Famous Bicycle Stamps
On your bike! Coolgardie Cycle Express Company – a private courier in competition with the camel; Report by Ken Lewis, published in the Stamp Magazine / July 2012 (pages 66 – 68)
La poste cycliste de Fresno à San Francisco - juillet 1894 part I - (french) by Jean-Pierre Mangin et René Geslin, published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in Philatelie Quebec Revue no 133, December 1988 : pages 22-25
La poste cycliste de Fresno à San Francisco - juillet 1894 part II - (french) by Jean-Pierre Mangin et René Geslin, published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in Philatelie Quebec Revue no 134, January 1989 : pages 30-32
Fresno - San Francisco Bicycle Mail during the strike of the American Railway Union members in 1894
The Fresno and San Francisco Bicycle Mail of 1894 by Richard C. Frajola
Farrell Collection: Bicycle Mail Route made available by Carriers and Locals Society (Pennypost) as reference for collectors and dealers.
Mysterious Bicycle Stamp Indian labels for boxes of bicycle pedals??? Who knows?
Postes Moulins operated in Timaru/New Zealand from 1968 to 1969. (chat on stampboards.com – user "Panterra" = Bruce Henderson)
The Concord Bicycle Stamp Article from Gordon Stimmell published in THE PENNY POST Vol. 4, No. 2 in April 1994 (Excerpt with the friendly permission of the Carriers and Locals Society.) --- This company operated a Public Messenger Service in Concord New Hampshire in the years 1895 to … 1887(?) – managed by F. H. Crapo. Big size, deplorable condition and rough crayon(?) cancellation indicate that these stamps were probably used for the transport of parcels. This assumption is supported by the fact, that no covers with these stamps were ever found.
Find Item No. 8? - The Editor's Desk Foreword from Gordon Stimmell published in THE PENNY POST Vol. 5, No. 2 in April 1995 (Excerpt with the friendly permission of the Carriers and Locals Society.)
Find Item No. 9 - Letters to the Editor Foreword from Gordon Stimmell published in THE PENNY POST Vol. 6, No. 2 in April 1996 (Excerpt with the friendly permission of the Carriers and Locals Society.)
Find Item No. 10 - The Mysterious World of Locals Article from Gordon Stimmell published in THE PENNY POST Vol. 7, No. 1 in January 1997 (Excerpt with the friendly permission of the Carriers and Locals Society.)
Farrell Collection: Concord Bicycle Co. made available by Carriers and Locals Society (Pennypost) as reference for collectors and dealers.
Articles - bicycle stamps collecting
Cycle and Motorcycle Manufacturers - Great Britain perfins (English) by Roy Gault, published by “The Perfin Society” in the December 2009 society bulletin.
The Story behind the Stamp - Quer durch Deutschland 1949 - Across Germany by Thomas Matthies, 2017; don't miss this YouTube video
The Story behind the Stamp - Max Ludwig by Thomas Matthies, 2018; continuation of Quer durch Deutschland 1949
Aristocracia Filatélica y Economía Temática (Spanish) by Jordi Quintana published in La Lupa/Un blog de Filatelia Temática; February 2018
Une histoire du vélocipède (French) by Albán Andreu published in Timbres magazine; July/August 2011, page 72-75
Freiheit auf zwei Rädern (German) published in postfrisch, das Philatelie Journal, 4/2017, page 4 – 7
La Bicicleta Cumple 200 Anos The bicycle is 200 years old (Spanish) by Jordi Quintana, published in EL ECO; July-August 2017, page 31-32
200 anys en bicicleta (1817-2017) 200 Years on Bicycle (Catalan) by Jordi Quintana, published in Finusgab Journal
Schneller als die Kutsche Faster than the Coach (German) by Torsten Berndt, published by Schaper Philatelie-Verlag/Alfeld in DEUTSCHE BRIEFMARKEN-ZEITUNG (DBZ); 14/2017, page 18-22
Fortschritt auf zwei Rädern Progress on two Wheels (German) by Dieter Heinrich, published by Philapress/Göttingen in BRIEFMARKEN SPIEGEL (BMS); 7/2017, page 32-34
Impot sur les vélocipèdes - tax stamps in France during the years 1943–1948 (german) by Hans-Werner Salzmann, published in the April 2018 edition of “philatelie” – the member’s magazine of BDPh (Bund Deutscher Philatelisten e.V.)
