COVER N. 512 - LAOS

Postmark: ? Acceptence...? 02.09.2024

Posted on the 2nd September; Received on the 23rd September 2024

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My friend the Flying Dutchmen surprise me with yet another cover from a distant place, making it possible for me to add another country to the ever growing list. Muito Obrigado, Eric!

Laos, or the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a large question mark to me. In fact the only thing I can remember about this Southeast Asia state is that it once was part of French Indochina and after gaining its independence, as the Kingdom of Laos, it suffered heavily under the carpet bombings of B-52's during the Vietnam war, when part of the country was occupied by North Vietnamese forces, in support of their actions against the South Vietnamese/American forces.

The Kingdom of Laos would subside in 1975 with the end of the  civil war  which would go one for another 2 years after the Vietnam War  terminated in 1973, and,  its place, the Pathet Lao, a communist movement backed by the USSR, established the now existing  Lao People's Democratic Republic. 

I wonder why would Laos issue a stamp commemorating 50 years of the first Europa Stamps, let alone six, but that's exactly what happened as proved by the six imperforate stamps on the cover, issued on 01DEC2005.

Each stamp is illustrated with an image of a well known European landmark side by side with a Laotian one.

from left to right, top to bottom:

7000 kip  - the Palace of Knossos, Greece and Patuxai, Vientiane, Laos, a monument completed in 1968 honouring the victims of the fight for independence from France.

 6000 kip - Stonehenge, England, and Plain of Jars, Laos, a megalithic site with hundreds of stone jars implanted on the ground, believed to be used for burial purposes.

8000 kip - Trier Cathedral, Germany and Wat Phra Keo, Vientiane, Laos, a temple made in 1565 to house what is known as the Emerald Buddha, a statue of Buddha sculpted in green stone.

7500 kip - Notre Dame de  Paris, France and That Lauang, Valentiane, Laos, considered to be the most iconic of all Laotian landmarks, this Buddhist stupa, whose origins can be traced back to the 3rd century AD, is covered in gold.

7500 kip - Lom Stave Church, Norway and Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang, Laos, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in the country, it was built in 1559-60.

7000 kip - The Coliseum, Rome, Italy, and Wat Phu, a temple in Southern Laos, one of the oldest worshiping constructions in all Southeast Asia.

Unfortunately, I cannot make out the local of expedition in the postmark.