Intro | Guide Numbers | Checklist | Society | Exhibits | Acknowledgements | Links

The record of life on earth lies physically embedded in the rock beneath our feet. Discovery and reassembly of these archaic remains into reasonably correct anatomies provides us with a renewed wonder in the origins of life. Our good fortune continues into the hobby of philately with the depiction of many of these life forms on postage stamps and other postal items.

This study records postal materials depicting prehistoric life forms. Tools, weapons, art or utensils were fashioned from fossils, animal bone, or plants by our prehistoric ancestors. Due to their origins, such items are included provided they are believed to be at least 10,000 years old.

No claims are made as to the completeness of the postal materials listed. Translation errors are the fault of the editor, corrections are solicited.

As with every 'labor of love', improvements through suggestion or additional information are sure to come. If you have materials not included, please notify fran adams. The time to complete this study is always short and work is continuing at a slow pace regretfully.

Special thanks are due Dr. Michael Brett-Surman, Arlington, Virginia, Dr. David B. Wilkie, Kingwood, Texas as well as Mr. Saul Friess, Miami, Florida for their collecting interest. We sincerely hope this work is of assistance to collectors with paleontological interests.

Guide Numbers

To provide order throughout the list and readily identify various types of postal materials, a coding system has been devised which results in a 'Guide Number'. The guide number is divided into two parts, a prefix code and a sequence number.

The first part, a prefix code, consists of a double letter which defines the type of philatelic item, ie. adhesive postage stamp, stationery, etc. Note: the classification system is devised to expand into all areas of philately, but not all lists are published.

The second part, a sequence number of three digits, is assigned in chronological order (by date of issue or as closely as may be determined).

Prefix Code

Adhesives		(Postage Stamps and Labels)
AP.		Adhesive, Postal (Government Issues)
AL.		Adhesive, Local or Private (with imprinted denominations)
AC.		Adhesive, Cinderella (without imprinted denominations)
AS.		Adhesive, Service (registration labels, etc.)

Sequence Number

Numbers are assigned in chronological order (by date of issue or earliest known usage as well as may be determined).

Example:

Guide number 'AP 009', is interpreted as:

AP indicates an adhesive postage stamp issued by a national government.

009 represents the ninth postage stamp issued relating to paleontology.

Intro | Guide Numbers | Checklist | Society | Exhibits | Acknowledgements | Links

Checklist

The checklist example format (below) is simple. A full list (pdf-44k) currently covering postage stamps issued between 1949 and 1989, may be downloaded directly from this site. This allows opening the checklists on any platform using the Adobe Acrobat reader software. The latest version of the free reader software is available from Adobe. No specific schedule is foreseen for updates although such may be produced.

Guide	#	Date	Authority	Value	Genus	Species	Name	Period
AP	001	3/5/49	Monaco	18 Franc	Bos	priscus	Ox	Pleistocene
AP	002	1/13/51	India	2 anna	Stegodon	ganesa	Proboscidean	Pliocene
AP	003	5/3/51	Great Britain	5 Shillings	Camerina	sp.	Invertebrate	Cretaceous
AP	004	5/3/51	British Offices, Bahrain	5 Shillings	Camerina	sp.	Invertebrate	Cretaceous
AP	005	5/3/51	British Offices, Eritrea	5 / 5 Shillings	Camerina	sp.	Invertebrate	Cretaceous
AP	006	5/3/51	British Offices, Kuwait	5 / 5 Shillings	Camerina	sp.	Invertebrate	Cretaceous
AP	007	5/3/51	British Offices, Morocco	5 Shillings	Camerina	sp.	Invertebrate	Cretaceous
AP	008	5/3/51	British Offices, Tangier	5 Shillings	Camerina	sp.	Invertebrate	Cretaceous
AP	009	5/3/51	British Offices, Tripolitania	120 / 5 Shillings	Camerina	sp.	Invertebrate	Cretaceous
AP	010	8/11/52	Algeria	15 Franc	Berbericeras	sekikensis	Ammonoid	Jurassic, M.

Intro | Guide Numbers | Checklist | Society | Exhibits | Acknowledgements | Links

Collector's Society for Natural Sciences

The German philatelic society "Bergbau und Geowissenshaften e.V." covers the topics of Geology, Mineralogy, Paleontology, Paleoanthropology, Prehistory, Prehistoric Cave and Rock Art, Spelaeology, Oil and Mining. The journal is published four times per year and is in the German language. As most every stamp, stationery item, cancel and/or postage meter is depicted graphically, it's a great resource even if you don't read German. Many of the members speak and write in English and many are interested in trading materials.

Chairman's e-mail: Helmut Kutzelnigg

Luxemburger Str. 354, D-50937 Koln, Germany

Exhibits

Exhibiting the area of prehistoric life is challenging as well as interesting. The following exhibits have been fun and taught me more than I can say about the subjects they cover. I'd encourage anyone with an interest in this area to exhibit at least a single frame and experience the satisfaction of a work of love as well as art.

T. rex Exhibit

Neandertal Exhibit

Cave Art Exhibit

Intro | Guide Numbers | Checklist | Society | Exhibits | Acknowledgements | Links

Acknowledgements

We are deeply indebted to the following authors and works:
Bahn, Paul G., 1998, Cambridge Illustrated History of Prehistoric Art
Baldwin and Halstead, 1991, Dinosaur Stamps of the World
Ball, G., 1980, Bio-Philately; Volumes 29 to 49
Baumbach, Manfred, 2001, Glückauf; Numbers 83-90
Boardman, Cheetham and Rowell, 1987, Fossil Invertebrates
Carroll, R.L., 1988, Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution
Day, M., 1986, Guide to Fossil Man
Detrich, D., 1977, Old World Archaeologist; Volumes I to XVI
Eckstein, U., 1979, Archaeologie, Numbers 7 to 49
Lambert, D., 1990, The Dinosaur Data Book
Moser, C., 1974, Codex Filatelica; Volumes I to XXII
Norman, D., 1985, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs
Olshevsky, G., 1999, Dinosaurs by Continent
Pfeiffer, J., 1982, The Creative Explosion
Pinna, G., 1990, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fossils
Savage and Long, 1986, Mammal Evolution, an Illustrated Guide
Schwaneberger Verl., 1988, Michel Briefmarken Katalogen; Worldwide
Scott Publishing Co., 1989, Scott Postage Stamp Catalog; Volumes. 1-4
Shreeve, J., 1995, The Neandertal Enigma
Simpson, G., 1983, Fossils and the History of Life
Tattersal, I., 1993, The Human Odyssey
Tattersal, I., 1995, The Last Neanderthal
Trinkaus, E. and Shipman, P., 1992, The Neandertals
van Soeren, J., 1975, Geologie; Numbers 1 to 94
van Soeren, J., 1983, Fossilien und Saurier in der Philatelie, 2nd edition
van Soeren, J., 1986, Fossilien und Saurier in der Philatelie, Nachtrag 1
Waller, L., 1977, Nature's Wonders, Volumes 1 to 16
Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska, 1990, The Dinosauria
Wellnhofer, P., 1991, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs

Intro | Guide Numbers | Checklist | Society | Exhibits | Acknowledgements | Links

Favorite Links

Pterosaur FAQs

Dinosaurs on Stamps

Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals on Stamps

Mothers of Time (Paleolithic Figures)

Coelecanth Exhibit

Cryptozoology

Coelecanth Society

Keimar Stamps (Dealer)

Intro | Guide Numbers | Checklist | Society | Exhibits | Acknowledgements | Links

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