Famous Women On Stamps And Covers

Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Elly Heuss-Knapp (1881-1952), a German politician, social reformer, and author, designed by Elisabeth von Janota-Bzowski (1912-2012), printed by photogravure, and issued by Germany on January 15, 1981 to commemorate the politician's birth centenary , Scott No. 1341, Michel No. 1082, plus an image of a photograph of Elly Heuss-Knapp.

- nethryk

For International Women's Day: Lady Liberty is perhaps the most famous woman in the world. She was an immigrant and welcomes all refugees, "yearning to breathe free". The 7 rays of her crown represent the seven seas and continents; broken chains lie at her feet.


(On the statues thread Liberty is represented 8 times, but not in this variation issued by France in 1936 as a semipostal for aid to refugees and victims of persecution.)

A belated Happy Birthday (March 16) to Mother Anna Maria Dengel, S.C.M.M., (1892-1980), an Austrian physician, Religious Sister and missionary. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Dengel, designed by Elmar Peintner (1954- ), combined engraved by Rudolf Toth (1918-2009) and photogravure, and issued by Austria on May 22, 1992 to commemorate the physician's birth centenary, Scott No. 1572, plus an image of a photograph of Dr. Anna Dengel.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Bhikaiji Rustom Cama (1861-1936) a prominent figures in the Indian independence movement, printed by photogravure, and issued by India on January 26, 1962 to commemorate the political activist's birth centenary, Scott No. 352, plus an image of a photo of Bhikaiji Cama.

- nethryk

Czech Republic
Vera Cáslavská
May 3, 2017
Vera Cáslavská (1942 – 2016) was a Czechoslovakian artistic gymnast and Czech sports official. She won a total of 22 international titles between 1959 and 1968 including seven Olympic gold medals, four World titles and eleven European championships.

Andorra (French Administration)
Isabelle Sandy
October 7, 2016
Isabelle Sandy (1884 - 1975) was a French poet, writer and radio presenter, best known for her regionalism. She was awarded the Prix Montyon by the Académie française for Chantal Daunoy. It has been noted that she was one of the few women writers in the interwar period.

India
Rukmini Devi Arundale
May 11, 2009
Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904 – 1986) is considered the most important revivalist in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. She founded Kalakshetra Foundation in 1936 dedicated to the preservation of traditional Indian art and crafts, especially in the field of Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music.

Pakistan
Centenary of birth of Begum Ra'na Liaquat Ali Khan
June 13, 2006
Begum Ra'ana Liaqat Ali Khan (1905 – 1990) was one of the leading woman figures in the Pakistan Movement. She became First Lady of Pakistan (1947 - 1951) when her husband Liaqat Khan Ali became Pakistan's first prime minister. She launched programs for woman's development in the newly founded country. Later, she would start her career as a stateswoman that would last a decade.

Mexico
Adela Formoso de Obregón Santacilia
September 6, 2001
Adela Formoso de Obregón Santacilia (1907 - 1981) was a Mexicon writer, educator and activist. She founded Feminine University of Mexico and other institutions of the same type across the country. She is recognized as a forerunner of women's rights in Mexico.

United States
Progress of Women
July 19, 1948
The design features portraits of three women:
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was an abolitionist who worked with Lucretia Mott to put forth a declaration of women's rights and with Susan B. Anthony toward women's suffrage;
Carrie C. Catt (1859-1947) was a leader in the temperance movement and in the women's suffrage movement who served as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association;
Lucretia Mott (1793-1880) was an abolitionist, pacifist, suffragist who presided over the historic Seneca Falls convention which issued the Declaration of Sentiments, a call for equal treatment of women.

Pakistan
Dr. Ruth Katharina Martha Pfau
December 3, 2017
Dr Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau (1929 – 2017) was a German-born Pakistani physician and nun of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She devoted more than 50 years of her life fighting leprosy in Pakistan. She is known as Mother Teresa of Pakistan.

Lalla Fadhma N'Soumeur (c.1830- c. 1863) was a Kabyle fighter who was an important figure in the Algerian resistance movement during the first years of the French colonial invasion of Algeria. Here is an image of a stamp depicting the heroine on horseback, pointing with a rifle, printed by lithography, and issued by Algeria on March 8, 1998 for International Women's Day, Scott No. 1117, plus an image of a postcard bearing a photographic portrait of Lalla Fadhma N'Soumeur. Bonuses: Horse, jewelry, gun, and cold steel (sword).

- nethryk

Maria Reiche, born 115 years ago today, is known as the Lady of the Lines. She traveled to Peru as a young teacher and was so fascinated by the lines and figures of Nasca, that she spent many decades exploring and preserving them. Maria is perhaps the most famous cleaning lady of history because she spent years making the figures more visible from the air by sweeping along the lines and areal photos finally drew international attention. She lived to see them become a UNESCO world heritage site.

Here is an image of a stamp honoring Japanese millionairess and philanthropist Takiko Yoshida (1908-2000), widely known for her work in building nursery schools for the poor in Sri Lanka, printed by lithography, and issued by Sri Lanka on August 16, 2008 to commemorate the philanthropist's birth centenary, Scott No. 1663, plus a photo of Lady Takiko Yoshida.

- nethryk

That Algerian stamp of Lalla Fadhma N'Soumeur is very cool!