Show Your "Fossilized Stamps" - Fossils On Stamps And Covers

Plant fossils, issued for use in Transkei on January 18, 1990.

- Ginkgo koningensis
- Pseudoctenis spatulata
- Rissikia media
- Taeniopteris anavolans




First day cover.

Firrst day commemorative postmark.

The Natural History Museum, Coburg, Germany

The Natural History Museum dates back to the collections of the Dukes of Coburg, who opened their collections to the public as early as 1844. Franz Friedrich Anton of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1750 - 1806) in particular distinguished himself with his passion for collecting. His two grandsons, Duke Ernst II and Prince Albert, were also keen to collect natural objects from their youth, for example stuffed birds or unusual stones. In 1914, the collection moved into the building close to the court garden. Today it is one of the largest natural history museums in the whole of Bavaria and presents in-depth exhibitions on the geological history of Upper Franconia and the flora and fauna of the Coburg region including fossils, crystals, and a volcano show.

Here are three postal stationary cards, with cachets show items exhibited in the museum:

- Ammonite fossil, 170 MY ago.

- Fish fossil, 175 MY ago.

- Reconstruction of Coburg landscapes as it was 175 MY ago.

Sir Richard Owen (1804 – 1892) was an English biologist, comparative anatomist and paleontologist. Owen is generally considered to have been an outstanding naturalist with a remarkable gift for interpreting fossils.

This set was issued by Great Britain on August 10, 1991 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first use of the word Dinosaur by Sir Richard Owen. The stamps show dinosaur skeleton reconstructions based on findings of fossilized bones and teeth.





In the next post, FDC's and other items relating to this set.

Two FDC's of the above 1991 GB set of dinosaur skeletons with different commemorative postmarks.


A complete set on a commercial cover sent to Israel.

GB post brochure issued with the set show fossilized dinosaur's bones and teeth.

In addition to above stamps, commemorating Sir Richard Owen, here is a stamp issued by Montserrat on August 1, 1982 commemorating the 100th anniversary - death of Owen.

Design based on photo of Owen holding fossilized Moa bone, taken in 1846:

The stamp was issued in SS shows Coelophysis dinosaurs on the margins with description mentions the fact Owen coined the term Dinosaur.

Ammonite fossils on meters from Germany.

Creatures of the Slime - Ediacaran biota

The Ediacaran biota refers to a diverse group of ancient, soft-bodied organisms that lived approximately 635 to 541 million years ago during the Ediacaran period, just before the Cambrian explosion. These enigmatic creatures, preserved as impressions in sedimentary rocks, represent some of the earliest known complex multicellular life. Fossils of the Ediacaran biota, found in locations such as Australia, Canada, and Namibia, exhibit a variety of body plans, including disc-shaped, frond-like, and tubular forms. Their biological affinities remain debated, with some scientists suggesting they were early animals, while others propose links to fungi or entirely extinct branches of life. The Ediacaran biota marks a critical stage in the evolution of life, bridging the gap between microscopic single-celled organisms and the more recognizable animal groups that emerged in the Cambrian.

A set of six stamps shows creatures from the Ediacaran biota issued by Australia on April 21, 2005:

The Ediacaran Fauna are called the "creatures of the Slime" because they lived on and were preserved in microbial mats that covered the seafloor. A souvenir sheet contains the six stamps was issued on the bottom margin, there are embossed fossil images of the creatures of the slime that give the feeling of real fossils.

Georges Cuvier (1769 – 1832) was a French naturalist and zoologist, referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuvier was a major figure in natural sciences research in the early 19th century and was instrumental in establishing the fields of comparative anatomy and paleontology through his work in comparing living animals with fossils.

Among his works, Cuvier established that elephant-like bones found in North America belonged to an extinct animal he later would name as a mastodon, and that a large skeleton dug up in present-day Argentina was of Megatherium, a giant, prehistoric ground sloth.

Cuvier, designed by Clément Serveau, engraved by Jean Pheulpin and issued by France on May 19, 1969. Note the skull fossils of mastodon, a prehistoric elephant, in the lower left corner.


FDC issued with the stamp, also designed by Clément Serveau. On the cachet are Mastodon (left) and Megatherium fossilized skeletons.

