

Some recent offerings from Stamperija

Burundi 2011 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, MS BUR11209b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:03

Burundi 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Chimp MS BUR12611a

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:05

Burundi 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Chimp MS BUR12611b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:08

Burundi 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Gorilla MS BUR12618a

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:09

Burundi 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Gorilla MS BUR12618b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:11

Central African Republic 2011 Wildlife, Primates, Gorilla,Dian Fossey MS CA11225b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:13

Central African Republic 2011 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Chimp MS CA11201b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:15

Guinea Bissau 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Chimp MS GB12609a

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:16

Guinea Bissau 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Chimp MS GB12609b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:18

Guinee 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Gorilla, MS GU12229b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:19

Mozambique 2011 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Gorilla, Chimp MS MOZ12207b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:21

Niger 2013 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, MS NIG13119b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:22

Togo 2011 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Gazelle MS TG11414b

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:24

Uganda 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey MS UGN12107a

fletches1 · Post by **fletches1** » 12 May 2014 22:25

Uganda 2012 Wildlife, Primates, Monkey, Gorilla MS UGN12105b

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 12 May 2014 23:37

Nethryk, Thanks for the stamps you uploaded. I like very much the engraved stamps and consider them the most attractive in my collection, especially from French colonies but also from British and Belgian colonies like N. Borneo, Sarawak, Belgian Congo etc.

Librarianc, nice item, thanks for that. I have several stamps and cover depict monkeys in space exploration and will upload them in the near future.

Fletches, thanks for your input with Stamperija stamps

To all of you...

...From Israel

with special...

Eli

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 14 May 2014 22:11

Monkeys in Legends
"The Four Friendly Animals" Legend

On December 20, 1984, Mongolia issued a set of nine stamps and SS tell the story of “the four friendly animals" one of the famous folktales in Mongolia and the neighboring countries.

This story was created apparently due to the practice of the Mongolians to live in large family groups, leaded by the senior family members that acting for the benefit of all members of the group. The lesson of the tale is that friendship, respect and cooperation help to all members of the community. Here is the tale:

Once upon a time, a dove, a hare, a monkey and an elephant were lived together for many years in a beautiful forest in India.

"Since we all live in such friendly fashion, we should respect the oldest among us and the younger ones must listen to him so we can all serve him whatever he wishes," they said among themselves, and they asked each other who is the oldest.

A big tree was growing in that place. The four animals looked at it and began to raise their memories about this tree.

The elephant pointed to that tree and said, "When I was an elephant-calf, I used to rub myself against that tree. Then we were both the same size”

The monkey said, "When I was little there were no branches in which to jump and play and the tree was the same size as me. The shade of the tree scarcely hid me."

The hare said, "When I was little, the tree's roots were just beginning to grow, so I used to dig down to the roots so I could eat them."

The dove said, "I was pecking at the fruit of a tree and it fell near this place. So another tree began to grow near the original one."

The Four animals were happy since they were able to determine which of them is the oldest, and the order of the ages of the other animals. They decided to appoint the dove as a leader, honor and respect her.

By their agreement to respect the eldest, the elephant, as youngest, carried the monkey on his back. The monkey carried the hare, and the hare carried the dove on his back. Thus the dove was able to reach the sweet fruits of the tree, picked them off and gave them to her friends.

Thus, by mutual respect, peace and friendship, the four animals live together in the beautiful forest of India till these days.

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 16 May 2014 16:56

Monkeys in Space Exploration
The Chimpanzee Ham

Ham (July 1956 – January 19, 1983), also known as Ham the Chimp and Ham the Astrochimp, was a chimpanzee and the first Primates launched into space, on 31 January 1961, as part of America's space program. Ham's name is an acronym for the lab which prepared him for his historic mission — the Holloman Aerospace Medical Center, located at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Here are several items show Ham from Liberia, Niger and the Comoros.

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 17 May 2014 15:11

Hanuman Monkey-god

Hanuman, the monkey-god, is one of the Hindu epic Ramayana central characters. Hanuman helped god Rama to fight the King of the Demons, Ravana who kidnapped Rama’s wife, Sita.
Hanuman, the Monkey god, is considered Rama's loyal servant and to this day his character is used as a symbol of strength and unlimited loyalty. His unique powers were given to him by the gods.

Hanuman as a Warrior - Grenada, 1993:

god Rama and Hanuman - Relief from a Chapelle near Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang, Laos - Personal stamp, Israel, 2010:

Hanuman monkey-god - Cambodia, 1964:

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 19 May 2014 00:47

Eli - You're most welcome. Let's keep 'em coming!

Bay-thighed Diana monkey (Cercopithecus ignita), engraved and printed by American Bank Note Company, and issued by Liberia in 1942 as one of a set of six indigenous animals stamps, Scott No. 288.

- nethryk

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 20 May 2014 14:31

Let's keep 'em coming!

