COVER N. 255 - HONDURAS  

Postmark: ???? Admon Tegucigalpa 28.02.2023

Posted on the 28h February; Received on the 14th May 2023
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Another cover from the international consortium Eric & Roland Inc., and another country in the list. Thank you so much, my friends, I'm at loss for words once again....

Honduras is the second largest country in Central America, right after Nicaragua, with whom it shares a terrestrial border in the south while also neighbouring El Salvador, to the west and Guatemala to the northwest.

Albeit being nothing short than a natural paradise on earth, in what regards scenic beauty and biodiversity, it has the reputation of being one of the most unsafe countries in the world, what I'm sure must be hindering its development. 

This should not be disconnected from the fact that Honduras is also one of the most inequalitarian countries in terms of income with 50% of the population living in poverty conditions (less than US$6.85/day) and almost 13% in extreme poverty (less than 2.15/day) as of 2019.

This sad state of affairs has to have its causes, and I'm sure that they are well known... in Honduras as elsewhere.... could not a race that is able to send a satellite to the stars and beyond find a damned way to eradicate at least extreme poverty once and for all... 

It is not a question of "isms", it is simply  a question of ethics and empathy, for heaven's sake....

Stamps, left to right

- 5 Lempira stamp, from a set of 4 (5; 10; 25 and 50 Lempira), dedicated to the Fortress of San Fernando de Omoa, built by the Spainsh between 1756 and 1775, in order to protect the interests of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (which included what is now Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, and the Mexican state of Chiapas) from Pirate activity in the region.

The stamp is illustrated with a photo of a sculpture of  the coat of arms of King Ferdinand VI of Spain, who reigned from 1746 until his death in 1759,  which is exhibited at the main gate of the fortress.

 - Three stamps from a set of eight, (4 x 5 and 4 x 10 Lempira), issued on 10APR2015, promoting the Government's action in the field of environment protection. From left to right, the legend reads We promote responsible mining for a better life; we promote  the production of renewable energy for a better life; we watch over and promote the conservation of protected areas for a better life.

- 5 Lempira stamp from a set of twelve (5 x 5; 4x10; 2 x15; 1x25 Lempira), promoting tourism.  

The image in the stamp is that of a girl cable sliding in Pico Bonito, La Ceiba, Atlántida, a National Park, in the northern, Atlantic., region of the country.

- 5 Lempira stamp from a set of seven (2 x 5; 3 x 10; 1 x 15; 1 x 25 Lempira)  issued on 15APR2016, celebrating the 80th anniversary Sociedad de Caballeros del Santo Entierro, (Society of the Knights of the Saint Burial) an organisation that, according to its own website was founded on the 16th February of 1933, (the 80th anniversary should thus have occurred in 2013) by the Priest Ramón Salgados, and is constituted by a society of catholic men who dedicate themselves to carrying out the celebrations of the Holly Week.

The stamp is illustrated with a photo of the images that are carried on the shoulders by these men in the Holly Week procession.

- 3 Lempira stamp, part of a set of five (1x 3; 1x 5; 1x 14 ; souvenir sheet with 2 x20 Lempira) issued on 27MAY2010 on the occasion of the world soccer cup, held in South Africa, in which the Honduran National Team participated and which was won by Spain.

The stamp is illustrated with a photo of  Mbombela Stadium, in the South African Province of  Mpumalanga, where Honduras had its first game of the tournament when it lost to Chile by 0-1.

Besides the flags of the two contriees, the stamp also exhibits the logos of the Championship and of  Ficohsa, an Honduran Bank, which I presume was the main sponsor of the Honduran team.

- 2 Lempira stamp part of a set of 10 (1 x 2; 2 x 5; 1 x 8; 3 x 10; 1 x 15; 1 x 25; 1 x 50 Lempira) celebrating the 60th anniversary of ENEE Empresa Nacional de Energia Eléctrica (National Electric Power Company).

The stamp is illustrated by an image of what I presume is a dam under construction, with the legend Patuco II. This is the name of a Mega Hydroelectric  power project that, from what I gathered, is not yet accomplished and which is also involved in controversy given, on the one hand,  the potential impacts on an UNESCO WHS area and , on the other, for being at the root of a switch of allegiance of Honduras from Taiwan to China, because of the former failing to financially back the project.

With the exception of this last stamp, which is meant for domestic mail, all the other stamps are labelled Airmail, either in text or by the presence of a small aircraft pictogram.

Unfortunately, the postmark is not that clear, but it seems to contain a pictorial element on top, which i could not decipher.