ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Tourism.
Hekla Volcano.
Second stamp in a set of 2, issued on 28.06.1935.
Face value: 1 Icelandic króna.
Design: Johannes Britze (1895-1966).
Printed by Posts and Telegraph Office, Copenhagen.
Printing: Recess.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 24 x 21 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 182.
- Michel No. 182.
- Scott No. 194.
- StampWorld No. 182.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 215.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 159.

Hekla is a stratovolcano in the south of Iceland with a height of 1491 m (4,892 ft). It is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. After the eruption of 1104, stories, probably spread deliberately through Europe by Cistercian monks, told that Hekla was the gateway to Hell.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

EUROPA C.E.P.T. issues.
Skaftafell National Park.
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 05.05.1986.
Face value: 10 Icelandic króna.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 647.
- Michel No. 648.
- Scott No. 622.
- StampWorld No. 649.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 677.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 601.

Skaftafell National Park, founded on September 15, 1967, and enlarged twice afterwards, was situated between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Höfn in the south of Iceland. On 7 June 2008, it became a part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park. Before its inclusion into the new park, it measured about 4,807 km² (2,884 mi²), making it Iceland's second largest national park. It contains the valley Morsárdalur, the mountain Kristínartindar and the glacier Skaftafellsjökull (a spur of the Vatnajökull ice cap). The scenery around Skaftafell is full of stark contrasts. The various glacial tongues are flanked by jagged mountains, with the glacier-topped peak of Hvannadalshnjúkur rising highest.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Landscapes.
Dyrhólaey.
Last stamp in a set of 4, issued on 04.08.1966.
Face value: 6.50 Icelandic króna.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,500,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 404.
- Michel No. 403.
- Scott No. 383.
- StampWorld No. 404.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 435.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 358.

Dyrhólaey ("door hill island"), formerly known by seamen as Cape Portland, is a small promontory located on the south coast of Iceland, not far from the village Vík í Mýrdal. It was formerly an island of volcanic origin; The volcano erupted about 100 thousand years ago during the Pleistocene. The peninsula has an elevation of 120 m (390 ft), and the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse, built in 1910 and rebuilt in 1927, sits at the top of the formation. In front of the peninsula, there is a gigantic black arch of lava standing in the sea, which gave the peninsula its name. Dyrhólaey and its surrounding cliffs are a paradise for bird watchers.

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Thanks to Dragan Buškulić for his contribution (https://worldofstamp2.wordpress.com/).

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

EUROPA C.E.P.T. Issue.
Kirkjufell from Ófærufoss.
Second stamp in a set of 2, issued on 02.05.1977.
Face value: 85 Icelandic króna.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,500,000 copies.
Size: 26 x 36 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 524.
- Michel No. 523.
- Scott No. 499.
- StampWorld No. 524.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 554.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 476.

Kirkjufell (‘Church Mountain’) is a 463 m (1,519 ft) high mountain on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður, in western Iceland. It belongs to the Lýsuskarð volcanic system. Kirkjufell contains volcanic rock, but is not a volcano. It is a former nunatak, a mountain that protruded above the glaciers surrounding it during the Ice Age, and before that was part of what was once the area's strata. This strata is composed of alternating layers of Pleistocene lava and sandstone, with tuff at its summit.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Birth of Surtsey Island.
Second stamp in a set of 3, issued on 23.6.1965.
Face value: 2 Icelandic króna.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 394.
- Michel No. 393.
- Scott No. 373.
- StampWorld No. 394.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 424.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 348.

