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This fourth and last issue of postage stamps for 2005 of the Mauritius Post Ltd is
highlighting a very important aspect of our tourism industry ? the production and sales of
reduced ship models. Our artisans have a high quality workmanship. We have a world wide reputation
in this field. The set comprises 4 postage stamps showing:
ROMAN GALLEY
New Roman warship equipped with a revolving bridge 6 to 12 metres high, a turret protecting the
archers and a reinforced three pronged ram used to tear into the hostile ship?s flank which enabled
the Romans to destroy the Carthaginian fleet at MYLIAE and ensure their domination of the whole
Mediterranean sea.
DRAKKAR
Clinker hull Viking long ship decorated with fearsome dragon?s or snake?s or lion?s head which was
detachable as it was forbidden to carry them when the ships neared the home shores so as not to offend the
spirits protecting their tribe.
SAMPAN
The Chinese had reached such a state of perfection in their ship building technique that there had been little
change in its development for over 2000 years. There had always been two innovations:
(1) the stern hung rudder used by the Chinese centuries before the Europeans.
(2) the sails made of small sections of cloth stiffened by light bamboo battens. A Chinese author in the XIIth
century described the vessel?s sails as ?revolving round the masts as a door on its hinges?.
SOLEIL ROYAL
100-gun warship built at the end of the seventeenth century. Prestige was the preoccupation of the courts of
Europe and the abundance of decoration on the great capital ships reinforced the pre-eminence of one sovereign over the other.
This warship was one of the most decorated in the world, a tribute to Louis XIV, the ?ROI SOLEIL?.
Technical Details:
Designer : Nurveen Ratty
(Graphic Designer, Mauritius Post Ltd)
Photos : Iswarnath Govind
(Officer In charge, Mauritius Postal Museum)
Printer : BDT International
Size : 27.94 x 44.45mm
Perforation : 14 x 2
Gum : PVA
Paper : Crown Agents
Watermarked
Sheet Format : 50 stamps set in 2 panes of 25
Release Date : 24 December 2005
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