Nicaragua UPU anniversary 1974, stamps on stamps; Mongolia UPU 1974 Forms of transport; Khmer Republic UPU 1974 Forms of transport; Uruguay UN 1975 anniversary, other events 2 souvenir sheets
Number 1: What physical activity did most of the rebels in 1984-1986 in a former French colony engage in?
Number 2: What country found a set of 18 U.S. Statue of Liberty stamps being sold under its name on eBay and officially denied that the stamps were actually from the country?
Responses due at or before 10 AM, eastern US time, August 7, 2021, with first correct response to both questions being the winner. Correct answers may be given in multiple responses. If correct answers to both questions not given by same person, person giving first answers to both questions will be the winner. My decision as to the winner will be final.
About #2, a quick search showed that besides the United States, the only country that issued 18 stamps with this theme in a single year was Tuvalu in 1986. But the series is actually composed of 9 minisheets with one stamp each, the other 9 are the detached stamps from their respective minisheets.
In the way the question is worded, I think that this set falls into the Cinderella category (it's how unofficial stamps are called).
About #1, I am completely clueless. What should be my wild guess, athletism, soccer between revolution comrades...?
Giobruno, You have more information than I had but match my answer. My answer is Tuvalu, the source indicating the minisheets are genuine and only mentioning 18 stamps (different from the minisheets) with the year being 1986.
Report date: 1986 (or later)
"Statue of Liberty 18 different stamps. Ten are horizontal in format, eight are vertical. Some are illustrated below, thanks to Herbert Chamberlain. They are quite different than the genuine Thematic Issue souvenir sheets of 1986. They have been reported for sale on eBay." https://stampsoftuvalu.com/forgeries.html?0
Quote: "Coinman48"Giobruno, You have more information than I had but match my answer. My answer is Tuvalu, the source indicating the minisheets are genuine and only mentioning 18 stamps (different from the minisheets) with the year being 1986.
Report date: 1986 (or later)
"Statue of Liberty 18 different stamps. Ten are horizontal in format, eight are vertical. Some are illustrated below, thanks to Herbert Chamberlain. They are quite different than the genuine Thematic Issue souvenir sheets of 1986. They have been reported for sale on eBay."
https://stampsoftuvalu.com/forgeries.html?0
Well, #1 is really tough.
I thought in narrowing it down by checking the list of revolts and rebellions in the mid 1980's, but of the revolts I saw none were in places that are former french colonies.
The closest thing I found was a revolt in 1984-1985 in New Caledonia, but since that place is still french territory, it's certainly not the answer.
Without finding which revolt we are talking about, I can only make guesses.
I'm searching in the Chad-Libya region, but then I would think gymnastics is the wrong answer. Football is a big sport there but that answer is already given.
Boxing is also important in Chad, so maybe that?
A physical activity in it's purest form then (and not a sport!)
Hanging onto the back of a truck... At the end of the Chad-Libyan war many of the soldiers only had Toyota trucks as a means of transport, and so it became the Toyota-War.
This is my final answer!
Quote: "Coinman48"It's not a competitive sport as far as I know but it is an organized activity, at least where I am thinking of, and it's not in North Africa.
Will
I have been searching in the wrong place...
So it must have been a former French Colony, NOT in North Africa, and the French were not involved in the fighting...
The unrest started when the government banned the activity in 1984. Members of activity associations killed over 100 members of the presidential security force in their biggest success. The leader of the insurrection and about 200 of his followers were killed by the army using armored cars and helicopters to end the insurrection.
In september 1984 president Ratsiraka banned martial arts (Kung Fu). This led to clashes between members of the Kung Fu adherents and the TTS (Tanora Tonga Saina) which acted as Ratsiraka's presidential security force.
On december 4th 1984 a large confrontation led to the death of more than 100 TTS members.
Demonstrations continued for the next years and ultimately was ended on july 31st 1986 when army units supported by 12 armored cars and helicopters demolished the Kung Fu headquarters, killing the movements leader and 200 of his followers.
And for #2 we have to thank Giobruno for his excellent research.
Quote: "Newtony"In september 1984 president Ratsiraka banned martial arts (Kung Fu). This led to clashes between members of the Kung Fu adherents and the TTS (Tanora Tonga Saina) which acted as Ratsiraka's presidential security force.
On december 4th 1984 a large confrontation led to the death of more than 100 TTS members.
Demonstrations continued for the next years and ultimately was ended on july 31st 1986 when army units supported by 12 armored cars and helicopters demolished the Kung Fu headquarters, killing the movements leader and 200 of his followers.
Wow, good find.
I started thinking on some sort of martial art, but I wanted to sleep and continue later.
Congrats Tony, for finding the answer that everyone got curious to see (myself included).
Funny thing is that my research had brought me to Madagascar before, but I couldn't find a link...
It took a detour via Haïti and then your last hint before I finally figured it out...
Found a book entitled: Madagascar Country Study Guide volume 1 and it describes the end of the movement in 1986. Encyclopedie Britannica however states 1985 for the Final attack.
Had a lot of fun (again)... 👍
Status changed to Solved(Coinman48, 7 Aug 2021, 22:01)