Surtsey is a volcanic island located approximately 32 km (20 mi) off the southern coast of Iceland, integrated into the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. It is the southernmost point of the country and was formed from a volcanic eruption that began at 130 m (427 ft) below sea level and emerged to the surface on November 14, 1963. The eruption lasted until June 5, 1967, at which time the island reached its maximum size of 2.7 km² (1.04 sq mi). Since then the erosive action of wind, water and ice have constantly reduced its size. The new island is named after Surtr, a fiery jötunn or giant from Norse mythology. Surtsey was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Norden issue.
Urriðafoss (waterfall).
Second stamp in a set of 2, issued on 24.03.1983.
Face value: 5 krónor.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 39 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 597.
- Michel No. 597.
- Scott No. 572.
- StampWorld No. 598.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 627.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 550.

Urriðafoss is a waterfall located in the river Þjórsá in southwest Iceland. With a flow rate of 360 m³ / s, it has the highest average water flow of any waterfall in the country. The highest part of the waterfall is 6 m (19.68 ft) high. In winter, ice floes up to 20 m (65.6 ft) thick can form. Currently it is planned to build an underground hydroelectric plant to produce energy from the waterfall, which is a controversial decision because it could make it disappear and is the reason for protests by the population of the area.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Electricity and waterworks.
Gullfoss Waterfall.
Last stamp in a set of 8, issued on 04.04.1956.
Face value: 5 Icelandic krónor.
Printing: Recess.
Print: 500,000 copies.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 311.
- Michel No. 310.
- Scott No. 296.
- StampWorld No. 311.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 342.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 268.

Gullfoss (“Golden Falls”) is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. The Hvítá river flows southward, and about a kilometre above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step “staircase” and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 m. or 36 ft, and 21 m or 69 ft) into a crevice 32 m (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 m (66 ft) wide and 2.5 km (1.6 mi) in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 141 m³ (5,000 cu ft) per second in the summer and 80 m³ (2,800 cu ft) per second in the winter.

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Thanks to R. Gómez-Val for his contribution.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND

Landscapes.
Snæfellsjökull Glacier and Volcano.
First stamp in a set of 4, issued on 06.01.1970.
Face value: 1 Icelandic króna.
Printing: photogravure.
Print: 3,000,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 435.
- Michel No. 434.
- Scott No. 412.
- StampWorld No. 435.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 465.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 387.

Snæfellsjökull is a 700,000-year-old glacier-capped stratovolcano in western Iceland. It is situated on the most western part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Its elevation is 1,446 m (4,744 ft). The stratovolcano, which is the only large central volcano in its part of Iceland, has many pyroclastic cones on its flanks. Upper-flank craters produced intermediate to felsic materials, while lower-flank craters produced basaltic lava flows. Several holocene eruptions have originated from the summit crater and have produced felsic material. Snæfellsjökull serves as the entrance to the subterranean journey in Jules Verne's classic science fiction novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864).

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Thanks to Giovanna Goric for his contribution.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND

Iceland's glaciers.
Öræfajökull Glacier.
Third stamp in a set of 3, issued on 05.08.1957.
Face value: 10 Icelandic króna.
Design: S. Jonnson.
Printed by De la Rue.
Printing: Recess.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 319.
- Michel No. 318.
- Scott No. 304.
- StampWorld No. 319.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 348.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 276.

Öræfajökull ('Öræfi glacier' or 'wasteland glacier') is an ice-covered volcano in southeastern Iceland. It is the largest active volcano on the island, and Hvannadalshnúkur, on the edge of the crater, is Iceland's highest peak at 2,110 m (6,920 ft); It is located within the Vatnajökull National Park, covered by part of the glacier. In 1362, Knappafellsjökull (the name by which the volcano was then known) explosively erupted, expelling 10 cubic kilometers of tephra. Another smaller eruption took place in 1728, and between 2017 and 2018 an increase in seismic activity was observed in the area.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Birth of Surtsey Island.
First stamp in a set of 3, issued on 23.06.1965.
Face value: 1.50 Icelandic króna.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 392.
- Scott No. 372.
- StampWorld No. 393.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 423.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 347.