I love this thread.
Talking about Mastodons as in the previous post, I don't have stamps to show, but here is a photo of part of a skull found near Santiago-Chile in 2011

Notiomastodon platensis

Thanks, jorgesurcl, for your warm words and sharing the Mastodon skull photo from Chile. I have several Mastodon stamps but all show reconstructions of the animal. Here is one from the USA issued on June 8, 1996.

The stamp was issued as part of a set of four prehistoric animals. Here is the complete set on a cover sent to Israel. The stamps show from left: Eohippus, Woolly Mammoth, Mastodon and Saber-tooth Cat.

Niuafo'ou issued on June 6, 1989 a nice sheet contains 15 stamps about the evolution of the Earth. Stamps show the evolution process from the creation of Earth planet to the development of human beings. The sheet was issued to publicize the World Stamp Expo '89 and the 20th UPU congress, both held in Washington, USA.

Four of the stamps depict clear fossils: fish, dinosaur skull, Archaeopteryx and early human skull.

Three interesting and unusual postmarks from Germany show real fossils of rare creatures.

- Plegiocidaris coronata is an extinct species of sea urchin from the family Cidaridae, known from fossil records dating back to the Jurassic period. It had a robust test adorned with large, thick spines, which likely provided protection against predators. Fossils of P. coronata have been found in Europe, particularly in limestone formations, indicating it inhabited shallow marine environments.

Misthodotes stapfi is an extinct species of beetle from the family Ommatidae, known from fossilized specimens found in the Jurassic strata of Germany. It belonged to an ancient group of beetles that exhibited primitive characteristics, bridging the gap between early and modern beetles. Its discovery provides insights into the evolution of beetles during the Mesozoic era.

Fish and plant fossils and a fossil I can't recognize.

Livyatan is an extinct genus of sperm whale containing one known species: L. melvillei. It is mainly known from the Pisco Formation of Peru during the Tortonian stage of the Miocene epoch, about 9.9–8.9 million years ago; however, finds of isolated teeth from other locations such as Chile, Argentina, California, South Africa and Australia imply that either it or a close relative survived into the Pliocene, around 5 mya, and may have had a global presence. It was probably an apex predator, preying on whales, seals and so forth. Characteristically of raptorial sperm whales, Livyatan had functional, enamel-coated teeth on the upper and lower jaws, as well as several features suitable for hunting large prey.

The name Livyatan is originated from the Hebrew word of biblical sea monster Livyatan, and the species name, L. melvillei, from Herman Melville, the author of the famous novel Moby-Dick about a white bull sperm whale. Herman Melville often referred to whales as "Livyatans" in his book.

Livyatan melvillei, issued by Peru on October 17, 2011.

Livyatan melvillei fossil skull found in Peru in 2008.

Issued in SS shows reconstruction of L. melvillei.

The Skull depicted on the stamp, at the Museum of Natural History of National University of San Marcos, Lime, Peru.

Toxodon (meaning "bow tooth") is an extinct genus of large ungulate native to South America from the Pliocene to the end of the Late Pleistocene. It belonged to the order Notoungulata, a group of hoofed mammals unique to the continent. Resembling a mix of a rhinoceros and a hippopotamus, Toxodon had a massive, barrel-shaped body, short legs, and a large, thick skull with strong teeth suited for chewing tough vegetation. While some authors have suggested that Toxodon was semiaquatic, isotopic analysis has supported a terrestrial lifestyle.

Remains of Toxodon were first collected by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle in 1832-33, and later scientifically named by Richard Owen in 1837. Both Darwin and Owen were puzzled by Toxodon's unusual anatomical features, including its long, ever-growing cheek teeth.

Toxodon platensis fossil skull found in Uruguay, issued by Uruguay on September 20, 1988 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Natural History Museum, Montevideo.

Issued in se-tenant with middle tab shows the museum emblem.

Reconstruction of Toxodon on stamp of other American country, El Salvador. Issued on September 7, 1979.

The Toxodon platensis design of the El Salvador stamp is very resemble on a historical image from 1913.

Ammonite fossils from Austria.

Jubilee of the exhibition of the museum of natural history, Wien, designed by Otto Stefferl and issued on April 30, 1976.

Meter publicizing the museum of natural history, Wien, 1983.

Postmark publicizing the town Ernsbrunn as the entrance of the Leiserberge nature park, 1992.