La Taxe sur les Vélocipèdes - French tax on bicycles during the years 1892–1958 (french) by Daniel Spano président de la SFPF (Société française de philatélie fiscale), published in the delcampe magazin no. 21 (May/June 2018), pages 42 - 51.
Le Tour de France en philatélie - published in the delcampe magazin no. 14 (July/August 2017), pages 22 - 27.
Les entiers de la poste pneumatique de Paris – 1ère partie - French postal stationeries delivered by pneumatic tube system in Paris during the years 1879-1901 (french) by Hervé Barbelin, published in the delcampe magazin no. 21 (May/June 2018), pages 14 - 24. In 1902 the service was extended to the suburbs of Paris – where cyclists delivered the mail outside the pneumatic tube system.
Les entiers de la poste pneumatique de Paris – 2ème partie - French postal stationeries delivered by pneumatic tube system in Paris during the years 1880-1896 (french) by Hervé Barbelin, published in the delcampe magazin no. 22 (July/August 2018), pages 32 - 42. In 1902 the service was extended to the suburbs of Paris – where cyclists delivered the mail outside the pneumatic tube system.
Das Unternehmen Albion - field post of cyclists troops (german) by Hans-Werner Salzmann, published in “philatelie” – the member’s magazine of BDPh (Bund Deutscher Philatelisten e.V.). See also Mit dem Fahrrad an die Front
Théodore: champion cycliste - by Thomas Matthies; 1st February 2018; see also Théodore Champion, cyclisme et philatéliste (Régent Roy, 2006)
Théodore Champion, cyclisme et philatéliste - (french) by Régent Roy, published in 'Spécial, vélos sur timbres' (chapter 'L’art, la philatélie et la bicyclette', page 50 and 51). This magazine was published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in 2006 as part of the 6th Montreal bicycle expodium (6e Vélo Expodium de Montréal)
La bicyclette, et une très grand championne – Diane Roy - (french) by Régent Roy, published in “Spécial cyclisme” (page 4 - 8). This magazine was published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in 2006 as part of the 'Salon du livre de l’Estrie' in Sherbrooke/Canada
Bicyclette et Cyclisme – première partie - (french) by Régent Roy, published in 'Spécial cyclisme' (page 9 - 22). This magazine was published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in 2006 as part of the 'Salon du livre de l’Estrie' in Sherbrooke/Canada. First published in Philatelie Quebec Revue no 254, May-June 2005, centerfold : pages A-P
Bicyclette et Cyclisme – chronique no. 2 - (french) by Régent Roy, published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in Philatelie Quebec Revue no 255, July-August 2005 : pages 37-42
Une belle et grande initiative au 'coeur' du Québec - (french) by Régent Roy, published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in Philatelie Quebec Revue no 253, March-April 2005 : pages 26-27
Spécial vélos sur timbres - (french) by Régent Roy, published by Philatélie Québec (FQP) in 2008 on the occasion of '6e Salon Vélo Expodium' in Montréal/Canada). A complete book with 68 pages. In 19 chapters topics such as history, sports, toys, tandems, Canadian stamps, traffic safety, postal service, professional use, personalized stamps, philately, Théodore Champion, ... are dealt with. Great compliment!
Clubs for stamp collectors
MFN - Motor Filatelisten Nederland (NL) The Dutch Motorcycle Philatelists Club was founded in 1987 and has about 90 members (2017). The little difference to the theme of this website is, that their bicycles have an auxiliary drive. Many articles in their quarterly newspaper are also relevant for collectors of “big bike”.