Surtsey is a volcanic island located approximately 32 km (20 mi) off the southern coast of Iceland, integrated into the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. It is the southernmost point of the country and was formed from a volcanic eruption that began at 130 m (427 ft) below sea level and emerged to the surface on November 14, 1963. The eruption lasted until June 5, 1967, at which time the island reached its maximum size of 2.7 km² (1.04 sq mi). Since then the erosive action of wind, water and ice have constantly reduced its size. The new island is named after Surtr, a fiery jötunn or giant from Norse mythology. Surtsey was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Landscapes.
Glacier Eiríksjökull.
Second stamp in a set of 3, issued on 08.05.1957.
Face value: 3 Icelandic króna.
Design: S. Jonsson.
Printed by De La Rue, London.
Printing: Recess.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 318.
- Michel No. 317.
- Scott No. 303.
- StampWorld No. 318.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 347.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 275.

Eiríksjökull is a glacier to the northwest of the great Langjökull glacier, in Iceland's Vesturland region, and has an area of 22 km² (8.5 sq mi). Its height is 1675 m (5495 ft), making it the largest table mountain in the island. It is situated in the Hallmundarhraun lava field, on top of a 750 m (2,460 ft) thick lava shield, presumably formed by a single subglacial volcanic activity. It is the largest volcano of its kind in Iceland, and is considered dormant or extinct. The Fnjóská river is born in the glacier, which flows into the Eyjafjörður fjord.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

International Year of Mountains.
Mount Snæfell.
Stamp issued on 07.03.2002.
No face value: postage for letters up to 20 g.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 500,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 989.
- Michel No. 1002.
- Scott No. 959.
- StampWorld No. 1003.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1014.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 932.

Mount Snæfell is a 1,446 m (4,744 ft) high stratovolcano, located in western Iceland, at the end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula (Vesturland region), within the Snæfellsjökull National Park (in Icelandic, Þjóðgarðurinn Snæfellsjökull), on the shores of Faxaflói Bay, established in 2001. The top of the volcano is covered by the Snæfellsjökull glacier, visible on the stamp. Jules Verne, in his novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, places the entrance to the subsoil in the crater of this volcano (based on a manuscript by the 16th century Icelandic alchemist Arne Saknussemm).

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

EUROPA C.E.P.T. issues.
Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. Jökulsá á Fjöllum River.
Second stamp in a set of 2, issued on 05.05.1986.
Face value: 12 Iceland krónor.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 648.
- Michel No. 649.
- Scott No. 623.
- StampWorld No. 650.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 678.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 602.

Jökulsárgljúfur National Park is a former national park situated in the north of Iceland around the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. It lies to the north of the Dettifoss waterfall. On 7 June 2008, it became a part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park. The area is of interest because of its chaotic canyon and volcanic mountains. Eight thousand years ago, volcanic fissures of the Askja volcanic system erupted directly underneath the river and glacial ice. This caused explosions and chaotic flooding. Rauðhólar (red mountain) is of interest because of its special colouring due to iron oxidations.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Norden issue.
Mount Súlur.
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 24.03.1983.
Face issue: 4.50 Iceland krónor.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 39 x 26 mm.

Catalogues
- AFA No. 596.
- Michel No. 596.
- Scott No. 571.
- StampWorld No. 597.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 626.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 549.

Mount Súlur is located in the north of Iceland. Its two peaks loom over Akureyri in the southwest. It is part of the extinct Kerling volcano (1,538 m, 5,046 ft: seen on the stamp to the left), and is 1,213 m (3,980 ft) high. The lowest of the twin peaks reaches 1,144 m (3,753 ft). The mountain rests on a basalt base about 500 meters thick. However, the top is bright rhyolite. The mountain range that connects the Kerling with the Súlur has several other lower peaks. Some remnants of glaciers can still be found in Kvarnárdalur, a high valley below the Kerling.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

2nd anniversary of the eruption of the Heimaey volcano.
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 23.01.1975.
Face value: 20 Icelandic krónor.
Photo: Sigurgeir Jónasson.
Design and Printing: Helio Courvoisier.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,500,000 copies.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 500.
- Scott No. 476.
- StampWorld No. 501.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 531.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 453.

