CPS Resource Centre
Spanish Post started 2014 out with two issues of interest to fellow CartoPhilatelists. The first issue, of January 3rd, 2014, marks the fifth centenary of the arrival of Juan Ponce de León to the coast of Florida. On Easter Sunday 1513, also called Pascua Florida (the Festival of Flowers), the Spanish expedition led by Juan Ponce de León discovered a new land which they named Florida, in honor of the day’s religious festival. The self adhesive issue has a denomination of 0,92 €. The stamp depicts a partial portrait of the explorer on the left of the design along with a sailing ship. What appears to be a nautical chart with a partial compass rose and possibly islands on the chart is shown in the background of the issue. The second issue, of January 20, 2014, commemorates the 300th anniversary of the birth of Franciscan friar Junípero Serra. In 1749, Friar Serra was sent with other Franciscans to New Spain, now Mexico, where he was a missionary, preaching the gospel in various parts of the country. In 1768 when the Jesuits were expelled from New Spain, Friar Serra and other monks were sent to Lower and Upper California to found a range of missions reaching up to the bay of San Francisco in the USA. Over the years, these missions became important cities, such as San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento. Friar Serra was beatified in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. The 0.92 € denomination stamp features a portrait of Friar Serra and an antique map showing Baja California cut into the shape of a cross.
[CartoPhilatelists will recognize previous issues of these themes namely USA sc2024 for Ponce de Leon, and then Spain sc2394 and USA scC116 for Friar Serra. If there are others, please tell us. In addition, the Spanish Post web site mentioned that the January 20, 2014 issue also was for Pedro Cieza de León, explorer and chronicler of the Indies. however I could not determine if there was an additional stamp or not Update: Julien from France informs us that there is a separate issue for Pedro Cieza de León however it does not have a map. Thanks! -admin]