Collectors
De fietslatelist Jan van Tellingen from the Netherlands: Cyclist, bicycle stamps collector from the early 1980's until 2016 and designer of several Dutch personalized stamps. Nowadays he only collects bicycle miniatures
but in former times wrote more than 60 articles concerning bicycle stamps! - for example: De fiets in de Nederlandse filatelie
The Fietsfilatelist Piet Hein Hilarides from the Netherlands - author of various bicycle stamps catalogs and active bicycle tourist.
Boards/Forums
Stamp Community Forum: „Bicycles on Stamps...“ - nice album of bicycle stamp
PhilaSeiten Forum: "Motiv Fahrrad" - morsels from philatelists - it seems as if most of them are not bicycle stamps collectors (German)
Short Links
Bicycle Stamps
*** Biggest bicycle stamp collection worldwide Piet Hein Hilarides *** EUROPA 2016 *** Edward du Muench *** Window Film *** Steve Malone 2015-2017 *** Jankovič want list You can surely help him. *** Rich cycling year in Slovak philately *** rare Ecuadorian FDC *** Private postcards from François Faber (most of them describing stages of the Tour de France 1909 – sent to his girlfriend Adèle Hiernaux) *** Antoni Miró paintings I (beware of his faked “postal stationeries” - see picture 1/19) *** Antoni Miró paintings II *** Peterspost, private Russian postal service on sale at Schaubek – Think Green 2016 issue most likely no cinderella (RE20330) *** errors on RE19166 *** Fahrräder auf Briefmarken (German) by Uli Feick (Berlin) published in Der Knochenschüttler (1/2013, Heft 55, pages 19 – 21, ISSN 1430-2543) *** Quer durch Deutschland 1949 (German) by Albert Vogel published in postfrisch, das Philatelie Journal, 3/2019, page 11 *** FietsElfStedenTocht 63x Piet Hein Hilaridès (2018) *** Cycling stamps Christer Brunström presents a range of postage stamps featuring bikes and cycling *** Cycling and Philately Exhibition in Mamer/Luxembourg, Oct. 2017 *** Tour de Trump – Tour Du Pont by Pasquale POLO *** Sheridan Tandem Bicycle *** RE25184 sold for GBP 2,350.12 on ebay *** fietspostzegels 2020 (RE25736) choose your language in the upper right corner *** with the eyes of a designer Tomoko Azumi/London *** J-Rad - designed by Paul Jaray Armin Lindegger *** Bicycle Crash Mail by John Davis, published in BTA Themescene 118 - March 2015 *** The Semi-Official Postal Cards of Huygens Bookshop (Olympic Games 1928) - by Laurentz Jonker (RE16686) ******
Bicycle mail until 1915 (Correo en bicicleta hasta 1915) – presented by Eduardo Scardino (Argentina) via The Digital Philatelist (Mi Oficina Philatelic Society) on YouTube in Spanish ***
Bicycles
*** London "World Naked Bike Ride" *** We love cycling *** List of bicycle manufacturers *** Bicycle (Wiki) *** Online Vintage Bicycle Museum *** Bicycle face scare women away from biking *** How bicycles boosted the women's rights movement by Dean Peterson *** bike lanes - Los Angeles in 1900 *** Cyclists fought to pave US roads *** King of Thailand - "Bike for Dad" compare RE19827 *** Elvis and his bikes *** Innsbruck Rad WM 2018 Gerhard Thomann *** Yesterday’s Tour de France… Héloïse Dautricourt on delcampe blog *** Riding down the steps of the United States Capitol with the American Star by Matthew B. Gilmore, published in TheInTowner on June 26th, 2018 *** The story of the volcano Tambora stimulating invention of the bicycle by Karl von Drais (Hans-Erhard Lessing) disproved by Jost Pietsch, Munic/Germany *** Chain reaction! (Cycling through time with help from poster cards) by Malcolm Luty, published in Picture Postcard Magazine, April 2020 *** How bicycles transformed our world by Roff Smith, published in National Geographic *** Subida à Glória Lissabon - a short uphill road race *** Houten, where cycling truly is king! *** Bicycle: The History by David V. Herlihy (460 pages) *** BICYCLE playing cards poduced by Russell and Morgan Printing Company and United States Playing Card Company - website for historic cards by Joseph Pierson *** Velocipedia „draw me a men’s bicycle” by GianlucaGimini ***
Cyclors = cycling sailors (youtube video)
and here is the postage stamp from New Zealand that goes with it.
