State Visit of President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1960)

Today's stamp issue includes both the stamp and souvenir sheet issued to commemorate President Dwight D. Eisenhower's visit to South Korea. I added these two items to my collection sometime last year, first the stamp and later the s/s after getting a good deal on an auction site. I enjoy having these two items in my collection. Like many of the earlier produced souvenir sheets for South Korea the watermark is readily apparent on these. Here are the specifics for this issue:

• Date of Issue: 19 June 1960
• Scott Catalogue #: 305
• Korea Postage stamp Catalogue #: C131
• Quantity Produced: 500,000 stamps & 30,000 souvenir sheets

I have not been able to track down an official press release from the South Korean Ministry of Communication for this stamp issue, but I know from other research that President Eisenhower spoke to the National Assembly of Korea during his trip. Eisenhower's speech to the National Assembly of Korea can be read here. 

First Day Cover of Eisenhower Issue

The life of Dwight D. Eisenhower is a fascinating one. From his upbringing, to his career in the military, and later as President his life is an interesting one to study and one can't help but respect his time in service to the United States.

Greeting Sign for President Eisenhower during his Visit to South Korea

I've read about President Eisenhower during WWII quite a bit when he was a 5 star General, but I was largely unfamiliar with his trips to South Korea both in 1952 and in 1960. This is a neat stamp issue by South Korea and I am glad I have these two items in my collection.

Until next time....

"The Korean Liberator" Cover - 20 May 1946

Today's post is of a cover I recently purchased that commemorates the first trip of "The Korean Liberator", a Korean streamliner, that traveled from Seoul to Busan on 20 May 1946. This is a very interesting cover in my opinion and coincidentally the first cover to be added to my growing Korea collection. Tied to the cover are all six of the "Liberation from Japanese Rule" commemoratives, which is fitting for the first trip of "The Korean Liberator" streamliner. The cover was addressed to a Mr. & Mrs. John Knodle in Syracuse, NY by a Major H. C. Watkins who presumably worked in the Department of Finance for the U.S. Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK).

I tried to find additional information on "The Korean Liberator"; however, the information out there on the internet is rather sparse. I did turn up a couple similar covers for sale in the UK and a couple Korean websites that made brief mention of the streamliner, but I didn't find anything all that enlightening. Does anyone out there have additional background on this streamliner and the first trip on 20 May 1946?

I really like this cover and if I can find any other "first trip" covers for this streamliner I will try and snatch them up. Perhaps someone out there has one in their collection they would be willing to part with? If so, please send me an email!

Have a great evening! Until next time...