Errors of Design

Stanley Gibbons is offering a free downloadable article by Oliver Andrew which looks at mistakes that have been made in showing maps on stamps — some deliberate, others in error.

According to Andrew, "There are two basic kinds of design error in maps. One is a straightforward misrepresentation(areas missing, added, or misnamed, for example). The second is a truerepresentation as far as the issuing authority goes, but which is false as far as anotherterritory is concerned. The second kind of course is a sort of propaganda, and is almost always deliberate.

Shown above, in the set of stamps issued by Italy in 1961, the L. 170 value shows the territory of Argentina shaded, but does not include Tierra del Fuego, part of which is claimed by Argentina, nor does it show the Falkland Islands, also claimed by Argentina.

To download the pdf, click here.