The story of the first postage stamp

THE STORY OF THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMP

The Penny Black - the world’s first postage stamp [Wikimedia image]

Read from "Design Decoded" blog at Smithsonian [http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/design/2013/07/the-story-of-the-first-postage-stamp/]

"I need a home please" and treasures - a package from Great Britain

"I NEED A HOME PLEASE" AND TREASURES

Country: Great Britain

Place:  Wirral
Received: 08/05/2013

Distance: 1 857 km
Travelled: 36 days

A package from my friend Scriptor

Surprise!

Hmm...

Oh... Hey you, my dear friend!

We gave him the name Mishet (French style). He is a true gentleman!

Amazing fridge magnet

This absolutely amazing metal fridge magnet is from the Robert Opie Collection "Great Nostalgic Images". 

"Built up since 1963, The Collection now contains over 500,000 items which together tell the extraordinary story of Britain's consumer society, its lifestyle and culture - dramatic changes that have happened as a result of and since the Industrial Revolution.

Initially, as a teenager, Robert Opie gathered together contemporary packaging, everything from cereal boxes to cigarette packs. The first item in the Collection was a Munchies pack bought by Robert on Inverness railway station in 1963, when he was 16. A few years later Robert's mission extended to understanding the origins and development of brands and retailing; he assembled the evidence from thousands of surviving examples of bottles, tins, labels, signs and many forms of promotional and advertising material. By 1975 there was enough material for Robert to be invited to stage a one-man show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. This was entitled The Pack Age; A Century of Wrapping It Up. This temporary show was such a success with the public and the media that it encouraged Robert to try to create a permanent Museum, and this was achieved in 1984, with the setting up of the Museum in Gloucester. 

The Collection expanded rapidly when Robert decided to extend it into further areas of social history - toys and games, travel and transport, leisure and entertainment, comics, magazines and newspapers - every facet of daily life, including souvenirs from exhibitions and major events such as coronations. Ephemera such as postcards, song sheets, posters and brochures show not only the story of design and fashion but also the whole structure and transitional nature of everyday life. The research Robert undertook was similar to assembling a vast jigsaw where each tiny piece contributes to the undersatnding of the wider picture. " Some may consider so much apparent trivia to be so much rubbish," says Opie, "but it is amongst the fragments of daily living that we are psychologically and socially rooted, and this is where the impulses of our society can be found."

Seems, the cat is totally comfortable

Cat's eyes...

Cats have a reflective layer behind the retina that sends light to pass through the retina back into the eye, which improves the ability to see in darkness. Cat’s light detection threshold is up to seven times lower than humans’, and the visual field of cats is of about 200°. Cats can differ between red, blue, green and yellow lights.

Wonderful poem

The Teddy Bears Picnic

If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.

If you go out in the woods today,
You'd better not go alone.
It's lovely out in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

CHORUS

Every teddy bear, that's been good
Is sure of a treat today
There's lots of wonderful things to eat
And wonderful games to play

Beneath the trees, where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

CHORUS

Elizabeth II and 1981 Royal Wedding

The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer took place on 29th of July, 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. This marriage was called a "fairytale wedding" or the "wedding of the century". The estimated TV audience to watch the ceremony counted about 750 million. 

"Persuasion" by Jane Austen

"Persuasion" is the last completed novel by Jane Austen. The novel was finished in August 1816, and the author died in 1817 at the age of 41. The novel was published in December 1817, but dated 1818.

Lady Jane Grey

Jane Grey or Lady Jane Dudley was the Queen of England from July 10, 1553 till July 19, 1553. She is also known as the "Queen for nine days." Jane Grey was put to death for the authority usurpation on February 12, 1554.

"Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen

"Northanger Abbey" was the first novel by Jane Austen to be completed for publication. In 1803 the novel was sold for £10 to Crosby & Co. bookseller, who decided against publishing. In 1816, the book was sold back to Jane Austen's brother for the same sum of £10. As the books by Jane were published anonymously, the bookseller didn't know her to be a popular writer by then. The novel was published in December 1817, but dated 1818.