Virtual Exhibits
DE LA DRASIENNE A NOS JOURS Raymond See (meter stamp „D-Rad“ - only produced motor cycles)
Attraverso “I colori dell’iride” Pasquale Polo: Through "The colors of the rainbow"
(original source/link: ... uicos.org/attraverso-i-colori-delliride/)
Two wheels is life Pasquale Polo --- be patient (website is loading extreme slowly) and scroll down a little bit
Go by Cycle Brian Sole --- Frame 1, Frame 2, Frame 3, Frame 4, Frame 5, Frame 6, Frame 7, Frame 8
The Mafeking Blues 1900 Panayotis D. Cangelaris; Sgt Major Warner Goodyear with bicycle see page 6 ff
CYCLING AS A SPORT René Geslin, co-author of the book "Le Cycle et la Poste", participated in many exhibitions. The exhibit "Cycling as Sport" was sold for 5500 € at the auction house Christoph Gärtner/Germany in February 2017.
WORLDS OF PEDALS Vojtech Jankovič --- Be careful! Don’t drink too much of his Radierwasser (page 41) – choose Hirter Radler!
Die Tour de France Armin Rühl, exhibit in the open class, many envelopes/cancellations and description of remarkable episodes - heroes/tragedies/fraud (German)
The Fresno and San Francisco Bicycle Mail of 1894 The Leonard Hartmann Collection *** WOW ***
With the bicycle to the front - Field post of German cyclist troops 1939-1945 (WW II) (DE) Hans-Werner Salzmann (Mit dem Fahrrad an die Front - Feldpost der Radfahrertruppen 1939-1945). Highly awarded (multiple gold to R I) exhibition collection. Content: implementation of the bicycle troops, structure and participants, letters with unit information and field post numbers of the Wehrmacht. Sold by auction house Christoph Gärtner/Germany in February 2018 for 4200 €.
STORY OF THE NON-POLLUTING TWO WHEELER Inge Johansen. Sold by Christoph Gärtner/Germany in February 2019 for 3300 € (without chapter 4.1 Army in War).
La cursa de la paz The Peace Race - Jordi Quintana (Spanish)
Un tomb en bicicleta A Tomb on a Bicycle - Jordi Quintana (Spanish)
Cycling: The Epic of Sport - Jordi Quintana. Did Singer Bicycles (see page 6) ever produce sewing machines ?
El CARTERO EN BICICLETA – Correos locales, privados y oficiales hasta 1915 - Eduardo José Scardino (Argentina), shown on the virtual Exhibition EXPOFAEF – JUVENEX 2020 in the category “1-frame”.
Social Media
“Bicycle Stamps Club” on facebook. This private facebook group was initiated by Raymond See from the Philippines in 2011. Although he had resigned his membership in the BSC he wanted to document the work done by former members like Douglas Marchant, Frank Havnoonian, Norman Batho … for future generations. With facebook he also hoped to attract younger people to the topic of bicycle stamps collecting. Raymond See was a passionate and very active stamp collector. He for example designed the above cancellation showing himself as ambitious bicycle racer on the Tour of Luzon. Unfortunately he passed away in 2016 - much too early.
Check list
The check list is based on the Microsoft program Excel. In the example/abstract below all bicycle stamps from the United Kingdom are listed. By clicking on the picture below the Excel file “check list GB stamps.xls” will be downloaded to your computer (check the download-directory on your computer afterwards).
