Flags on stamps

Last modified: 2009-09-12 by antónio martins
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Ed. remark: Most of the contents of these pages were originally researched by Ron Lahav in 2005, and by Richard Mallett later on, with additional input by others. Contributions of vexillological nature are duly credited and dated.

• About flags on stamps
• List of countries (and other issuing entities)
• List of represented flags (and related subjects)
• List of philatelic catalogues
• Full list
• Statistics

• Bibliography

• Flags on Stamps Web Site, by Richard Mallett
• Collecting flags on stamps — General Outline for Discussion, by Bob Hunt
  reported by António Martins, 10 Dec 2005
• Flags on stamps, by Chris Pinette (archived version)
  reported by André Coutanche, 10 Feb 2005
• Stamps featuring "flag" and "flags", at the WADP site
  reported by António Martins, 19 Dec 2005
• Bombay Philatelic, Inc.’s topical index, including flags
  reported by António Martins, 07 Sep 2009
• Archive for the “Flags on Stamps” Category of Flags Bay website
  reported by Bob Hunt, 29 Sep 2007
• M. K. Krishnayya’s collection of stamps featuring flags
• Philatelic Heraldry, by Nahum Shereshevsky

About flags on stamps

This is a part of our site’s Bibliography pages under the assumption that stamps are a kind of “source” for officially sanctioned vexillological information, especially about flag design, and also a bit on usage and history. That typically such information is either irrelevant (because the same or better information is published elsewhere) or erroneous is an interesting fact.
António Martins, 05 Dec 2005

Flag errors in stamps

Many stamps show wrong flags, as some coins show wrong arms!
Ralf Stelter, 22 Oct 1998

As was already proven in several cases, stamps tend to be very untrustworthy evidence in vexillology. The stamps, especially those of Third World countries are made far away from home and the artists drawing them have little knowledge of the local reality. The errors even when found then tend to be ignored for the sake of the cost their correction would require, especially if the errors were not that large and would be spotted only be a very experienced eye.
Željko Heimer, 23 May 2004

The stamps of many smaller countries are not produced locally at all and most of them don’t even get to the issuing country.
Nahum Shereshevsky, 12 Apr 1997

List of philatelic catalogues

• Michel (86 refs.)
• Scott (238 refs.)
• Stanley Gibbons (1824 refs.)
• WADP/WNS (85 refs.)
• Yvert & Tellier (285 refs.)

(Some other catalogues, namely those of a more specialized scope, are mentioned and referenced on the relevant pages: Afinsa, Bale, CPA, Jugomarka, Zumstein.)

Statistics

Chronological progress of this flags-on-stamps catalog kept by FotW:

11 Jun 2009:

2955 flags (and other 528 flag-related items) showing on 2881 stamps issued by 302 entities

04 Out 2007:

2705 flags (and other 527 flag-related items) showing on 2720 stamps issued by 301 entities

17 Sep 2007:

2046 flags (and other 495 flag-related items) showing on 2465 stamps issued by 301 entities

Anything below this line was not added by the editor of this page.