Orangutan – First stamp depicts monkey, issued in 1900 for use in North Borneo:

Lemur and Zebu – One stamp from a set of 15 identical design stamps, issued for use in the French colony of Madagascar. The first French colony stamp shows monkey.

A pair of chimpanzees in Leopoldville zoological garden, issued on June 6, 1939 for use in Belgian Congo:

Gorilla on a stamp from Congo, issued on January 31, 1972. Designed and engraved by Monvoisin:

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 20 May 2014 20:58

Greater Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus major), designed and engraved by Claude Jumelet, and issued by Malagasy on October 9, 1973, Scott No. 501.

- nethryk

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 21 May 2014 22:32

Monkeys in Literature and Film
Tarzan - the Ape man

Tarzan the Ape man is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great Apes", he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer.

Tarzan created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in 1912 in the novel "Tarzan of the Apes". To commemorate the centenary of the Tarzan novel, USA issued the following stamp:

About 200 movies appeared with Tarzan in the title between 1918 till 2014. Perhaps the most famous among Tarzan's actors is Johnny Weissmuller, former Olympic swimmer:

Original poster of "Tarzan and his Mate" movie, shows Tarzan, Jane and Cheeta, Tarzan companion chimpanzee:

Johnny Weissmuller was a Romanian-American. This postal stationary issued by Romania shows him as an Olympic swimmer. The cover franked with a stamp issued to commemorate the centenary of Weissmuller's birth:

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 23 May 2014 05:01

Sun Wukong - The Monkey King

In year 2000, Macau issued a set of stamp depicts the legend "Journey to the West - Adventure of Monkey King". Here are the stamps on MC's with a special postmark shows the character of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King:

Sun Wukong - King of the Monkeys:

The Monkey King with the stolen peach of immortality:

Battle with the Heaven Army:

Battle with the Prince Necha:

The Monkey King in the furnace:

Meeting with the Buddha:

Sun Wukong with his magic rod:

snowy12 · Post by **snowy12** » 23 May 2014 15:43

Here's a set of covers from Sierra Leone.

Brian

dzhuo · Post by **dzhuo** » 23 May 2014 17:13

A colorful year of the monkey from China issued on Jan 5, 2004 (Scott #3338)

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 24 May 2014 15:22

Thanks Brian and Dzuho for sharing nice items

Monkeys in Egyptian Mythology

Since Baboons exhibit many human characteristics, it was believed that they were deceased ancestors hence considered in ancient Egypt as sacred animals.

Scarab with a pair of baboons from Tutankhamun’s tomb – Egypt, 1997:

In ancient Egypt, Thoth was the god of knowledge and wisdom. Usually, he is depicted in his human form with the head of an ibis or as a baboon.

God Thoth - international congress of geography, Egypt, 1925:

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 25 May 2014 23:07

Endangered Monkeys
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Monkey Stamps

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is an international organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of world fauna, flora, landscapes, water and soil. Among the WWF issues, it concerned with the protection of endangered species. These species are at risk of becoming extinct because they are either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental parameters.
To raise awareness to the endangered species issue, countries issue stamps depicting endangered animals and plants of their region. The WWF emblem, the Giant Panda, appears on the stamps.

Many countries issued WWF stamps depict endangered monkeys. Here are several examples:

Bonobo Chimpanzee (Pan paniscus) – Zaire, 1997:

Red-backed Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedi) – Panama, 2007:

Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar) – Laos, 2008:

Southern Muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides) – MC, Brazil, 1984:

Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus) – FDC, Algeria, 1988:

Eli · Post by **Eli** » 27 May 2014 23:31

The Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) or long-nosed monkey, is a reddish-brown arboreal Old World monkey endemic to the south-east Asian island of Borneo. This monkey is characterized by his large nose and belly.Here are several items show the Proboscis monkey:

An overprinted stamp issued in 1947 for use in North Borneo:

WWF stamp issued in 1991 by Brunei to raise awareness to the endangered Proboscis monkeys:

Indonesia – 1998:

Meter from Germany publicizes the Frankfurt zoo – 1968:

Canada stamper · Post by **Canada stamper** » 28 May 2014 04:34

Thanks for all the nice images guys, my favourites are the engraved stamps.

I'm scratching head though why there is a panda bear and koala bears on this minisheet from Ireland issued for Year of the Monkey??

Eli wrote:

nethryk · Post by **nethryk** » 30 May 2014 01:23

Here are images of a couple of stamps depicting the potto (Perodicticus potto), a strepsirrhine primate of the family Lorisidae, which inhabits the canopy of rain forests in tropical Africa. The first stamp was designed and engraved by Jacques Combet, and issued by Ivory Coast on January 25, 1964, Scott No. 202, and the second stamp was printed by photogravure, and issued for use in Rio Muni on November 23, 1967 as one of a set of three indigenous animals stamps for Stamp Day, Scott No. 68.

- nethryk