Stamp Giveaway # 12 (Lesser known oddities) [solved]

I'm not sure how the Guyana 1988 Red Cross stamps fit together in a miniature sheet but there is no way to make a Red Cross in the middle unless stamps are not positioned all right side up. I was told by my dealer that the stamps were almost all distributed as singles. One set of Yemen Royalist stamps were not issued for the Red Cross in 1963, the other Yemen set from 1963 was (and honored foreign medical aid during the civil war at the time). The last Yemen set seems to have been the last set issued by the kingdom before the civil war started, although the accompanying souvenir sheet has a slogan used on quite a few Royalist stamps "Free Yemen fights for God, Imam & Country" (look also at spelling of Secretary-General's name).


Why was a 2 stamp set and a souvenir sheet in 1963 not issued for the Red Cross anniversary by Royalist Yemen? My information is unclear what changes were made if any resulting in the issue of the stamps years later.

What problem affected a set of Sao Tome and Principe stamps in the 1970s but did not keep the stamps from being distributed?

First correct response received at or before noon eastern US time, July 19, 2021, will be declared the winner. If no correct response received, the first response will win. My decision as to the winner will be final.

Good luck to all who choose to participate.

Will

Just a few wild guesses:
- Because of the civil war, started a year earlier, and the fight for a Free Yemen was too important to not use that as a theme on a stamp set as well?
- The series for the 100th Anniversary of Sao Tome and Principe Stamps in 1970 although the first stamps were already issued in 1869?

A really difficult one this time

Quote: "allexis"​A really difficult one this time

​Yes, I know, I really couldn't find anything. Nevertheless I took a shot and tried a few wild guesses.

Another wild guess: Why was a 2 stamp set and a souvenir sheet in 1963 not issued for the Red Cross anniversary by Royalist Yemen? Stamps were made but were "Delayed in Transit Through Enemy Lines."

An one more wild guess: What problem affected a set of Sao Tome and Principe stamps in the 1970s but did not keep the stamps from being distributed? Stamps were affected by Sao Tome and Principe declaration of independence in 1975.

Quote: "rsirian1"Stamps were affected by Sao Tome and Principe declaration of independence in 1975.

​That was my first thought too. But the Treaty of Algiers was already in November 1974 so the independence in 1975 wasn't a surprise. If they knew the independence was coming how could that have affected that set of stamps. Besides, I think you can hardly call independence a "problem". So I let it go as possible solution.
I also think your first guess isn't correct either. The "Delayed in Transit Through Enemy Lines." was an overprint on the envelop, not a stamp. And the question was why had that stamp not the Red Cross anniversary as theme. Your answer is not really an answer to that question. Although I also think the civil war has something to do with the solution.
Very curious about the answers on both questions.

Quote: "Essor Prof"​

Quote: "rsirian1"Stamps were affected by Sao Tome and Principe declaration of independence in 1975.

​​That was my first thought too. But the Treaty of Algiers was already in November 1974 so the independence in 1975 wasn't a surprise. If they knew the independence was coming how could that have affected that set of stamps. Besides, I think you can hardly call independence a "problem". So I let it go as possible solution.
​I also think your first guess isn't correct either. The "Delayed in Transit Through Enemy Lines." was an overprint on the envelop, not a stamp. And the question was why had that stamp not the Red Cross anniversary as theme. Your answer is not really an answer to that question. Although I also think the civil war has something to do with the solution.
​Very curious about the answers on both questions.

​Good points. It was just a WAG. I got into this one late because I couldn't find anything that made sense to me. I, too await the correct answers.

I'm glad I have you guys stumped so far. As for Sao Tome and Principe, I have examples of the problem and I would think there would have been some publicity at the time but maybe there is only information from my dealer at the time.

Reading the Royalist Yemen question, maybe I could have phrased it better. A set was prepared for the Red Cross anniversary in 1963 that included 2 stamps and a souvenir sheet but was not issued. What prevented the release of the set when the stamps were prepared?

Less than 48 hours to go!

Will

Ok, I’ll have a try. It’s a stretch but here we go.

Was it because of the Aden emergency?

Edit: It’s for the Yemen question

Quote: "Coinman48"​​Reading the Royalist Yemen question, maybe I could have phrased it better. A set was prepared for the Red Cross anniversary in 1963 that included 2 stamps and a souvenir sheet but was not issued. What prevented the release of the set when the stamps were prepared?

​Obviously I've interpreted the original question wrongly. I assume it's about these two stamps, but I still have no answers, not even a wild guess anymore:

These Yemen stamps with multiple overprints, changed face values, and even strikethrough sentences (Freedom from Hunger) were not suitable for such an event : the centenary of the international red-cross !
They were not commemorative stamps anymore, they were just confettis made of odds and ends.
In addition, how may we associate the red-cross with the war slogan "Free Yemen fights for God".
No, forget all that, do not recycle stamps intended for something else and make an accurate series dedicated to this event, with a much more peaceful slogan: "Free Yemen thanks red-cross", well ... even if it is for a military hospital

For São Tomé e Príncipe, it was necessary to celebrate independence in 1975, with stamps coming from ... Portugal where they knew very well their own flag but not quite the new flag of the former colony
So the flag of Portugal is well proportioned when the flag of São Tomé e Príncipe is way too long

Congratulations, Essor Prof. You jumped in first and so you win since there was no correct answer.

You came close with the Yemen 2 stamps. Gibbons states that the stamps were not issued in their original state because there were overprints in English and Arabic on the souvenir sheet and the English used the wording "Red Grescent"; the sheet was finally issued in 1966 with an overprint to make it valid to send PERIODICALS.

No one came close to Sao Tome and Principe. In 1977 the country issued stamps 3 years late for the UPU 1974 anniversary. 1952 Navigators stamps and 1965 military uniforms stamps of colonial times were used. Due to the long storage time in tropical conditions in many cases glassine interleaving had stuck to the gum on the stamps and the stamps were sold that way.

Sorry to be late with the information but it has been a busy day.

Will