Sometimes surcharges are the outcome of historic events or are at least suggestive of such.  The first stamp in this group is one of the crude products of the South African Republic, which was surcharged during the British occupation of the country.  The second is a stamp issued during the same occupation and surcharged after the Boers again came into power.  The Chilian coat of arms on the stamps of Peru tells its own story of war and invasion.  Lastly we have a stamp of Fiji on which the initials “C.R.”, Cakambau Rex, are overprinted with the “V.R.” of the Queen of England.

[Illustration:  Stamp, “Correos del Peru”, 1 centavo]

[Illustration]

[Illustration:  Stamp, “Fiji”, surcharched “V.R.”]

During the Carlist insurrection in Spain, the stamps of France, surcharged with a fleur de lys surrounded by a five-rayed star, were used by Don Carlos to frank his correspondence across the frontier into France.  These stamps were in use for only a brief period, pending the preparation and issue of the Carlist stamps.

[Illustration:  Stamp, Poland]

It may be remarked that there are many suggestions of history in stamps that are not surcharged.  The succession of portraits and other devices in the issues of a country is often eloquent of the march of great events, and there is a touch of pathos in Poland’s solitary stamp.

Finally, I wish to call your attention to a few stamps which tell most interesting stones, and which have a touch of mysticism and symbolism, which is not of to-day.

[Illustration:  Stamp, “Correos Mexico”, 1/2 real]

The coat of arms of Mexico has its origin in the distant past.  General Lew Wallace says in his historical romance the Fair God:  “The site of the city of Tenochtitlan was chosen by the gods.  In the south-western border of Lake Tezcuco, one morning in 1300, a wandering tribe of Aztecs saw an eagle perched, with outspread wings, upon a cactus, and holding a serpent in its talons.  At a word from their priests, they took possession of the marsh and there stayed their migration and founded the city; such is the tradition.  As men love to trace their descent back to some stoned greatness, nations delight to associate the gods with their origin.”

[Illustration:  Stamp, Persia]

Many stamps of Persia bear the lion and the sun, the arms of the country and the insignia of its highest order of nobility.  It is the lion of Iran, holding in its paw the sceptre of the Khorassan while behind it shines the sun of Darius.  There is a legend concerning the latter symbol to the effect that Darius, hunting in the desert, threw his spear at a lion and missed.  The beast crouched to spring, when the sun, shining on a talisman on Darius’ breast, so overpowered it that it came fawning to his feet and followed him back to the city.  And for this reason the sun became part of the arms of the kingdom.  But I think we may look further than this and find in it a relic of the ancient fire worship and of oriental pretentions to power over heaven and earth.