The Elfeld volcano, about 200 m (660 ft) high, on the island of Heimaey, in southern Iceland, erupted on January 23, 1973 causing fissures up to 1600 meters (5,200 ft) long. The lava covered and destroyed half the town of Heimaey and part of its bay, forcing most of the island's 5000 inhabitants to be dislodged by fishing boats. The eruption lasted until July 3, increasing the surface of the island from 11.2 km² (4.3 sq mi) to 13.44 km² (5.19 sq mi). There was only one fatality.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

The Mount Herðubreið.
Stamp issued on 09.03.1972.
Face value: 250 Icelandic krónur.
Printing: Recess.
Print: 3,000,000 copies.
Size: 42 x 29 mm.

Catalogues
- AFA No. 461.
- Michel No. 460.
- Scott No. 438.
- StampWorld No. 461.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 491.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 413.

The Mount Herðubreið is a tuya volcano in northern part of Vatnajökull National Park, established in 2008. It is situated in the Highlands of Iceland at the east side of the Ódáðahraun desert and close to Askja volcano. The desert is a large lava field originating from eruptions of Trölladyngja and other shield volcanoes in the area. The Mount Herðubreið was formed by an eruption under a glacier. Its altitude is 1,682 m (5,518 ft), and it was climbed for the first time by Sigurður Sumarliðason and the German geologist Hans Reck on August 13, 1908 - the instability of its slopes made it for centuries considered inaccessible.

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Gullfoss waterfall.
Second stamp in a set of 6, issued in 1931.
Face value: 20 aurar.
Print: 4,700,000 copies.

Catalogues
- Facit No. 195.
- Michel No. 151.
- Scott No. 171.
- StampWorld No. 151.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 140.

Gullfoss (“Golden Falls”) is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. The Hvítá river flows southward, and about a kilometre above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step “staircase” and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 m. or 36 ft, and 21 m or 69 ft) into a crevice 32 m (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 m (66 ft) wide and 2.5 km (1.6 mi) in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 141 m³ (5,000 cu ft) per second in the summer and 80 m³ (2,800 cu ft) per second in the winter.

DENMARK

DENMARK / DANMARK.

For the benefit of the victims of the eruption of Eldfeld Mount volcano, in Haimaey Island (Iceland).
Stamp issued on 18.10.1973.
Face value: 70 + 20 Danish øre.
Design: Birgit Forchhammer.
Engraving by Czesław Słania (1921-2005).
Printing: Recess.
Print: 1,960,750 copies.
Size: 24 x 31 mm.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 547.
- StampWorld No. 550.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 562.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 556.

The Elfeld volcano, about 200 m (660 ft) high, on the island of Heimaey, in southern Iceland, erupted on January 23, 1973 causing fissures up to 1600 meters (5,200 ft) long. The lava covered and destroyed half the town of Heimaey and part of its bay, forcing most of the island's 5000 inhabitants to be dislodged by fishing boats. The eruption lasted until July 3, increasing the surface of the island from 11.2 km² (4.3 sq mi) to 13.44 km² (5.19 sq mi). There was only one fatality. 

ICELAND

ICELAND / ÍSLAND.

Hekla volcano. 
Overprinted stamp issued on 31.05.1954 (the original stamp had been issued in 1948).
Face value: 5 aurar over 35 aurar.
Print: 3,275,000 copies.

Catalogues
- Scott No. 283.
- StampWorld No. 293.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 324.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 250.

Hekla is a stratovolcano in the south of Iceland with a height of 1491 m (4,892 ft). It is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874 (Information about the eruptions, here). After the eruption of 1104, stories, probably spread deliberately through Europe by Cistercian monks, told that Hekla was the gateway to Hell.