The Excel file has no restrictions - so you may save it on your computer and make changes as you like – for example personal remarks such as “already in my collection”, “wanted”, …. In column “L” you find buttons (see red arrow) leading you to the corresponding picture in the online catalog (check your connection to the internet before using). For more details press the right button in column “N” – for this feature you have to be logged in (if not registered yet please send a request for free registration to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
If you don’t use a spreadsheet program like Excel you can download the printable pdf-version: Check-list UK - 2020
Catalogs
Illustrated Bikes on Stamps by Steve Malone published in 1995, a catalog with over 2000 entries
StampWorld: 650 000 different stamps listed (2017) - very up-to-date - free of charge (registration after a trial period required) - picture of each stamp is shown - round about 50 languages - possibilty to create your own album/collection – own stampworld-numbering-system - good search function - buy and sell – in some countries not totally complete
PostBeeld - extensive sales catalog - world's largest stamp shop – mostly selling only complete sets - compare the prices before buying.
colnect - advanced database function with many details (catalog codes, perforation, printing size, print run …….) and search function, personal lists (collection, swap, wish), large collector community, connects collectors
fietsvrouwtje - virtual collection on LASTDODO – including postcards, pins, buttons, stickers, …
Catalog of personalized stamps from Belgium - by an unknown member of the ‘Werkgroep MDG‘ (MDG = media-, duo- and personalized stamps)
veikkos-archiv - catalog of German poster stamps: bicycle poster stamps are found in different groupings: group I --- group II --- group III . Try out which group you like best. There seem to be several duplicates.
International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog - WIKIBOOKS
Useful Stamp Collecting Links
Local Posts of the World Includes Cinderellas & Bogus Local Posts
Stamp Issuing Entities List David A. Wyatt --- compilation
Stamp Issuing Entities Of The World Linn's --- compilation
Fight Against Prohibited Stamp Issues PWO – for example Stamperija
Postal Administrations Mail and email addresses (Linn's)
stampCircuit Platform for Stamp Auctioneers and Dealers
PhilaSearch Platform for Stamp Auctioneers and Dealers
StampAuctionNetwork Platform for Stamp Auctioneers and Dealers
A - N and O - Z Compendium PHILATELIC TERMS
Licensing of Olympic stamps from 2016 and after (Sports Philatelists International - SPI) – this affects printers like stamperija
Printers / Agencies
Stamperija "Official" agency and printer for round about 35 countries (2017) – such as CENTRAL AFRICAN REP., COMOROS, GUINEA-BISSAU, RWANDA, SIERRA LEONE, … Selling their printed matter in the shop STAMPERA since 2021.
IGPC Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation offers Government Services such as market research, stamp design, stamp production, advertising and promotion, sales.
Backlinks (link compilations, dealers, ....)
David Saks Collecting and philatelic links
Start.Be - postzegels Please check categorie "Thema's"
Avion Thematics Largest thematic stamp dealer in Europe (UK)
Wildlife camera videos in the city
Marten - hunting mice: 1 2
Marten - at abandoned wasp nest: 1 2 3 4 5
Squirrel - at feeder: 1 2 3 4
Squirrel - at feeder - closeup from front: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - bird "attack"
Squirrel - at feeder - walnut tied: 1 2 3 4
Squirrel - at bird feeder - balancing on pole: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 - flap of wings 13
Squirrel - at bird feeder - climbing up the ribbon: 1 2
Sparrows - bathing in sand: 1 2 3
Raccoon - at abandoned wasp nest: 1
Raccoon - ringing the wind chime: 1
Raccoon - at fat ball mounted with wire: 1 2 3
Raccoon - these two are probably not friends: 1 2
Blackbird - snacking on the blueberry bush: 1
Blackbird - at apple: AM 9:28 PM 2:27 PM 4:27
Blackbird / mouse – biological slug pellets as nutritional supplement: 1 2